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“With you at the helm and Brooks and Margot added to the board, we know the company will be in good hands. Let’s move ahead, get the paperwork signed, share the news with the Darlings and issue a press release,” Henry said, sounding more upbeat than when they’d first joined him.
“How do you think Olivia is going to react to the news?” Margot asked of no one in particular.
That was the million-dollar question, and if Sergio had to guess, he’d guess she’d be furious. And he couldn’t blame her. Not for the first time since they’d begun discussing it, he reconsidered moving forward with the deal to purchase Delcinia.
Olivia couldn’t stop smiling on her Zoom call with her sister Natalie, who was now twenty-four, and her youngest sister Faith, who was twenty-one. Olivia was now thirty. Where the hell had the time gone?
She was pleased as she reviewed the quarterly sales figures from her company Liv’s Lavish Lips, her line of organic lip balm and silky, gradual plumping lip glosses. The glosses were available in several different colors. Her product line was manufactured in small batches in Orville, Ohio, on her family’s farm property.
“The three new colors we introduced are selling well, Liv,” Natalie announced proudly.
“It looks like we’re going to need to hire people to keep up with the increased sales.” Faith added happily.
Olivia was so proud of the women her sisters had grown up to be. Natalie had recently earned her MBA and Faith was pursuing a finance degree. Olivia was also proud of everything she’d accomplished since arriving in New York ten years before. She’d sure shown Sergio’s asshole of a father, who’d treated her more like some hooker than the woman who’d loved his son to the moon and back.
She chastised herself for thinking about Sergio at all. He didn’t deserve her thoughts or anything else after he’d allowed his father to run him out of the country to Bogotá for what she found out ended up being nearly three years, after his Aunt Silvia and his mother had both passed away. Sergio hadn’t even fought for her. For them. Even after his many declarations of undying love. Olivia had had to mourn the loss of Silvia, Justine, and the end of her relationship with Sergio alone.
But Olivia had come out the other side stronger and more determined. She’d worked hard. Traveled the world modeling for various international designers, including Valentino, Versace, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Marni, thanks to her close friend Allegra Vanetti’s connections. She’d carefully considered which brands she endorsed and started her own company, Liv’s Lavish Lips.
Her luxury four-bedroom penthouse condo in one of the Delair-owned buildings was paid for. She’d saved and invested a significant amount of money preparing for her investment in Delcinia when she came off the runway.
And therein lay the problem. Her plans to move into management at Delcinia were supposed to come to fruition now. But over the last couple of months when Olivia had broached the subject of transitioning off the runway with Vera and Henry, she’d been politely brushed off. Until some undefined time later. She didn’t know why, and hadn’t been offered any further explanation about the delay.
From Olivia’s perspective, there wasn’t much time to waste. Her ideas for expansion were necessary to implement now. To move the company forward, become more inclusive and attract new customers.
She and her sisters discussed ideas for additional hiring at Liv’s. “Sounds like a great plan, ladies. Forward me candidate resumes, and we’ll review them together.” They said their goodbyes and ended their Zoom session.
Olivia’s phone chimed with a text message. Huh, it was from Henry requesting the Darlings to join a Zoom call with an important company announcement in an hour. Hope bloomed. Were they going to surprise her with an announcement of her new role with the company? Then dread took the place of hope. There was much to discuss and contracts to sign before her official transition to management. The announcement had to be something else. Damn it.
Deciding enough was enough, she grabbed her purse and set out to Delcinia HQ to participate in the call in person and demand the transition conversation. If Henry and Vera had changed their minds, Olivia needed to know now, not later, so she could make plans. As much as she’d loved the Delairs and working as their lead Darling and model, she wanted more. She always had, and had pursued her MBA for a reason. It was time for the Delairs to put up or let her go.
She was greeted by the friendly, familiar faces at Delcinia HQ about thirty minutes later. Olivia felt confident and empowered about the conversation she planned to have with Vera and Henry. She looked forward to the future, whether it was with Delcinia or not, although she hoped she wasn’t forced to leave.
As she approached Henry’s office with self-assured strides, the sound of Sergio’s voice struck her ears, and she went completely still, stopping dead in her tracks. A knot formed in her chest and her stomach churned. What the hell was he doing in Henry’s office? She’d never admit there was a tiny part of her that was happy to see him after so many years.
Why was she self-conscious that she hadn’t taken more care in her appearance before coming to HQ? She hadn’t bothered changing out of her black yoga pants and Delcinia sweatshirt. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. Fuck Sergio. She didn’t care what he thought about how she looked. Not anymore.
With renewed confidence, but bracing herself, she entered Henry’s office and leaned against the door frame. Although she hadn’t seen Sergio in years, Olivia’s body tingled with familiar but unwelcomed awareness. Damn him for looking even more handsome than he had the day he’d broken her heart years ago. He was now forty-two with a little gray sprinkled at his temples and he’d exchanged his goatee for neatly trimmed scruff. He was so gorgeous, the stupid jerk.
No matter, she had important business to discuss when the Zoom announcement was over. Vera and Henry were seated behind his desk in front of a laptop. An empty chair was between them.
They glanced up with worried expressions on their faces. Olivia’s stomach fluttered and she felt overheated. She had a strong suspicion she wasn’t going to be pleased by their announcement. Damn Sergio.
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Olivia.” The silky-smooth timbre of Sergio’s voice slid over her like a sensual caress, and her heart and stomach fluttered. Traitorous body.
“I wish I could say the same, Sergio. What the hell are you doing here?” Although being nasty to him hurt her soul, she had to protect herself.
“All that will be made clear in a moment, dear,” Vera said cautiously. “Sergio please come take your seat so we can begin.”
Sergio gazed at her longingly before taking his seat between Vera and Henry in front of their laptop. Shit, Olivia knew she wasn’t going to like this. She wrung her hands, waiting for the bomb to drop.
“Hello, my darlings,” Vera began. “Let me record our session so those who aren’t able to join us now can watch the replay.” Vera clicked her mouse and then sat back in her chair.
“We wanted to share this with all of you before we issued our press release. Sergio Martinez, former COO of Martinez Designs has acquired Delcinia. Effective immediately,” Henry announced.
No! Olivia gasped, feeling faint. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a mistake.
To her horror, it wasn’t, as she listened to Sergio introduce himself to everyone on the call. She paced with her hands clenched as her sister Darlings took the news in stride and Sergio spewed out garbage about his enthusiasm about Delcinia, its future and answered everyone’s questions.
