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Olivia
It was like living in some weird alternate universe. On paper, everything was the same as before, when Juliette hadn’t been a part of Liv’s life.
She still spent most of her time working. She still had a close relationship with her dad. She was still friendly with the staff who worked for her. Her eating and sleeping habits remained much the same, and she was working hard to make sure she didn’t fall apart in the self-care department. No one wanted to have to go into a meeting with a boss who hadn’t been able to bring herself to shower that day.
On the outside, everything was the same.
However, in reality, nothing was the same.
Liv wasn’t the same.
Loving Juliette had forever changed her, and Liv couldn’t seem to bring back the pleasure and satisfaction she had felt in her life before she had known Juliette.
Even if she couldn’t have her as a partner, Liv missed Juliette as a friend… but Juliette didn’t truly care for her. If she did, she would put her money where her mouth was and come out. Liv wouldn’t settle for a friend who she knew didn’t care for her as much as Liv did. She was worth more than that.
Living with Juliette, though, was impossible. Seeing her every day, seeing what she wanted more than anything but couldn’t have, was driving her crazy.
Liv remembered what she had told her father in the beginning. If things didn’t work, she may have to move out.
Well, things certainly weren’t working, and she didn’t see how time was going to change anything. She needed a fresh start.
Liv considered finding another house or an apartment, somewhere close by, so that she could still get to work and see her father easily enough… but it wasn’t enough.
Work wasn’t the sanctuary it had once been. Memories of Juliette sitting in her office, handing her cheeseburgers, haunted her whenever she was there. She remembered kissing Juliette on the roof as they looked out over the city. Holding her hand when they walked through empty hallways and no one would see.
Liv needed more than a different house. She needed an entirely fresh start. Only that way could she pull her life back together.
“Dad, can we go out for supper tonight? Just the two of us?”
“Sure! That’s a good idea. We haven’t done that in a while.”
“I’ll see you after work, then.”
“Liv, is everything ok?”
Liv bit her lip. She was so done with lying. “We’ll talk tonight, ok?”
“Yeah, ok. Hang in there, honey.”
She knew he knew, but they couldn’t talk about it, not without triggering his obligation to tell Laura what he had been told. Baseless suspicions, he could keep to himself, but if it was confirmed… well, Liv didn’t want to put him in that position.
Work, which had been dragging recently, suddenly flew by. Liv was nervous about the coming conversation, and of course, time did not cooperate in her wish to procrastinate. All too soon, she and her dad were sitting opposite each other in Joe’s.
She was silent for so long that he felt the need to broach the subject. “So… are you going to tell me what’s been eating at you the last couple of weeks?”
“It’s complicated. I can’t really get into it, but I do need to tell you something. I think I need a fresh start.”
“Ok. What does a fresh start look like to you?”
Liv braced herself. “I want to move to Europe and start a branch of Aimee Enterprises over there.”
Her father recoiled as though she had struck him. “Liv, honey, surely there has to be another way. You and Juliette must be able to work this out somehow.”
Liv considered denying that Juliette was the reason for her sudden desire to change continents, but what would be the point? Kane knew, that much was obvious.
“There really isn’t. Trust me, if there was any hope whatsoever, I would be staying. I need to go, Dad.”
Kane sighed. “I understand, Liv. I wish you would stay, but of course, you need to do what works best for you. You’ve done amazingly as CEO here. I’m sure you’ll be equally successful in your new venture. I will of course give you any support you require to make it work.”
