All Chapters of My Sweet Olivia: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

OliviaI practically ran out of the office.One of the security guards laughed as I hurried past him."Where's the fire?""If I tell you, you'll run too," I called over my shoulder with a grin.I still had one stop to make before meeting my friends.Tonight was Amelia's twenty-fifth birthday, and we were celebrating at Vino Bar Studio along the river in Arlington. Between the waterfront views and the breathtaking skyline overlooking Washington, D.C., it was one of our favorite places to unwind after a long week.I couldn't show up empty-handed.My gift had already been delivered to my office earlier that day, but I still needed to buy a birthday card and a gift bag.Somehow I'd remembered to order the present...... and forgotten everything else.That was what happened when work completely consumed your life.And lately, my brain had been operating on caffeine, deadlines, and sheer determination.As I drove toward the store, I couldn't help smiling.Amelia Jones.Just thinking about h

Olivia.Tonight, I was the one who couldn't stop looking at Noah's lips.It had been nearly a week since I'd seen him, and six long days since we'd last made love. We had never gone this long without being together. Even during my period, we always found a way to steal moments for ourselves. Noah loved teasing me, loved watching me surrender to him one slow kiss at a time."Lock the door," I whispered, slipping my fingers through his as I led him upstairs.He followed without protest, the corners of his mouth lifting into the familiar smile that had once made me feel like the luckiest woman alive."Want to shower together?" I asked over my shoulder."Sure," he replied. "Let me get changed first."Amelia and I shared the upstairs bathroom. It wasn't glamorous, but we loved the townhouse. The bedrooms were spacious, the closets were enormous, everything had recently been renovated, and the neighborhood was exactly what we'd hoped for when we moved to Alexandria. We even had access to th

Olivia.Amelia had helped me choose the perfect outfit for today—a pastel lavender pantsuit with a tailored blazer and slim-cut trousers. Underneath, I wore a simple white camisole that showed just enough confidence without trying too hard.Around my neck rested the gold necklace my mother had given me years ago. On my wrist was the Movado Noah had surprised me with for my birthday. I slipped into a brand-new pair of nude pumps and caught my reflection in the mirror.I smiled.I looked confident.Whether I actually felt that way...was a different story.I had worked too hard for this presentation to let Monica intimidate me now. Mr. Lewis had said it best: Let the best woman win. That was exactly what I intended to do. If I earned the promotion, it would be because I deserved it. And if I didn't, at least I would know I'd given it everything I had.Right?"Morning, gorgeous." Levi's cheerful voice greeted me the moment I stepped into the office. A grin spread across his face as he he

Olivia.This was the shortest flight ever. I was in Richmond before I knew it.Ever since Mom died, Dad and I have become even closer. Not that we weren't close while she was alive—our bond simply became unbreakable once we only had each other. He truly is the best father in the world. There isn't a single doubt in my mind."There she is!" he exclaimed the moment his eyes found me.The smile that spread across his face made me feel like I was still the most important person in his world."Hi, Dad."I hurried into his arms without a second thought. There has never been a safer place on earth than wrapped in my father's embrace. Every hug reminds me that no matter how difficult life becomes, I'll always have somewhere to land. In his arms, I feel protected, cherished, and somehow beyond the reach of trouble.He held me a little tighter than usual."You've lost weight," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Are you taking care of yourself?"I forced a smile, hoping it wo

Olivia.Amelia and I stayed on the phone until almost two in the morning.No matter how hard I tried to convince her she was being too harsh on James, she refused to budge. The poor guy was probably somewhere crying while we debated the fate of his relationship.By the time we finally hung up, I'd set three alarms.Today was going to be busy.My appointment with Claudia was at nine — that's how my day began.I'd known Claudia almost as long as I'd known Anne. In fact, Anne was the one who introduced us years ago, and from that day forward, I never trusted another person with my hair.The little bell above the salon door chimed as we stepped inside."¡Ay, mi niña!" she said cheerfully the moment I crossed the threshold to her salon.Before I could even say hello, Claudia hurried toward me with her arms stretched wide. "What a wonderful surprise!"She wrapped me in a hug so tight it squeezed the air out of my lungs. When she pulled away, her warm smile faded ever so slightly as she stud