After the tense encounter with Jenna and his mother earlier, Ethan quickly dove back into his work, trying to get ahead on the numerous projects that needed his attention. His focus was unwavering as he typed away on his computer, making calls and reviewing reports. Olivia, on the other hand, found it hard to kill time. The atmosphere had lightened up after Jenna and Martha left, but Ethan's intense focus left her feeling a little isolated.
In an attempt to distract herself, she approached Alex, who was nearby flipping through some documents. "Hey, Alex," she said with a smile, "feel like playing a quick game of chess?"
Alex looked at her, surprised. "Chess? Well, I haven't played in a while, but I guess I have some time to spare," he said, glancing toward Ethan, who was still buried in work. "Sure, why not?"
They set up the chessboard in the corner of the office, and soon their game was in full swing. A sudden laugh echoed across the room, breaking Ethan's concentration. He looked up, his gaze falling on Olivia and Alex, deep in the middle of their chess match. Olivia's eyes sparkled with amusement, her laughter warm and infectious.
Ethan's eyes lingered on her, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He loved how easily she found joy in the simplest things. But the longer he watched them, the more a strange feeling of jealousy crept in. *Why does Alex get to spend time with her when I'm the one stuck working?* he thought to himself.
Unable to ignore the feeling any longer, Ethan stood up and casually made his way over to where they were sitting. He stood behind Alex, watching as the chess pieces moved across the board. To his surprise, Olivia was holding her own quite well.
"Not bad, Liv," Ethan said, his voice laced with admiration. "You're better at this than I expected."
Olivia flashed him a playful grin, "I have my moments."
Ethan's competitive spirit flared. He patted Alex on the shoulder and leaned down, studying the board. "Alex, why don't you get us some coffee from that cafe 10 blocks away?" he suggested, his tone a little too casual.
Alex looked up, startled. "Uh, boss, really? That's a bit far."
Ethan's smile widened, but there was no room for argument in his voice. "It's the perfect time for a break, don't you think? I'll play in your place."
Alex shot Olivia a pleading look, his eyes practically begging her to save him from the unnecessary errand. Sensing his distress, Olivia turned to Ethan, her voice light and playful. "Come on, honey, let him finish the game."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time Olivia had called him *honey*, but the fact that it was in defense of Alex made his jealousy flare even more. His expression didn't falter, though. Instead, he crossed his arms and smiled casually.
"Fine," he relented, though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Forget about the coffee. But how about this instead? Alex, why don't you grab us some desserts from Olivia's favorite dessert shop?"
Alex's face fell. He knew exactly where the shop was, and it was practically on the other side of town. "But… that's—"
"No excuses," Ethan interrupted, cutting him off with a smirk. "We're all craving something sweet, aren't we, Liv?"
Olivia facepalmed, shaking her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe how childish Ethan was being, all because of a chess game. Alex sighed, reluctantly rising to his feet, knowing there was no escaping his fate. He looked back at Olivia one last time, as if hoping she'd change Ethan's mind.
"Good luck," she said, her voice filled with sympathy, but there was nothing she could do to stop Ethan's playful demands.
As soon as Alex left, Ethan wasted no time. Before Olivia could react, he scooped her up into his arms, making her squeal in surprise.
"Ethan!" she exclaimed, laughing as he carried her across the room.
Ethan grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "If Alex gets to spend time with you, so do I," he teased, carrying her to the resting area tucked behind a partition. It was a cozy little nook Ethan had set up in his office for the rare days when he worked late and needed a break.
Olivia's eyes widened as they reached the bed. "Wait, are you seriously going to—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan gently laid her down on the bed and sat beside her. "You've been distracting me all day, Liv," he said softly, his tone more serious now as he looked into her eyes. "I couldn't let Alex have all the fun."
Olivia blushed, her heart racing as Ethan leaned in closer. "Ethan, you're impossible," she whispered, though there was no hiding the smile on her lips.
"And you love it," he replied, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
As they lay there together, the world outside seemed to melt away. Ethan's work, Alex's chess game, even the chaos from earlier—it all faded into the background. All that mattered now was the two of them, wrapped up in their own little world.
Ethan's hand rested on her waist, and Olivia felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and safety. She couldn't stop smiling, feeling like the luckiest woman in the world, even as her mind raced to keep up with the whirlwind of emotions.
They spent the rest of the afternoon curled up in each other's arms, whispering sweet nothings and stealing kisses, forgetting about everything except the love they shared.