18. STRONGER THAN HATE.

“Hey”

Her eyes immediately darted to the blood that dropped to the floor as Olivia froze in that spot. Her eyes were moist from the river she had cried and it was the first thing that Damien noticed.

“Olivia, i’m so—“

“You’re bleeding” She instinctively threw herself to him, holding up his bloody knuckles to his face. “Let’s get you cleaned up” She sniffled, wiping her eyes. Liv had a large heart, something people who knew often took advantage of. But if didn’t mean she’d changed, if anything she was as nice as she always was.

“It’s okay. I’d get Marisol to do it”

“This is my field. You don’t want to risk contamination” She whispered, searching around for a shirt he could put on, but to no avail. “I’ve been an arsehole to you, why do this for me?” She turned around to him, replying his question. “If i’m an arse to you, then what makes us different from each other” She added.

“One of us has to be nice, for this to work out” She brushed past his bare shoulders, not giving him another glare. And he turned to her. “Come this way” Her shrill voice filled the room.

-

Aal stepped down from the chairs, tidying up the decorations she’d hing on the ceiling and she bumped into Alli. “Took you long enough” She said after a gasp, and she took a pin in his hands. “Where do you want me—“

“Kitchen” She instantly replied. “We just got back from the market and we still have several dishes to cook before tomorrow” She offloaded the grocery bag from the farmer’s market as Alli struck his fingers to dig in. His eyes went up at his cousin who was already short of breath.

“Breathe” He had to remind her before she hefted in a deep sigh, filling her lungs with air. She wedged herself against the counter, looking to him. “I swear, i’m fine” She tried to convince more than him, perhaps herself. Alli grabbed the pot, and some of the foodstuffs. “It’s a big change” He started.

She filled a bowl with water, grabbing the soapy sponge. She caught a glimpse of Saheed in the corner of the room and Alli saw his little brother. “How are you adjusting?” His voice went low. “Well, change isn’t always a bad thing” Aaliyah replied.

And he scoffed.

“I know, most of my friends are traveling the world, and going to cities, getting offers from Goldman sacs and the rest, i’m here being betrothed to someone i don’t even know” There was a crack in her voice. “Aal, i told you it’s okay if you don’t want to. We could figure something out, it’s okay if you still want to travel and world and go to cities” He had a smile on his lips and her shoulders fell. “Your parents have put in so much effort into this”

“Into me.”

“You don’t understand, i can’t afford to make them anything less than proud” She whispered. “Not to the detriment of your own happiness. I can assure you my parents wants what is best for you” She scoffed. “I’m good, Alli”

“But are you happy?”

After a hesitant pause, they locked eyes. “Yes” She whispered. “Yes, i am happy because i get to have what your parents have. I get to love, and even if i’m not as happy now, i’d be happier then because your mum has good taste. There’s something called accepting one’s fate, and i already have since i was sixteen” She said. “I already had my life mapped out for me, and sometimes the certainties are better than the uncertainties” There was a crack in her voice. “I just hope you’re not doing this because of my parents” Alli said subtly and she chuckled.

“It’s always been more that that”

“It’s tradition.” She whispered. “Tradition” She echoed, and after a brief pause between them, he tossed flour against her face. She gasped, stepping back and he let out a soft chuckle.

“You didn’t” She spat out, some if it making it’s way into her mouth. And she could hear Saheed chuckle from behind as Alli took to his heels. There they were, just like they were kids. Just like old times, and she was to savor this moment.

Because everything changes tomorrow, and not just for herself.

-

The spirit stung his open skin as Damien clenched the cushion in his hands. He turned away, letting his chest rise and fall as Liv poked the wound with the methylated wool in her hands.

“There” She said softly, grabbing the bandaid from behind her. When he looked away, she saw an opportunity to scan his body. He had a large tattoo on his sides, like a stripe, and there was a cheetah running down the middle of his back.

He also had one of his left arm, like a signature that she couldn’t get. There was alot of tattoos, but something else quite caught her attention on his body. It was a scar, a deep fleshed one, that had healed, leaving a reddish mark underneath his chest. She didn’t know when her hand slowly reached for it, and he turned around. “Olivia” He groaned.

“Are you done?”

“What happened here?” She asked, assuming it must have hurt so bad and he looked to his bare chest, where her hands touched his heart. It was warm, and soft and pale. And he was nervous as he looked into her eyes. “No” He wrongly uttered.

“No?” She echoed, and he shook his head.

“It was an accident, years ago. Since i was a kid” He whispered and she softly stroked it. “What happened?” He racked his head as he pushed a lump down his throat.

“I don’t remember much from that night. My parents never said anything except i was in a car accident. We were” She pulled away, going back to wrapping his hands. And her eyes darted away, as she cupped her chin. “‘My parents were too” Came a shrill whisper from her lips. “But they didn’t make it” She said.

Damien looked to her, moved to his core. “I’m so sorry” He whispered just before the door to the room opened. And Marisol walked in with a tshirt. She tossed it on the stool next to him and took a bow before making an exit.

