I would’ve stretched out my hand to shake hers in greeting, but I was afraid if I touched her in any way, I’d want to do more.
“Hello Olivia, it’s lovely to see you,” she said.
I was enchanted by her words and had to force my brain to function in order to carry out a conversation with her. “My friend…uh‒ Rex, I think I’ve mentioned him before…” With her busy lifestyle, I doubted she’d recall any personal information I’d shared. “He’s an artist. Frank Connor sought him out as an art promoter.” I studied her beautiful ageless face.
“Oh, I see,” she said.
I didn’t realize until that moment that she might’ve had something to do with Rex’s art having been chosen by Frank Connor. The thought was absurd, but having spent enough time with Mrs. Gallagher to know her, especially after the stunt she’d pulled in Paris, I couldn’t be sure.
“Mrs. Gallagher, did you ask Frank to talk to Rex?” I asked, knowing I could be wrong but braving it.
She calmly looked at me and said, “No.”
I exhaled in relief.
“I asked him to take a look at his work,” she said.
I wasn’t sure if it was her brutal honesty or her statement that struck me most.
A second before I could respond, a couple joined us. They politely greeted Mrs. Gallagher and dubiously extended their greetings to me, ignoring me while carrying out a conversation with her.
The thing was though, they didn’t bother me. It was what Mrs. Gallagher had said that did. Was she endorsing Rex through Frank? Why would she do something like that?
The art gala was clearly an event for popular modern artists. And I remembered Jaime saying she didn’t know they endorsed students. So, was this one of Mrs. Gallagher’s ploys? And if so, what was her goal?
I cleared my throat and excused myself as they talked, while thoughts swirled through my head.
Why was Mrs. Gallagher reaching out to my best friend? What was she trying to accomplish? Yes, Rex was a great artist and he more than anyone deserved this opportunity, but at what cost did it come?
“Olivia.”
I was outside the building getting some air and trying to assemble my thoughts. Since all the guests had already arrived, I was out there by myself.
I thought about going home but Rex had the keys to the car. I figured a taxi would do when I heard Mrs. Gallagher’s voice.
I turned to look at her, wondering why she had followed me outside. She was a Gallagher, a queen in her own right. Why would she care to know what I thought, or how I felt?
To be honest I would’ve been much happier if I hadn’t found out she was responsible for Rex’s work being displayed at the gala. It made me doubt her intention and made me worry because I had a feeling Rex would be unhappy to learn the truth.
It felt like she was manipulating me. But was it really manipulation if it turned out she didn’t want anything from me or my best friend?
“I didn’t–” I stopped, trying to remind myself that this woman was my boss and I wasn’t trying to get myself fired. “Mrs. Gallagher, did you ask Frank Connor to endorse Rex for the gala?”
Mrs. Gallagher slowly walked up to me. I tried to read her but her face gave nothing away. We were standing out there alone and it was quiet, with dimmed security light illuminating the surroundings.
“Yes,” she said.
Again, her honesty was unexpected.
“Frank acting like an art promoter was all your idea?” I asked.
“He is an art promoter, but I brought your friend’s work to his attention.”
I took a step back. “Why would you do that? You don’t know Rex. He doesn’t matter to you,” I argued.
“He matters to you,” she said softly.
I speechlessly stared at her.
“You said if you’d had a chance to tell him about the previous art event, you would have,” she said.
“So you sent your art guy to go and recruit him?”
I tried to match her calm poise but I was upset. I didn’t want to lose my cool and Mrs. Gallagher was being such a lady as she spoke, she was like a mother soothing a child, which inwardly annoyed me. I wanted to break that façade but she was an impenetrable iceberg.
“Olivia, you expressed you wanted your friend to be in an art event.”
I recalled the conversation. “Yes, I did. But I only said that because if he’d known about that particular event, he would’ve applied.”
“I don’t understand why you’re upset. I was trying to help.”
The sad thing was, she was right. She’d done this in an attempt to help. I should’ve been grateful, but Rex was probably going to be upset with me. He preferred to earn things through merit.
“Are you the one who purchased his pieces?” I asked.
“No,” she said then added, “Olivia, if you don’t want Frank to pursue this, all you have to do is say so but you should know, he believes in your friend’s ability and thinks he can help.”
That was Rex’s decision to make but I wasn’t sure I could tell him. What if he got upset and ended up resenting me? He was so happy about all that was going on.
“I’m sorry for overreacting,” I said.
“It’s fine,” she said.
I was a little bit embarrassed. Sure Mrs. Gallagher taking a step to help Rex was a little suspicious and I was well within my right to doubt her intention but maybe I should’ve been more grateful instead. She’d always had a giving heart.
“Are you going back inside?” she asked.
I wasn’t sure I could face Rex just yet. He was having a great night and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to conceal the truth from him. I needed time to absorb it.
“I think I’ll just head home,” I said.
“Do you want a ride? I was thinking of leaving too.”
Since I’d been considering taking a taxi, I didn’t see any reason to turn down a free ride. “That’ll be great, thank you.”
