Chapter 1: (Olivia's POV) "Olivia!" my mom sang from downstairs in a British accent. "Yes, mother?" I asked, going downstairs in the kitchen where she was. "Call the peasants, my darling, we must get ready for the ball," she said dramatically. "The ball?" I asked, feigning confusion. "Will you two stop it, we're already running late on our plan. Liv, go get dressed, Maya, honey, please, get dressed," my dad said, coming out of his study. "So boring," my mom and I mumbled in sync. I went back upstairs, this time to the bathroom to shower and then get ready. We're going to a party tonight. My dad's friend, Mr. Thomas is hosting a party because it's his fifty years with his wife. Not fifty years of marriage, fifty years of knowing her. They've been together since high school, I believe. It's cute if you ask me. Once I stepped out of the shower, keeping my pre-straightened hair dry, I pulled on the robe that I've had since freshman year, yes, it still fits, and went downstairs. The doorbell rang just in time. I went downstairs and got the door. "Olivia," she sang. "Stella," I grinned. Stella is a woman who runs the boutique near our house. We buy dresses from there, get them dry-cleaned there, and altered to our fittings there all the time. "Here is your dress you got the other day, your mother picked hers up earlier, enjoy the night okay?" she grinned. "Thank you so much," I smiled. She left once I took the dress and headed upstairs, seeing my dad already ready. "Ten minutes, father," I said, sprinting upstairs and laying the dress out onto my bed. It was getting stuffy in my room so I pushed the window open, instantly regretting it. "Olive," he smirked. "Miles," I said with a sarcastic smile. "That's not my name," he said, as he always does. "It's your middle name," I shrugged, as I always do. "I don't call you-" he stopped talking when he realized he doesn't know my middle name. He doesn't know it because I don't have one. I gave him a smug look. "I'll find out your middle name one day, Olive," he nodded. "That's not my name," I huffed. "Isn't it, Olive?" he winked. I rolled my eyes, leaning forward, holding onto the windowsill. "Ethan," I sang. "She knows my name," he smirked. "She does," I nodded, "And she tells you: suck my dick," I grinned before closing the window and the blinds. I went and threw a little bit of makeup on, not too much, and then pulled on the dress, letting my hair down and brushing it out. I was pulling my heels on when my dad came in. "Liv, we're-" "Ready!" I said, shooting up. I grabbed my clutch that I made ready earlier and followed him downstairs and out the door, to the car. We all filed into the car, I sat in the back and my parents sat upfront with my dad driving. "Remember, Liv, Mr. Thomas-" "Is your friend from college who now runs a company in New York but he runs it from here because he's so in love with his wife that when she wanted to move back home, he couldn't help but agree to make her happy. Hence, the company is a sensitive spot, I am not to talk about it. Right?" "Right," he grinned at me through the rearview mirror. "And Olivia, Justin will be there so-" "Behave and avoid him, I got it, mom," I smiled. Justin is my ex-boyfriend. "And guess who else will be there, Liv?" I whispered to myself, rolling my eyes as I stared out the window. "Ethan Miles freaking Archer," I groaned, leaning my head back. I always thought having 'Miles' as your middle name rather than your first is weird, but he has it as his middle name, it's none of my business. We got there after fifteen minutes and then we all filed out of the car. The party wasn't at their house, it was in the reception hall of a huge hotel nearby so there was a valet which took over and parked our car while we headed in. "Keith!" Mr. Thomas greeted my dad as we entered the hall. It was already fairly full. "Tony, this is my daughter, Olivia, and this is my wife, whom you've already met," my dad introduced me. "Hello, Mr. Thomas," I smiled, sticking my hand out, "It's a pleasure to meet you." "Pleasure is all mine, my dear. So, your parents have brought you along to torture you with the company of my guests, huh?" he chuckled. "It's no problem, I'm sure it'll be great," I grinned. I'm sure I'll be bored to death but the man seems nice. "Olivia, go mingle. We'll be around, find me if you need anything, hm?" my mom asked. "But I-" "You'll be fine. Bring out the social butterfly in you," she patted my shoulder. "But