Caroline had assured me that she'd pick up both Regina and me. I was all set when her call informed me she was downstairs. I swiftly grabbed my purse, locked my door, and joined them in the car. We reached the event venue promptly."So, Liv, are you ready to make your grand entrance?" Caroline asked with a playful grin.I chuckled nervously. "I hope so. Thanks for helping me pull this off, you guys."Regina chimed in, adjusting her dress. "Of course, Liv. We've got your back. And speaking of dresses, Caroline, that gown is stunning on you."Caroline gestured towards her gown, showcasing its elegance."Thanks, Regina. You both look amazing too. Liv, that red dress is going to turn heads."I glanced at Regina's dress, an intricate purple gown that seemed to shimmer in the light. "And Regina, your dress is just as gorgeous. You both really know how to pick 'em."Caroline winked. "Well, it's a team effort, remember?"As we approached the event venue, my heart raced with a mix of excitement
As I ran from the event, a whirlwind of emotions churned within me. The intensity of the encounter with Lucas had left me breathless and flustered. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts, to make sense of the conflicting feelings that had been stirred up.Just as I found a quiet corner to gather myself, Lucas's voice reached me, causing my heart to skip a beat. "Olivia," he called, his tone urgent yet gentle.His words had sent a shiver down my spine, his possessiveness was both surprising and oddly thrilling. I met his intense gaze, a mix of emotions swirling within me. "I'm not anyone's possession, Lucas."He quickly took my hands, his fingers grazing softly as he held me. "I don't mean it like that, Liv. I just... I've realized that I can't stand the thought of you being in someone else's arms."The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable, and I found myself speechless for a moment. "Lucas, I..."He interrupted me, his voice a mere whisper against the backdrop of the music that came
The next day, as the sun's rays filtered through the curtains, I slowly stirred from my sleep. I felt a sense of warmth and contentment that I hadn't experienced in a while. And then I remembered: Olivia was beside me. I turned my head to see her still peacefully asleep, her hair fanned out on the pillow, and a faint smile gracing her lips.I couldn't help but smile myself, feeling a rush of fondness for her. Careful not to wake her, I propped myself up on one elbow and gazed at her. I reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from her face, making sure my touch was light and affectionate.Olivia stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. When her gaze met mine, her lips curled into a soft smile. "Good morning," she murmured, her voice warm and sleep-laden."Good morning," I replied, in a gentle tone. "Did I wake you?"She stretched slightly, her eyes still half-closed. "No, I was already waking up. This is... nice."I chuckled softly. "Yeah, it is."Olivia turned onto her side, facing
The doorbell rang, interrupting our kiss. As I opened the door, there stood my uncle, Noah Adams. His stern exterior always gave him an imposing presence, and the surprise on his face when he saw Olivia next to me was undeniable."Lucas," he said, his voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, "I wasn't expecting to find company at this hour."I exchanged a quick glance with Olivia, who gave me an encouraging smile, before turning back to my uncle. "Uncle Noah, this is Olivia."He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Olivia, is it?" He looked her up and down as if assessing her without any pretense."Yes, Mr. Adams," Olivia replied politely, her composure unwavering.My uncle's lips curved into a faint smile. "Well, Lucas, it seems you've brought someone interesting into your domain. How about joining me for dinner tomorrow? I'd like to get to know this young lady better."My heart raced, and I cast a quick glance at Olivia, unsure of how she'd react. To my surprise, sh
Olivia's Pov:As I walked into my apartment, a contented smile lingered on my lips. The events of the day replayed in my mind, each moment with Lucas etched vividly. I relished how his demeanor had softened, the way he had held me, and the tenderness that had accompanied our newfound intimacy.Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by the sound of my ringing phone. It was my mother. I answered with a cheerful hello, trying to keep my emotions from seeping into my voice."Hey, sweetheart, how was your day?" my mother's warm voice flowed through the line."It was good, Mom," I replied, trying to sound casual."I can tell from your tone that something's up," she said playfully. "You sound happier than usual."I chuckled nervously, realizing that I might be giving myself away. "Oh, well, it was just a nice day. You know, work stuff."She laughed knowingly. "Come on, Liv, you can't fool your own mother. There's something you're not telling me."I sighed, knowing that my mother's intuition was
Olivia's Pov:The lingering panic from earlier gripped me. Even when Lucas had called me, I struggled to string more than two words together. Was it even reasonable to feel this way, considering how close we had become? With my thoughts in turmoil, I eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep.In the midst of my dreams, the chime of my apartment's doorbell abruptly brought me back to reality. Groggily, I glanced at the clock on my bedside table; its glowing digits displayed the ungodly hour of 1 o'clock in the morning.Panic surged through me as I wondered who could be ringing my doorbell at this ungodly hour. I flicked on the lights, casting a hesitant glance around my room, my heart pounding in my chest. The doorbell's persistent chime echoed through my apartment.As I cautiously made my way out of my room and toward the front door, the voice calling my name became clearer. "Olivia, come out," it urged urgently. It didn't take long for me to recognize that it was Lucas.With trembling
Olivia's Pov:As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the city, I found myself getting ready for what promised to be an interesting dinner at Lucas's uncle's house. The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I picked out a simple yet elegant dress, one that would hopefully make a good impression.I couldn't help but recall the events of the past few days. The unexpected turn of events with Lucas had left me in a whirlwind of emotions, but I couldn't deny the connection that had blossomed between us. He had been there for me, and I had opened up to him about my past, a significant step in our budding relationship.As I applied a light touch of makeup and looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder what the evening had in store. Meeting Lucas's uncle was a big step, and I hoped that I would make a favorable impression on him. After all, Lucas's uncle was not just any relative; he had played a pivotal r
As I walked into the office building, I couldn't shake off the flutter of excitement in my chest. The thought of seeing Lucas, even if it had to be in secret, had a way of making my mornings brighter.As I went about arranging my desk, Lucas walked by. Without turning to face him, I offered a casual "Good morning." He replied in kind and continued walking. However, just a moment later, he doubled back, and I turned to look at him, surprised."Is everything alright?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.He shook his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "No, where's your smile?"I couldn't help but chuckle at his remark. "Well, I guess my smile was on a coffee break this morning," I quipped.Lucas grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "We can't have that, now can we?" He reached over and playfully tapped the corner of my lips with his index finger, making me break into a genuine smile."That's more like it," he said, clearly satisfied with the result.I shook my head, amused by his antics.