I have no idea what Olivia’s definition of later is.
It’s nearing eleven p.m. and I still haven’t heard from her. Granted, I didn’t reach out to her earlier. I spent the evening with Jack. After I signed documents until my wrist was numb, we went for a celebratory beer.
That turned into three beers and the brilliant idea to come to Olivia’s apartment.
The doorman remembered me from last night. He also recognized me from the performance of the Philharmonic he attended last week.
One selfie later, and he let me come up to her place to surprise her.
I hope to hell I won’t be the one in for a surprise. If I find Derek Tocher inside, I’ll tear him apart with my bare hands. Or I’ll fuck off and drown my sorrows in another few beers.
I knock softly on the door of her apartment.
Silence.
I knock again, louder this time.
Still nothing.
Hoping the third time is a charm I bang my fist against the door and call out to her, “Olivia, it’s me.”
The sound of a door opening behind me turns me around.
The sight of Olivia in a pair of black sweatpants and a blue T-shirt almost drops me to my knees.
Her hair is in a ponytail. Her skin is washed clean.
She looks fresh-faced and innocent.
She’s breathtaking.
“What are you doing here?” Her brows pop up. “Did something happen to Alvin?”
I shake my head. I can’t think. All I want to do is take her to bed. Hold her, kiss her, fuck her. I want to keep her.
Her gaze falls back to her friend, Kate. “I’m going to go.”
Kate nods but doesn’t a word.
I stand to the side as Olivia unlocks the door of her apartment, turns on the light and beckons me inside.
“Why are you here, Alexander?”
I close the door behind me. “Who is he?”
“Who?”
“Daryl.” I shove my hands into the front pockets of my jeans.
I had the sense to go home and shower before I went to Jack’s office. I needed the time between my meeting and signing those documents to think about my future.
“Derek,” she says the lowlife’s name with a half-grin on her face.
“Did you fuck him?”
Her hands fall to her hips. “You did not just ask me that.”
I repeat the question because I need an answer. “Did you sleep with him?”