"Olivia," Ethan called from his office, "can you come into my office?"
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Olivia replied, "How can I help you, sir?"
Her teasing tone was hard to miss, suggesting an underlying playfulness in their interactions. Ethan couldn't help but smile at her response. "Sounds like someone needs to learn some manners," he retorted with a hidden meaning behind his words.
Olivia secretly wondered if he would be the one to teach her. Thoughts of her hands being bound while he "taught" her a lesson had her turning three shades of red.
Olivia cleared her thoughts and asked, "What's on your mind?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair and began, "There's a seminar coming up on the outskirts of Colorado next week. Logan and I are attending, and I'd like for you to come along. You won't have to do much work, and you can enjoy some of the area while you're there."
Olivia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you serious, Ethan? I've always wanted to see snow in the winter. Being from the South, we don't get that much here."
With a nod, Ethan affirmed, "Yes, I'm serious. Please make the travel arrangements for all of us."
Olivia practically skipped back to her desk, bubbling with enthusiasm. Colorado, here I come!
As Olivia sat back down at her desk, she was surprised to receive a call from Jenna. It was the middle of the day, and she knew something must be amiss. "Jenna, is everything okay?" she inquired, concern lacing her words.
"Not really, Olivia," Jenna replied somberly. "Can you meet me for lunch? I could use a friend."
"Of course," Olivia responded warmly. "I'll meet you at Pete's Grill at noon."
"Thank you," Jenna said appreciatively before hanging up, leaving Olivia with a sense of urgency and a desire to support her friend.
Jenna
"I quit." Jenna's revelation left Olivia stunned.
"You quit your job?" Olivia asked in disbelief.
Jenna nodded solemnly. "Yes, I did. It was just too much, Olivia. Being around my ex and his new partner, trying to climb the ladder, it was all too overwhelming. The firm's partners would never take me seriously, so I said, 'Take this job and shove it.' It felt right at the time, but now I'm not so sure."
Olivia empathetically took Jenna's hand and reassured her. "Jenna, it will work out, I promise. You're not alone in this." Then, an idea sparked in Olivia's mind. "You know, I'm heading on a business trip with the company to Colorado next week, but I won't have much work to do there. Why don't you come along with me? We can visit the spa, maybe take some ski lessons."
Jenna hesitated for a moment. "I don't want to intrude," she said.
Olivia shook her head. "It won't be an intrusion at all! Plus, Logan will be there, and he specifically asked about you the other day."
Jenna's eyes widened in surprise. "He did?" she questioned.
Olivia grinned mischievously. "Yep, and I have a feeling you two might really hit it off. I'm not saying you're looking for a relationship, but a few days away might do you some good. We can be snow bunnies together!"
Jenna considered it for a moment, then smiled. "You know what, Olivia? I think I'll take you up on that offer. A change of scenery might be just what I need."
Olivia cheered excitedly, and the two friends began planning their upcoming adventure to Colorado.
Daniel
As the girls enjoyed their lunch, across town, Daniel stared at his food while in deep thought.His life had spiraled into a dull void of meaning since Olivia left him. He had thought that a divorce would be a liberating move for both of them, an opportunity to explore new horizons, but now he realized how wrong he had been.
In the beginning, he had been genuinely attracted to Cindy. They had spent a lot of time together, discovered numerous shared interests, and even shared some romantic encounters while he was still married to Olivia. But as the initial excitement of a new relationship faded, he increasingly longed for Olivia. Daniel knew he couldn't let Olivia discover the truth about his involvement with Cindy while they were still together.
The thought of her with Ethan made him uneasy. After all, he had been Olivia's first, and she had never been with anyone else. It wasn't easy to accept that she had moved on, and the idea of her being with another man gnawed at him.
Yet, the history they shared, the countless memories, and the deep connection they had once enjoyed continued to tug at his heart. He couldn't ignore these feelings any longer. He decided to pursue Olivia, to make it work again and rekindle the love they had shared. Ethan, who appeared fiercely possessive of Olivia, was the only obstacle in his path.
Daniel was prepared to use their shared past experiences to rekindle their relationship. He had made up his mind and was determined not to be deterred. Olivia would be his once more, and together, they could finally realize the dreams of a family they had once cherished.