It took her five days, but she finally managed to squash all lingering rumors. It was easy finding the big name that fanned the kindling. It was the small sources which wrote more story for the world to read what caused more problem.
She was finally back in her office, going through documents, when Carlos knocked.
"Miss Olivia, Mr Faust is here to see you."
"I'm busy." Her rejection was immediate.
"Won't you hear me first before showing me out?"
Cedric Faust in flesh always turned head to his direction, thanks to his look and strong presence which demanded attention. But that rarely was the case where Olivia was concerned.
She didn't stop her hand nor did she look up. She simply threw an instruction directed to no one in particular. "Talk."
Taking that as his cue, he moved to take a seat in front of her. Carlos nodded once before he exited the room.
Cedric waited, hoping for Olivia to give him her attention which he knew was in vain. Somehow, deep down, Cedric had a nagging suspicion that Olivia saw him as nothing more than a boy, which was ridiculous considering he was older than her. Silently suppressing a sigh to himself, he pulled out an envelope. He placed it on the table, slowly pushed it towards her.
"What's this?" Olivia asked with disguised curiosity.
Finally, something caught her attention! Cedric hid his urge to roll his eyes. "That's my apology for you."
Olivia took the envelope and locked eyes with him. Instead of saying anything, she simply arched her brow. Cedric kept silent, refusing to speak first. But it was only moments before he gave in. He never won against Olivia, much to his dismay. "That's for the trouble with the press... and the trespassing incident."
For a man of his standing, one that was always confident with his self, Olivia would sometimes made him feel slightly, just slightly, less sure of himself.
"Well, well... isn't this a good apology gift you me." She mused as she went through the documents. Each page clearly told her what she would receive if she just decided to place her signature on the papers. Which was immense, by all standard.
"How thoughtful of you," she remarked cynically when she finished reading them. Olivia watched as Cedric grew slightly restless under her unrelenting gaze. He looked like he wanted to ask her to stop staring but not daring to so. Keeping her gaze on Cedric, she gently placed the documents back on the table. "So what do you want from me?"
A deep frown formed on his face, looking taken aback at her question. Struggling to hide his confusion, Cedric asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Olivia scoffed softly. Cedric had always managed to amuse her, somehow. Which was why she kept him within arm's reach, despite their troublesome past together. Cedric was a constant source of amusement, sometimes a huge annoyance, among many other thing.
There was hint of storm brewing and Cedric realized the need to tread carefully forward, or his meeting with Olivia that was intended as an apology might ended up in another dispute.
Sobering up, a small smile plastered on , she continued. "What do you mean by offering me this?" She gestured to the envelope.
The documents in the envelope hold a king's ransom that would make any sane person salivating. She even recognized a property that was considered as his prized possession, which raised her suspicions. Olivia couldn't fathom why he would go to such length to offer it freely for her. And without so much as a reason —a reason solid enough that she couldn't refute. She never believed in charity; she disliked it, even more so if it was branded as 'honest charity'. It reeks of bullshit. There was no such thing as giving without gaining in this world.
When he seemed to click the implications of her words together, his expression changed.
She saw how his eyes darken fleetingly before it was gone. Olivia silently praised Cedric for being able to mask his emotions that finely. Not many had their self in check when they were in front of her. Though being such a successful man as he was, it was a given he learned how to do so.
Sighing, he ran a hand in his immaculately styled hair, destroying the immaculate look, while giving him a more sinful vibe. "Look, there's no hidden meaning behind that."
Olivia's expression didn't change. She still have that business look on her.
"It's an apology gift from me. That's it," He added.
Olivia shrugged. "One can't be too sure."
Exasperated, he leaned forward, propped his hand on her desk and in his very male, very seductive voice, emphasizing on every word, said, "I simply want to be forgiven, Queen."
Oh how the ladies in the world would have swoon and melted at his feet if they listened to the plea and conviction in his voice then. Just as Cedric was using full force of his charms unaware, Olivia seemed to dismissed it as easily. She was more vexed with what Cedric called her, though she had long given up trying to make him change that nickname.
Olivia nodded after a moment of dragged silence. "Very well. You are forgiven." She decreed.
A clear look of relief crossed his face. To be on bad term with the Queneviere is not a pretty matter, although, not many dared to raise her anger in the first place. It's a wonder how he managed to all the time.
Before he could add anything, Olivia added with a pointed look towards the envelope, "But I'm not accepting that."
Cedric lips thinned into a straight line. That was a sign that he wouldn't listen to it and ensured he would get his way. He always did get his way with others but never seemed to learn the trick when dealing with Olivia, and that irked him.
Olivia chose to ignore him and continued her with her business from before she was interrupted. The matter was clearly considered done and she willed him to show himself out. He should know her well enough to know it too. When he was still silent in his seat minutes later, she looked up and stared straight into his eyes. "Anything else you want?"
"No. That'll be it for now."
"Good," Olivia said, her voice dismissive.
Knowing better than to stay, Cedric moved despite his clear reluctance and dissatisfaction. Olivia had her eyes on him, sending him off from her seat. When he reached the door, he stopped and turned, his eyes lighting up as if remembering something very important.
"Yes?"
"I'm attending a Gala tonight." He started.
Olivia waited for him to continue.
"Will you come as my partner?" Cedric asked, a small part of him hesitant.
The pin-drop silence was broken by Olivia laughing.
"And fuel back the kindling?" Olivia lifted a brow, referring to the now dead scandal. "Cedric, you never learn your lesson don't you?"
Cedric crossed his arms. "Besides many prominent people coming tonight, there's also a few estate people from different part attending. And I think I heard that the owner of the vineyard you wanted to buy will also be attending."
He carefully arranged his sentence. He needed to play his card cautiously.
"I was thinking that you might be interested to attend. Since you won't take presents for apology, I was hoping you will consider this as one."
Her face impassive, she mentally debate the merit and demerit of attending. After some rough calculation, she decided that she could handle with whatever arrived on her doorsteps.
"Well. It'll mostly be fine, so alright."
Cedric looked quite taken aback with her reply. It was shown on his face clear as the day. While he did invite her, he knew his chance was very slim.
She proved him wrong.
To ensure he did not misheard, he asked for confirmation. "You will?"
"Why not?" She shrugged. "I'm positive I can silence anyone that have a say about me, face on." A small calculative smile decorated her face. "Nothing much to lose from my perspective."
As if in daze, Cedric nodded and excused himself out after murmuring something she couldn't catch on. Olivia watched as he closed the door and disappeared behind it.