Olivia Sparks

Since it was a Sunday, and their schedules were free, it was almost sundown when their visitors left Notios Estates. 

The sky was painted in light strokes of indigo and burnt orange as the sun got swallowed on the horizon while they stood by the mansion's main entrance, where a line of cars were waiting by the curb.

Queen Isla and Auntie Martha were hugging each other, too long for the king's liking. He wasn't happy about how the queen was akin to a teenager who got a taste of her freedom for the first time after seeing the queen drink wine all day.

His eyes narrowed into a slit on Auntie Martha who huffed at his direction when the ladies pulled away from their hug.

"I'll see you in the club?" Auntie Martha asked, whispering it into Queen Isla's ears as they cheek kissed.

Queen Isla replied with a wink, "And bring Amelia too. I did send her an invitation."

Rolling her eyes, Auntie Martha shook her head. "That girl's a lost cause, but I'll still try." Her eyes then darted to where Olivia stood, discussing something with Eli. "Livi darling," she called forth to which Olivia and Eli bid, walking with linked arms towards Auntie Martha. "Don't mind what your grandma said. She's old and old-fashioned. That's a deadly combination of someone giving advice or even asking for wishes."

"I am open for anything, Auntie," was Olivia's short reply. She didn't want the conversation to stretch and branch into more topics that she's not up for discussing. On top of that, she's tired from all the talking she did that day.

Sensing her impassivity, Auntie Martha did not press on and bid her goodbye, hugging Olivia one last time before getting in the car.

"I'll send the clothes for your trip tomorrow, Livi darling," Eli said as they hug their goodbyes.

"Oh, just send it to my penthouse. We will be moving back in two days' time."

"Got it." Eli was already in the car when the windows rolled down. "Before I forget, you don't have to worry about that surgeon because she fixed my eyelids."

Olivia stepped closer to the car, examining Eli's eyelids. Her mouth formed an 'O' as she nodded her head in agreement. True to his testament, the surgeon did a great job on doing a double lid surgery on him. 

"Thanks, Eli. You're an angel. I was honestly worried about going under the knife."

"You'll do just fine… or better. You overachiever. Ta-ta!" He poked her shoulders, shooing her away so the car could leave. 

Waving her hand, she watched as her Auntie Martha and Eli's car drove away and down Notios Estate.

"Oh, we have more visitors." Olivia jolted in her spot, walking over to where the king and the queen was. "Thank you for spending time with us," Olivia said, rubbing a hand on Queen Isla's arm, who responded with a smile. 

When all their visitors left, Maxen and Olivia parted ways in the mansion with him going in the library while Olivia retreated in their bedroom.

Her lack of sleep from the other night's activities took a toll on her when she plopped down on their bed, the heaviness in her eyes took over, and soon her c.h.e.s.t rose and fell in a shallow rhythmic wave.

Entering their bedroom, a pile of doc.u.ments in hand, Maxen's brows furrowed when he was greeted with Olivia sleeping on the bed with her one leg that he loved to pepper kisses with, hanging out by the edge.

He walked in and out of the walk-in closet in record time, bringing a change of nightgown for her to change in. Placing the doc.u.ments on her bedside table, he then gingerly peeled her clothes away.

All the while, he didn't let his guard down, his eyes occasionally darting to her hands, just in case she rose up from her sleep and might attack him with her knife, although he noticed how Olivia seemed to have a deeper sleep lately compared to their first weeks together.

Changing into his own set of pajamas after he was done changing hers, he laid down on the bed, scooping her in his embrace, burying his head on the back of her head. As if on auto-pilot, Olivia's foot rubbed on his leg. A slight smile that reached his eye painted Maxen's face.

Lulling himself to sleep, he realized what he had at that exact moment would never be replaced all the riches in the world. And if he had to lower his pride to get Henry's blessings just to keep her forever in his arms, he would gladly do so without second thoughts.

Days and nights flew by and it was already mid-week. 

