Olivia Sparks

The sea of security detail from both camps parted like the Red Sea as Olivia walked out of the bedroom with Maxen a step behind her. By the grand area, curious gazes met her as she stepped out with a sweet smile on her face. Her triumphant air gave an illusion that she was walking with a crown sitting on top of her head.  But what surprised them the most was the prince himself, stripped of his masculinity as he acted like a bullied child in the playground.  He basked in Olivia's touches, grinning like a lovesick fool as she examined the back of his head for a concussion which raised brows in the room. "Jeez. What happened inside? Please tell me you didn't kill Natalia." Oliver combed his hair with his finger, letting out a loud exhale. His eyes briefly met Olivia's before it hopped to the door and saw that inside the bedroom, Konstantin and Nikolai were standing in a heated discussion. "No, I didn't. But who knows somewhere in the future someone will." She flashed her brother a smile, clapping her hands together when her stomach made gurgling sounds. "Oh, how about we drop by a drive-thru? My treat! Just so you know, I won big tonight." As if Ava wasn't whining earlier for Oliver to barge into the room because she's sleepy, she was suddenly energetic. She linked her arms with Olivia, pulling her sister-in-law on their way out of the penthouse suite. "Perfect! They have a new set of Happy Meals uptown." Shaking their heads at Olivia and Ava's retreating backs, Maxen and Oliver trailed behind their ladies with smiles on their faces. "Wait up," Wyatt called out, catching up on them. "You won't believe what I just found out." They exchanged curt nods as he reached their location and walked side by side, never once looking back inside the penthouse suite as they listened to Wyatt's fresh intel. Meanwhile, inside the master bedroom, Natalia's head hung low in a bow, silently sobbing, her tears an endless stream that soaked the carpeted floor. Her hands were finally freed from the restraints, but it left a red mark on her delicate skin.  It was a grim reminder of how Maxen handled her earlier that night. Shoving her off him when he regained his balance. The look on his face screamed it all; it was as if her mere presence disgusted him.  As swift as the wind, she didn't notice Maxen rear locking her hands, tying it with his bow tie before he dragged her out of the ensuite like a rag doll.  In the midst of her reverie, she heard Konstantin speak from the corner of the room. "I never failed to remind you, but you didn't listen. Olivia Lin is not somebody you mess with. And now, even if she won't ask Maxen, it's apparent that he would back her up no matter what. She's technically, untouchable." He shrugged. Snapping her head towards Konstantin, she sniped, "Maxen? Is it just Maxen behind her back? You don't need to pretend and keep it a secret from us. We all knew you planted one of your men as her detail. You stupid, stupid bastard! This is all your fault!" "Watch your words, Natalia!" Nikolai barked, taking a sharp breath to simmer his rolling boil anger in the pit of his stomach. "Siblings stick together, bastard or not." Tipping Natalia's face, he smirked at her appearance akin to a doll that was maltreated by its owner. "Your brows will grow. In the meantime, I want you out of this country. The embarrassment you brought to our family tonight is enough to last three generations of Vasilievs." Natalia sniggered at his statement. "Going after a man is an embarrassment but drugging girls aren't? I thought you're an advocate of feminist rights, King Nikolai? Or is it an embarrassment only if you get caught?" Nikolai's fingers curled into a fist, his knuckles turned white from the sheer force that he held in. "First of all, I didn't get caught; she dug up all the dirt after what I did to her. Second, I didn't know she was Rona's protégé because if I did, I would have kept my distance away from her." Straightening his fingers, his hand subconsciously touched the scar on his neck, and a bitter smile curved his thin lips.  He could have had it lasered, but he kept it as a memento of the girl who fought back. And he wouldn't lie. Just a slight touch over that scar makes him so hard, he could go on for hours.  Seeing Nikolai in another episode of daze, Konstantin cleared his throat, clamping his hand over the former's shoulders. "This conversation is going nowhere. I suggest we get going and retire for the night. And you..." He removed his suit jacket, covering his sister. "Let's get you home. Everybody's flying home tonight and that's not a suggestion." "Once again… the great Konstantin saving the night." Nikolai's arms spread on a wingspan, his jaw ticked at the former's command. "Dad must be really proud in hell right now." As if his brother's title didn't bother him, Konstantin loomed over Nikolai. His aura was lethal; it was incredibly strong and visible that forced Nikolai to bow down.  "Dad's not in hell, brother. I kept him in a dungeon, rotting and starving, to keep our family's honor. I wouldn't mind doing the same thing to you if you would ask me, so I propose that you pull your shit together. You don't want me getting mad, do you?" Nikolai gulped. Konstantin's threat nailed him down on his spot. He was a year older than Konstantin, but his younger brother's words had more weight to them than the jewels on his crown. He raised his head and saw Konstantin's real and diabolical face, one that he saw once. It was the night his younger brother saw him swim in his own pool of blood, but instead of helping him, he rushed to the buzzed Olivia who was holding a knife in her hand. He swore, he saw his death flashing on Konstantin's eye, and he was lucky that Olivia kept him busy that night, extending his life on borrowed time. Gesturing to the exit, Nikolai gritted his teeth as he watched Konstantin usher their sister in her walk of shame out of the penthouse suite. In the parking bas.e.m.e.nt, rushed and heavy footsteps thud on the cemented ground towards Olivia's car. "Olivia, wait." Konstantin waved his hand, a futile attempt to steal her attention before she got in the car. Holding the door for her was Maxen who wanted to push her in just so Konstantin won't get another chance of speaking with Olivia. "Hey. You were quick," she commented, surprised that Konstantin was able to catch up on them. "I...I ran actually," he admitted, blowing out air through his pursed lips. "I forgot to ask for your number." Maxen's brow raised at Konstantin's words. He rolled his tongue over his teeth, waiting for Olivia's reply. "Oh," she paused, thinking which number to give him: business or personal?  Seeing she was stuck at a crossroad, Maxen helped her out. "International calls are expensive, Mr. Ivanov. I suggest you exchange emails to save money. Right, baby?" Scrutinizing Maxen with eagle-eyes, Konstantin agreed, thinking that he could ask for her number after reaching out to her through her email. So he offered his phone but wasn't shocked when Maxen's hand reached for it before Olivia could even lift hers. "Let me type it for you." Tap. Tap. Tap. Maxen's fingers danced in the phone screen, handing it back to Konstantin with a mischievous smirk on his face. "This is not an email address." Konstantin narrowed his eyes, shaking his head when what he read was the address and phone number to his private office in Notios Estate along with his private secretary's name. "Maxen! Stop playing games." Olivia glared at the little prince beside him, hitting his arm with her purse. He knew she was starving and he dared pull a prank when all she wanted to do was leave and buy a much-needed cheeseburger.  Smiling at Konstantin, she held her palm up asking for the phone back, which Konstantin gladly obliged, changing the information on his phone into her business email. "I'll see you in London." Konstantin nodded his head after reading the details she saved. He glanced up, meeting Maxen's stare. "I talked with Ms. Greene earlier and she's interested in a partnership. I'll forward the details in your email tonight." Surprised at the turn of events, Olivia's mind went on an overdrive, flooded with questions about why Madam Chanel sought Ivanov Bank's help. She tried to look for a link between the two but what she got was a warm iron liquid dripping on her nose. "Baby."  "Olivia, are you okay?" She tipped her head up to slow down her bout of nosebleeding. Snapping her head to the side where she felt the familiar warmth of Maxen, she smiled.  Her hand reached up to grab a white pocket square that dangled from the corner of her eye but was puzzled when three lines formed Maxen's forehead. Tracing his gaze, her eyes landed in the hand that she was holding.