Olivia Miller did not wish to be with the lady who had turned her life into misery. After the incident at the restaurant, Olivia Miller was desperate to take action; it was unfortunate that she was unable to identify the man who had insulted her.
She couldn't figure out why certain men had to be perverts. They seemed to be limited to stomping over women, treating them as though they were dirt beneath their footwear. All they saw in a woman was a fresh set of sheets to cover their mattresses for the night; they refused to perceive any value in women. Olivia despised the man even more at the mere thought of it.
Her thoughts kept straying to the stranger the entire ride. The next time she saw him, she wanted to smash the bottle on his foolish head and find out who he was.
She was usually really excellent at controlling her rage, but April William's threats and his tenacity forced her hand. Throughout the entire dinner, April had been threatening her. The fact that her phone was ringing in her purse would have raised suspicions, so if anyone had noticed her discomfort, they chose not to show it.
After Aiden drove her off, she went down the street to a fast-food restaurant and ordered burgers and chips. She needed to calm down and the food to survive another hour with April Williams.
She strolled out of the store and returned to the apartment complex, where she went to April's flat. She contemplated whether to step inside and confront her greatest adversary. For a while, she stood outside the door.
After determining what was best for them, she turned around and headed to the rooftop to control her anger. She strolled around the terrace, taking in everything. Even if the rooftop didn't look the nicest, it was still a rooftop because of its dirty surface, the large jail where Mr. Brown, the custodian, kept his doves and pigeons, and the boxes were strewn all over the area.
With a sigh, Olivia moved to the rooftop's edge to breathe the fresh air and tranquility and observe the city's beauty at night.
She put her purse and the paper bag on the little seat, then, feeling her well-combed hair, shook her palm into some more straggling strands and relaxed a little.
She removed a tiny piece of tissue from her clutch and attempted to clean the ancient bench. Eventually, she gave up trying to remove the dust and sat down. At this point, she didn't care if she got dirty, since the view was worth it.
She was able to enjoy Fort Lauderdale's beauty from her seat. She observed as many colored lights glowed in the darkness like falling stars. She felt at ease because of the structures' captivating and calming range.
She was always working and traveling, so she only had a few opportunities to do this. She couldn't even recall the last time she had gone outside to gaze at the stars and make wishes. At least she could witness something more meaningful than stars; home; something she could relate to.
Olivia grew up in the notorious Fort Lauderdale, Miami, but at fifteen, she relocated to London. The transfer drastically changed her life and came at a high cost.
Shuffling sounds interrupted Olivia's mental process on the rooftop where the boxes were located. She turned around and saw a small figure slump onto one of the boxes. The child was homeless.
Olivia inhaled nervously and moved slowly but steadily toward the visitor.
Upon her arrival, the stranger seemed to sense her presence, as he looked up and their eyes met. They understood each other, but they did not exchange words. Returning to her seat, Olivia picked up her clutch and the brown paper bag containing the meal, then returned to the boy's bed. "What's your name?" she inquired.
The child gazed at her, hesitant to reveal his name. She reminded me of one of those cruel, wealthy women you used to see on TV; they viewed the impoverished, especially the homeless, as criminals.
With a slight smile, he murmured, "Seth." Olivia nodded briefly and pointed to the door. "Follow me." She trailed him as she gave him an order.
Seth watched her disappear inside the building. "What if she is among those evildoers who kidnapped children and sold them?" His gaze strayed across the rooftop, leaving him wondering.
His stomach groaned as if on cue; it was cold, and he was hungry. With a sigh, he stood up and chased after her. He was surprised to find her waiting for him inside, as she didn't seem to enjoy waiting for others.
Once he caught up with her, she continued walking, and he silently followed her, curious about her destination.
She guided him to the storage area for the antique furniture, placed the paper bag on a small table, and permitted him to eat. She turned to him, and when he did not move, she flashed him a piercing gaze that made him run to the worn couch next to the ancient table. As though he hadn't eaten in years, he sat down and began to eat.
Olivia observed his look. Seth was too young to be more than fifteen years old. He was a short, skinny boy wearing jeans and a tight black T-shirt. His skin was dark, possibly from the dirt.
He was a handsome lad who, in a different situation, would likely have been breaking hearts at school. The child had short jet-black locks and pale brown eyes that were almost green.
She sighed and surveyed the space, finding solace in the fact that he had a roof over his head and could sleep with food in his belly. "Seth." When he heard her words, the boy turned to face her, blushing as he realized she was watching him eat like a pig. "You are welcome to spend the night here but leave before Mr. Brown sees you as early as possible tomorrow morning. OK?" He nodded in response to her question, followed by a heartfelt "thank you."
Olivia gave him a nod before returning to her flat.
As she arrived at the flat, there was darkness and silence. When April's drowsy eyes fluttered open, she regretted turning on the light after closing the door.
"It's about time you came back," April mumbled in a sleepy tone, scarcely concealing the contempt that went along with the remark. We need to talk," she said as she got to her feet and crossed the room to greet Olivia.
"We have nothing to talk about." Olivia gritted her teeth and muttered, "OK."
"Like hell, we don't!" April lost it. "Neither of us needs to struggle with this; we're exhausted. "You owe that much, and you know what needs to be done." She hauled, trembling from the resentment she had harbored at Olivia the entire day.
Despite Olivia's equally intense anger, she found herself powerless to resist April's demands, having witnessed so much since leaving England that she had no choice but to comply.
"I am Olivia Miller, and I am capable of anything, but I am not going to do what you asked of me," she said with a furious shake of her head.
"But, Olivia, my boss will fire me if I don't become a temporary personal assistant tomorrow morning." With a sing-song voice, April continued, observing Olivia wince at the disparaging title.
"April, I don't care what happens to you!" Olivia stated icily.
"But you care about your secret and your brother!" April's reaction silenced Olivia. "You know he will be crushed if he discovers your little secret. The depth of his care for you is almost unbearable. April spoke with barely concealed disdain. "It's a pity that you share his sentiments." April persisted in exploiting Olivia's vulnerabilities, subjecting her to all the information she didn't want to hear. "You know, Olivia, for once, I thought you knew me better and were at least going to consider this." She sighed as though she were regretting what she had done. But you have to act like a jerk about it. Oh my, how I hate you!" Angrily, she shook her head, as if the woman in front of her could be her relative.
"The feeling is mutual, April Williams." Olivia calmly walked past her to her bedroom.
With all her heart, she hated April and could do nothing about it. Still, as she shut the door, she pondered.
She changed into an oversized black long-sleeve T-shirt and gray sweatpants. After that passionate exchange, she turned off the lamp and tucked herself under her blankets, but she could not sleep. April's bedroom door had just closed.
With a sigh, she turned on her bedside lamp and exited. She moved to her closet and opened it, looking for something warm to grab. She opened her purse, pulled out a blue sweater, and took out several hundred dollar bills.
Quietly, she left her bedroom and tucked her feet into her fluffy white sleepers. She exited the apartment after stealing the tiny blanket that April had left in the sitting room.
Clutching the blanket over his slight frame, she tiptoed into the storage room where Seth was soundly asleep, tucked the money into the hoodie pocket, and held the hoodie up to his head. She straightened the little blanket and gently kissed him on the head. "I am sorry, Seth." Fixing a few strands on his head, she muttered.
At last, she turned away from him and returned to the apartment. She pulled out her laptop and started working nonstop when she got to her room.