Olivia Sparks

It was five in the afternoon when Olivia arrived at The Distillery. She gave Emily a call, informing the latter of her presence in the parking lot.

Unsure if she should barge in the premises of the bar, Olivia opted to wait for her gal pal instead.

A soft knock on the car's window told Olivia that her service arrived. She rolled down the windowpane and saw Emily grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Let's goooo!" Emily cheered, rushing Olivia to move along. "Ava's inside too. I told her you were coming, and she wanted to tag along."

Olivia side-eyed Emily, and the latter explained, "Don't worry about us. We will just make sure everything's set and you have all the place to yourself."

Taking her gal pal's word of honor, Olivia kept mum on their way to The Distillery.

"Welcome to my playground! Yeeey!" Emily spread her arms in a wingspan, presenting to Olivia the facade of the building.

It was a four-story brick building, housing liquors sourced from different countries. Each floor housed a selection of finely crafted liquors, ranging from wines to bourbons.

Olivia's eyes scanned the building. Her eyes flitted from the entrance to the topmost floor, then back to the inconspicuous double black door.

She heard of the place before and saw the business was registered in Maxen's name as well, but this was the first time she stepped foot inside the infamous bar in Nisia.

Olivia didn't feel the need to check in on the place before because Maxen avoided the place like it carried some kind of plague.

However, after hearing Emily's stories, Olivia naturally felt as if she had to see the place for herself.

That night was her once in a lifetime chance to sneak inside a past that Maxen buried six feet underground.

She knew she would never get another chance ever seeing the mid-century modern interior of The Distillery.

The clean lines and upholstered leather seats, perfect for a true gentleman, adorned the place.

Nodding her head in appreciation, the lobby alone reeked of opulence and power, a testament that only those at the top of the food chain could afford the membership in the place.

Emily eagerly dragged Olivia into her castle. The ground floor was the receiving area. 

A u-shaped bar was strategically placed in the center, surrounded by a sea of espresso-colored sofa sets.

Explaining as they sn.a.k.e.d to the other end of the building where the elevators are, Emily explained the floor plan of the premises.

"The second floor is for booths providing privacy for members. The third floor is the cigar room, and the fourth floor is the bar," Emily chirped, clapping her hands.

Olivia just smiled at her friend, but deep inside, her heart was slamming in her c.h.e.s.t because of nervousness.

Boarding the elevator car, Olivia scrunched her nose when Emily didn't press any of the numerical buttons.

"Where are we going exactly?" Olivia asked.

"Oh. We're going to letter D."

"I can see that. But what does it stand for?"

Emily winked at Olivia. "It's where most of the fun happens in this building. The Distillery, of course." 

The elevator moved upwards, confusing Olivia. But the questions in her head were soon answered when the opposite side of the elevator doors, which is another door, opened.

"Maxen got the idea from Rockaway Tower," Emily whispered in Olivia's ear before stepping out.

Walking to the floor to ceiling window, Olivia guessed they were on the other side of the Cigar Room, which was on the third floor.

Coming out of the loo, Ava's eyes burst with glitter and stars. She took hurried strides towards Olivia.

Hooking her arm with Olivia, Ava ushered her sister-in-law to a secluded area.

"Hurry. Let us see what you have for Maxen tonight."

Opening the white rectangular box, Emily and Ava gasped in unison. 

"I can't believe I can't see you wearing this later," Emily mused, holding up the hanger in the air.

"Wait? Isn't it heavy?" Ava tipped her head to the side and studied the material. Melee diamonds winked at the ladies as it hit the light.

"I tried it on earlier. It's perfect. Gail had it adjusted to my size to a T," Olivia explained, her eyes wandering around the place. "Can Shadow check the place one more time? I hope you don't mind."

Emily nodded her head and gestured to Shadow to go about and do her business. 

She could tell Olivia that there was no need to do so because electronics weren't allowed in that room, and the area was the most secure place in the building, but she wanted to give Olivia peace of mind during her stay.

Emily wouldn't blame her gal pal. As the saying went: Walls have ears. And the The Distillery was not immune to it. 

In some parts of the building, it posed as a gentlemen's club. But it's not just any other club, but a place where powerful men gather for business or p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. Gatherings that could be used for or against each member, if an ear or an eye catches what went on behind the walls.

Meanwhile, Maxen was in the middle of another security briefing when he received a ping on his phone. It was Olivia's tracker.

Fishing out his phone, he checked the location that was flashed on his screen, and his brows furrowed when a familiar coordinate mocked him.

He gritted his teeth and waited until a general was done with his briefing. Patting Wyatt on the back, Maxen excused himself and stepped out of the room to make a call.

"What are you doing in that place?" he asked as soon as the call connected.

"Having a drink. They had the best wine in town," Olivia mused. Her stomach twisted and turned, nervous at Maxen's reaction. 

"Baby…" Maxen exasperated. He scratched the skin above his eyebrow and thought for a second what he would be saying next.

He was clueless about Olivia's intention in going to that place. Was she just curious? 

Or did she want to test him? Had he said something that warranted her to see the place for herself? 

Or maybe it was Emily and Ava who told her tales about that place that made Olivia seek it out?

Seeing there was no point in his internal monologue, he sighed, "Wait for me. I'll wrap my meeting and pick you up."