OLIVIA
He had to be joking if he thought I was going to allow him speak to me in whatever he wanted.
I was fuming as I laid in my bed, staring up at the ceiling.
It did not help my anger that I was also starving.
I had had nothing to eat throughout the day before coming here and there had been that utterly rude statement from him that made me retire to the room he had picked out for me for the rest of the day.
I turned, my eyes meeting the bedside lamp and the note he had attached to it welcoming me to his home.
I scoffed.
So much of a welcome if he was going to begin bossing me around.
Granted, it had been a stupid idea for me to bring whatever had been in that box inside his home. It could have been a freaking bomb but then what man would be paranoid about a fancy box if he wasn't involved in something extremely shady
I had been too pissed off to even want to know what had been delivered to him.
I winced when my stomach notified me for the umpteenth time that she needed something in her.
I tossed the blanket away from my body and rose.
This would simply not do.
I could allow myself remain pissed with him but I had to eat.
As much as I wanted to avoid him for a while, I could not very well starve myself to death.
I traced my steps around the house, making sure to not make a sound to alert him I was up and about.
When I docked into the kitchen, my steps slowed because he was there, sitting at the counter with a glass of whatever liquid in his hand.
My throat dried as my eyes raced hungrily over corded arms ripping with muscles and tattoos.
Of course he had tattoos, he was Spanish and might be involved with the mafia.
He looked so out of place with the joggers he was wearing and singlet that exposed how hard he goes to work on his body
I cleared my throat, beating myself over the head for standing there and ogling him.
I brushed past him and reaching for the fridge which I pulled open
He had his things arranged in rows of pre-packed containers sat neatly stacked, each labeled with something like "Chicken Breast" or "Steamed Veggies."
I rolled her eyes. Of course, he was the type to live on lean protein and broccoli…predictable, but useful.
Where did I think he got those muscles from?
With a resigned sigh, I grabbed a container of grilled chicken, a bag of baby spinach, and half an avocado from the shelf. The quinoa on the door shelf caught her eye, and I snagged that too.
Guess I am stuck eating like Mr. Perfect-for-Instagram tonight, I thought, grabbing a cutting board. I wasn't going to complain, though…the ingredients were fresh, and I was starving.
"Olivia" I heard him call out.
"Yes?" I muttered, patting myself on the back for sounding very nonchalant.
"I am sorry" He said.
My hand froze.
Well, that was far from what I was expecting.
What exactly had I been expecting?
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that most of the men in my life rarely apologized for being assholes.
Take Liam for example.
He had cheated on me and if what Emily said to me had any truth in it… multiple times but he had not even apologized for that at least.
"I should not have spoken to you like that and it was an asshole move and I am sorry… I do not have any excuse" He added.
Now, how could a girl stay mad at that?
"I am glad you are well aware you are an asshole" I said, cringing at my snide remark.
He chuckled at this.
Another far reaction from what I had been expecting.
I raised my eyes to his.
He had his eyes on me and I suddenly wondered if I was looking crazy.
Was my hair sticking out in angles? I thought.
"Hungry?" I asked, pointing at the cutting board in front of me.
He shook his head in the negative, holding up the glass.
I rolled my eyes.
"You cannot possibly survive on that"
"Try me" He cast me a grin, taking another sip of the liquid in his glass.
I watched his throat bop as the liquid passed through and suddenly wondered about being the liquid.
My eyes lingered on him longer than I intended, tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, the way the singlet he had on stretched over his broad shoulders, and the easy confidence in his posture. He wasn't doing anything particularly remarkable…just drinking for Christ sake but somehow, even that seemed effortlessly magnetic.
My stomach twisted, a fluttery mix of excitement and nerves that made her feel like she had forgotten how to breathe properly. I jolted, reaching for the frying pan, pretending not to notice him, but my hand shook slightly as I reached for the salt. I was not used to feeling this... aware of someone, as if the air in the room had shifted to revolve around him.
It was different with Liam… it had been companionship with him.
Friendship that did not make me as jittery as I was feeling at the moment.
When I glanced up, catching his gaze, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly looked away, heat creeping up my neck.
What is wrong with me?
I wasn't some lovestruck fool, yet the way his lips quirked into a faint, knowing smirk made my knees feel oddly unsteady. It was infuriating…and, annoyingly, thrilling.
I had just been cheated on… I should hate the male populace in general not ogling one of them in his own kitchen.
That had to be it.
It was because I was in his space… that is why I was thinking about him in such a way.
I sighed, telling myself over and over again that I felt nothing and this was just because I was vulnerable and he was somehow in my space.
