11. WHEN WE’RE ALONE.

Olivia swing open the curtains that led into the dressing room, she walked beneath the silver chandelier, raising the slit of her black silk gown with her fingers. She flipped her hair to the side, making eye contact with Damien, still in his chair.

This felt like the hundredth gown she’d tried on. And she was pretty excited about this one. It was an Arabella Allure custom made gown that sat pretty on her shoulders. It was Alli who squealed, running to meet her as she turned a whole three-sixty.

“Girl” He exclaimed, sticking down the edges of her hair that stood up. She had an enthusiastic smile as they hopped, facing one another ad twirling fingers. “It’s perfect” Alli whispered and she turned to the mirror, from where she could see Damien.

“I don’t know”

She felt weird in anything other than the usual shirt and skirt, and tugging her hand around her slim waist, she turned to the side. “It’s a gala. You’re going to kill it in Vienna”Alli zipped all the way at her back and her shoulders fell just before she heard that agitating voice behind her. “I don’t think so” Damien stood, finally breaking his silence.

“What is it, Mr Rager?” Alli twisted his mouth before Olivia punched him lightly in his hands. “It’s billionaire boy. He prefers that” She chuckled and he didn’t say a word. Instead he just stuck his hand down the aisle of clothes on a hanger. These ones had diamonds across the necks or along the slits. And she rolled her eyes just bas he pulled out one particular one—

—an emerald green gown, with a sapphire lined around her shoulders. She’d recognize that piece from anywhere— a replica of the famous Marilyn Monroe dress for the Golden Globes. Damien stuck out his hands and her eyes darted to it.

“Try this”

His voice was delicate, and that was the only reason she collected it. That, and the fact that she could be wearing a historical piece to the National Symphony Season Opening in Vienna which was where they’d planned to have the meeting with Raznak—where he invited them to on their first night. Alli quieted as she walked into the changing room for the nth time.

It wasn’t until ten minutes after that the curtains fled open again, but this time much gentle. His eyes from her silver pumps, went slowly up the dress, devouring with his gaze, every inch. Damien felt a lump slip down his throat as she stepped out in the piece.

She was—perfect, in it.

The way it flowed down from the one arm, and how the diamonds complemented her moist skin. She was uncomfortable in it, not because of anything but he wasn’t the only that stopped to say. She was like a disney princess, forsaking the large glasses on her eyes and she shook the hem.

“Oh my God” Alli struggled with his jaw on the floor.

The sleeves and blouse were vaguely of a gypsy cut, all done in syrupy browns and shades of violet flecked with white that seemed to undulate of their own volition.

A spidery black lace bodice consummated the ensemble. And Liv turned her back to him. “Zip me up” Alli looked down to his already full arms and Damien took it as his queue to step forward. The moment his hands brushed against her skin, she recognized him and his scented cologne. He slipped hair down her left shoulder, leaning into her. And his grip fastened the zip, pulling it tenderly and delicately. Olivia felt him behind her, and it was as if she melted away from the dress.

His breathes raised the hair in her neck and she felt light, like she could fall in his arms. He knew what he was doing, it was intentional and she wasn’t complaining.

“It’s perfect” Alli walked to her front, and she felt his lips brisk against her neck. “I told you.” Damien whispered, before pulling away from her. “One more thing” She cleared her throat, drifting back into consciousness and she turned to him.

He had his jacket around his arms, and a bag of her clothes in another. His bodyguard crept behind him till he halted. “What?” Liv yelled, hands twirling around the pearls that fell down her chest. And Damien turned to face her. “Loose the glasses—”

“Please”

That single word halted whatever she was about to say neck and instinctively, she pulled it off. Damien nodded. “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs” He slowly said before pulling away. She felt her lips chap as she swallowed a lump down her throat.

“Come on, let’s go” She felt Alli’s arm around her neck. “Let’s get you changed out of this you little slut” She gasped, chuckling in his arms. “What?” She slyly whispered, playing dumb.

“I saw those lingering eyes and his touch” Alli whispered, loosing the zip for her to take a breath out of the corset. “There was nothing, shut up” A smirk crept to the side of her lips and Alli pushed her lightly. “You shut up” They ended up in a fit of laughter that somehow managed to conceal what really roamed in her head. And that was his maddening grasp around her waist.

Or his cologne that still tickled her nose.

His heated breathes against her neck, and yes, his lingering gaze which she had just denied she noticed. It was like summer camp again when he was all she ever thought about. But she wasn’t willing to go down that very road again.