there's-" She left. "There's no social butterfly in me, to begin with," I mumbled. I looked around the room, noticing the bar right away. Now, I know I can't drink, but I can have soda or an iced tea or something, right? Yeah, totally. I walked over to the bar, setting my clutch and my ass down. "Can I get an iced tea, please?" He nodded and started preparing it while I sat there, relishing my solitude. I got my drink and stood up to walk around, almost crashing into someone. I took a step back immediately to save the dress and the iced tea and managed to be the hero for both. "I'm sorry, it didn't get you, did it?" he asked. "No, it's okay, I- of course, it's you," I huffed, my shoulders slumping when my eyes met Ethan's. "What's that supposed to mean, Olive? You've wounded me," he smirked, sitting down. "Enjoy your misery, Miles," I said, turning around to leave but he grabbed my arm. "Are you seriously about to enter the war field of old people to find company?" "Do you see anything better for me to do?" I arched a brow at him. He glanced at the seat beside him before looking at me again. "Ha," I scoffed. "Suit yourself," he shrugged, letting my wrist go. I looked at him, then the crowd. Then him, then the crowd. "Nice dress, by the way," he nodded. I just stood there, staring at him. That wasn't a compliment to me, it was a compliment to the dress. If I thanked him, he'd say it wasn't for me, it was for the dress. "No thank you?" he asked. "The dress can't thank you and you didn't compliment me, you complimented the dress," I replied. "Smart girl," he smirked. "Just not as stupid as you'd want me to be," I smiled, "Well, enjoy yourself," I said. "You think old people are better company than I am? Ouch," he chuckled. "I think anybody is better company than you are," I grinned. He blew me a kiss as I walked away and I flipped him off in exchange. I walked around, talking to some women, introducing myself and when I was heading back to the bar to return the empty glass, my way was blocked. "Hey," he smiled hauntingly. "I should have just brought that lucky penny in my purse, maybe I wouldn't be running into you," I grinned at Justin. "Still bitter?" "Still a jerk?" He smiled, shaking his head, "Move on, Liv. I know I have," he shrugged. "Well, congratulations. And thank you for showing the concern you did, but I have moved on, I'd rather drink poison than pine over you, Justin," I replied. "So you've moved on? You have a boyfriend?" he asked, slightly surprised. No harm in lying right now, it brings me pleasure to make him jealous. "I sure do. Why? Just because you dumped me I can't find someone else again?" I scoffed. "I didn't think you could," he said, poking the bear even further. "Well, I did," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "Is he here?" "Of course, he is." Why the hell did I just say that? "I'd love to meet him then," he smirked. "Why would I do that? Show you, my boyfriend, when you haven't got a girlfriend on your arm to rub in my face? I'm not that cruel," I scoffed. "I do have a girlfriend, for the record. She's right there, her name's Annabelle," he smirked. "Like the haunted doll, I see," I nodded. "Your boyfriend?" he asked, growing impatient. Uh oh. Oh no. No, no, no. Olivia, learn when to keep your mouth shut. Blabbering isn't good. Don't always say what you think. Take notes. "He's… he is…" "He is?" he smirked. "He is… right there. Ethan!" I said, saying the name of the first guy our age I saw, regretting it immediately. Justin turned around to look at him and I facepalmed, cursing myself. "Ethan?" Justin asked. I nodded, "Um, Ethan!" Ethan looked left then right, then behind him. He pointed at himself in confusion. "Come here," I said. He walked over in utter confusion. "Me?" he asked. "You," I grinned, linking my arm with his. "What are you-" "Ethan Miles Archer is your boyfriend?" Justin asked incredulously. "Yup, my boyfriend," I said through a smile, my teeth clenched. "Your… boyfriend?" Ethan asked, raising his eyebrows at me, smirking. "Mm-hmm," I nodded, looking at him. "W-what about you? Your girlfriend?" I asked Justin. "Annabelle!" he called out. Ethan and I turned around and saw a tall blonde making her way over. "This is Olivia," Justin said, "And her boyfriend." "Annabelle, nice to meet you," she smiled at me. I smiled back. "Can we go babe?" she asked Justin and then they left. I pulled my arm out of Ethan's and turned to him. "Boyfriend, huh?" . . . . . Chapter 1