How much do you want?

CHAPTER 4

OLIVIA'S POV

Another loud horn blared from across the street. I was already at the window, pulling the curtains aside to check if the delivery man had arrived. I wasn't just excited because my son wanted it; I was more excited to get it back after I lost it five years ago in that hotel room that ruined my life that night.

Yet again, he wasn’t here. I sighed and returned to the plush couch, settling in comfortably. I picked up my phone and continued browsing about the Brown family. I wanted to see how the company was doing, and as expected, that jerk Lucas was now the CEO, with Samantha as his assistant.

My dad is now retired. They’ve really tried to keep the legacy intact, but it’s sad that I’m here to undermine everything they’ve worked for—and I don’t even feel guilty about it.

This would be the first Christmas Eve I won't be spending with my husband, Alessandro.

How time flies.When I was heavily pregnant, I feared that Andro wouldn’t make a good father because he was a Don, but I guess I was wrong. He has been the best father figure I could wish for my son.

A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. Jane quickly went to open it. I shot up from the kitchen chair and made my way to the sitting room, thinking it was the delivery man, but this time it was the decorator here to fix our Christmas lights and tree. I silently let out a disappointed sigh and retreated back to the kitchen. I couldn't wait to get my pendant back.

About thirty minutes later, my phone beeped, and I quickly answered when I saw it was the delivery man.

“Hello, good evening! Are you at my doorstep?” I asked excitedly.

Once he confirmed, I raced out, giddy with anticipation. I slammed the door behind me since I was home alone; Jane had taken Jaden to get some chocolates from the grocery store across the street.

As I opened the door, my eyes met those of the delivery man. I swallowed hard and paused. Those deep brown eyes with full brows looked so familiar. I couldn't quite place where I knew him from, but his curly grayish hair and the glint of an earring seemed oddly recognizable.

"Livie, you're overthinking," I told myself, shaking off the feeling and stepping forward. Even if I knew him, it must have been from years ago.

“Hello, sir. Thank you so much,” I said casually, hoping he would bring out my package immediately, but he remained still. I raised my brows in curiosity.

“Is anything the matter, sir?” I asked.

He slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing a flawless face.

Dammit. He looked too handsome to be just a delivery man!

I knew I shouldn't be feeling this way about another man, but I couldn't help it.

“Are you going to stand there and act like you don't remember me?” he suddenly asked, making my brows furrowed in confusion.

I stared at him, still unsure what he meant.

“I don’t understand, sir. What do you mean by that?” I tried to maintain professionalism, even though he was getting on my last nerve. I just needed him to hand over my pendant and leave.

“Welcome back to New York, Olivia Brown. I’ve been searching everywhere for you since that night.” He stepped closer, his gaze locked onto mine.

I instinctively took a step back, forcing myself to appear calm while inside I was simmering with anger at how this delivery man was ruining my excitement.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” I asked, blinking rapidly to process the situation. “Aren't you here to make deliveries?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He pulled a small box from his pocket and flicked it open, revealing my pendant. My eyes lit up with delight, and I let out a sigh of relief that my property was finally returning to me.

But as I reached for it, he slammed the box shut and looked at me.

“Even after seeing this, you still don’t remember me?”

I frowned deeply. “I already paid for this on eBay, so you should just give it to me before I report you and you lose your job.”

“My job?” He repeated, sounding almost incredulous, as if he didn’t realize he was just a delivery person.

“Give it back! Why are you withholding it when I’ve already paid?” I sneered.

“For three reasons: First, for forcing me to hide in your restroom that night. Second, for making me search for you all these years. And third, for not recognizing me,” he replied, and I scoffed.

This had to be some kind of joke, right? I couldn’t remember him or anything he was saying.

Hiding him in the restroom? I shook my head, struggling to recall when I might have done that.

Then my breath hitched, and I gulped sharply as memories flashed back… “The stranger????”

No, no, it can’t be.

There must be some misunderstanding. This can’t be true.

I didn't sleep with just a delivery man! No, I'm sure I didn't. He must be on some cheap drugs, right?

“Do you remember me now?” he asked, his voice tinged with pride. “So, where have you been all this time after giving me the best nights of my life? Where did you disappear to? I searched everywhere for you.”

My eyes narrowed at him as I sized him up. If he was trying to be flirty, then it was quite disgusting coming from him. How the hell did he even locate me? I might want to deny ever having seen him, but thankfully Jaden was not here, so I was safe. I didn’t want some delivery man coming to drag me into his paternity rights.

After a long pause, I sighed and spoke up. “Look, how much do you want, huh? Call your digits, and I will send it in for you so you can get a better job. Even if I remember you, it still doesn’t matter now, so take the money and leave.”

“What?” he exclaimed in disbelief. “Paying me off for—”

I cut him off. “For whatever it's worth. Take today as your lucky day. You can start up something, you know?”

“You don’t seem married. Why are you trying to push me away as if that night was just a fling for you?” he said, disappointed.

I couldn't help but scoff. “Of course it was just a fling. A moment of pleasure, and that was all. I don’t feel anything for you. And why do you think I’m still not married after all these years?”

“Come on, don’t miss out on an opportunity like this because of pride. I'm not a kiss-and-tell type, so I won't boast about helping you elevate,” I said nonchalantly.

I watched the excitement fade from his face. He handed me the box and left without saying a word.

Once he was gone, I heaved a deep sigh of relief, silently appreciative that my son never showed up.

Samantha and Lucas! Those sly animals! They had a delivery man sleep with me that night? And now he had suddenly found me?

I shook my head as I walked inside. I needed to evacuate this building immediately. I'm sure he was going back to his masters now to tell them what he just saw.

I quickly browsed through my phone, looking for another apartment. Suddenly, my phone beeped, and when I checked, it was a message from Fuldab Law Firm, where I had applied to become one of their attorneys. They were scheduling an interview for the first thing tomorrow morning.

I quickly scroll back to the page where they listed apartments. That was the most important thing right now; I can't let Samantha or Lucas see my son.