Chapter <b>94 </b>


    With growing dread, she opened the conversation, and <b>the </b>message jumped out at her in mortifying splendor:


    Of course, baby.


    Sent at 2:48 AM.


    The phone nearly slipped from her fingers. “Oh God.” Olivia could feel the blood draining from her face. “Oh God, oh God, oh God.”


    She stared at the screen, willing the message to disappear, but it didn’t. “I must have been drunk. I was drunk and tired and


    Olivia buried her face in her hands. Her stomach churned in


    utter panic and mortification.


    What a start to her day.


    *Olivia*


    Heat crept up my cheek. The past few days had been hit after


    hit of embarrassing moments. But this definitely took the cake.


    What was I going to do?


    Maybe <b>we </b><b>could </b>rush <b>to </b><b>his </b><b>apartment </b><b>and </b>delete the from his phone, Yve offered.


    Would that work though? What if he has a password<b>? </b><b>And </b>what if he catches me?


    It’s worth giving it a shot.


    I shook my head. That’s tooplicated. I don’t want to risk <b>it</b>.


    All I could do was delete the message from my end, and pray to the moon goddess that Alexander would be gracious enough to spare me the embarrassment.


    After dressing in a ck pencil skirt and a cream silk blouse, I found myself in Alexander’s apartment, strawberry short cake in hand. It was a peace offering, and would hopefully serve as a distraction.


    I walked with my head held high, spine stiff, and followed the subtle sound of voices to the dining table. Three heads turned to face me as I entered. Alexander in particr fixed me with a meaningful smile.


    Oh, God. He knew.


    “You look well–rested,” he said, taking a bite of his steak.


    Even with the smile on his face, I noticed how tired he looked.


    There were obvious dark circles under his eyes. “I brought <b>you </b><b>a </b>


    strawberry shortcake.” I held out the paper bag.


    “Hmmm,” he murmured, eyes never leaving mine. “I have to say, Olivia, your messagest night was even sweeter”


    “Alexander, I…” I rushed out, feeling hot panic flood through me. “I’m so sorry about that message. I had way too much winest night and my vision waspletely blurred. My fingers just went haywire.” Iughed awkwardly. “It was aplete


    ident.”


    Alexander didn’t miss a beat. “Alcohol is no excuse, Olivia.”


    His voice was just as ice–cold as his re. I was about to get a


    mean old lecture from my boss.


    “If you’re bold enough to make such a ‘slip of the tongue‘ this


    time, then what’s stopping you from talking back next time?


    From letting your tongue rún away with you again?”


    My mouth fell open. He… he thought I sent it on purpose?


    “You should be more careful Olivia.” He shot me a warning gaze.


    “Words have consequences. You shouldn’t say things you can’t


    back up with actions.”


    This was unfair. I didn’t do anything, at least not intentionally.


    And my boss wouldn’t even give me a chance to exin. He was


    still looking at me like I’dmitted some sort of heinous crime.


    The distasteful look on his face made my stomach clench.


    Chapter <b>94 </b>


    He looked at me like I was some sort of maniptive woman


    who’d tried to take advantage of him and then yed innocent


    when caught.


    Ugh… How dare he look at me like that? I was being honest. I


    didn’t deserve any of this. I couldn’t understand why he


    wouldn’t believe me. Why he was so convinced that the


    message was all part of some sinister n of mine. It drove me


    half mad with anger.


    Now that neither of us were speaking, Gai and Mike suddenly


    blinked, as if seeing me for the first time since I entered the


    room.


    “Olivia,” Gai spoke first. “I thought you said you’d go to the office


    on your own.”


    The three of them were staring at me now. I had to think fast. “I


    changed my ns. I wanted to personally tell my boss a good


    morning.”


    Alexander wasn’t buying that either. He wiped the corners of


    his mouth slowly, letting me sweat before he calmly said,


    “Olivia, what did I just say about words having consequences?


    You didn’t juste running here to say good morning to me.


    There must have been some kind of ident.”


    My heart began to race. He knows, Yve said. Of course he did.


    Well, I guess it’s time to make my escape.


    I gripped the paper bag tightly and stepped forward. I deposited


    the cake on the dining table. “I should go,” I murmured, already


    backing away toward the door. “I have things to<i>…</i>”