CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76

Olivia’s POV

The moment Maxwell’s black car disappeared down the road, Kira emerged from her hiding spot inside the building like some kind of spy.

"What a complete douchebag!" She said out loud. "Honestly, Liv, I don’t know how you can have feelings for that cruel, arrogant, self-absorbed man. The only thing he’s got going for himself is his handsomeness and great physique."

I rolled my eyes, "I don’t have feelings for him, Kira."

Kira gave me the most skeptical look I’d ever seen in my life.

"Really?" she said, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Then was it your ghost that confessed to me just two nights ago about having feelings for Mr. Ice Prince?"

Damn. She had me there.

"That was then," I said firmly, crossing my arms. "My feelings have changed completely. After going through what I went through in that hellhole of a prison, thinking I was going to be molested by a giant who called me fresh meat... every possible feeling I had for Maxwell Wellington evaporated into thin air."

Kira studied my face for a long moment before finally nodding slowly.

"Okay," she said, though I could still see the suspicions in her eyes. "I believe you."

No, you don’t, I thought, but I wasn’t about to argue about it.

Without warning, she slid her arm through mine and pouted like a cutie. "Baby, let’s go eat!" she cooed.

I burst out laughing. "Please stop. You can cut the act now. Maxwell isn’t here anymore."

Kira scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Honey, I wouldn’t be surprised if that paranoid control freak has a thousand ears planted around this entire neighborhood. For all we know, he’s probably got surveillance drones following us right now."

She glanced up at the sky suspiciously, shading her eyes with her free hand as if actually looking for drones.

"You’re ridiculous," I said, even though I’d already lowered my voice, because she was quite right - Maxwell did have the ears of an elephant.

We were still laughing as we both walked to the restaurant across the street from the police station.

Kira pulled open the door, practically dragging me inside. "Come on, I’ve missed my best friend, and I want to hear everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, Liv. Everything."

We found a perfect spot and settled behind it. Kira ordered grilled chicken salad with extra avocado, while I went for cheeseburger and fries.

"Okay," she said the moment our drinks arrived, leaning forward. "Spill. Everything. Start from the beginning and don’t stop until you reach this morning’s cat situation."

I took a deep breath and started my story.

"So I get to work yesterday, right? Feeling fueled up about Maxwell being the enemy. Then I’m outside Maxwell’s office when Gabriel approaches me. At first I thought it was Alex but it was actually Gabriel!"

"Gabriel?" Kira’s eyes went wide. "What was he doing there?"

"I don’t know, Kira. He’s the man’s best friend after all." I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "I panicked completely, and that’s how I found myself running to the nearest restroom without even thinking about where I was going."

"Please tell me you ran to the men’s room?" Kira asked slowly.

"Worse. I ran into the women’s restroom."

Kira’s jaw dropped. "Olivia! you did not."

"I absolutely did. But wait, it gets better." I paused, taking a sip of my water. "So there I am, having a complete meltdown in a bathroom stall, when this voice calls out from outside. Smooth and melodious."

I tried impersonating Julian’s voice: "’Oh honey, this is becoming very ridiculous.’"

Kira nearly choked. "Someone caught you?"

"Yes! His name is Julian. And Kira, this man is like... imagine if a fashion magazine came to life and decided to become the most observant human being on the planet. He took one look at me and basically gave me a full critique of my disguise like he was judging a drag competition."

"What did he say?" Kira asked curiously, leaning closer.

"He said, and I quote, ’The prosthetics are decent quality, but the application is all wrong. Visible seam lines around the jawline, adhesive lifting near the left ear, and don’t even get me started on that wig. Synthetic hair, poorly blended, sitting half an inch too high on the forehead.’"

Kira was laughing so hard by this point. "Stop! I can’t breathe!"

"But here’s the crazy part," I continued, grinning at her reaction. "Instead of reporting me or exposing me, he actually offered to help. Apparently, he’s been watching me ’flounder around the building’ for three days and found it entertaining."

"I love him already," Kira declared. "Is he single? Please tell me he’s single and available for best friend duties."

"Focus, Kira," I laughed. "So Julian saves me from certain disaster when Sabrina shows up at the bathroom, and I manage to sneak back to Maxwell’s office without Gabriel seeing me."

"And then?"

"Then Maxwell decided to be his usual charming self and dumped a mountain of work on my desk. He specifically told me I wasn’t allowed to leave the office until everything was completed."

Kira’s expression darkened. "That bastard."

"I worked through the entire night, Kira. The entire night. By the time I finished everything, it was already morning." I explained, omitting the part about the stranger, and the fact that I didn’t actually work ’all through the entire night.’

"Wow, that man really hates you."

"It didn’t end there." I said, patting her hand. "He still decided I hadn’t suffered enough. Then he sends me to his house to retrieve some important documents."

Kira’s expression became filled with understanding. "And that’s when you decided to steal his cat."

"Princess Mitchell," I confirmed solemnly.

"How was the Cat like?" Kira asked with interest.

"She’s a very pampered, very beautiful, and very friendly cat. We both fell in love with each other at first sight."

"Wow, I wish I’d seen her."

"I wish you did, Kira. She had a whole floor to herself. It was like her own personal kingdom."

"Damn... That cat is truly lucky."

"Yes, she is." I replied, as we both sighed heavily.