A Close Call with the CEO
Odetta Lawrence has a secret, she is posing as Olivia Reyes, a renowned breakout fashion designer. The world was finally recognizing her for her talents but not as her true self. She falls in love with the distrustful bigshot CEO of Luxe Textiles, Edward Cummings and Edward is falling for Olivia, but what happens if she lets her heart lead? Will she give up her career for love or love for her career? *** I hear she assaulted a local in Delhi, what a racist. _Exes15 Olivia scoffed tossing her phone into her purse and zipped it up clapping her hands together. "If you'd like, I'd put up that outfit," He leaned on the wall. "Maybe buy it off your hands," She spread her arms to keep them apart, Edward just had the best way of endearing her and she stood her ground. "You...you will?" She nearly forgot about the headlines. They walked together on the beach, she held her hands together. "I appreciate that," She bit her lip. He stepped in front of her and she stopped "I could grab my boat_" "Yes, I'd love to sail," Tasha stepped in wearing a green wrap up bikini and fabric around her waist, she rolled her eyes when Dante nudged her and she blushed. "Quit bugging me alright?" She said and bit down a laugh then blinked at Olivia. "Poor dear, I'm so sorry about that guy...," Olivia fidgeted locking her fingers, "Nevermind," Edward held her shoulder and she disliked his advances. "I know, he was really good looking, I guess you never can tell," She ranted holding on to a bunch of keys and sighed. "The boat," "Right," She said and they roamed to the docks. Olivia watched a crab wrestle with a broken shell and she saw another empty one. "Are you gonna give it or live in it?" He cackled unknotting a rope, he had help with the sails and she tossed it in the water. "No thanks, I'm fine, it's a really nice boat," "Thanks, it's just a rental," He said and he stepped inside stretching his hand. "No, thanks I got it," She stepped up and her other leg was stuck in-between. "Help," She crossed over. "It's slippery," He said and made it to the controls after he released the sails. "Are you sure you know how to sail? Because I'm concerned_" "You had to stand and watch me do a safety check. Olivia, there's a lotta things I had to learn," He said and twisted the keys and the jets rumbled spewing a stream of water. "Hang on," He said and she reached around his side. "This is not funny," She said leaning on his shoulder and he was the least ridiculous at the moment. "Here we go," Edward stirred the boat and he was aware of the direction of the wind and set sail across the shores till he was sure they hit the water. The smell of salt lingered in the air and he set his hand above his eyes at the distance. Olivia was wistful and held on, she couldn't think of the last thing to worry her, maybe a sail was what she needed the whole time. The water wobbled and the sky was getting grey and he picked up speed warranting another grip from Olivia. He felt a drip on his skin and she yawned. In a moment, the turbines gradually stopped spinning and her head rose stepping away from him. A smile returned to his face when he was sure they were safe, the island was just a few metres away, he would drive there in a moment but still, they had to enjoy the view. She sat down on a chair wistful about her dad's trips. "It's been a while since I've been on a sail," "Not long enough," He went to retrieve two glasses and handed her one. "Been a while since I've had a drink," She swivelled. She sipped and her eyes popped at the sweetness. "Apple juice?" He laughed. "I figure if we did, then none of us will be leaving this boat," She imagined careening and Edward laying on the edge, wasted and she shook her head. "Better safe than sorry," She crossed her legs
Chapter 29: I am not a nurse 2
Brooke cleared her throat, nervous. "Travis, you've come a long way just to see me,"
"Brooke," He hugged her and kissed both her cheeks. "Twelve yards is nothing," He flicked a gloved hand. "I've missed you, seriously,"
She blushed and felt like she was talking to a younger David. "Please, excuse me,"
"Honestly, I'm kinda tired of the bastard, I've been trying to get him to take his pills all night and he insists on going one more hour. I think he's not ready to admit it yet,"
He rolled his eyes and Brooke softened.
"I think your father's... strong-willed,"
"Pfft, ever since he tied the knot with my mom, he slept with anything in a skirt, now I'm not sure why he's not brought in a single girl home. I think he swapped the pills,"
"There could be worse things," She beamed rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, even if he turns into a Eunuch, he still finds a way? Shucks, Brooke. He wouldn't be crazy enough to do that, even I wouldn't believe it,"
"Look at you all gossipy,"
"I don't think this buzz is gonna end, I'm never going to forget the day he spoke to a hussy about my abysmal clarinet recital,"
"You play the clarinet?"
He turned pink "No," He had an unoccupied look when David showed up. Brooke hardened and she splashed her drink indifferently on him. "Oh, look at that,"
He muttered under his breath and went off to retrieve his napkins.
"I'm sorry," Her eyes lowered. "He's hard to look at,"
"I packed extra," He grimaced.
