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“Do you know what she wants?” I ask, not sure why Oliva would lower herself enough to come see me.
“She says she’d like to come up.” Why? Hasn’t she caused enough trouble?
“I—uh…” This is a bad idea, on so many levels.
“Mrs. Holt?”
“Yes?”
“Uh, she says she comes with a peace offering.”
I rub a hand across my forehead, an ache forming. I’m not sure I believe Oliva, has surrendered her cruel intentions, but then there’s really only one way to find out. “You can send her up.”
“Okay, thank you ma’am.” Ma’am? I guess I am married now. The idea of being called ma’am should make me feel old, but it gives me a little thrill, and all because of the man I’m married to. I rinse my bowl and put it in the dishwasher. I fiddle nervously with my rings while I wait for the elevator. When it dings, I jump. Dammit, why am I so jumpy today? Maybe I’m still feeling anxious over my whole family situation, and Olivia just complicates matters. I really hope she’s done playing her games. Dealing with my cousin Jill is one thing, Olivia on the other hand, if I even flinch, she’ll have me.
The elevator slides open and Olivia glides out the doors, looking flawless as always. I have the sudden urge to straighten my clothes and run my fingers through my hair, but I resist.
“Kate, I was so surprised when I saw Coulter this morning to find that you had returned with him. How sweet.” Her heels click-clack against the marble staircase as she makes her way down to the main floor.
When the hell did they see each other this morning? And why? Cole said he had meetings all day. “I don’t know why that would be a surprise. Cole and I are—together.” I’m sure Preston and Olivia don’t think we are married.
“Well, yes, but I was under the assumption he took you home.” She’s mocking me in her own diluted way.
“You assumed wrong. Is there something that you needed, Olivia? I don’t have time in my schedule for your insults today. I was under the impression, you were here under peaceful terms.” Five minutes with this lady is five minutes too long. I have no idea what I was thinking when I said it was okay for her to come up. I’m ready for her to leave.
Oliva peruses her lips, like she’s refraining from saying something else that I’m sure is rude and hurtful. “I came over to see if you would like to do a little shopping with me. I want you to feel at home while you’re here in Vegas. Besides, I need to get to know my future stepdaughter-in-law.”
My mouth drops open in shock. She cannot be serious? She’s hated me ever since she laid eyes on me. This whole damn thing is her fault. Maybe I should be thanking her instead of hating her. She’s up to something. I know she doesn’t like me. The thought that filters through my mind is: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I don’t want to do anything with her, but it will get me out of the villa, and it’ll help me get to know Oliva better, maybe give me some insight into what’s behind her fake facade, and learn you she really is. Cole wouldn’t like this, but he told me I should go shopping.
“You want to take me shopping?”
“Yes, darling. Say you’ll come be my friend and shop with me. It’s such a dull chore to do by oneself.”
“Um, all right, I’d love to.” This gets her. I see the slightest flinch, but she recovers nicely.
“Excellent, I’ll wait while you change.” Wait, why would I change? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? I’ve got a pair of five-hundred-dollar jeans on and a two hundred and fifty dollar t-shirt. They’re brand new. I took the tags off them this morning. I glance over at Olivia. She’s wearing in three-inch heels and a designer dress suit. I can see why she wants me to change. “Okay,” I mutter, picking up my phone and walking back into the bedroom. I text Luke and ask him to have someone meet me in the lobby, saying that I’m going shopping but won’t need the car. He texts back an‘okay’.
I walk into the closet and find a pair of black flats. I change my shirt to a white ruffle tank, pairing it with a navy blue short sleeved cardigan. I look myself over in the mirror, grinning wickedly. This isn’t at all what Olivia had in mind. I give myself two points. One for holding my ground and one for ticking her off.
“All right, I’m ready.” I walk out of the bedroom to find Olivia hunched over the counter, grimacing at the credit cards Cole left for me. She straightens up, but If I’ve startled her, she doesn’t show it. I pick up the two credit cards and stow them in my wallet.
Olivia looks me over, pressing her lips together, the disdain clear on her face. “Very well.”
I give myself a mental high five, and add another point to my imaginary total, for the look she gave me.
We walk up the stairs together. I’m sure her reason is the same as mine, an unspoken I’m not willing to turn my back on you, you might stab me, and not in the figurative way. When the elevator doors slide open, I hesitate. Do I really want to go with her? No. I don’t. Hopefully, security is already downstairs. Despite my earlier objections to a babysitter, right now I don’t mind, and I step into the elevator.
I rack my brain for something to talk to Olivia about, or to even to say to her. I remember the last thing she said to me at the wedding chapel was that I would regret being with Cole. It’s hard to think she has changed her mind in the last two days. She’s got to be up to something. The question is finding out what that’s going to be tricky. The elevator ride is fast, thank goodness. When the lift doors open and I see Luke standing there waiting for me, not one of the other security guys, my heart sinks. I’m in trouble now.
“Hi Luke,” I say as I step out of the elevator, giving him my best—I’m sorry, don’t get upset look. But I have a feeling that will not work on him.
“Luke, what a pleasant surprise. Are you going up?” Olivia steps aside so Luke can get in the elevator.
“Mrs. Holt.” Luke nods to Olivia. “Kate,” he says through his teeth. Great, this is going to blow up in my face, I’m just sure of it. “No ma’am, I’m accompanying you and Miss Cook shopping.” Two points for Luke, he’s on the ball.
“Oh, Luke, you don’t need to.” she says, resting her hand on his shoulder. Olivia’s putting on some serious the charm. I wonder if she realizes Luke has seen her naked. Or me, for that matter. I shiver at the memory of Luke and I helping Oliva back into her little tight blue dress after we found her passed out in bed with Kit. “I can baby-sit Kate for Cole. She’s safe in my hands.”
Oh no, she does not get to say that. “Yeah Luke, Olivia is what fourteen, fifteen years older than me, she would have baby-sat me when I was little. I’m sure she won’t have any problems now.”