A soft knock from her office door stole Olivia's attention from reviewing a contract.

"Hey, beautiful." Maxen's soft, low voice crooned her as he lazily leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed over his c.h.e.s.t.

The sight of him sent butterflies in her stomach as she ogled him, a blush painting her tired face.

"Hello to you too my devastatingly handsome chauffeur," she jazzed, ogling him from her vantage point. 

He was wearing a navy dress suit less the tie, looking a little casual than his usual ensemble but still oozing with power as if it was his cologne.

Olivia closed the windows in her computer, shutting it down to close shop for the day and organizing her table that was never messy at all. Planting her hands on the table, Olivia pushed her chair away, smirking when Maxen's smiling face turned into a frown.

Walking over to him, Olivia wrapped her arm around his neck, planting a teasing kiss on the tip of his nose. She gasped, biting her bottom lip when Maxen kneaded her waist. She knew he wasn't expecting the dress she was wearing because it was a last-minute pop in at Eli's boutique during lunchtime.

"I like your dress, you look wonderful in it. I really do. It's just… It's too much skin. Look… It's like a bandeau and a skirt attached to a net." On instinct, Maxen peeled his suit jacket off, hanging it over Olivia's shoulder. "It's chilly outside," Maxen blurted which they both knew was an excuse.

"Need I remind you it's summer, Maxen? Why would I wear something comfortable as this if I'm feeling cold?"

His lips twitched when Olivia shrugged his suit jacket off, hanging it on her forearm. "Thanks though. It'll come in handy later," she said and lifted his suit jacket up, a corner of her lips tugging up in a lopsided grin.

Locking the door behind her, Olivia and Maxen walked with interlaced hands out of her office and into a lift that was waiting for them. 

It was a fifteen-minute drive to the private clinic where they would meet the surgeon. "Keep it on," Maxen insisted and tightened his suit jacket on her when Olivia alighted the car.

Olivia didn't fight back this time, giving in to his possessiveness. Anyway, nights in Nisia were chilly and the only times that she'd be wearing his jacket would be their brief walks in the curb or parking lot to their point of destination.

Shaking her head, Olivia walked a step ahead towards the main entrance of the clinic, dragging Maxen by the arm.

Upon entry, they were welcomed with a blast of frosty air from the air conditioning system. "I told you it'll come in handy," she said and looked up beside her, smiling at Maxen who shivered at the arctic assault.

"Have you read the file I left on your bedside table? She's a schoolmate in St. Leo's, the boarding school Ollie and I attended."

"Oh, that's nice." Olivia's reply sounded natural, confident even, but the light squeeze she did on his hand was a giveaway of her anxiety over the minuscule detail that she missed to make a connection with after Eli put in a good word for the surgeon.

"She's married with kids, Olivia. And no… I didn't sleep with her."

Halting her step, Olivia peeled off her jacket, handing it back to Maxen. "I think it's best if I go in by myself," she deadpanned, leaving a stunned Maxen in the hallway.

He didn't dare follow her, seeing the swirl of venom pool in her hazel eyes. It was so potent; it paralyzed him in his spot.

Dipping his hand inside his pocket, he shadowed her, sitting on a chair outside the private room's door. He drowned himself with regret over the fact that he always had to come clean every time an old flame would be mentioned.

Upon entering the room, Olivia was welcomed with the back of a lady donned with a white lab coat who was busy rummaging a file cabinet.

"Good evening, Ms. Olivia. Your—" she greeted, cutting her speech short when she realized it was only Olivia who entered the room.

"Hi, Ms. Olivia. Please have a seat." She gestured to an empty seat across her desk. "I thought you'd be coming in with Prince Maxen. I was told by your brother he'd be swinging by with you."

"I'm here for the check-up," she reminded the doctor who scrambled to her seat. Sneering in her thoughts, Olivia's eyes darted to the doctor's finger where a wedding ring should be but was nowhere to be found.