And a weekend in Vienna with only just them was especially going to make that harder than it already was.

She flicked the doors with his card in her hands, buying the two dresses and a Victoria Secret bralette she snuck in. Holding in across her hands as she waited for his Mercedes. Once it pulled up, Alli third wheeled to the front seat, leaving both of them behind. She climbed without any help, and all he did was look out the other window, pretending like she didn’t exist.

He was always that off and on.

And it was Liv’s throat noises that drifted his attention to her. “What is now?” His voice filled the car as it pulled away. “Where are we headed to now?” She realized it was merely days till the trip and Damien looked into his watch.

“We’re going to get you a ring.”

Liv paused, eyes buried into his. “A ring?” She felt a thud at the back of her throat. “Yes” He said, unfazed. “If we’re going to make this believable, then we go all in” He continued.

“What do you say?“

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?“ Alli gazed through the rear view mirror, chocking on his subtle laughter. Damien resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “I should say the same” He replied. “A week ago, you were just my secretary” He added and Liv let her lashes get the best of her eyes. “I’m still your secretary—”

“Sure” He flatly said, sarcasm buried somewhere in his emotionless tone. “Sure you are” Olivia looked from her hands to him. “What do you mean by that?” He turned away, leaving her in an awkward silence. “Nothing” He finally said.

“Let’s just get this over with. I cleared my whole day for this” His palms were restive on her thighs, as if Damien Archer was…nervous. Olivia turned away, placing her glasses back on the bridge of her nose. And when she did, he snuck a glance at her, letting his gaze trail every inch of her body unbeknownst to her.

And all that was in his head was the dream he had earlier, and how it was all he thought about. How she, was all he thought about. It was stupid, unsafe and terrible—the idea that he might have been falling for the girl in front of him. But for some reason, she detested him. And only that, was what drew him closer.

The mystery.

Finding out there was more to her than the clothes she wore everyday to his office. More to her rounded curves, and even down to hr almond shaped eyes and her chiseled jaw as well. He began to see her in a different light—perspective, he was bound to. They were in dramatic engagement that would soon be revealed to the public eye. And the moment that happened—

Everything changes, for the both of them.

-

He could hear the murmurs from the front door. Alli.

And hanging his jacket on the hanger, he crept up the stairs. He recognized that laugh anywhere—his father’s croaked laugh even though he barely did as much as smile.

“Alli” His mum looked to him, bright-eyed with a glass of water in her hands and tears in her eyes that might have been from cackling too much. “You’re home” She grasped for her breath as Alli took a seat beside his favorite cousin. He and Aliya had practically grown up together since they were little, and honestly he considered her more of a sister than a cousin at that.

She looked to him, with a grin across her face. She was the purest soul you could meet and it was why he was initially skeptical at the idea of marrying her to a man she’d barely known. But it was tradition, he knew that and she was of age.

It wasn’t essentially forced marriage but one arranged by his own parents—it only made him wonder how much time he had until they bring up the conversation of his. He was a few years older, a few inches taller and like he’d say, a few brain cells smarter.

“Your cousin was just telling us about her college life, and how people always fled from her” Aisha, his mother said and he arched his brows, looking to the covered food before him. “It’s just—“ She paused, going into yet another fit of laughter. And his eyes matched his father’s before he muttered a prayer.

Opening the meal, he still felt his pungent glare—it was like that growing up, especially with a secret like his. Mohammed would disown if ever he found out his son liked boys. It was a sad life he’d lived but looking beside him, there was Aliya. And she was the light whenever she came by to spend a few days with them.

He chuckled lightly as she bumped into his shoulders. “You know i was thinking—“ She whispered, covering her lips. “There’s a showing of titanic at Lead City mall. We could sneak out at night to catch the viewing” She whispered and Alli scoffed. “Aliya”

“We aren’t kids anymore. There’s no sneaking” He chuckled and she rolled her eyes, letting her shoulders fall. “Where’s the fun in that? Come on, don’t be such a downer. You used to be the fun one” She pouted and Alli eyed her. “You’re right” He pointed.

“And the smart one.”

She rolled her eyes again, “Is that a yes?” She whispered, obvious she hid from Aisha and Mohammed and they looked to them. She especially loved the sort of bond they had. That Alli could have an especially bad day but whenever she came around, he was good.

Everything was good.

“Yes” He heaved a deep breath and she clenched a fist beneath the table. And he chuckled lightly. “I have work tomorrow—but yes” He smiled. He could use some time out to forget Omar.

To be continued…