Olivia’s back straightened as anger ran up her spine, but she tried to seem unaffected by Alexander’s treatment on the outside.
“Don’t pay Alexander any mind. You’re better off,<i>” </i>Olivia said loudly to Naomi.
This made Alexander’s hands grip onto his menu, and he spun back around to face Olivia again. He ignored the way his stomach jolted when he looked at her long, silky auburn hair. He wasn’t going to allow her to distract him with her stunning looks or charming personality.
Tonight, Alexander wanted Olivia to know that she shouldn’t spread rumors about him. That was why he had made her sit next to Naomi.
There was a small pang of regret inside of him for being cruel to Naomi with that phone call, but he had researched her social media in the car earlier and discovered she had posted a picture of him and his location without his consent. That wasn’t okay. Alexander was an important man, and every high–status business owner had enemies, Alexander didn’t want his location to be leaked, especially for the ns he had for this weekend.
“Would you like to inform Naomi that none of us would be in this situation if you just learned to mind your own business?” Alexander asked Olivia in a teasing, light tone.
But everyone could sense that there was an edge to it.
15:150
Naomi’s eyes shed to Olivia, who she had thought <b>was </b><b>on </b><b>her </b>side.
“That’s not true,” Olivia told the other woman, her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
Olivia red at her boss as a tightness formed in her chest. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple, and soon, it seemed like everyone in the restaurant was looking at her. And maybe they were. She was near Alexander Green and Naomi Wright.
“Next time, don’t believe everything you hear,<i>” </i>Alexander told Olivia, his voice still yful, but it was more like how a lion yed with its food before they ate it. “If you discover something about me from someone else, maybe you should ask me if it’s true before you spread it around the whole office.”
Alexander and Olivia’s eyes were locked together. Their tempers were rising to a dangerous level.
“I didn’t spread any rumors about you,” Olivia said through gritted teeth.
Unconsciously, they were leaning closer to each other until their faces were only inches apart.
“Yes, you did,” Alexander snapped. “Now, turn around. I’ve had enough back and forth tonight. I’d like to enjoy my dinner in peace.”
Olivia reared back like he had pped her. She had never felt so disrespected. He had spoken to her like she was a child. With a sinking feeling in her gut, Olivia realized that she had be her boss’s punching bag.
She looked to Richard and Gai for backup, but their eyes were glued to their menus. Olivia turned back around, a sense of defeat washing over her like a tidal wave.
Olivia stared unseeingly at the menu, just wanting this horrible dinner to be over with.
Then, Ava walked into the crowded restaurant. She spotted Olivia and her brother but froze in shock when she noticed that Alexander was sitting at the table behind them.
Alexander saw Ava before Olivia spotted her, and he didn’t know what came over him, but he lifted his hand and smiled at Olivia’s friend.
“Ava!” he greeted her. “Why don’t you join us?” He gestured to his table. “I can have our server get another chair.”
Naomi’s eyes widened, and her lower lip trembled. She looked down at her red dress that she had spent hours choosing for tonight. As jealousy flowed through her, Naomi watched as Alexander flirted with a woman who was dressed in jeans and a in white shirt. It felt like her heart was cracking down the middle as a server brought over a chair, and Alexander engaged the neer in conversation.
Avapletely ignored Alexander and instead turned to Richard. “Hi, there. I just puked my guts out from drive–thru coffee. But I’m feeling much better now. I’m starving.”
Naomi’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe a woman as crass as this had caught Alexander’s attention.
Alexander chuckled at Ava’s bluntness. “I’m d you’re feeling better now.<i>” </i>
15 16
<b>Chapter </b>181.
<b>She </b>turned to Alexander and narrowed her <b>eyes </b><b>at </b><b>him</b><b>. </b>“<b>I </b><b>don’t </b><b>care </b>about your opinion. You’re the one here on <b>a </b><b>date </b><b>with </b>someone else.” Her eyes cut meaningfully to Olivia and then back to Alexander.
Chapter <b>182 </b>
<b>Chapter </b>182