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The information catches me off guard. “No.”
“It was to see you,” Avery adds, sensing my surprise.
I frown. “When?”
“Not even two months after the wedding. She’d mentioned the trip at one of our family dinners. Adam offered to let her take his jet, but she declined.”
My heartbeat quickens as my mind tries to rationalize why Olivia would travel to see me. The timeframe could mean she was coming to tell me about the pregnancy. But the fact she didn’t call to tell me she was in town negates that theory.
“Well, she didn’t try to see me.”
“She did.”
My gaze narrows with doubt. “How do you know?”
“Because Brigette told me,” she says, mentioning her former assistant who now oversees her company’s PR clients in LA.
“Told you what?”
Avery lets go of my hand and clasps hers together, resting them in her lap. “Brigette told me that when she was waiting to discuss the following quarter’s advertising campaigns with you, there was a young woman named Olivia waiting with her. They talked for a bit, and she realized she wastheOlivia.”
I don’t bother asking what that means. I imagine my sister and her former assistant gossiping about me and my childhood best friend like school girls. “Well, if that’s true, why didn’t Olivia see me?”
“According to Brigette, you were busyentertaining.”
“Entertaining?”
“Your secretary was escorting them to a conference room to wait for you when they walked by your office. The door was open. Apparently, Olivia got a great view of a leggy blonde sitting on your desk looking like she was seconds away from straddling you in your office chair.”
I wish I didn’t, but I know exactly who Avery is talking about.
Portia Garrison is the daughter of my second most important investor. She’s a well-known flirt, but she’s also clever and business-minded. Rumor says she’s the child Mr. Garrison plansto leave his empire. So while I detest being ogled like a piece of meat while at work, I take care not to offend Portia while still making it clear I’m not interested. She’s a beautiful woman, but I’m not foolish enough to risk mixing business with pleasure.
“Nothing happened with that woman.”
“I believe you, but imagine what Olivia must have thought.”
It hits me that if Liv was pregnant and coming to tell me the news, seeing me with another woman so soon after we hooked up would’ve been devastating.
Agitated, I run a hand through my unruly hair. “Shit.”
“Yeah.” Avery nods. “Shit.”
“It still doesn’t excuse Olivia for not telling me about the baby.” I can understand why she’d refrain from speaking to me at that moment, but sixteen months have passed since then when she chose to stay silent. Things might’ve been complicated between us, but she could have told me the truth anyway. She could have given me a chance to prove to her that I wasn’t the scum of the earth like she thought.
“You’re right,” Avery allows. “But it is an explanation for why she didn’t. I’m not choosing sides, Derek, but knowing how I feel as a pregnant woman, there’s a very real chance Olivia wasn’t thinking clearly at that moment. I’m sure it was gut-wrenching for her to see you with someone else, let alone process what to do afterward. Did she make the wrong choice? Possibly. But she deserves the chance to explain. You need to talk to her.”
I know Avery is right, my lingering hurt makes it hard to admit out loud.
My sister sighs. “I love you, Derek, but you always try to think about things logically. You focus on reason more than emotion, but emotions can distort even the most level-headed person’s thoughts. It can make them act out of character. Do yourself a favor and call Olivia. She’s likely suffering just as much, if notmore, than you. Give her the chance to tell you everything. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
The desire to continue to wallow in my pain and anger is strong, but the thought of Olivia suffering alone forces me into action.
I’m hurt by her choices, but I love her. There’s no getting around that.
I don’t want to cause her any more pain. Not again.
“Okay.” I push back the covers. “I’ll go talk to her.”