She nodded and retrieved her phone from her purse.
I retrieved my own phone and text messaged Rex so he wouldn’t worry or look for me. A few minutes later, Mrs. Gallagher’s car came to stop where we were standing.
Suddenly, I was very aware I was going to be taken home by Mrs. Gallagher. She had dropped me off once before, but back then things had been different between us.
James came to open the door for us and said hello to me. I said hello back and got in after Mrs. Gallagher. When we were seated, I ran my hand over the nape of my neck, unconsciously trailing my fingers over the pendant and a few minutes later, we were on the road.
I couldn’t believe I was still so tense around this woman. What did she do to me? Would I ever get used to her? She didn’t make it easy since she was always so aloof. Maybe it was me who needed to change.
Mrs. Gallagher had been this way from the very first day I’d met her. Maybe it was me who needed to adapt to her. I was so deep in thought I almost missed her question.
“How are you and Colin getting along?” she asked.
I cleared my throat and bravely turned to look at her. “Very well, thank you.”
She nodded and asked, “Any problems or difficulties so far?”
Her hair was held back, exposing her perfect symmetrical facial features.
“No, not at all,” I said.
Her gaze slowly trailed over me and settled on the pendant. I dropped my hand to my lap and breathed out.
“I’m glad you’re wearing it,” she said softly.
I looked away at last, a little proud of myself for my show of confidence and leaned back against the seat. “I don’t want to go home anymore, Mrs. Gallagher,” I said.
What am I doing? A voice screamed in my head. Was I crazy? Had I lost my mind?
“Where would you like to go?” she asked.
I should’ve probably said I wanted to go back to the art gala or maybe told her to drop me off wherever we were, but it was like something else was driving me. “Anywhere, so
long as you’ll be there.”
There was a prolonged silence during which I felt like my life was hanging in the balance. I couldn’t believe I was the one speaking those words. The thoughts going through my head drove me to paranoia. I’m going to get fired. She’s going to ask James to stop the car and tell me to get out.
By the time she spoke my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest, I thought I’d go into cardiac arrest.
“Okay,” she said.
I slowly exhaled, hoping she didn’t notice how tense I’d grown waiting for her answer. I watched her say something to James who just kept on driving.
I had no idea where we were going, but I was eager and anxious. Mrs. Gallagher always seemed to surprise me. I doubted this time would be any different.
I resented how nervous I always grew whenever I was around her. This uneasiness should’ve passed by now. I should’ve gotten used to the unusual aura she gave off. I doubted it was her intention to come off seeming so distant.
People seemed to like her and fear her at the same time. It was a little odd because I’d never heard or read anything negative about her. I wished she’d open up to me and let me get to know her better.
I didn’t want to cross the line but I wasn’t very sure where that line was. I was almost too afraid to speak my thoughts out loud. “Mrs. Gallagher,” I said.
I could feel her gaze settle on me.
“God, I get so nervous around you.”
I didn’t think she thought about placing her hand over mine on my knee until the physical contact occurred. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” she said and retreated.
“You have a very strange effect on me and every single time it takes a different form. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way around anyone else before,” I said.
“What way is that?”
I met her gaze and tried to think about the appropriate words to use. “Sometimes it’s a blend of excitement and uneasiness. Other times, it’s pure fascination and admiration.”
“And you don’t like feeling this way,” she said.
It was more of a statement than a question. “There is a helplessness that accompanies it. A lack of control, if you may.”
She nodded, but failed to respond.
“I’d like to take some of that control back,” I said.
“Okay,” she said.
“I’d like to get to know you better, Mrs. Gallagher.”
I thought I saw her tense up, but I wasn’t sure.
“I think about you…more often than I should. I wonder…about you, the things that have happened between us in the past…” I couldn’t say anymore. I was revealing far too much. I was going to get myself into trouble and she probably didn’t even care about how I felt. “I’m sorry,” I said.
The car came to a stop just when I thought she was going to respond.
“James, could you give us a minute?” she said.
James stepped out of the car and Mrs. Gallagher turned to me.
I didn’t know what to expect. I’d just said things that were probably better off left unsaid. Mrs. Gallagher was always so guarded, there was no way she’d ever express any type of vulnerability.
“Olivia,” she said.
I turned to face her. My hands were trembling and my heart was racing.
She slowly raised her hand and gently placed it over my cheek. Her thumb trailed the outline of my jaw, stopping to rest on my chin. “You remind me so much of someone I used to know.” Her voice had never been softer.
I had seen her in many forms but this side of her was new and utterly mesmerizing. It was almost as though she was wounded. I wanted to know more about this person she spoke of with such tenderness, but I knew I’d have to be patient until she’d voluntarily tell me on her own.
She broke the physical contact, but instead of pulling away, she rested the back of her forefingers on my chin. Her eyes were a startling ocean blue. They were so deep and enchanting I’d never have pulled away from her had I even been offered a million dollars.
