Olivia marched down the hallway with clear objective; finding her 'dear' friend, Cedric. The earlier concern that was brought to her attention occupied her mind, with how shockingly obnoxious the statement was. The problem was that she had no memory of it happening. Ever.
"Miss, please, you can't, they're currently in the middle of a confidential meeting."
Olivia abruptly spun around to face the poor employee. She forced a smile on before smoothly adding, "I'll see that you're not held liable for it." Having said that, she continued her determined stride to her target.
She knew where she was heading. She had been at the place a few times even if it was only for business. The vast mansion that also functioned as his home office was an easy to navigate place, yet tiring because of its large space. Storming past dozens of employees that visibly tremble at her sight, she at last saw the blasted door after what felt way longer than it should have.
She stopped for a breath to collect her wits with her, before unceremoniously shoving the door wide open. The occupants in the room that could be heard arguing even from outside all went silent as all eyes turned to see who dared interrupt them. Eyes that were filled with anger changed into questioning look exchanged among themselves.
Olivia didn't have to look hard to find Cedric solemnly at the head of the table, trying to mask his surprise with a smile the moment he saw her.
The audacity of him, looking as if there were nothing wrong with the world. Her earlier boxed anger boiled to surface as she made her way inside. Frankly speaking, she was amazed that she could still control herself and not immediately burning Cedric down. Figuratively.
The room was uselessly big, but she managed to steer her way opposite to him fast enough while maintaining a semblance of grace. Glancing around the table, unconcerned with the anxious anticipation her audiences were displaying, she lifted a hand and politely gestured to the door. "Please, take your leave."
They simply stared at her in silent confusion, too shocked to move. Mouth agape and wide eyed, they turned to each other, and soon whispers filled the air. Seeing that she was not granted privacy as she desired right away, she lowered her chin slightly and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Out." Authority rang crystal clear in her voice.
As if hypnotized, all of them excluding Cedric scrambled to their feet to obey her single worded order. While they did it quickly enough, it took a bit longer than she would have liked and that added to her pissed-off list-of-the-day.
"Regal as always, Queen," a voice drawled, sounding somewhat tired but managing to appear otherwise.
Olivia look him dead in the eyes. "I will give you a chance to bloody well explain yourself," she effortlessly spewed the word with tenacity that sent chills down the marrow while keeping her composure. It was as if she was simply asking on how the weather was.
Cedric laughed —a loud, hearty sound that echoed around them. When he finally stopped, he stared straight into her eyes and ended up getting captured by the storm brewing in there, witness of her raging fury. Suddenly, he was no longer entertained.
Exasperated, he let out a heavy sigh before asking. "What the hell, Queen? You barged into my meeting only to have me explaining myself? For what, if you don't mind me asking?" His straight posture was gone, replaced by a wearied slouch.
Olivia could see that he was fighting and hiding something under his smooth and calm exterior. She was betting on exhaustion and it was obvious enough that he was having a hard time to keep control on his own building temper but she didn't bother digging up to know. That was not what was important. She smiled. "Let me enlighten you then, with a piece of information I learned earlier."
Cedric didn't like the implication of her words, neither the way she narrowed her eyes. Nor the way her mouth was tilting into an ironically sweet smile. He prayed he would survive whatever the news was about. Clearing his throat, he responded warily, "Do tell."
Without as much as a pause, she dropped the bomb. "Apparently, without much of my knowledge, I'll be a married woman in a few days, to you."
He detected a hint of amusement laced with disgust when she continued. "And looks like it was more of a getaway. A romantic elopement, so they bloody says anyway." Cedric winced at her choice of words.
"That wasn't the worst nor end." She added casually before he could say anything. "The main feature was of us furiously making out in the middle of nowhere... I can make out a beach in the background but who knows."
Suddenly the room became extremely suffocating and he was getting hot and uncomfortable while feeling chilled to no end. Unconsciously, his hand went to loosen his tie and unbuttoning his collar. He reached for his phone, ready to find the one behind the story.
"They'll close down from bankruptcy and will never be able to rebuild themselves if you filed a lawsuit against them." She calmly stated.
Suspicions immediately clad him like a well fitted suits. He ignored his secretary on the line to question her further. "Why aren't they yet, then?"
When she lift her eyes to meet his, he almost wished she didn't. "Hey, I'm not that cruel," she said innocently, silent laughter clinging to her every words.
Cedric pressed his lips into thin line. He was sure Olivia was up to something, something he didn't know about and was terrified of learning. Being able to guess Olivia Queneviere's mind was the few thing Cedric worked hard on, just so he could avoid it. He returned to his secretary on the line and made some arrangements. When he was done, she was already halfway across the room towards him, her eyes twinkling mirthfully and mysteriously. Even the way she easily ambled towards him screams trouble.
He eyed her suspiciously. "That wasn't all, isn't it?"
She laughed, and sound rang crystal clear in the air, a most bewitching sound he had ever heard. "Cedric, do you think I'll barged in unannounced if that was all?" She asked, her voice still having the hint of her earlier laugh.
He did, actually. Her questioning him would mean otherwise, which equate to something worse. If anyone ever claimed to have witness the most mirthfully, secretive behavior, he wouldn't have believed that person, for nothing embodies the phrase better than Olivia's expression when she spoke next.
"No. I want to warn you."
"About what?" He frowned.
Slowly but ever so graciously, as if measuring her steps, she closed their distance. When she stood next to him, she only stopped after she gently placed her hand on the armrest of his seat, and lowered her head slightly.
"The next time you're going to keep a... 'pet' with you, properly tie its leash." Her voice was seductively dangerous, his instinct screamed for him to be most alert. "I found one caught barking at my place last night. And not so nicely too. Despite us being inside, I'm afraid the neighbors were still inconvenience by it."
"Fuck!" He bit the word out in muted horror. It implies to a thing too many at that time.
She chuckled melodiously once again. "You do that."
Straightening herself, she gave him one of her devastatingly sweet yet icy smile before she headed for the door to show herself out. Although it was not done too fast, to Cedric's dismay.
"Until we meet again, Faust." Saying that, she opened the door and glided out of the room like she owned the place.
Silence filled the room. Short moments later, his secretary entered. "What would you like me to do, Sir?"
With a gruff voice, he managed to clip out instructions, although a bit harshly. It took his all not to slam the table to curb his anger a little.
"Also, tell the lawyer to settle everything with the lady I was with previously, and end it well. I don't want a repeat of this again." Cedric uttered in distaste. He came up with a few ways to make amends. None seemed suitable.
He sighed. "And have an apology gift drafted. Make do with my personal property. We don't have liberty nor time to get things she'd like."
"I will see to it, Sir." After taking a few more notes from Cedric, he excused himself, leaving Cedric alone with his thoughts.
Dealing with Olivia was always a big challenge even after the long years they knew each other. And only she could make him feel a fool without much effort.
Sighing, he forced himself to stand and with raging and mixed emotions, he stalked out of the room in a very much worse mood.