"What do you think about dinner tomorrow?" He asked.
My eyebrow raised at this.
"Where?" I asked.
"Some friends are hosting a ball and-"
"A ball?" I gasped.
I had always wanted to attend a ball.
"Is that a good gasp or a bad one?" He asked.
"A good one" I squealed, my eyes lighting up with excitement. "I have always wanted to attend a ball but-"
The smile left my face.
He did say some friends.
Did that mean his mafia friends? Was I going to be introduced to the Galician mafia?
"But?" He prompted.
"What friends?" I asked.
He stared at my question and I quickly rephrased.
"I am wondering if they are folks I know" I muttered, breathing as slowly as I could whilst maintaining eye contact.
If he was directly involved with the mafia, it would do me no good for him to know that I was aware of his connection somehow.
"Just some work friends" He replied.
Vague, I thought… very vague.
"Okay then" I muttered, my eyes returning to the pan.
"You do not sound happy about-"
He was interrupted by the thrilling of his phone and I was glad I did not have to answer what he had been about to ask me because I wasn't exactly the best at keeping poker faces.
He returned minutes later with a blank look on his face and a sense of urgency in his step.
"I have to leave for a minute. You will be fine all alone?" He asked.
"Of course" I smiled at him, dishing the meal I had prepared into a plate.
He nodded, hesitated for a bit before he walked away.
I heard the door click and suddenly I wanted to check out his room.
If there was something he was hiding, it would have to be there, wouldn't it?
It wasn't the best idea but I had to know exactly what I was getting myself into with him.
I hesitated at the door to his room, my hand resting on the handle. It wasn't like I was snooping…well, not really. I told myself I was just... curious. With a small push, the door creaked open, and I stepped inside, immediately hit by the faint, familiar scent of him. Crisp, clean, and maddeningly intoxicating.
My eyes scanned the space, noting the dark, minimal decor, the absolute lack of clutter, and then—oh.
"Wow," I whispered, stopping in my tracks. My gaze landed on the bed, and it was enormous. A king-size bed? No, this looked more like a royalty-size bed, with enough room to hold a summit meeting…or, you know, a very close party of three.
The thought popped into my head before I could stop it, and I felt the heat creep up my neck. What is wrong with me? I shook my head, biting back a nervous laugh as I stepped closer.
I ran my hand along the edge of the mattress, fingers sinking slightly into the plush surface. It was absurd, really. Who even needed a bed this big? Was he compensating for something? Or...
I shook my head again, harder this time. Nope. Bad direction. No thinking about that. But I couldn't help glancing at the neatly smoothed sheets, picturing myself stretched out on all that space. Would it feel luxurious? Lonely?
Stop it. Just stop.
With a huff, I yanked my hand back, determined to ignore the bed's ridiculous allure.
I wasn't here to wonder about what the man was doing on his own bed, I was here to…
I spun around at the sound of the door clicking shut behind me, my stomach plummeting like I had been caught stealing from a cookie jar. He stood there, leaning casually against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Enjoying yourself?" His deep voice sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.
"I…uh…was just…" My brain scrambled for an excuse, but the sheer size of his smirk told me he wasn't buying it.
"You were just?" He prompted, one eyebrow quirking up in amusement as he stepped into the room, closing the distance between us.
"I was... curious," I admitted, crossing my arms as if that would somehow shield me from the magnetic pull of his presence. "Your room is ridiculously neat, by the way. It's unnatural."
He chuckled, low and rich, his gaze dropping to the bed behind me. "And the bed? What do you think of that?"
My cheeks flamed. Did he know what I'd been thinking? "It's... big," I said, cursing myself for the weak response.
His smirk deepened, and he tilted his head. "Big enough for...?"
I glared at him, my embarrassment shifting into irritation. "Oh, please. Don't flatter yourself. Not everyone is fantasizing about you, you know."
His laughter was quiet but devastatingly smug. "Never said you were. But now I am wondering what exactly was on your mind."
I felt my face go hot enough to rival the sun. "You are insufferable," I muttered, trying to sidestep him, but he moved, blocking my path.
His expression softened, and for a moment, the teasing glint in his eyes gave way to something warmer, gentler.
"You don't have to explain yourself," he said, his voice quieter now. "Stay out of trouble, though. You never know what secrets you might uncover."
There was something unspoken in his words, something that sent my heart into an unsteady rhythm. I didn't know how to respond, so I ducked under his arm, determined to escape before I embarrassed myself further.
"By the way," he called after me as I reached the door, "You are more than welcome to explore anytime. Just don't get caught next time."
I didn't look back, but I could feel his grin following me down the hall.