She leaned close to me and I closed my eyes as her lips softly brushed against mine. I responded at her pace, a little afraid she’d pull away if I did more. She moved her hand from my chin and gently ran it through my hair and I inwardly fought to control my body’s sexual reaction to her.
She pulled me closer and deepened the kiss and I unconsciously inhaled in controlled desire. I was fighting a raw carnal hunger. Didn’t she feel how much I wanted her? I was dying for her touch. I was dying for her to do more.
The kiss came to a slow gentle stop. I slowly opened my eyes and met her gaze then she smiled and pulled away. She could’ve said anything, but the kiss was far much better than words.
“How about a drink?” she asked.
I hesitated, still trapped in the moment that had just occurred and said, “A drink sounds good.”
I looked out the tinted window to figure out where we were as I opened the door. James rushed to my side to help me out, shortly doing the same with Mrs. Gallagher.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I shouldn’t have been encouraging Olivia. I shouldn’t have been seated next to her having a glass of wine.
My intention had been to drop her off, but when she’d said she didn’t want to go home, she’d looked so nervous and vulnerable all I’d wanted to do was indulge her.
But this was exactly what I shouldn’t have been doing. I had crossed the line in Paris and greatly reprimanded myself and just a short while ago, I’d crossed that line again.
I should’ve followed through with my original plan. The first day she’d walked into my office, I’d urgently needed to hire someone to carry out the charity ball event.
I could tell she was inexperienced and could stand to be a little more enlightened, so after the project, I’d planned on replacing her but during that first week she’d surprised me.
I’d considered keeping her on as my personal assistant, until the charity ball event had ended and she’d thrusted me back to a world I’d painfully bid farewell to.
It had been the most unexpected thing-having this lovely young woman-look at me and so boldly state what was on her mind and then go a bit further and express it in a kiss.
To this day I still didn’t know how in God’s name I’d responded to that kiss.
I’d planned on paying her for the week she’d worked for me and dismissing her, but after thinking about how brave she’d been to actually get that close to me and say those things, it had felt like she was challenging me.
I wasn’t disappointed in her work. In fact, she was very good. She diligently performed her duties as she was supposed to, at times going even further, which I silently commended.
“I’ve never seen Rex so excited before,” she said now, pulling me from my musings.
We’d just taken our seats at the counter. She was playing with the rim of her glass as her gaze rose and settled on mine. She had beautiful emerald-green eyes.
Whenever she was nervous, she always avoided my gaze. But when she was happy or upset, she faced me head-on, which I found oddly titillating.
When those few moments of bravery occurred, I could sense her courage was laced in fear. I couldn’t remember a time when someone, anyone, stood up to me. But Olivia did.
Then there were those moments when she was happy or excited and she’d carry out a conversation with me without being nervous or afraid. During those moments when she looked at me, the shade of her green eyes deepened and I found myself enthralled.
“Are you happy for his success?” I asked.
I had a feeling the boy liked Olivia. I’d observed them a bit earlier that evening and if he hadn’t been touching or hugging her, he’d been kissing her cheek. There was also a way that he looked at her.
“Of course, I am. He’s been waiting for this for a long time,” she said.
She smiled at me then looked away.
I didn’t think she was shy, but there were moments when she appeared to b
e.
“I’ll make sure Frank does everything he can to help him.”
I didn’t know why I was helping. To be honest, I didn’t know why I did some of the things I did for Olivia.
“You said you’re helping him because he matters to me,” she said.
I nodded, taking a sip of my wine.
“Why do you care about what matters to me?”
The hint of diffidence was in the corners of her eyes.
I didn’t know which answer she expected. This was a question I asked myself all the time. “You’re my employee, Olivia.”
I didn’t know if my answer was satisfactory but she looked down at her drink and slowly exhaled, almost sadly. She bit one side of her lower lip and a memory flashed through my mind.
I remembered running my fingers over her lovely face and leaning forward to kiss her. I could feel how much she fought to restrain herself. I’d felt it back in Paris and I’d felt it again that night.
There was something about her. She reminded me so much of…
“I like working for you,” she said.
Her gaze was distant, as though she was thinking about something.
“I can’t help wondering how Rex will feel when I tell him you’re responsible for tonight,” she said.
“How do you think he’ll feel?”
“He’ll be upset at first; at me, you then me again. After some time, he’ll come to the same conclusion I did.”
“What conclusion is that?”
She massaged the back of her neck then slightly tilted her head. “You had only the best intention at heart,” she said.
Her statement delivered an unexpected and unknown wave of emotion over me. “You seem to know him well,” I said, trying to ignore it.
“Do you have a best friend, Mrs. Gallagher?” She sat up straight and crossed one leg over the other and her dress fell back a bit, exposing her well-toned thighs.
I turned my attention to the bar and ran her question through my head again. It was probably time for me to go. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was with her new line of questioning.
“No, I don’t,” I said.
“Do you think you’d ever be friends with someone like me?”
I struggled with the question and answer because in my world, I’d never usually meet someone like her and if I did, I doubted I’d invest any of my time or effort in creating a friendship.
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