But Richard put a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back into her seat. “Let’s leave the saving to Alexander,<i>” </i>he said and winked.


    A smirk bloomed across Ava’s face. “I like your style.”


    Richard took a picture of Olivia and Ethan, then sent it to Alexander with a message that was sure to get his attention: “Look at these two lovebirds.”


    Aiden and Ava looked over Richard’s shoulder and shared a wide–eyed


    look.


    “Richard, do you think sending that video is the best idea?” she asked gently. “Don’t you think it’s just going to piss Alexander off?”


    But it was toote. Richard had already sent the video. “That’s exactly what I want to happen? Do you want Alexander and Olivia to finally get together or not?” But there was a nervous edge to his voice as he thought about the repercussions he could receive from his boss.


    The two siblings just stared at him, unsure what to say.


    Alexander was pacing in his room, thinking about what happened between Olivia and himst night. Of course, he had enjoyed every second of their time under the moonlight. Well, except for the part where Olivia had asked for money to spend the night with him. What the hell had that been about? She had only had one shot of whiskeyst night. What had gotten into her?


    When his phone vibrated with a message, he took it out and read it quickly. When he saw the picture of Ethan holding Olivia’s hand, he


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    saw red. Then, when he read the expression ‘love birds‘ his blood boiled with rage. What the hell had Richard been thinking? Why would he send him something like that?


    Alexander ripped open his hotel room door as his hands shook with anger. When he got to the elevator bank, he jammed the button for the ground floor. After he rode three floors down, the doors opened and revealed a teenage boy who was going to step in the same elevator, but thought better of it when he saw the murderous look on Alexander’s face.


    Back at the restaurant, Ava stood up again when she saw Ethan pull Olivia tightly against his body. Ava could tell by her friend’s ufortable face that she wanted to push her ex–husband away and p him in the face for manhandling her, but she knew Olivia didn’t want to make a big scene in this crowded restaurant.


    But Ava wasn’t afraid of making a scene. Her palm twitched to p the arrogant smile off of Ethan’s face.


    Before she could intervene, though, Richard put a hand on her arm. Ava looked back at him and narrowed her eyes.


    “I need to go help my friend,” she snapped.


    “No,” Richard said calmly yet firmly. “This is a good way for Olivia and Alexander’s rtionship to progress. No one is going to interfere.” He made prolonged eye contact with Ava and then looked over at Aiden, who was halfway out of his seat, obviously nning to go over with his sister to act as backup. “You guys will have to get through me first, and do I have to remind you that I’m a ck belt in many different types of karafe?”


    *Olivia*


    As the hostess showed us to a private table in the back, Ethan


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    tightened his hold onto my hand as if he could sense that I had been nning to make a break for it.


    With no other choice–unless I wanted to make a bigmotion in front of all these people–I sat down in the seat, and Ethan sank into the chair right across from me. He kept a firm grip on my hand even as the hostess handed us our menus.


    “Awe you two make such a lovely couple,” the hostess said.


    “Thank you,” Ethan murmured and smirked. “We’re in Ld to celebrate our ten year anniversary,” he lied. “Today’s the big day.” He looked at me with adoration. “I’ve never been more in love with her


    than this moment.”


    I red at him. How could he be making up stories at a time like this? I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a pathological liar. Maybe I should have taken Ava up on her offer to send Ethan to a mental hospitalst night. Maybe he was really certifiably crazy.


    “That is so sweet!” the hostess said and pped her hands in excitement. “Congrattions, guys. Let me talk to your server and see if we can start you off withplimentary mimosas.”


    I wanted to contradict him and tell the young girl the truth, but it didn’t seem worth it.


    When the server walked away, I looked around the crowded restaurant for a distraction, and I locked eyes with Ava. She was having breakfast with Aiden and Richard, and jealousy for their normal meal made my stomach clench. More than anything, I wished that I could be sitting with them and enjoying a rxed breakfast.


    Hoping that she would rescue me, I widened my eyes at my friend, silently pleading for her help. Maybe my three friends could create a n to silently remove Ethan from the restaurant to avoid causing a


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    public scene.


    But instead ofing to help me, there was an apologetic look in my friend’s eyes, and then she averted her gaze from mine. My brows furrowed, and I looked to Aiden for help, but he was purposely staring at his te full of eggs and bacon.


    What the hell? Why were they acting this way? My heart lowered with disappointment. I thought that I would be able to count on them to help <ol><li>me. </li></ol>