Olivia My head pounds as I drive to work. I already texted Simon not to pick me up from
Liam’s place this morning. –Simon: Is everything okay? –Me: It’s fine. My morning sickness
is under control now. I’m driving to work myself. See you later. I’m not discussing my
marital troubles with my assistant, no matter how long he’s been with me. Still, as my eyes
burn and I fight to ke ep them open, I wonder if I should’ve asked him to drive me. No. That
would have meant he’d have to come to my Century City condo, which would mean he’d
know something was up between me and Liam. Nothing between us is for anyone else to
gossip about, ever. When I walk into the office, Simon studies me with a particularly
probing gaze. Do I look that bad? I took care this morning to cover up my dark circles and
other signs of fatigue. Appearance is everything—that’s how I fooled everyone into thinking
I was just a helpless heiress until I was ready to strike. Maybe that’s why Liam believed I
was wonderful until he saw underneath the surface. I flex my hands to hide the slight
tremor. “You look tired,” he comments finally. “Growing a baby takes it out of you.” I force a
little airiness. “Lay out the day for me.” He starts reciting the day’s agenda. I reach for my
crystallized ginger, then pause. The hexagonal jar isn’t on the shelf anymore. “Where did
the ginger go?” I say, interrupting Simon. “It’s right there.” He points to the tin. “No, the
one Liam brought.” The one that I really want.
“Oh. I threw it out this morning.” My head starts to pound. “What?” I couldn’t have heard
that right. He shrugs. “You always throw away things from your exes when your
relationships end—” It takes a moment for the implications to percolate through. Then rage
erupts. How dare he define what Liam is to me? I jump to my feet. “Who told you Liam’s my
ex?” Simon flinches and takes half a st ep back. “Aren’t you guys done? He isn’t with you
anymore.” What the fuck? “Who said we’re done? He’s—” The man I love sticks in my
throat. “The father of my child,” I manage to finish. He holds up a placating hand. “Yes, I
know. But I went by the house today, and nobody was there. Not you, not him.” “You were
spying on me?” My voice grows shrill. Just what the hell has Simon been up to behind my
back? “No, of course not. But I can guess what happened. He left you over what you said.
He doesn’t deserve you.” “What did I say?” I demand, my voice shaking despite my hopeless
struggle for control as dread digs into my heart like an ice pick. I haven’t felt this since
Brielle hit Pochi with her car. Simon clears his throat. “Well... You basically called him a
pawn.” What? “How would he know that particular detail from our private conversation?” I
manage through the panic knotting in my belly. He hesitates. “Simon.” “He...” He swallows.
“I think he was here on Friday.” My vision blackens for a moment. I reach out to grab
something before I fall. “Olivia!” Leaning forward and bracing myself on the desk, I raise a
hand to stop him from touching me. I can’t even bear to look at him right now. How could
he... Hugh, Deena, Brielle... and now him too?! I slowly put it together. “You knew, didn’t
you? That he was here. Listening.” Simon averts his eyes. “Answer me!” “Yes.”
Fuck! I start shaking. I bury my face in my hands. No wonder. I try to recall exactly what I
said. Something about a pawn and discarding or something like that, I think. And how I
didn’t pick Simon to be the father of my baby because I valued him too much as a partner or
whatever. The mental gears spin faster, but I can’t recall everything. Regardless, nothing I
said could’ve landed well with Liam. No wonder he came home looking like a man who’d
lost the world. He genuinely loves this baby. His feelings for me... despite the contract
between us... are real. Shit. “You egged me on.” I lower my hand and glare at Simon, so I
can see if he’s lying to me. His Adam’s apple bobs. “Olivia... I just wanted you to see he isn’t
worth the emotional investment you’ve been putting in—” “That isn’t your job, Simon.”
“He’s weak—” “No. He’s a hundred times the man you’ll ever be.” His lips tight, he stares at
me defiantly. Is this the first time? What else has he done behind my back? I consider my
relationship with Liam, then pause. “Did you withhold the health r eport I asked you to send
Liam?” Simon blinks rapidly twice. “I told you, the spam—” “Yes or no, Simon.” Even as I
say it, I know the answer. “Yes. But only because I didn’t think he deserved it. You should
be able to ke ep some privacy even if you’re marrying him.” “I didn’t hire you to judge my
life choices.” I point a finger at his sickeningly righteous face. “Get out.” He turns white as
a sheet. “Are you firing me?” “Yes.” “Olivia, don’t throw away our relationship over him.” I
shake my head. “You threw away our relationship when you thought you could manipulate
my life. I can’t trust you anymore.” He sways. “Olivia, please... Give me another chance.” I
look away. He clenches his hands, then spins around and nearly runs out of the office. The
moment he’s gone, I plop down in my chair. Damn it. Shit, shit, shit. I tunnel my fingers into
my hair. Just what the hell was I thinking? I
should’ve been more careful. Liam’s been stopping by after I got pregnant. Why run my
mouth, even to manage Simon? Who cares what he thinks, anyway? Liam didn’t come home
last night, even after my text telling him I moved out. Did he block me or is he just not even
looking at anything I send? I can’t sit still anymore. I pick up my purse and start walking
out. Simon looks up from his desk, stopping in the middle of putting things in a box.
