Her or me?
Chapter Seven
Olivia
It was as if he’d had a wake-up call, from the moment he got the message on his phone he became hyper-energized. I couldn’t wait to get out of his office. I kept imagining him wanting to touch my hands, or even my feet.
He had a way about him, something that made it apparent to me how he had turned the company around. People walked into his office and he never shouted or demanded things of them. A simple nod or gesture seemed to tell them exactly what to do.
He showed no mercy in assuming the same of me. It was as if he was a machine or something. One meeting and then another. A single idea, and immediately I was doing some research; it was as if his brain was always on the go. I didn’t realize the time until he called me in his office and said, “That’s all Olivia. I’ll see you tomorrow around eight.”
I realized that it was eight at night. I had been here over thirteen hours and all he could say was see you tomorrow.
Scarlett had her work cut out for her. I just bowed my head, happy that my day was finally over and feeling sorry for the woman that was soon to be his wife.
***
“Aunt Veronica,” I said when she picked up the phone, thinking that I would rather talk to her on the phone before seeing her.
“Yes, Olivia. You didn’t need to call. Everything’s going so well. Besides Dawn’s sleeping right now.”
I sighed, realizing she was right. Mom was normally in bed by this hour.
“Don’t worry I’ll be home and then you can leave too.”
“Leave to go where? Didn’t Carl tell you?”
Obviously not.
“I’m moving in. I’m not getting here at six and then leaving at these times. Big Little Lies is on, the new season of The Walking Dead and Santa Claus Diet. I mean, I have a life too. I’ll miss out on all the shows if I’m going back and forth.”
That was what I was afraid of. As much as she was my aunt and I loved her to bits, she had a problem with what was reality and what was not. She seemed to think that everyone’s life was based on TV soaps, because hers was.
“I know, I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your shows.”
“My dear it’s not just my shows. Dawn likes to watch them too. I think that you stopped her watching TV—that’s why she was always so angry.”
Of course!
“Dear, take your time. You don’t need to rush back. We’re fine and don’t worry about my apartment; I’ve already rented it out.”
That was quick!
“Anyway, I have to watch the re-run of The Walking Dead. I never understand it the first time around.”
What was there to understand? There were a bunch of zombies walking around and no one knew why and the writers kept changing their minds about which characters we should love and hate.
Before I could say another word, she’d hung up the phone. I didn’t even realize that Ross was standing in front of me.
“You still here?”
“It seems that way. I was going home. But now I feel like a drink.”
Not with you; Alone!
“Sounds like a good idea,” he smiled, and I was so tempted to remind him that Scarlett would be waiting for him, but I knew that it was none of my business. I didn’t even know the woman; she was only working there for a couple of weeks.“It’s only Tuesday, I shouldn’t really.”
He sighed. “That’s a shame. I thought that we could get to know each other a little seeing as we’ve just met and I think that we started off on the wrong foot. Just one drink?”