Olivia Sparks

Maxen's car pulled over Rockaway Tower's dimly lit bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot. With the engine still on, it was idle for a few minutes by the penthouse suite's private elevator shaft which they would use since Jack got the master key to operate it to any floors they wished to stop—specifically Olivia's decoy apartment.

Olivia, who now behaved in the passenger seat, fiddled on the flap of her handbag as she tried to come up with an excuse so that Maxen would not accompany her up to her apartment.

She swallowed nothing but air in her parched throat and quickly shifted her gaze from her bag out to the window, yet she realized it was a bad choice when she saw her reflection—lost and gloomy, a far cry from her earlier demeanor as they drove away from the Notios Estate. Horrified at her image, she whipped her head and faced Maxen who mirrored the same likeness as hers; his blue eyes, no longer clear as it concealed his distress.

"Didn't expect it to suck this way." A rueful smile painted her lips as she kept her eyes open, never blinking, afraid she might shed a tear or more.

Rubbing the back of his index finger on her cheek, Maxen watched as Olivia closed her eyes to his touch. Even when Olivia didn't want to acknowledge it, they both knew how every passing second riled them up. Playing it cool, Maxen huffed and joked, "Tell me about it. If I could bring you with me, I would. Do you want to? I can sneak you in."

"Will there be internet access 24/7?" Olivia shifted in her seat, her elbows rested on the center console as she contemplated seriously considering his offer. 

"Oh, that's just wishful thinking, baby." He unbuckled his seatbelt and faced Olivia. "Baby, there will be days that I won't be able to reach you, especially if we're in the middle of the high seas, but worry not. I will call you as soon as I can. Okay?"

Olivia nodded, her lips pursed. "I just thought," she trailed off but bottled her words up because it was best to just go home. She thought the longer they dragged their goodbyes, the harder it was for them to let go. She unbuckled her seatbelt and smiled at Maxen. "Let's go. We don't want you to be late."

...

Inside the elevator, Jack watched in equal parts amus.e.m.e.nt and sadness, as the pair stood before him, silently holding each other's hands.

He'd been a soldier once too, and he knew how excruciating it was to be drafted in a far unknown place. You see, the thing about the inevitable was no matter how much you knew it was coming and no matter how many times you tell yourself how prepared you were, when it presents itself, it blows up on your face like a ticking time bomb.

Jack's thoughts were cut short when the elevator pinged, their signal that they arrived at Olivia's floor. The group found themselves again inside the apartment where Shadow and Jack stayed in the kitchen while Maxen followed Olivia in her bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, Olivia was sitting on the bed and tapped the space to her right. She slid open the drawer on her beside table and huffed, her toes nervously tapped on her fur indoor slippers. "I bought this for you, so we could at least match in the party but I guess it will serve a different purpose now."

"Baby," Maxen grinned from ear to ear and offered his wrists. "I'm all yours, Olivia. It would be an honor to be shackled by you."

"Pfft! What nonsense are you spouting about?" Olivia rolled her eyes, yet pink tainted her cheeks. One after the other, Olivia changed the cufflinks of his dress suit and mused, "Would it be selfish of me if I wanted you to wear this every day?"

"Before I answer your question…" Maxen inched back and coiled his arms on Olivia's waist, resting his chin on her shoulders. "Thank you for this gift, baby. Even if you don't ask me, I will still wear this every day." Maxen wiggled his right hand—the octagon diamond cufflinks sparkled as it caught the light from the chandelier. He wrapped his hands on her waist and peppered the length of her neck with kisses.

Knowing Maxen's appetite, Olivia tapped out. "I think you would do us both a favor if you leave now, Max. I don't want you to extend that trip just because you were late."

…

Out in the living room, Jack stood in attention by the kitchen island, with Maxen's dress coat neatly hanging on his arm. Casting a brief look in the hallway, he saw Maxen walking behind Olivia again, this time with His Highness clinging on Olivia's waist as they walked. His ears perked up as he tried to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Stop worrying about it. A month is not that long. And you're doing it for your country," Olivia's voice echoed.

"Yah yah yah," Maxen rebutted like a whining toddler. Olivia pinched his arms. It should hurt, but he loved it, so he laughed and tightened his wrapped arms on her waist. "But what I want is to do you."

"Maxen!" Olivia stomped and glowered at Maxen. She faced him with her arms folded over her c.h.e.s.t as she gave him a once over. "Do you know what I think? I think it's a good thing that we'll be apart for a month because one more day with you and I might end up in the hospital for exhaustion."

Maxen shook with laughter as he let Jack put the dress coat on him. "The only time you will go to a hospital is when you give birth to our children."

Olivia cracked her neck from side to side to release the pent up tension that stiffened it. She gave Jack a seething glare and asked, "What are you feeding this guy, Jack? He's delusional."

Jack smiled and curtly bowed as the two walked past him, heading towards the door. In Jack's thoughts, he wanted to ask Olivia the same question because the night His Highness went out of control was the night the two met.

…

Jack and Maxen were already inside the lift with Jack's phone almost sticking on his face, ensuring everything is set and ready. However, Just as the doors closed, Maxen stepped out, never breaking eye contact with Olivia as he rushed to where she stood.

Caging her in his embrace, Maxen sang her name in praise. His nose traced the length of her neck. "Olivia. Olivia. Olivia. What am I going to do?"

"Come back to me," she breathed out the words, her hands palmed in his c.h.e.s.t. 

"You're the first person who will see me once I'm back." He dipped his head, sealing his promise with a kiss.

"I'll wait for you in your study." Olivia smiled, playing with the golden ropes that dangled on his military dress coat.

Olivia giggled and pointed at the elevator's digital board that displayed 'B' for bas.e.m.e.nt parking. "I believe Jack is waiting for you in the bas.e.m.e.nt, Max."

Maxen rubbed the skin above his eyebrow and smirked. "More time for me to kiss you then."

…

In her bedroom, Olivia spaced out by the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the sleeping streets of the metro. Suddenly, the grandfather clock in her living room gonged twelve times, telling her it was midnight—it was her birthday. And just as the clock struck twelve, bursts of fireworks painted the sky, bright and vivid. The booming sound matched the ones her heart made. Reaching for her phone, she dialed a number.

"Thank you, Maxen," she said, the instant Maxen answered the call on the first ring.

"I'm glad you love it, baby," he cooed. The soldiers that stood in a row along a red carpet that led to the gangway of the ship maintained their rigid expression, but they were all ears to Maxen's conversation.

He cleared his throat and held his breath as he readied himself for one of the toughest missions in his life and serenaded her, singing, "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday, my dear Olivia. Happy birthday to you."

In unison, the soldier's voice thundered through the speakers, sending butterflies in Olivia's stomach.

"Are you one! Are you two! Are you three!"

Turning on the speaker, Maxen gleefully spoke through the mic, "Hurry, baby. Save these men's voices because they won't stop screeching until they reach your age."

The soldiers kept chanting until everything fell silent when Olivia's bell-like laughter filled the air, tickling their ears.

"Twenty-six, Max. I'm twenty-six."

Maxen smiled. "Happy birthday, baby."

Just as the show started, the ship abruptly concluded it with a loud horn, and with a heavy heart, Maxen willed himself to end their call.

"Never lose your spark, Olivia."