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Confused, Olivia put her back to the kitchen once again, and once again her friends’ laughter filled the space.
“What?” Olivia asked, throwing her arms in the air and facing them. “What is so funny?”
Melanie flipped her phone around and showed Olivia the picture. A picture of Olivia’s ass.
A picture of Olivia’s ass with a greasy handprint right where Jackson had tried to catch her . . . after he’d put a grease mark on her face.
Fury bubbled through her. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Well, that would be one way to get your half of the airport, but orange isn’t your color.”
Olivia glared at Jade. “Not funny.”
“So, you only thought you got the last word in because I’d say—”
Holding up a hand, Olivia cut Melanie off. “I know. Damn it, I know. He got the one up on me. But I’m not done.”
“Do you want me to send you this picture?” she asked, causing Jade to laugh even harder. “In case you wanted to update your profile on any of your social media outlets.”
“You two are a riot,” Olivia stated dryly. “I’m going to change and I’m going back to the airport. Jackson Morgan will not make me look like a fool.”
“I think he already—”
Olivia marched off, ignoring Jade stating the obvious. Her friends at least attempted to snicker quietly, but Olivia couldn’t worry about that now. She had more pressing matters and a brand-new suit Jackson had to dry-clean.
* * *
“Livie Daniels. Is that you?”
Again with the name. Did people get a nickname and then never part from it? Why couldn’t she have been dubbed “O Great One” or “Her Highness”? If she were to go back and pick her nickname in school, she definitely wouldn’t have let “Livie” pass.
Olivia clutched the shopping bag she carried . . . a bag with her soiled suit. It took every bit of Olivia’s willpower not to explode on the young woman leaving the airport hangar, but all she had done was call Olivia by the annoying name.
No, Olivia would rather save her frustration for Jackson.
Not recognizing the blonde headed her way, Olivia pasted on a smile that was as fake as this lady’s nails. Did people actually still do acrylics?
“I’m sorry, I don’t recall your name.”
The lady with dark blond hair, which was actually a pretty shade, waved a hand in the air. “It’s okay. I was a couple of years behind you in school. You wouldn’t know me.” The woman held out her hand. “I’m April Collins.”
Olivia ran the name through her head, vaguely placing the woman who stood before her. “Of course I remember you now,” Olivia lied as she shook her hand. “How wonderful to see you again.”
“I’m sorry about your dad.” April pulled her hand back and shielded her eyes against the late afterno
on sun. “I know words don’t change anything, but he sure will be missed around here.”
Forcing her smile to remain in place, Olivia nodded. Just another person her father had left an impression on. Another reason she didn’t want to stick around too long. All of these people would be coming forward, wanting to express their condolences, and Olivia truly didn’t have the mental capacity to cope. Years of an absentee father hurt, but knowing he hadn’t fought for her and remained here catering to everyone else was absolutely crushing.
Well, he’d e-mailed randomly. Maybe twice a year and called on Christmas and her birthday. He never asked why she left, but he always asked her to come back. Why? She never fully grasped why he wanted her to return unless he only wanted someone to take over his precious airport. But he had Jax for that, didn’t he?
It had been easier to settle into her new life and push away her old . . . her father included.
Olivia couldn’t get into all of that with April, so she just replied with a simple, “Thank you.”
“I’m glad Jax is keeping the place running. He’s got as much determination as your dad did,” April went on. “Maybe more since Piper is still so young. She absolutely loves coming here and she told me in class today that her dream is to be an air force pilot like her daddy.”
The guilt punch to the gut impacted her more than she would’ve liked. She had to push personal feelings aside. If she wanted this deal to be done in her favor, she had to keep her eye on the prize . . . and the prize was getting out of here as soon as possible with the full deed to the airport and her sanity intact.
