CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17

Olivia’s POV

"Diana, did the team finish the presentation for Mr. Harris?" I asked, scanning the files spread across my desk. Sketches, reports, and sales sheets cluttered the surface—evidence of weeks of pressure and preparation. "I want it finalized before the meeting tomorrow."

"Yes, ma’am," Diana replied, scrolling through her tablet. "The finance department submitted their updated monthly sales report last night. Overall revenue increased by eight percent compared to last month, mostly due to the fall collection launch. The online store performed exceptionally well—forty percent higher traffic than last quarter."

"That’s good," I murmured, flipping through the numbers. "But the boutique sales are still lower than expected."

"They are," Diana agreed. "The branch in New York dropped by four percent, but Los Angeles and Milan both rose by ten. The marketing team believes the limited-edition pieces boosted international interest."

I leaned back in my chair, considering. "We’ll highlight that in the presentation. Mr. Harris will want to see consistent growth. Add a comparison chart—monthly sales from the last six months, with emphasis on the upward trend after the rebrand."

"Already done," she said, smiling. "You also have a meeting with the marketing director at ten, a lunch with the French investors at one, and your Vogue Elle interview at three."

"Cancel the interview and move it to Friday," I said quickly. "I need the afternoon to study the finances and review the pitch deck."

"Understood. Should I still confirm your dinner meeting with Mr. Carter?"

"Yes. If the deal with his textile company goes through, our production cost will drop by twenty percent. That could push next month’s profit margin higher."

Diana looked up, impressed. "You’ve really mapped out everything."

I smiled faintly. "I have to. Mr. Harris won’t invest unless he sees stability—and I intend to prove this company isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving."

Failure, I reminded myself again, simply isn’t an option. Even though my step-father isn’t pressuring me, I still feel pressured. I accepted his offer, and I don’t want to turn him down. I wanted him to show that I built this empire with my employees.

"Ms Thompson," she called me.

"Yes? Don’t tell me if I got another meeting because I had enough for today even though my day hasn’t started yet."

"Well, you have a lunch meeting with your step-brother."

I paused, turning my eyes on her and she was staring at me like waiting for my approval. Why would Gabriel make an appointment in my company?

"Cancel it," I said.

"Too late for that," Gabriel’s voice immediately covered my office. He was standing up at the door, looking at me directly. "I’m already here and I’m not going anywhere until you accept my appointment."

I stood up and left my desk. "What are you doing here? You’re not allowed here."

"I wanted to speak with you about what happened last night, especially since you haven’t been answering my calls since morning."

I chuckled, "Why would I answer your calls? Is it mandatory for me to answer them? Because as far as I know I’m not obligated to do that."

He turned his eyes to my secretary and said, "Would you leave us for a while? I want to speak with your boss alone."

"Don’t move from your location, Diana." I glare at him, "She is not going anywhere."

"I want to speak to you about what happened last night. Are you sure you wanted her to hear everything?" He inquired.

I was backfired and stunned with what he said. It was like a blackmail, and I don’t know if I’m going to listen to him or not. I turned to Diana and motioned her to leave us alone. She nodded before leaving my office, and silence immediately wrapped the room.

"What do you want us to talk about? I don’t see why we need to discuss what happened last night," I begin.

He went closer to me and replied, "Because I want to apologize for my actions. I know I became a jerk last night and I shouldn’t have treated your boyfriend like that, especially since I know your relationship with him won’t last."

I laughed, "You are so confident and annoying at the same time. How certain are you that our relationship won’t last?"

"I just know it."

Gabriel moves even close until there’s no gap between us. I can feel his breath, sending chills to my body. I averted my eyes and swallowed. I suddenly felt uneasy with him this close.

"I’m sorry," he murmured.

I turned to him shocked, surprised that he meant it this time. I saw in his eyes how eager he was to have my forgiveness, and I’m hesitant to forgive him.

"I’m sorry for what I did last night," he added.

I moved backward and stopped when I stumbled on my desk, he captured me and we’re inches away from each other. He’s irresistible, but I must resist him.

I gulped again and answered, "Fine. I forgive you, but you have to stop using my weakness."

"I’m not using it. You are giving in," Gabriel said.

I scoffed, "No, I’m not—" he didn’t let me finish my words and froze me to my standing position. His lips were against mine, but it was different from before.

It was calm and affectionate. The last time was aggressive and desperate. I gripped on my desk when his kiss deepened, and something awakened inside me again. I pushed him away. The more I resist him, the harder it is for me to put a wall between us.

"Stop it, Gabriel. This is wrong..." I mumbled.

"I know you love me, too, Olivia. I know deep in your heart that I’m the one you wanted, not Daniel."

"Please, stop!" I shouted.

His eyes remain calm. I hate it. I hate his beautiful eyes, his soft lips, his warm touch. I hate myself for giving in!

"I don’t love you. Stop messing with my mind," I begged.

He held my hand but I pulled it away. However, he takes it with force and places it on his chest. I tried to remove my hand from it, but he was strong. Then, I felt his calm heart like it was saying that everything he mentioned was real.

His love.

His promises.

Everything.

Why does he look like worth making a mistake? Why is he pulling me closer? Why am I addicted to his lips?

"Listen to it, Olivia."

I shook my head and moved away, "No. No. No. No. You are messing with me. You just wanted to know if Gavin is your child."

"No," he simply replied.

"Why, Gabriel?" My throat went dry and I almost choked with my voice. "Why are you messing with me? Five years had passed yet you seemed to have forgotten about what happened. You should forget it. You should not remember me. But why?"

"Because I want you to be my wife before you could leave, Olivia. However, I failed to find you. You hide from me," he explained.

"Exactly! We’re not supposed to meet again! But this is a mess! You should’ve looked for me, or remembered everything..." I murmured.

Gabriel marched towards me, grabbed my waist and locked me with his lips again. He held the back of my head, assisting me to respond and I fell for it. I fall for his manipulative kiss, and I’m responding.

We kissed deeper, synchronized, and thirsty. His lips against mine are obsessive, and committing a mistake again. Wake up, Olivia! You have to stop. Now!

I parted from him, and looked at him intently. "I have something to tell you, Gabriel."

"I’m listening."

His lips were still warm against mine, and the taste of him lingered, haunting me like a sin I couldn’t wash away. I stood frozen, my breath uneven, my heart beating violently against my chest as Gabriel’s gaze pinned me where I stood. His presence consumed the air, leaving me drowning in the gravity of what we’d just done—again. I wanted to scream at myself, to turn away, to stop this before it went too far, but my body refused to move. Every rational thought screamed that this was wrong, that

I was betraying everything I’d built, everyone I cared about. Yet when his hand brushed against my cheek, I didn’t flinch. My skin burned where he touched me, my resolve trembling beneath the weight of desire I couldn’t control. I regretted it the moment his lips met mine, and yet part of me craved the feeling—the fire, the chaos, the way my soul seemed to come alive only when he was near. I hated myself for it. I hated him for making me feel this way. But as I stared into his eyes, so close, so intense, I knew I was already too far gone to pretend I didn’t want him.

But I must resist him as hard as I can.

So, without hesitation, I showed him my finger and announced, "I’m engaged."