My back is pressed against Tay's hard build-up chest, his arms wrapped around my torso — I can feel his breath against my neck. After the nightmare I had, he hasn't left my side. He held me in his arms like I would vanish if he let go. He kept on playing with my hair to calm me down and I gave in to his touch. It was comforting. Never in my life have I ever felt safe like I do right now.
I try to move, but his grip tightens. He nuzzles his nose in my hair, and chills run down my spine.
"Go to sleep, love," he whispers in my ear, and Goosebumps cover my body within seconds. I let out a breath and closed my eyes.
"I will be here when you wake up." he kisses me at the back of my head and my eyes burn to sleep.
****
I open my eyes to find a peaceful, beautiful face asleep. Tay looks handsome sleeping; his hair is messy, covering his angelic face. I push the hair from his face and admire his features for a few seconds. I get out of his grip without waking him up and walk to the bathroom. I take a quick shower, brush my teeth, and put on my jeans with a white t-shirt.
I look at myself in the mirror one last time and walk out of the bathroom to find Tay awake—standing by the bay window, his arms crossed over his chest. He turns to look at me and slowly approaches me.
"You okay?" he asks as he closes the space between us.
"Yeah." he caresses my cheek and I close my eyes as warm feelings cover my skin.
"If you ever want to talk about what happened to you, come to me, okay?" he offers, and I nod. He plants a kiss on my forehead and makes his way to the bathroom. I grab my phone and make my way downstairs. I find Nate, Andrew, and having breakfast.
"Morning," I say, takes a seat and fills my plate.
"Morning sister-in-law. So last night I went to Tay's room, but I didn't find him. Was he with you?" Nate asks, and I almost choke on my food. I take a sip from the glass of juice next to me.
"You don't waste time, do you?" Andrew asks Nate as he shakes his head in disbelief.
"Don't answer him, Olivia. What you guys do is none of our business." Andrew says and takes a sip of his orange juice.
Tay walks in wearing black trousers, a black t-shirt, with a black jacket suit. His hair is styled well. He puts his phone in his jacket.
"Morning." Tay says and takes a seat next to me.
"Morning," Nate and Andrew say in unison.
"Are you ready for tonight?" Tay asks Andrew, while filling his plate with eggs. Andrew nods with a bright smile on his face.
"What time is food tasting?" Tay asks, looking at me. I freeze with a toast in my hand and my mouth half-open. He never got himself involved with the wedding preparations, so this came as a bit of a shock.
"Around lunchtime?" it comes out more of a question.
"I won't make it. Will you come to the office?" He asks, and this time I release a small gasp in surprise.
"Sure," I say, and quickly take a bite of my toast to cover up my surprise. The rest of the breakfast goes by quickly, and now it is time for Tay and Andrew to leave. I am left with an annoying Nate; we watch his favorite movies, all the Fast and furious.
Boys!
After watching all the Fast and furious movies, it is time for me to go. Nate lends me his Lamborghini car keys and I couldn't be more thrilled.
The drive to Sofia's catering is short listening to music. I drive into the Sofia's catering driveway and make my way inside the shop.
"Hi, my name is Olivia Ferguson and I have an appointment with Sofia," I tell the receptionist. She looks at her computer and after a while, she sends me in.
I met with a woman in her early thirties halfway. Her brown hair is in a bun; she is wearing a blue jumpsuit printed in white stripes with black heels and has a red lipstick on her lips.
"You must be Olivia Ferguson?" The lady asks, extending her hand towards me, and I shake it.
"And you must be the famous Sofia?" she chuckles and I smile at her.
"You got that right, this way." I follow her to some room with different foods on the table.
"Please take a seat." She says, nodding at the chair. One of her employees brings a plate with different food on it. I taste all of them. Sofia chuckles.
"I take it as you love the food?" Sofia asks.
"Are you kidding? This is amazing!" I say and fill my mouth with more food, making Sofia giggle.
"Can you, like, pack some in a container? My fiancé would like to taste it too since he couldn't be here." I take a while to realise what I just said. I have never called Tay my fiancée out loud until today.
"Sure." Sofia says with a smile on her face.
She hands me a Tupperware and I drive to Payne Corporation. I park in front of the Payne Corporation building thirty minutes later. A valet opens the door for me; I grab the container from the passenger seat, my shoulder bag, and climb out. I hand the valet my car keys and walk towards the gigantic building in front of me.
I make my way to the reception. A girl is busy typing on the computer. Her blonde hair is pulled into a tight ponytail and she is munching a gum. I clear my throat, and she snaps her head to look.
"Can I help you?" she asks, eyeing my outfit.
"I came to see Tay." I say, ignoring the look she is giving me. She looks at me one last time and goes back to the computer.
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Payne?" the girl asks, still typing on the keyboard.
"No, but he is expecting me." I say.