“It’s okay”

“I’m sorry to hear about that” She bit the insides of her cheeks, looking back up at him. “I’m also sorry for what i said, if it were maybe harsh” He whispered and she scoffed.

“You only say that because you saw me crying” She replied. “Well it wasn’t just about you, so don’t flatter yourself” She held his hand in hers, wrapping it around with the white bandaid.

And he chuckled slightly, one that morphed into his signature smirk. “Olivia Sanders” It was the first he ever called her right name in full, and she felt something erupt in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t butterflies—it couldn’t be. There were lions.

Atrocious, wild animals, just like he was.

Because this wasn’t a sweet, romantic moment. It was a tragic one with his blood on the ground next to her. It was toxic, and she knew it. That the moment those feelings for him does come back, it would be the beginning of her doom.

Their doom.

“How was Sam?” He asked, and she was taken aback. “What?” She softly replied. “You heard me. I’m pretty he was nice, flirty, funny and light”

“Light?” She echoed and he nodded. “Of course, like unproblematic, free and wasn’t bound to decisions of his father. I bet he was hilarious, and sweet and romantic, the kind that would compliment you constantly and tell you you’re beautiful” His voice went low, and Liv stared in disbelief at the person before her. It was the most she’d heard him talk.

“I bet he was nice. Everything i never was to you”

“So you know you’re an arse” Was all she said he scoffed. “I try not to be, look at me” He urged. “Right now, what am i?” Her eyes went to his thick skin, most of which was covered in little scars and abrasions and she looked back at him.

“You’re you. The same egoistic, arrogant you” She replied and he clutched his chest, pretending to be hurt. “Don’t give me that” Olivia rolled her eyes to the back.

“Why do you hate me so much?” Came that question from his lips, and the moment she looked to him, she saw the reflection of who he was years ago—who she was, standing in the middle of the field, drenched in dirt water.

She shrugged her shoulders, drawing herself back to reality. “You make it really easy” She said, cutting the bandaid and sealing it. With that, she was done but she still held his hands on her laps. He didn’t break eye contact.

“And Sam is just so lovable?” He rolled his eyes.

“Why are you so obsessed with Sam?”

He blew raspberry, leaning closer. “I’m obsessed with you. And if he makes you happy then—“

“What?” Olivia chuckled, allowing her cheeks to turn a bright red, like her cheeks. “No” She muttered. “No, i’m not doing this” She wanted to leave but be fastened her hands.

“Listen to me.”

“You had your rules, this is my only one. Stay away from him” He whispered. “For you, or for the plan?” Her heart sank as his gaze fell on her lips. “Only you can answer that, Olivia”

“I have another rule”

“Then you have to strike off one. Perhaps the showing of affection” She could feel his breathes against her neck as he drew close. “You get three” He added.

“You’re not a genie” She replied and he smirked. “But what if i told you i could grant you three wishes” He whispered. “Is that a promise or a threat?” Liv leaned in, letting the wool slip out of her hands. “What was your other request?” Damien asked of her and she looked straight into his eyes.

“That you see no other woman” Olivia said.

“For you, or for the plan?” He quoted her and she smirked. “Only you can answer that, billionaire boy” She looked to his lips now, only teasing him but when he leaned further, she tried to stand, like she was about to leave. But he grabbed her hands, urging a gaze which they shared.

“You don’t tell me what to do” He whispered, holding her chin in his hands and she smiled. “You know Sam is a really nice guy, and i could care less that Archers crumble to the ground” She snarkily whispered and Damien pushed a lump down his throat.

“You’re drunk” He said and he let a smirk invade her lips. “I can be anything you want” He let go of her chin, and ultimately—her hands. “Tomorrow, Olivia. Tomorrow is the first night of our plan” He referred to the Vienna Gala Raznak was throwing and she stuttered. “Everything’s going to depend on your answer to my request—“ She was cut short.

“Listen to me” He yelled.

“Don’t play any games with me” He inched closer to her and she threw his hands from her. “Don’t, with me” And before she could complete that sentence, the door barged in.

And their faces turned to a panting Amanda, who had her suitcase in her hands like she had just landed. She was furious with imaginary fumes from her ears and what she didn’t want to see was her shirtless son with a woman who dared to run her mad. She had a newspaper in her hands, once that she tossed to the table in front of her. “What the fuck is this?” She burst out, pointing a finger at Olivia.

“You.”

Peering from above, her gaze fell on the headlines—

BELOW, A SCANDAL.

And next to that, was a picture of her and Sam sharing a kiss on the Veranda of the coffee-shop. Her stomach immediately whirled, and this time, it wasn’t butterflies. Her throat opened with a groan and she threw up last night’s booze unto the papers. “You two have had alot of free time of your hands” Amanda gritted.

“I’ll have my PR handle this”

“No, you have done en—“

“I said, i’ll handle this” His rage filled the room as Amanda whimpered next to him, her eyes immediately darted to Olivia. Both their eyes did. “You just stay here. Both of you—“ He said.

To be continued…