15. WELCOME TO VIENNA.

The door gave way to the man that came through it, falling apart from it’s dark hinges and into his firm clasp. He hid his eyes behind dark sunglasses before suspiciously throwing his head over his shoulders. The intercom echoed in the hallway before he continued his leisurely pace.

He had a passport and some documents in his hands, next to his keys and his suitcase. His arms rested against the counter once he was close and he heaved a deep breath. “Can i have yo—“ The woman paused as he took off the glasses. Her lips fell apart as their eyes met each other. “It’s you” He smirked in reply as he tossed his passport to the table. “Where are you heading?”

His eyes went up to the departure board and back at her.

His voice was something between husky and raucous, and his eyes had color in them—perhaps a lens and the color matched the pearls around his neck. As people walked about him, the young man took a pause. “Vienna” He later said, sauntering towards to departure arena once he’d been stamped.

And a smirk crept to his lips the moment he went into the dark, placing his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.

-

“Damien”

Olivia whispered, climbing up the brick steps that led to the victorian-style house before her. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

It was magnificent.

He was slow behind her, having a word with his driver but the moment he crept to her, he caught her getting a picture of the large doors. She could smell his distinct cologne but she didn’t turn around. Instead she just clicked to send to Alli.

“You like?” His hands slipped stoicly in his pockets and she had to pretend she was still mad from earlier on the plane, maybe she was. But the clear Vienna air breezing into her hair was enough refreshment. She looked to him, gazing for not more than a second. “It’s a mansion” She replied and he had on his signature smirk. “Glad you like it” He muttered.

“The butler would show you your room, it’s just opposite mine or if you want, we cou—“

She arched her brows. “I’m good” She said, cutting him short. “There you could get changed so we could tour round the city before Amanda” His hands met her exposed shoulders and her eyes went to it. Clearing her throat, Liv nervously pulled out her phone. “Actually—“ Her voice was subtle.

“I have plans”

He pulled away, letting his eyes sink into her. “What plans?” He asked defensively. “I want to make new friends, here” There was a pause between her sentence. “Friends?” He echoed and Liv mottled that smirk on her lips, imitating him.

“I have a date” She added before pushing open the christened doors and to her left was the butler who she handed her bags too. Immediately the door closed, she squealed, shooting her hands in the air—she’d pay to see that his expression again. It was priceless, his jaw agape and his gaze void.

She just got here, but she was already excited. She took off her flannel, making her up the stoned steps. Vienna was nothing less of the things she’d imagined—it was beautiful.

Almost ethereal.

-

You could hear the droplets of water into the grey mug in his hands. The office was silent and the lunchroom, even more. It was why when his phone chimed with a notification, it was loud and without thought, he already knew it was Olivia.

He lived for the photos she sent, from sky portraits to stills, to random stuff like her coffee or lunch. Or the stairwell that led out the Vienna complex. But as he turned around, he sensed the presence of someone else in the room. Asides the cologne, he had this thing where he could tell someone was looking at him and he felt in that moment—eyed boring in the back of his head. “Alli” It was no surprise when he heard his voice.

His voice.

Omar drew closer, filling the air with this scent. Alli wasn’t sure he’d spoken to anyone all day, and quite frankly, he hadn’t seen Omar since the car incident. He held unto his phone as his breathed hitched—he could feel him behind him.

“Spill coffee on me” Omar teased, letting his palms trail the tip of Allis hands and he closed his eyes. “Someone will see” He whispered and Omar hummed. “I don’t care right now” His lips sucked the skin on his neck and Alli bit into his lower lip.

“Why didn’t you kiss me the other day?”

“It’s—“

“It’s complicated” Omar whispered into his ear, his heated breath raising the hair on his neck and then Alli stepped away. “I thought we were on the same page, the signs i thought i saw the obvious signs” He gestured and Omar heaved a deep sigh.

“Of course i am into you, Alli. It’s just—“

“It’s just what” Alli interrupted and his arms fell. “I can’t” Came a subtle whisper and Alli scoffed. “If you want to keep me a secret, at least tell me why” His voice was gentle and broken but Omar didn’t utter a word, instead he just looked away.

