Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 261

Olivia’s POV

"I’m going to treat you differently than I treated Oliver."

My heart stuttered. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I was cruel to Oliver. Demanding. Harsh. I pushed boundaries and said things that were inappropriate." His jaw tightened. "I’m not proud of how I behaved. But with you - with Olivia - I’m going to be better. More respectful. More... careful."

"You don’t have to be careful with me. I can handle..."

"I know you can handle it. That’s not the point." He reached out and - for just a moment - his hand covered mine where it rested on my lap. The touch sent electricity through my entire body. "The point is you shouldn’t have to. You deserve to be treated well. And I’m going to make sure that happens."

He withdrew his hand, but I could still feel the ghost of it. The warmth. The weight. I couldn’t believe he was willing to treat me nicely despite the deception. The lies. It felt so good to see this completely different side of Maxwell. So damn good.

"Okay," I whispered.

"Good." He stood, returning to his desk. "Take today to get settled. Familiarize yourself with things as Olivia instead of Oliver. Tomorrow we’ll start properly." He sat down. "Any questions?"

About a million. But I couldn’t voice any of them.

Like: Did you buy me a house? Are you my mysterious stranger? Are you the father of my baby? Do you feel this thing between us or am I imagining it?

"No questions," I said instead.

"Then welcome to Wellington and Sons, Miss Hopton. I look forward to working with you."

"Thank you, Mr. Well... Maxwell. Thank you, Maxwell."

I stood and moved toward my desk - the small space behind his door that had been my domain as Oliver. Everything was exactly as I’d left it, except the nameplate. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Where it had said "Oliver Hopton," it now read "Olivia Hopton."

I traced the letters with my finger, feeling the weight of what that meant.

No more hiding. No more pretending.

Just me. Finally, honestly, completely me.

From beside me, I heard Maxwell’s voice. "Olivia?"

"Yes?"

"It’s good to have you here."

I turned to find him watching me again with that expression I couldn’t quite read.

"It’s good to be here," I said.

And meant it.

Even though I was terrified. Even though I was pregnant with a baby I couldn’t tell him about. Even though I was working for a man I was madly in love with.

********

The morning flew by in a blur of emails, phone calls, and getting reacquainted with systems under my real name.

When lunch approached, I pulled out my phone and texted Julian.

Me: I have a surprise for you. Meet me at Taylor’s Cafe for lunch?

His response came a few minutes later.

Julian: It better be JUICY. See you at noon, gorgeous.

Maxwell stood up at 11:55, walking round his desk and shrugging into his suit jacket.

"I’m stepping out for a lunch meeting with a client," he said, pausing by my desk. "Make sure you eat something nice and healthy for lunch. Don’t just grab a coffee and call it a meal."

I couldn’t contain my smile. "I won’t. I promise."

"Good." He lingered for a moment, like he wanted to say something else, then just nodded. "I’ll be back around two."

I watched him leave, my heart doing stupid fluttery things.

So Maxwell was this caring to his staff? This kind? This thoughtful?

I was certainly going to enjoy this new phase.

I closed up the office and headed toward the elevators, already mentally planning what to order at Taylor’s.

The elevator doors opened, and Alex stepped out.

He looked the same as always - handsome in that clean-cut, all-American way. Perfectly styled hair. Bright smile. Designer suit.

A few months ago, that smile would have made my heart race.

Now? Nothing.

"Oh, hi." His eyes swept over me with that look men get when they see an attractive woman. Interested. Appreciative. "I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Alex."

"Olivia. I just started as Mr. Wellington’s assistant."

His head tilted, his brow furrowing. "Olivia? Have we met before? You look strangely familiar."

I felt the old instinct rise - to lie, to deflect, to protect my secret.

But I didn’t have secrets anymore. Not about this, anyway.

"We worked at the same company," I said with a smile. "Harry and Associates. I was there for a while before moving here."

"Really?" His surprise was genuine. "Wow. Small world. And now you’re working for Maxwell? Seems like he’s poaching people from Harry and Associates. The beautiful ones, at that." He flashed that charming smile. "Strange that we never crossed paths there."

"New York is a big city. Easy to miss people." I checked my watch. "I’m actually running late for lunch. Excuse me."

I walked past him without a second glance, even though his face was filled with a thousand questions.

As I made my way out of the building, I couldn’t believe it. The same person I’d been literally dying over for months - the person I’d risked everything for, disguised myself for, pined after endlessly - and I felt nothing.

Not attraction. Not regret. Not even nostalgia.

Just... indifference.

When had that changed? When had Maxwell’s green eyes replaced Alex’s blue ones in my mind?

Taylor’s Cafe was bustling with the lunch crowd, but I spotted Julian immediately - six feet of fabulousness in a purple blazer and perfect hair, waving dramatically from a corner booth.

"Darling!" He pulled me into a tight hug the moment I reached him. "I’ve missed you so much! How have you been since you escaped our sadistic boss?"

I slid into the booth across from him. "Actually, that’s my surprise. I’m still working for him."

Julian’s eyes went wide. "What?"

"But as Olivia now. No more Oliver. No more disguise."

"Excuse me?" He leaned forward. "Back up. Start from the beginning and tell me EVERYTHING."

So I did. The whole story - Tokyo, the confession on the plane, Maxwell’s reaction, the job offer, everything.

Julian listened with his mouth progressively falling open.

"So Maxwell Wellington - our Maxwell Wellington - was kind about it?" he asked when I finished. "He didn’t rage? Didn’t threaten legal action? Just... gave you a job?"

"Yes! He’s been so kind, Julian. So thoughtful. He made sure I felt welcome, set up my new credentials, even told me he was going to treat me better than he treated Oliver." I knew I was gushing but couldn’t help it. "He’s actually a really good man underneath all that intensity."

Julian had a strange look on his face.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m just happy for you, babe. Really. You deserve good things."

We ordered lunch and talked about lighter things, but I noticed Julian kept giving me these odd looks. Like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.