“Olivia—” I stride past as though he’s invisible. Everyone’s eyes follow, then swing to
Simon. Under different circumstances, I might say something to spare Simon’s dignity. But
he brought this on himself. He can deal with it. I drive to Kingswood Stones & Designs. I
have to see Liam and explain that I didn’t mean any of what he heard. He isn’t a disposable
pawn, damn it! My mind races. I run through numerous scenarios. What I would say. How
he might respond. Start with an apology first. Then tell him what happened. Tell him you
care about him, and it’s scaring the shit out of you. Explain you can’t afford any
distractions. My hands flex around the steering wheel as I struggle to control the tremors
rushing through me. One thing at a time. I park my car and head inside. Nobody stops me
as I cross the marble floor. Walking briskly, I slip into the corporate elevator and go up to
the executive level. My legs are shaking; I stiffen them. Maintain eye contact. Show him I’m
serious about him. I can do this. The moment the elevator reaches Liam’s floor, I st ep out
into the hall. Emmie’s at her desk outside his office, but she immediately stands and blocks
my way. I arch an eyebrow, my unblinking eyes on hers. “Move.” “No.” She crosses her
arms. “I’m—” “I know who you are. His wife. But he isn’t here, and it seems you don’t know
that. He isn’t answering calls or texts.” She scowls up at me. “What did you do?”
Her question hits me like a wrecking ball because it’s all my fault. She continues, “He’s
never done this before. He loves his work, and he’s always so happy and positive. Then you
show up, and he’s—” She shakes her head. “It’s a misunderstanding.” I hate it that Emmie
has noticed the changes in him, none of them good. As his wife, I should’ve observed them
first, but I’ve been too caught up in my plan. “A misunderstanding?” She frowns in
confusion. “He’s one of the sweetest, most even-tempered people I know. He’d never jump
to conclusions, especially with you. He loves you, you know. Everyone at work can tell.” I
bite my lip, unable to say a word. “Anyway, he’s not here. So please leave.” I swallow, then
nod. If Liam isn’t here, I have no reason to linger. I walk out, my whole body numb. Back on
the street, I lean against the roof of my Audi and breathe hard. Oh my God, Liam loves me.
But I knew it, de ep inside, didn’t I? I just didn’t want to acknowledge it because if I did, I’d
have had to do something about it. Either to come clean and tell him I’ve come to love him,
too... or cut him loose because anything else would be stringing him along. Exc ept I didn’t
want to act because I was consumed by my desire for justice for Mom. I didn’t want to
acknowledge anything that might soften my resolve. Now look what I’ve done. My hands
curl into fists against the hot metal. I’m the biggest fool in the world. Liam was never a
pawn. He’s the king—my king—without whom the game is lost. And I just kicked him off the
board. I squeeze my eyes shut. My heart knew long ago he’s much more important than I
pretend. It knew when I said to his parents that he was the most important person in my
life. I should’ve realized it sooner. “You don’t look so good. Pregnancy messing you up?” I
tense. Then, inhaling quietly, I push myself off the car, put on my impassive mask and turn
around. Brielle stands before me in a bright red dress, tight enough to be vulgar, despite
the excellent cut of the design. But then there aren’t any ugly Armani dresses, just ugly
people.
“Hello, Brielle. I see you’re out enjoying yourself. How’s the new Ferrari?” I tick my fingers
one by one. “You have about eight months left to enjoy it.” Her smile grows stiff. “Don’t
worry. I’m getting a lot of fun out of it. Just like I did with Jake.” I ke ep my expression mild.
I thought I loved Jake eight years ago, and even cried a little when he left, but what I felt for
him back then can’t compare to what’s in my heart for Liam. Losing Jake was akin to a cut
on the finger. Inconvenient and painful, but quickly healed. Losing Liam is like having my
guts pulled out—unbearably agonizing and difficult to recover from. “And Tyler,” she adds
with a more natural-looking grin this time. “Why all alone today, though? Isn’t your husband
accompanying you?” “He’s busy working. Unlike some people, we actually make ourselves
productive and contribute to society.” “Funny. But you know what...?” She makes a show of
looking around. “I don’t think he’s here. I didn’t see him anywhere inside the store. I even
asked to see him to arrange a private commission but—sadly—he seems to be unavailable.”
She watches my reaction. I smirk. She’s never getting the satisfaction. “He’ll never be
available to you.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “He isn’t to you, either, is he? Was he upset
when you couldn’t explain why you were all over your assistant during that recent lunch?
Or why you came out of that hotel looking disheveled with Simon smoothing your hair last
Christmas? That wet spot on your dress— was it his semen? Like that infamous blue dress?”
Her eyes shine. The Christmas party for Luminary & Co. Everyone got a little too rowdy,
and people started to dance, excited about the product lines and fat bonuses. Cindy from
accounting lost her balance and spilled a bit of eggnog on my dress, and the heel on my
shoe broke, so Simon helped me to my car. But of course Brielle would’ve twisted it into
something filthy. “You little bitch,” I grit out between clenched teeth before I can catch
myself. She laughs. “What? I didn’t do anything but show him what you’ve been up to. Not
my fault you were caught in those compromising photos and videos.”
“Did you send them to Liam?” Is that another reason he’s been weird since Thursday? “Oh, I
did better. I showed them to him myself. He couldn’t take his eyes off them. His onesie
shopping was probably ruined. But...” She shrugs with faux innocence, even as her eyes
glint with undisguised malice. “I didn’t mean to. You know that, Olivia. I never mean to hurt
anybody.” “That’s right. You never mean to. It just happens.” I shoot her a cold look, then
lower my voice and take a st ep closer until I can almost count her lashes. “But guess what,
Brielle?” “What?” she says, her voice slightly unsteady. “When I do something, I do mean to.
I mean to take over the trust. I mean to kick all three of you parasites off it. I mean to make
your life worse than death. And I don’t care that you know that I mean to do all those things
to you—and more. Be sure to enjoy these next few months. They’re all you have left before
you start experiencing all the things I mean for you.” She turns ghostly white. I start
climbing into the car, then pause and look at her over my shoulder. “By the way, Tyler really
wants that honeymoon on Laucala Island.”