Married to the loveless CEO-Chapter 85: Fireworks

"Are you sure you don’t want to stay for breakfast? I can pack something for you...Send it to your office maybe-"

"It’s okay, Olivia," Leo cuts her off. He was getting ready for work.

She sighed walking closer to him, "Let me help you out,"

"No I can do it myself..." he trails off as her hands started to button up his shirt. He could clearly see the way her hands were trembling, and the blush on her cheeks as she did it, though she tried to act tough and confident.

Their eyes fixated on each other’s, then he shoved her hands off, "That’s enough. I can do it," he turned away and finished up.

Well that didn’t go well, but she’ll still slash it out of her list. Fourteen things left to do, she just hopes she’ll earn his forgiveness before or after it. She’ll still continue some of the previous things she did as she prepares to do the rest.

They both soon left for work.

At work, the bookstore received some deliveries and all three ladies were present to receive it.

"Why do we need all these new stocks?" Olivia asked.

"Well Olivia dear, we will be organizing a book auction soon. These aren’t mere stocks, they are rare invaluable masterpieces which will be on auction that day," Laura replied.

"These are so expensive, so they’ll be kept in a safe place till the day of the auction. This costs a hundred thousand," Claire added, picking up one of the books.

Olivia’s lips came to form an ’O’ before she replied with an okay.

"I’ll continue this conversation later. I’m going to brief you concerning the preparations and procedures for the event. We’re even going to attend a book auction that’s happening before ours.

"It’s out of town, I need to get one more book and I heard it’ll be available at the auction," Laura informed, Olivia nodded as a response and Laura decided to take the new stocks to safe keep, which was usually in her office.

She carried the books alone this time because the books were few and she could carry them on her own.

"So tell me," Claire started once her mother was out of sight. "How are things going with your hubby?"

"Uhm well...Fine I guess. He’s still so rigid towards me though. But, he held me last night, do you think it’s a good sign?" Olivia asked.

"Held you? Held you where? How?" Claire mused excitedly.

"He held my waist in bed, when I was sleeping. I could feel his hand on me and he stopped when our eyes met," Olivia turned away from Claire, focusing on something to hide her blush.

It was the first time that ever happened since their first night together. It was kind of embarrassing for her...and for him too after being caught red handed in the act- His blushing face was still so clearly imprinted in her memory.

"Oh my goodness, that’s great news. It means you are making progress," Claire beamed.

"I hope. Thank you Claire," Olivia told.

She was glad to have made another friend at work, Silvia and Sentencia have been so busy lately making them distant. But she understands and they were always one call away whenever she needs them, though she hasn’t mentioned asking for Leo’s forgiveness to them.

They might be furious about it.

She smiled at the thought, "You are welcome, it’s really nothing," she heard Claire say.

***

Sentencia was walking with Logan on a wooden pavement/platform by the seaside. The place was surrounded by yachts.

They continued to walk as they chatted about random things.

"Really, what are we doing here?" she asked, she didn’t really expect him to bring her to the seaside for their second date. Were they really just going to walk?

He smiled at her as they arrived at a big luxurious looking yacht. "I wanted you to see my new yacht. I just bought it,"

They walked into the yacht, "So what do you think?" he asked after showing her around. They were now at the railing edge part.

"It’s nice," she replied, the cold wind blew on their hairs.

"Just nice?" he inquired and just as he said it, some instrumentalists walked in, playing a soft romantic song as they did. The song filled the air, a waiter brought in a metal bucket that contained a bottle of champagne in ice.

She knew he didn’t just bring her here to take a walk.

The waiter poured the champagne into two glasses and handed one each to the both of them. He excused himself to the corner, waiting in case his service will be needed.

Sentencia was astonished when fireworks began to appear in the skies above the yacht.

"Wow..." she voiced.

"I did say that I wanted our second date to blow your mind away," he grinned at her.

"I’m awesome," he added and she shook her head, ’This narcissistic man!’

Then the fireworks began to form words;

"Will you be my woman doc?" she read.

She turned towards him, an expectant smile on his face. She was silent for some while, this was a little awkward for her.

"I’m sorry, Logan. I even wanted to say after this date...I wanted to say that we should stop seeing each other," she told.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"Are you saying it because of this? I am sorry for putting you in a tight spot, I was just trying my luck since I thought we were making progress. You did say we were now friends, right?" he questioned.

"I only said that so that my friend, Silvia wouldn’t freak out even more," Cia replied sincerely.

"Don’t conclude yet, go on the last date-"

"I really don’t want to and it is not because I don’t like your company. It’s just..." she interrupted him, trailing off at the end.

There was silence.

Then he scoffed; "Are you trying to play hard to get or are you pretending not to like luxury? Which is it?"

She eyed him, "If that is really how you think of me after all the few times we have been together. Then I guess this has been a total waste of time,"

"Sorry," she added and walked away leaving Logan behind with clenched fists.

’I will give you some time off Sentencia Norman, but it doesn’t mean I am giving up just yet. I won’t, I can’t, lose to Finland,’

Logan also left soon, it was getting kind of late but his car which was being driven by his driver, drove off to a safehouse- Not his house.

He would be having a meeting with his uncles and his other business partners and allies there.

The car came to a halt at the parking lot when they got to the safehouse. Logan stepped out once his driver opened the door and he walked into the building.

He was not very happy to be here. This was a very important meeting but his uncles were very unbearable, they were always ready to find a flaw in him and what he does. They have always eyed his position as the leader of their syndicate group and mafia family, ever since he lost his family.

It made it worse that Logan wasn’t really related to them but he has always found a way to prove himself that he was deserving of his position and his uncles who were three in number are always on the lookout for a way to bring him down.

He walked into a large study room, where his uncles and business partners were already waiting for him. They were all seated at a long meeting table.

Logan walked over to the head chair and sat down, "Sorry I’m late, I had to take care of something. Shall we begin?"

"Sorry (Scoff)" one of his uncles, uncle Roberte Preston was quick to start a bicker.

"Aren’t we lucky he actually apologized this time? It isn’t appropriate to keep people waiting, if you don’t have any consideration for us- Your uncles, at least have some for your business partners," uncle Mike Preston added.

"Hey cut the kid some slacks gents. He’s handling a lot of issues, especially with this upcoming transaction, aye," uncle Salvador Preston interjected. He was the more sensible one but mostly the one Logan is wary of.

Salvador smiled, a daunting one that showed his gold teeth. He puffed out some vapors from his big cigarette which he extinguished cautiously on his ash glass, not to put it out completely. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"How is the transaction coming up Logan? Have you sealed the deal with the foreigners?" Salvador asked, an hint of mockery in his voice already knowing Logan’s answer.

"No I haven’t. The-"

"Why haven’t you?! Do you know that the Lees are unto this same transaction?" Mike questioned.

Logan was a ruthless leader feared by many including his business partners and even his uncles even though they don’t admit it, it was the very reason they hated him.

His uncles were the only ones that have the guts to contradict him, not because Logan wasn’t capable of silencing them for good but because they know he wouldn’t, not yet at least, he needed them and that’s why they were a little wary of him too, because they know he would wipe them off the face of the earth easily once they exhaust their usefulness.

"Because the Lees want the same transaction, it’s making it hard to seal the deal. Everyone wants to go with the leaders of the entire mob of Asteria," Logan tried to explain.

"But we are better. Make them understand and let us seal this deal already," one of the business partners commented. They were a total of eight in the room with just one woman.

"You have nothing to worry about, I’ll make sure-"

"You better Logan! We’re talking about ten f*cking billion!" Mike cuts Logan off and another round of tensed glaring began between uncles and nephew.

...