"I guess I was expecting too much," She muttered.
"At least he's not all that bad, he got me off my demo," He shrugged.
Her head rose. "You're not going into music?"
"What? No," He laughed. "I wanna be a professor, so I can make other people do their demos," He had a devious grin.
Since David was a musician, everyone else was expecting him to continue the legacy, as frustrating as it was, he planned to do his thing.
She chuckled.
"Oh hell, Brooke, I wanna be a pilot, I already signed up but I'm not gonna tell him,"
"Tell me what?" David asked wearing a neat black shirt.
Travis grabbed a glass of orange juice. "Oh, I miss my alcohol," He muttered.
***
Brooke grimaced at David frowning and Travis rolled his eyes pacing back and forth.
"I'm taking that stance,"
"You can't be a pilot, it's too dangerous,"
"It's not if I know how to ride a plane," He spoke as a matter of fact.
"You know that doesn't resolve anything. You have your mother, she's looking out for you. There are risks_"
"No shit, Mister Cosby,"
"I know these things, I have friends, Travis,"
He thumped his chest.
Travis scoffed "Where are your friends when I need them?"
"Being a pilot's extremely difficult," He emphasized.
"I know difficult when I see it," He moped rolling his eyes.
"I'm not gonna let you go to Flight School if it's gonna take you away from me,"
He held his breath and shoved his bag into his hands. "I'm your son, dad, not your nurse,"
He shook his head walking out of his dressing room.
"What does that mean?" He asked and he grew annoyed with the labels. His hands shook erratically swallowing a pill.
***
Edward resided in his district whilst attending physiotherapy sessions every day. Olivia wasn't far from his mind, and neither did he want to be far from Odetta, it was almost as if he couldn't tell them apart, they were both warm, loving, vibrant... his heart thumped faster.
"No," He thought to himself.
He took off his shirt at the gym to a nurse's chagrin and she kept her distance while staring at him covetously by the wall with red cheeks.
He paid her no mind and focused on getting back in shape. His legs worked on the machines. He had to be at his best before going back.
His heart did feel heavy, he was doting now about Odetta's kiss, when he was at the brink of discovering her taste, she moved away.
He had standards and he didn't want any old bimbo. After his traumatizing experience, he wanted a real woman and they seemed to fit into the same circle, he felt like his head was going to split in half.
He wanted her and then he felt stricken with the other, it was annoying how they could give the same excuse. *It's complicated*. He almost couldn't tell them apart.
He couldn't believe he could be attracted to both women all at once.
He felt like he was missing something.
"Looking strong, Mister CEO," The physiotherapist Jorgen said leaning on the machine.
He grit his teeth at the pain and stretched his leg by himself.
"You had me at 'work'," They laughed, he was glad to have someone to work with here, things could get tedious. He waved the curtains aside to see Odetta walking in.
His heart pounded in response and he felt drawn to her that instant and he limped closer and stopped.
She wore a brown shirt, with white sleeves, sweatpants and sneakers, her hair bobbed as she worked scrawling something down and he smirked when she smiled.
She had a drip attached to her hand and she looked sickly but his heart went out to her, he had an impulse to draw her close and kiss her illness goodbye.
She signed a copy and she spotted him far off and heat rushed into her face, she wished she could hide behind the drip and her heart raced, turning in her files. She paused to gain her composure and huffed getting closer.
"Ed," "Odie," They said at the same time.
He clasped her wrist and she felt the electricity and then she withdrew.
"Um...how's life?". "Are you alright?"
He didn't sound harsh and her lips parted then lowered her head.
He was startled by her temperature. "You're burning,"
Her flushed cheeks burned brighter at that.
"I feel much better but I just can't work longer than I want to," She smiled and he groaned internally.
"It's wearing you down," He said sitting beside her in the patient's longue room.
People were moving about.
She snorted. "I suck at taking my advice," She said chuckling and his hands slacked when she sat up with a red nose and she sniffed.
"How are you feeling?"
"Same as you,"
"I'm so glad this is over," Her eyes rolled up.
"Who woulda thought that Tasha..."
She shook her head.
His hand was pressed against the wall behind her. "I apologise about what went on,"
She wheezed, her lips quivered resting on his sturdy shoulder. At rest. The best time to live in was the present. She wanted to forget there ever was a kidnap but remembered her deed came a long way.
Edward slacked on his bench encircling her shoulder and rested his head on hers. "I'll make you mine," He thought wistfully.
***
She woke up unrefreshed but on a warm surface, her eyes popped at her hand on his broad pumped chest and she scanned his taut handsome face and melted at the little alluring scowl on his face, she gulped. "Ed?"