Olivia Sparks

The ride to Maxen's townhome should have been short, except for all the long blocks that they had to circle around because of the one-way roads. 

It was a six-floor limestone townhome in the Upper East Side between Madison and Park Avenue, a good two-blocks away from Central Park.

Using the keycard that Maxen gave her, she dragged her bedtime and toiletries luggage to the elevator that had direct access to the master bedroom on the fifth floor.

She should take a bath, instead, she opened her luggage, pulling out her laptop. While she was waiting for it to boot up, she removed her strappy heels, neatly placing it on the spot where she got a fresh pair of fluffy indoor slippers.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It didn't take long for Olivia to pull up Fiona Chung's itinerary, her heart racing in her c.h.e.s.t as it tried to connect her timeline with Maxen.

She knew in her heart she wouldn't find anything, but her brain was in overdrive creating scenarios of what ifs. She saw him react to Fiona before. What if he had a weakness with other women too?

The throbbing pain in her head signaled her that she was overthinking again, so she clamped her laptop shut, wrinkling her nose while she thought of lesser evil things to do that would not jeopardize her relationship with Maxen.

Maybe, she needed another bath to calm her nerves; she thought to herself. So she padded to the ensuite, pooling her gown on the heated bathroom floor.

Seeing bottles of skincare inside the glass encase standing shower, Olivia took her grand time under the warm rain shower.

It was when she grabbed the shampoo bottle that made her heart sank to her stomach.

Why?

Why were there women's skincare inside his bathroom?

Wrapping in her fluffy robe, Olivia wiped the mist that covered the mirror. She placed the shampoo bottle on the bathroom sink and lined it along the other skincare products from the same brand, scrutinizing it like a coach picking out the best player in the rooster with her arms crossed over her c.h.e.s.t.

Her fury was at the brim, about to overflow and explode. She thought of reasons why on Earth were those skincare products doing in his bathroom when she just got there?

Opening the lids, one by one, Olivia was in inspection mode, and from her vantage point, the creases on her forehead smoothened upon seeing the bottles were still full.

"This is so bad, Olivia," she reprimanded herself under her breath, pulling her hair by the scalp at how she almost lost it.

Exhaling through her pursed lips, she went back inside and finished her bath, emptying the products on her body to ensure she'd smell like it the entirety of their trip.

When she was done taking a bath, she sat on the bed; her back leaning on the headrest. Her focus was laser-sharp as she did the pettiest heist she had ever done in her life.

Picking up the phone beside her, she dialed Shadow's number. "I need you to do something for me. I want it clean."

"Yes, President," Shadow replied, her head nodding on reflex. FINALLY! Shadow screamed in her head. It's been a while since she was sent into a mission, that she could feel the pulse on her neck throb in excitement.

...

It was almost midnight when Maxen got home. His footsteps were rushed as he climbed three steps at a time on the five-flights of spiral staircase to the master bedroom. He could have used the elevator, but he needed to burn a little adrenaline just so he won't explode earlier than he should.

He paused by the door, taking in puffs of air to compose himself just so he wouldn't look like he ran the marathon. Holding in his breath, he attempted to conceal his libido by adjusting his hardened length before opening the door, but it was futile. He was hung like a horse, and there's no other way to conceal it but to bury it inside Olivia.

The door slowly opened. It was dark inside, let alone for the light that filtered in through the window, but he saw her. He saw her silhouette by the bed. So he flicked a light on, the one connected on the bedside table.

Worth it.

She was all worth it.

Dressed in nothing but her birthday suit, Olivia kneeled on the bed, her palms up as she waited for her master.

Two steps in and he caught a whiff of her scent—citrus with a hint of Jasmine and green tea. A devastatingly handsome lopsided grin painted his face as he scratched the skin above his eyebrows.

"Ready to be punished, baby girl?" Maxen asked, unbuckling his belt. He circled his finger, instructing her to turn around for him, which she obliged without a word.

Kneeling on all fours, with her cheeky arse facing him, Olivia looked over her shoulders, her breathing labored as anticipation of a new promised high consumed her. 

Her eyes locked on his as he took menacing steps towards her. She should be scared, but she wasn't, even with the oozing power that Maxen wore like a cologne. Because she knew tonight she wouldn't be punished as what he was claiming, but she would be loved—the kind of love that only he could give to her.

"You didn't respond to my question, baby girl. I said, are you ready to be punished?"

Biting her bottom lip, a glint of mischief flooded her eyes. "Yes, sir."

...

It was almost noon when Olivia woke up the next day. Swiping her hand over Maxen's side of the bed, she frowned when she felt nothing but the cold silk sheets. She checked her phone and saw a sticky note pasted on the screen.

[Maxen: Let's go out and play for lunch.]

She peeled the note, planting a kiss on it. Her energy was depleted from the jetlag, and her body was sore from their activities last night, but the promise of a day out with him was enough to propel her off the bed.

After getting prepped for the day, Olivia was sitting in the breakfast room that overlooked a garden. Whilst checking her emails, her attention was stolen when Shadow entered her periphery who was balancing a platter covered with a dome lid.

"President," Shadow offered. Her face was stoic after serving the platter in front of Olivia. Lifting the lid off for her boss, she bit the inside of her cheeks to prevent herself from combusting with anger.

Last night, she thought she'd tap out from an adrenaline high just like the previous missions Olivia gave her. However, to her surprise, she found herself back in the hotel they checked-in.

Checking the encrypted mission on her phone, Shadow growled, cursing herself for doing a crime she didn't want to get listed in her resume.

"Excellent job as always, Shadow," Olivia complimented her, smiling at the straight-faced Shadow.

"Just doing my job, President." 

"Throw it out. I don't want to see it again," Olivia said and placed her napkin on the table, standing up. 

She wanted the revolting thing out of her sight, but paused when Shadow offered a small sledgehammer with a green satin bow tied to it.

"A gift from His Highness, President."

A slow, wicked smile painted Olivia's face, lifting the platter up and bringing it outside in the garden. All the while, Shadow was stuck in a limbo as the chronology of events flashed in her eyes.

If she thought last night how insane stealing three tiny bells, and not the entire bracelet was, she was proven wrong the next morning when Maxen passed her the sledgehammer.

"She'll know what to do with that," Maxen casually said, his hands dipped inside his pockets as he left the townhome for his prior engagement.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shadow watched Olivia from afar as the latter release all her anger with every pound of the hammer on the platter. 

She's used to Olivia's displacement anger issues, she was the recipient of it once too. But what baffled her the most was how Maxen gifted her boss something that could be the cause of his death in the future.

"Wait a minute." Shadow's hands turned into white-knuckle fists. "How did his highness know?" Her eyes darted around, scanning the room but saw not a single security camera. She did her sweep last night and saw nothing too.

Snapping her out from her dilemma was the door sliding open, and a beaming Olivia who dusted her hands clean.

"Ha! That felt amazing." Olivia panted. She took her phone sending Maxen a thank-you message for giving her a hammer with the right amount of weight for her so she wouldn't strain herself.

[Maxen: Anything for you, baby. I told the driver where to drop you off. I might run a little late. Did you like my gift?]

[Olivia: I love it. How did you know I needed one anyway?]

[Maxen: The mayor is a good friend of mine. He could officiate us this evening so you can get your answer.]