"Sorry, can't let you in without an appointment," she spits, and it takes everything in me to control myself. I take a deep breath.
"Can you call him?" I ask.
"Nope, he is in a meeting, and he doesn't like to be disturbed when he is in a meeting." She is testing my patience.
"Look, he knows I'm supposed to meet with him today." I try to get her to let me up without having to call Tay.
"Honey, desperation doesn't suit you. I know Mr. Payne is every girl's dream man, but lies won't get you anywhere." She says and gets back to her computer.
I take out my phone and look for Tay's number. He answers on the first ring.
"Olivia?"
"Your receptionist doesn't want to let me up." I snapped.
"I will be down in five minutes."
He hangs up, and I put my phone in my shoulder bag. After a while, the elevator opens and reveals Tay.
"Next time Olivia comes, send her up immediately, or pack your shit and leave." he tells the girl with a deep voice, and she nods, terrified.
We make our way to Tay's office; I take a seat on the cream couch and place the container on the small table. He takes off his jacket and seat next to me.
"Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?" I ask.
"We are taking a break." Tay says.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asks as he opens the Tupperware and I shake my head.
"Eat with me?" he brings a spoon full of food to my mouth and I willingly open my mouth for him. Tay also uses the same spoon to fill his mouth.
"What do you think about the food?" I ask.
"It's good!" he hums.
After a while, Tay goes back to his meeting. I take out my phone to call Nora, and she answers on the second ring.
"This is a surprise!" Nora says on the other line.
"I miss you too." I say, knowing her, she is probably smiling right now.
"And I love you, my beautiful little girl." my heart melts at her words. Tears form in the corner of my eyes; I wish it was my mother telling me those words right now. But no, she is busy enjoying the money the merger is making for her. If she didn't send me to that damn boarding school, maybe I would still have my virginity. I snuck out because they were strict and I wanted to have fun for once in my life instead of reading books the whole day. Maybe if I went to a public school, I wouldn't have behaved like that.
"Livy? Sweetie, are you still there?" Nora brings me back from my thoughts.
"Y...yes." I say and wipe the tears that fell.
"Are you sure?" Nora asks and I nod even though she can't see me.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Tonight is Andrew's exhibition. I wanted to ask if you…" she cuts me off.
"Of course, I will be there," Nora says, and I chuckle.
"Alright, see you later," I say, and hang up.
I ask Tay's personal assistant where the restroom is, and she tells me with no problem.
I wipe myself with some wipers I always carry with me in front of the mirror. After cleaning myself up, I walk out and find Tay waiting for me near the elevator.
"Are you okay?" Tay asks as soon as he spots me, and I nod.
"Done with the meeting?" I ask, and the elevator opens. We step in.
"Yes."
We both stay quiet until the elevator beeps open. The valet hands Tay his car keys and I slide into the passenger seat of his BMW i8.
"I drove Nate's car here." I let him know.
"Already called someone to pick it up." he informs.
The drive back is short.
I make my way to my room as soon as we get inside the house.
I take a quick shower and dress up in a black and white simple ditsy floral flounce A sleeve dress, put on white sneakers and a moon charm layered necklace and make my way downstairs. Nate and Andrew are waiting in the living room.
"Beautiful as always, sister-in-law." Nate says, and I give him a smile. One thing I noticed about him he loves to give out compliments. Tay is still in his work black trousers, a white shirt with a few buttons unbuttoned at the top, and a black jacket suit.
"You don't look too bad yourself, Nate," I say, and my eyes travel to Tay.
"You look beautiful," he says. I blush, take his hand, and walk out.
****
When we arrive at the exhibition, the media is already at the entrance ready to take pictures. The three of us alight from the car and flash lights blind my eyes. Tay guides me to the exhibition hall as reporters ask questions about our relationship and Ria's.
I look around the exhibition as Tay goes to talk to his business associates. Andrew is really talented. An art picture of a woman catches my attention in a more private area. I slowly walk towards it. The paint reflects pain; her eyes are telling a story. She looks like she is in pain, but she doesn't want people to catch on.
She is just like you, Olivia. My subconscious adds.
"She is my twin sister." A voice I know by now says from behind, Tay.
"Well, was." he stands in front of me.
"Was?" I ask. He looks at the picture, then back at me.
"Yeah, she died two years ago," Tay says.
"What happened?" I ask.
"She was killed by an asshole of her husband. He abused her, and we didn't even know a damn thing about it. I saw bruises, but she always convinced me it was nothing and I believed her. All the signs were there in front of me and I didn't even see them." He continues, "I could have saved her, but I didn't. When I finally found out, it was already too late." I don't know what to do, so I just pull him into a hug, and he buries his head on my neck. His breath against my neck does things to my body I never thought were possible. His hands travel up to my hair, cup my face and our lips mold together.