LOGINChapter 40: Olive’s POV"Here." He pulled out an envelope, then dropped it. Let it flutter to the floor between us like trash. "Your invitation."Then he moved.So fast I didn't have time to process it. His hand was around my throat—not tight enough to cut off air completely, but tight enough. Cole tight. The kind of grip that said I could squeeze harder if I wanted to."And don't you fucking dare," he hissed, face inches from mine, "try to play games with me. Don't bring Zane Mercer to my party on your arm like you've won something. I want you there dressed like the pathetic nobody you are. You understand me?"My eyes started watering. Not from lack of air. From memory.This wasn't new. Cole had always been like this—hands that gripped too hard, words that cut too deep, and a temper that flared when things didn't go his way. I'd told myself it was passion. That he cared too much. That I was overreacting. That this was what love looked like when it was real and intense and all-consumi
Chapter 39: Olive's POVZane got me the apartment in less than twenty-four hours.I still didn't know how he'd pulled it off—called in favors, threw money around, threatened someone, probably all three—but here I was. Standing in my first real apartment. My space. My name on the lease.The cleaning crew had left two hours ago and the place still smelled like soap fragrance and some fancy new carpet. I walked through the rooms again, running my fingers along the kitchen counter, the windowsill, the doorframe. Mine. All of it.My mother wasn't happy. She'd called three times today, voice tight with that particular blend of disappointment and worry only mothers could master. "Just apologize to Grayson," she kept saying. "Work this out. Come home."But I couldn't.Grayson had made it clear: break up with Zane, or don't come back. And even though this thing with Zane had an expiration date, even though I knew it wasn't real, I wouldn't let my stepfather's hatred decide my future.My phone
Chapter 38: Olive’s POV The car was silent.He started the engine and pulled into traffic, and neither of us said anything. The tension was thick enough for me to choke on it. I kept my eyes on the road, on the buildings passing by, anywhere but him.But I could feel him. Could feel the heat radiating off his body, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel, those fingers that had been inside me—Stop. Stop thinking about that."What are you thinking about, Muffin?" His voice cut through the silence. "Penny for your thoughts?"My eyes betrayed me, flicking to his arms. They looked impossibly large gripping the wheel, muscles flexing with every turn. Those hands. Those fingers."Muffin." His tone shifted, concerned. "You good? Want me to pull over?""No!" I said too quickly, heat flooding my cheeks. "I'm fine. I just—" I cleared my throat, trying to sound normal. "What are you doing in Seattle?"I knew what Ryan had said, but I needed to hear it from him.He glanced at me, something
Chapter 37: Olive's POVIt didn't take long.A sleek black matte car pulled up outside the café, and my stomach dropped so fast I thought I might be sick.That car. I knew that car."Wasn't that the same car we—" I whispered to myself, the memory slamming into me. His hands on my thighs, my back against the leather, the way he'd—My phone buzzed.Zane: Don't even think about leaving, Muffin. Stay right where you are.My heart kicked against my ribs. I looked up through the window, saw him still sitting in the driver's seat, phone in hand, watching me.He knew. Of course he knew.I typed back quickly: Not here. Too many people.Zane: Good.Good? What the hell did he mean good?The door chimed.And Zane Mercer walked in.The entire café went silent.He was dressed in dark jeans and a black t-shirt that fit him like it was designed specifically to ruin lives, the fabric stretched across his chest and arms in ways that should be illegal. His tattoos were on full display—the lion that star
Chapter 36: Olive’s POV"Hit send and it's yours," he said, watching me carefully. "But first, I need to know something."Of course. There was always a catch."What," I said, not taking my eyes off the screen."How did you do it?"I looked up. "What?""How did you get him?" Ryan leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Zane doesn't do this. He doesn't date. He doesn't kiss girls in front of crowds. He doesn't even bring women to team events. So what the hell did you do to make him break every rule he's ever had?"I sat back, crossing my arms. "Maybe I'm just that good.""Bullshit." His eyes narrowed. "You're hiding something. I can see it all over your face.""You don't know me well enough to see anything.""I know you well enough to know when you're lying." He tilted his head, studying me like I was some puzzle he couldn't solve. "So what is it? Did you blackmail him? Threaten to expose something? Or did you just get really, really lucky?""Does it matter?" I shot back. "You lost. I won
Chapter 35: Olive's POVThe call came twenty minutes after I left Grayson's office.I was still standing on the sidewalk like an idiot, people rushing past me with their coffee cups and briefcases, living their normal lives while mine was actively imploding. My phone buzzed in my hand and I almost didn't answer when I saw the name.Ryan Mitchell.Of course. Because today wasn't already a dumpster fire."What," I said flatly."Well, hello to you too, sunshine." His voice was that same obnoxious tone I remembered from college. Too confident, too casual, like he'd never heard the word 'no' in his life. "Miss me?""What do you want, Ryan?""To meet. Tonight. There's a café on Pine Street, you know the one—""The bet's over," I cut him off. "Zane kissed me. In front of everyone. You lost. So unless you're calling to congratulate me, I'm hanging up.""Exactly." He paused, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "Don't you want to get paid?"I froze."What?""The bet, Olive. A hundred thous







