Chapter 3

"I…I'm really sorry, sir. Good morning, sir," I stammered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and anxiety. Jennifer, the office manager who had kindly helped me moments ago, hastily retreated to her office, leaving me to face Lucas's anger on my own.

My mind raced as I struggled to find the right words to explain the unfortunate situation. Finally, I managed to explain the incident with the car, all the while silently pleading for understanding.

He listened attentively, his expression softening as I detailed the morning's events. "I see," he murmured, nodding slowly.

He leaned against my desk, his eyes examining me. "So, you're the lady my driver accidentally splashed earlier," he stated. A wave of anger washed over me as I realized it was his car that had drenched me on my way to work, but I forced myself to remain calm, knowing it was too soon to create tension with my new boss.

"Regardless, let's focus on why you're here," he continued, seemingly unconcerned and not bothering to apologize. Suppressing my frustration, I shifted my attention to the work at hand, eager to prove my worth and dedication.

As Lucas disappeared from sight, Jennifer cautiously approached my desk once more. "Olivia," she began, her voice lowered, "make sure you focus on your work and try your best to avoid him."

I didn't need to ask for an explanation; Lucas's arrogance had been noticeable from the moment I arrived. Nodding in agreement, I appreciated Jennifer's advice and decided to keep my distance from Lucas as much as possible.

Turning my attention back to my tasks, I committed myself to excelling in my new role while navigating the challenging dynamics of my new workplace.

Over the next few weeks, I threw myself into my work, involving myself in projects and quickly proving to be a valuable asset to the team. Despite my efforts to maintain a low profile, it was inevitable that my path would cross with Lucas's from time to time.

In those moments, I remained professional and focused, never allowing our initial encounter to enrich our interactions.

As I grew more comfortable in my role, I began to notice the unique dynamics between Lucas and the rest of the staff. It appeared his arrogance wasn't isolated to our first meeting, but rather a defining characteristic that influenced his relationships with everyone in the office.

One day, as I was leaving the office later than usual, I noticed Lucas was still at his office, looking confused. Something stirred within me, and despite detesting his arrogance, I approached him. "Is everything alright, sir?" I asked, my voice tensed.

His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed my presence in the office. "What are you still doing here, Miss Olivia?" he inquired, closing his laptop in preparation to leave.

"I had a few tasks to finish up, so I had to stay a bit later," I explained.

Surprisingly, he regarded me thoughtfully, seemingly impressed by my dedication. As we walked towards the elevator together, an awkward silence enveloped us, the air filled with unspoken thoughts.

"I appreciate your hard work," he finally said, breaking the quiet. "It's not often I find someone as committed as you."

I felt a strange mixture of pride and vulnerability in that moment, unsure of how to respond.

"Thank you, sir," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I believe in giving my best at my job."

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped outside the main entrance, we headed towards the main front doors.

When the front doors opened once more, we walked out into the cool evening air, the city lights casting a warm glow over the bustling streets.

"Goodnight, Miss Olivia," he said, his voice softer than usual.

"Goodnight, sir," I replied, watching as he made his way to his car.

Part of me had hoped my boss might offer me a ride, but I quickly dismissed the thought, reminding myself of our professional boundaries.

Resigned to finding my own way home, I began the familiar trek towards the main road in search of a cab.

As I walked, lost in thought, the sound of a car horn shook me back to the present. I turned to see an expensive car pulling up alongside me, its window rolling down to reveal William, the man who had once mocked my surname.

"Olivia, right?" he called out, a playful grin of amusement playing on his lips. "Need a ride?" I hesitated, torn between my disapproval for the strange man and the prospect of avoiding a lengthy wait for a cab.

Eventually, I reluctantly accepted his offer, sliding into the back seat where he was seated, with his driver in front.

"Thanks," I muttered, trying to ignore the grin that seemed permanently etched on his face.

"So, how's life treating you?" William asked, glancing at me as his driver navigated the evening traffic. I offered a nonchalant gesture, unwilling to reveal my thoughts to a man I barely know. Though, I can't deny the fact that he was very handsome. He is handsome just like my boss, Lucas, but my boss is more arrogant.

"It's fine," I replied in a rush.

William laughed, clearly unaffected by my cold attitude.

"Where can I drop you off, Olivia?" He inquired, motioning for his driver to proceed. I tensed, unwilling to reveal my home address to a stranger.

"I'll give you directions," I replied suddenly, intent on guiding the driver to a location a few blocks away from where I stay. There was no way I would let William know where I lived.

As we navigated the city streets, I provided concise directions, carefully avoiding any mention of my actual address.

"Somewhere in particular you'd like my driver to stop?" William urged, a hint of amusement in his voice. It was clear he suspected my avoidance, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing the truth.

"Just keep following my directions," I insisted, my tone leaving no room for argument. Eventually, we arrived at a nearby junction, close enough for me to walk the rest of the way home without raising suspicion. "This Is fine," I announced, quickly carrying my file and handbag.

"Well, it's been a pleasure, Olivia," William said, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "Do let me know if you ever need another ride."

“Thank you,” I said, ignoring his comment, I exited the car, feeling the weight of the evening's events lift as I watched his car disappear into the night.

“I don't even have his number. He doesn't have mine either. That's really funny,” I whispered to myself, smiling.

Upon arriving at home, I exchanged a tense greeting with my uncle's wife, who was outside chatting with her daughter, Isabella.

"Good evening, Aunt" I greeted, eager to avoid any unnecessary confrontation.

"What's so good about the evening? Why are you getting home so late?" my uncle's wife questioned, angry. Isabella stood by, an arrogant laughter plastered across her face.

"Isabella, respect yourself. I'm not your mate, so don't forget that," I warned, my patience wearing thin. Ignoring my aunt's interrogative glare, I made my way inside, seeking the solace of my own space.

As I entered, I closed the door firmly behind me, shutting out the unpleasant exchange. It was clear that Isabella and her mother took pleasure in making my life difficult, and I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me rattled.

Since my uncle wasn't home, he traveled for a while now, so I went directly into my room. I collapsed onto my bed, mentally and physically exhausted from the day's work. Between the challenges of my new job, the complexities of dealing with my billionaire boss, and my new rich stranger friend, William; the enmity of Isabella and her mother. It seemed that my life had become an endless balancing act.

A loud, insistent banging on my door interrupted me from my thoughts. "Who is it, and what do you want?" I called out, frustration mounting.

"Open this door right now, or I'll break it down!" my uncle's wife's loud voice demanded.

With a heavy sigh, I made my way to the door, determined to find out what she wanted this time. As I opened it, she stood before me, her face filled with anger.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice low and weary from the day's stresses.

Without warning, she grabbed my arm and began pulling me out of my room. "What are you doing?" I demanded, struggling against her grip. "Am I some kind of criminal? I've only shown you respect because you're older. Have some respect for yourself!" I yelled, my anger reaching a boiling point.

Her face turned a deep shade of red, but she refused to back down. "You will show me proper respect in this house, young lady!" she declared.

I wrenched my arm free and stepped back into my room, slamming the door in her face. Leaning against it, I closed my eyes, my heart pounding in my chest. It was clear that her anger would only escalate, and I needed to find a way to deal with the mounting tension in the household.

As I stood on the other side of the door, her voice pierced through the silence. "Who was the man that dropped you off a few blocks away?" she demanded.