Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 256

Olivia’s POV

I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart doing strange, fluttery things in my chest.

I was going to resume work soon. Next to Maxwell. As myself. No more disguises. No more pretending to be someone else.

Just me and him, working side by side.

The thought made me absurdly happy.

I walked to my bed and flopped down on it, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face. I probably looked like a schoolgirl with her first crush, blushing and grinning like an idiot.

I was going to work diligently. No more games. No more crazy stunts. Just clean, honest work as his assistant.

I remembered my little office behind his door - that small desk where Oliver had spent so many hours organizing Maxwell’s life. Now it would be mine. Officially mine.

And I’d get to watch him work. Watch the way he concentrated on documents, the way his brow furrowed when he was thinking, the way he moved through the office with that controlled grace.

When had everything changed? When had hate transformed into... this?

Because this wasn’t just attraction. Wasn’t just physical. This was something deeper, something that terrified and thrilled me in equal measure. This was love.

Was it at my parents house? Tokyo? That first day when he’d completely ignored me at the elevator, making my heart clench with rejection? Or was it at the pool when I’d seen him vulnerable for the first time?

No, wait. It was when he’d come to my room, bleeding and almost dying. When I’d seen past all the walls and games to the man underneath.

I wasn’t sure anymore when exactly it had happened. All I knew was that I was happy. Genuinely, inexplicably happy about going to work for a man who’d made my life hell as Oliver.

Starting on a clean slate.

Well, almost clean.

My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach, still flat, showing no signs of the tiny life growing inside.

My secret. The one thing I couldn’t tell him. Didn’t owe him, really.

When it was time, I’d take my maternity leave. I’d figure out how to be a single mother. How to raise a child whose father I might never be able to identify.

But for now, I’d just focus on work. On being the best assistant Maxwell Wellington had ever had until I’m officially promoted.

The day passed in a happy state. Gabriel and Kennedy took me sightseeing - we visited the Tokyo Skytree, wandered through Harajuku, ate amazing street food. They kept asking why I was so cheerful, and I just told them I was finally relaxing. Finally having fun.

When Kira called to say she was coming to Tokyo the next day, both Kennedy and I couldn’t contain our excitement.

Kennedy because he’d finally have his girlfriend back.

Me because I needed to talk to my best friend about everything that had happened. About Maxwell. About this strange, terrifying new Chapter of my life. Although I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk about the pregnancy just yet.

*******

The next day, when Kira arrived at the hotel, I practically ambushed her.

Kennedy was moving toward her for a reunion hug, but I intercepted, grabbing Kira’s hand and dragging her away.

"Sorry, Ken! Girl talk! We’ll give her back soon!"

"But I haven’t seen her in days..." Kennedy protested.

"Later! I promise!"

I pulled Kira up, through the elevator and into my room, closing the door firmly behind us.

"Liv, what the hell..." Kira started.

"Spill." I crossed my arms. "Tell me everything. What happened with Damien? Did he try anything? Did he manipulate you? Are you okay?"

Kira’s face went through several expressions - surprise, guilt, defensiveness - before settling on resignation.

"He was on good behavior," she said carefully. "Nothing happened."

"Bullshit." I moved closer. "I know you, Kira. Something happened. Tell me."

"Liv..."

"Tell. Me."

She sighed, sinking onto my bed. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell Kennedy. Promise me, Liv."

My stomach dropped. "Oh God. What did you do?"

"I didn’t... we didn’t..." She took a deep breath. "Nothing actually happened. But something almost did. By the pool. He sat with me while I was video calling Kennedy, and then after the call ended, things got... intense."

"How intense?"

She told me everything. The touching. The moment by the pool. The way she’d almost crossed a line she couldn’t uncross.

"But I stopped it," she finished. "I ran away before anything really happened. Before I became someone I couldn’t live with."

"And then?" I prompted, sensing there was more.

"He came to my room to return my phone. Rested in my chair. We talked." She looked down at her hands. "He said he’d let me go. That he wouldn’t push or manipulate. But that when I was ready to be honest with myself, he’d be there."

I sat beside her, processing. "Do you think he really wants to date you? Like, actually date you? Or is this just some game?"

"I don’t know." Kira’s voice was small. "And I don’t want to know. I’m completely free from him now. I’m going to focus on Kennedy. No more distractions. No more confusion. Just me and Kennedy, building something real."

"Are you sure you can do that?" I asked gently. "Just forget what you felt?"

"I have to." She looked at me with determined eyes. "Kennedy is perfect, Liv. He’s everything I should want. Everything I do want. Damien is just... he’s a complication I can’t afford. A mistake I almost made but didn’t."

I wanted to believe her. Wanted to think it was that simple.

But I’d seen the look on her face when she talked about that moment by the pool. And I knew from experience that feelings didn’t just disappear because you wanted them to.

"Okay," I said finally. "If you’re sure."

"I’m sure." She squeezed my hand. "Now tell me about you. What’s been happening? You sounded different on the phone yesterday. Happier."

And just like that, my own complicated situation came rushing back.

"You know I told Maxwell the truth right? About being Oliver. About everything."

Kira’s eyes went wide. "Yes. And?"

"And... he’s giving me a job. As his assistant. Officially. As myself." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Olivia..."

"I know. I know it’s crazy. But Kira, I’m happy about it. Excited, even. I start Monday and I can’t wait." I paused. "There’s just one complication."

"What?"

I took a deep breath. Okay, I couldn’t keep this to myself anymore. She’s bound to find out sooner or later.

"I’m pregnant."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"You’re WHAT?" Kira practically shrieked.

"Pregnant. With my stranger’s baby. Whoever he is."

"Oh my God. Oh my GOD." Kira was staring at me like I’d grown a second head. "Does Maxwell know?"

"No. And he can’t know. Not yet. Not until I figure out who the father is. If I can ever figure out who the father is."

"Liv..." Kira pulled me into a hug. "This is insane. Your life is insane."

"I know."

"But we’ll figure it out. Together. Like we always do."

"Together," I agreed.

We sat there, holding onto each other and hoping that somehow, everything would work out.

Even though we weren’t sure how it was going to happen.