AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod. "I know. It's already too late. Jace will never believe that my feelings for him are genuine. I knew what I was getting myself into when I took on this assignment but one thing I never banked on was falling in love with Jace."
Ivy shakes her head. "So you want me to agree to your magazine publishing my story?"
"Yes. I want you to be in control of your own story so the readers can decide for themselves. If we publish Susan's story with nothing from you, then I'm sure you know how damaging that will be for the clinic.”
She nods and stares at her uneaten sandwich. She lifts her gaze back to me. “I’ll give you the go-ahead to publish my story.”
A smile breaks out on my face but before I could say anything, she continues speaking.
“You don’t get off that easily. I love Jace like a brother. I know he’ll be heartbroken but there’s nothing I can do about that. However, I can save him from humiliation. I’m giving you until Friday to come clean with him. If you don’t, I’ll do it myself.”
My blood turns to ice. How will I face Jace and tell him the truth about myself?
“Fair enough.”
Ivy pushes her chair back and leaves without another word.
Chapter 35: Jace
I’m trying not to panic that it’s Olivia’s last day of work at The Anderson Clinic. She’s been too busy with employees from the clinic trooping in to say goodbye. Right now, there’s a big lunch organized by the nurses in the fertility clinic in her honor at the café complete with a cake.
I was invited but I couldn’t bring myself to go. Olivia and I will have our own private dinner tonight to celebrate the beginning of our new life away from the clinic.
It's already lonely at the office even though Olivia hasn't officially left. I work steadily until I hear footsteps and I know that she's back. She knocks lightly on my door and I call for her to enter.
"Hi," Olivia says cheerfully. "I'm back and I brought you some cake." She comes and places a plate with a generous slice on my desk, then she comes around and plants a noisy kiss on my lips.
"More," I say, swiveling my chair around to face her.
She laughs and kisses me, her tongue withdrawing it as soon as it connects with mine.
"You're a tease, Olivia James," I say.
"We have to save something to look forward to tonight," she says and moves away. She sways her hips as she walks and my mind goes to the gutter. I can't wait to have her to myself this evening.
Time moves too fast and evening comes, time for Olivia to leave. She'd already told me she'd leave an hour earlier, at four. I find her standing by her desk looking around as if she can’t quite believe that she has to leave.
"I'm going to miss this place." She sounds teary and I hurry to her side.
"This place will miss you too." I pull her into my arms. "Remember what we said. We're not going to make this a big deal."
Olivia tightens her hold on me and then lets go. She gives me a brave smile and steps out of my arms. She picks up her handbag and a box of her belongings. "I'm ready." She kisses me again.
"I'll see you at dinnertime. My place." I walk her to the door. She stares at me for a long time, until I grow uncomfortable. Then she leaves and I return to my office.
I sit staring into space. It's going to take a lot of getting used to not having Olivia in my office all day. God, I'll miss her. Still, I'll see her this evening, so it's fine. and maybe after this, she'll be happy to be seen in public with me.
I return a few calls before deciding to wrap it up for the day. A knock comes on my door and before I can invite the person in, the door swings open. It has to be one of my brothers. They're the only ones rude enough to enter without an invitation.
Alec walks in wearing a grim expression and I immediately think the worst. Something has happened to someone in the family. He comes and sits down at the visitor’s chair and stares at me.
“What’s going on?” I ask him.
“I’m not good with words, Jace so I’ll just go ahead and tell you everything as it was told to me.” He runs a hand through his hair before he continues. “Olivia is not a personal assistant. She’s a writer at Lifestyle Magazine.”
I blink at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Your Olivia. She’s been working here undercover to find dirt at the clinic, Jace.”