“I thought as much” Alli painfully let a smile evade his lips. “Then i can’t do this, whatever this is” Omar’s hands reached for his but he pulled away. “Alli.” He called. “I can’t be your secret. I’ve done that all my life and this—this is uhm weird”

“Alli.”

“Can i just go back to the stranger that clumsily spilled coffee on you?” Onar let his suited shoulders fall. “No?” He whispered. “No Alli. No.” He shook his head. “It’s complicated”

“I don’t think so” And with that, he abandoned his coffee on the table and then walked out of the room, leaving Omar’s hands in a fist and mind, a blur—a frizzled mess. Somehow the breakups that hurt the most are the relationships that never began—the ones that didn’t get the chance to. But then it wasn’t a heartbreak—because they were nothing, right?

It wasn’t a heartbreak, because they hadn’t kissed, or felt what each other were. He was a mere stranger, like he always was.

—

Olivia stood in the mirror for a full fifteen minutes, gushing over the threaded hat on her head. The sun poured in from the windows, glistening against the lotion on her face and nourishing her paws. She turned her back to the mirror, pulling up her jeans short that barely covered her thighs.

She had a cropped top to go with it, inscribed with the words, Vienna. She was really excited, and the hat. “God the hat” She squealed, pulling out her phone for a picture. And then she finally got her handbag ready to spend her day in the city sun.

But then her door suddenly opened, and she turned around to see him by her door. Damien—seeing her, for the second time in clothes that weren’t her usual shirt and skirts. Clothes that were mediocre and he let that sink into his sights.

She was beautiful, and had well defined curves in that shorts but then his eyes darted back to her face. “I’d have Davis drive you around” He cleared his throat and Liv rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure i can look after myself, i don’t need a babysitter” She replied, inching closer to where he stood and his eyes assessed her once more.

“You’re new to this place, Ophelia. I can’t let you go hitchhiking alone.” His voice deepened and now, her hands rested on his shoulders, fingers void of their engagement ring. “I won’t be alone, Damien. Get it past your ego that i wouldn’t be alone”

“And you shouldn’t too. Perhaps you could give a call to your beloved hostess friend, you have the whole house to yourself now if even you care about privacy” She gritted and he let out a scoff. “Is this about Selena?” He choked.

“Are you jealous?”

And it was her who scoffed this time. “Don’t flatter yourself, billionaire boy. I have a date today” She replied, looking directly into his eyes. Her chest rubbed against his torso before she pulled away. “In that?” Came a whisper and she smiled.

“What’s wrong with what i’m wearing?” She asked and he used that as an excuse to take a good look at her. “Don’t you think it’s too revealing?” He threw back the question and she stared.

“Only if you stare.”

Her hands held unto the key in his clasp, and Damien didn’t let go—instead he locked eyes with her. “Can you drive?”

“There’s a first time for everything and the roads are—well, it’s Vienna” She chuckled and before he let go, there was an arch between his brows. “Don’t crash my car or spend your entire life paying me back for it, and, be home by eight” She scoffed.

“I don’t think you know this, Damien Archer, but i don’t like being told what to do” Liv deadened her eyes. “I’m not a child, and i’m not your secretary anymore” She tugged the key and stepped back. “You’re my fiancée” He completed and she let a smirk crawl all the way to her lips. “It’s merely an arrangement”

“I’d be sure to have fun for both of us”

And with that, she blew a kiss back at him, letting the large door come between them. And when she was done, his hands met her desk, next to her clothes. They scented of her, the whole room was, in a way that was maddening.

He felt the silk of her shorts, and was drawn back to the dream he’d had that day—his very own nightmare. So he pulled away, allowing his mind to think of anything else that wasn’t Olivia.

Walking to the windows, he could see briskly walk down the stairs and he held his phone to his lips. “Davis” He echoed. “I need you to follow her and get me information about her date”

“But Dami—“

“I want to ensure she’s safe. If anything happens to her, it ruins my entire plan” He managed to convince himself that was the real reason, but never Davis. Their eyes matched from below the building and he nodded before lowly muttering— “Okay.”

To be continued…