Take A Chance

ONE

   "Congratulations Miss Olivia. I am proud to announce you the proud owner of this beautiful apartment." the sales man said.

Olivia Heart stood in the middle of an upstate New York apartment in the elite side of the city. She had just gotten admission to the New York University and was quite elated. It was a big step moving from Dallas, Texas all the way to NYC. Her father, Business Mogul, Christopher Heart had a production empire in the heart of the city. Heart industries was also located in other cities such as New York, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. As his only daughter and heir apparent to his empire, Olivia Heart was as cold hearted and brutal as her dear father. She had been raised with an iron hand and at the young age of eighteen was already a force to contend with in her father's business. She was a major shareholder and knew every vital information about Heart industries.

From the beginning it had been she and her dad against the world. Her mother having died at Olivia's birth, her dad was all she had and the only person she ever warmed up to. On the  outside, they were this cold, mean spirited, tough duo to the world. Christopher and Olivia Heart. But on the inside, when they were in the confines of their home, they were loving father and sweet daughter. Chris and Liv Heart. They were devoted to each other. Ever since her mother's death, her father had remained single. When she turned six, he began to hang around with various women but he always assured her it was for business only. A few years later when she was sixteen, he started what he called "flings". Olivia was never bothered by it because she knew he wasn't serious with any of them. She understood her dad was a man and men had needs. As long as his relationship with them was purely sexual and nothing else, she was okay with it. Besides her dad was a young man, him just being forty years old. Her mum had been a student in the university of  New York just like she was now and was also eighteen years old. She had met her dad who was just rounding up his studies also and they just got along. A few months after, her mother, Elizabeth, realized she was pregnant and a marriage was planned and held thus making her Mrs Elizabeth Wayne Heart. It was just sad that she died at such a young age leaving Olivia behind. Her dad was an amazing man but she sometimes wished she had her mum.

Olivia shook hands with the man, her gray eyes, just like her father's, boring into his eyes. He smiled brightly although on the inside he was dying to get away from the ice queen before him. All through his business deal with the woman, he had never seen a smile on her face. She rarely spoke to him either but that might be to the fact that he wasn't blessed with the pleasure of meeting her not more than twice. The first time he'd seen her was when he showed her around the twelve different apartments in twelve different parts of the city. Most of the time, he'd made acquaintances with "her people". The lady made him uncomfortable with her empty eyes and hard face.  Olivia Heart was beautiful, no doubt about that. Stunning even with her brown hair and pretty face but he had a hunch that she'd be even more gorgeous if she smiled more.

"Thank you Mr Wester. You may leave now. My assistant outside will pay you for your efficient services." she replied curtly.

At that she turned around and began to look at the breath taking view outside her apartment. Mr Wester took that as his dismissal and silently exited through the intricate French glass door. The apartment was located on the top floor of the Empire state building. Olivia was glad she had found it as it was just to her taste. Private, with top of the art security system, she  could imagine herself at peace here. It didn't matter that someone else was interested in the place and she had to outbid him with a whopping twenty million dollars. She had wanted it and she'd gotten it. The furniture was mostly glass, the apartment was done in rich colors such as cream, black, mahogany brown and a dash of white. She moved to the kitchen where she pulled open the fridge that was already stocked full and pulled out a jar of ice tea. She took a seat on one of the bar stools by the counter and poured some into a glass cup. She had just taken a sip when her assistant, Melody, walked in.

"Miss Olivia is there anything you'd like for me to do before I head back to Dallas today?"

Olivia took another sip before twisting her neck around to loosen the taut muscles there. She was exhausted and just wanted to take a nap.

"No Melody. You may leave. Do I have everything ready for tomorrow?" she asked not sparing her a glance.

"Yes Miss. Your car is parked in the garage and all your books and clothes have just arrived from Dallas. I have arranged everything in your closet. Your father says to give him a call once you're settled in."

"Thank you Melody. That is all."

"Good day Miss Heart."

Once Olivia heard the door close after her, she jumped off the stool and gulped down the rest of her drink. Stretching, she moved from the kitchen to her bedroom and flung open the door to her closet. She walked in and looked through everything to make sure all her things were intact. When she was satisfied, she stripped away her clothes and tossed them in a hamper then pulled on some sweat pants and a tank top. Her hair, she did into a bun then went back into her room and lay on the king sized bed.  Grabbing her phone from the bed side table, she dialed her father's number. At the fourth ring, a deep baritone voice could be heard from the other end.

"Hello" he said.

"Hi Daddy." she greeted.

"Liv. How are you dear?"

"I'm fine dad, thanks. Melody just left. She's on her way back to Dallas."

"Okay. Well how do you like your apartment?"

Olivia glanced around her room before replying "Its quite dashing father" in a fake but accurate British accent. She heard him chuckle before saying, also in a British accent, "well I am most elated that my princess approves of her castle."

Olivia smiled before turning serious once more. "Dad....I'm nervous."

From the tone of her voice, Christopher knew his daughter was being serious. "And why is that?"

" Well....I'm resuming school tomorrow...and...you know....mum..." she trailed off. She relished in the moments when she could be like this. Unsure, nervous, when she could even stutter because she knew that could not happen in public. When in public she must be sure, confident, strong....but with her dad, she could just be a normal eighteen year old girl.

She heard him sigh before saying "Olivia."

He only ever called her by her full name when he wanted her to know he was being really serious with her or if he was angry.

"Yes dad?"

"She is proud of you. That I am a hundred percent sure of. Your mum is proud of you as am I. And she would want you to go to that school and represent her and yourself. You don't have to be nervous. You are Olivia Elizabeth Wayne Heart. You are strong and you have both your mother and I by your side. Just because you can't see her doesn't mean she isn't with you."

Olivia smiled and nodded even though he couldn't see her.

"Yeah...thanks dad."

"No problem angel, I have to go now. I'll call you later tonight okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too Miss Heart." he replied once more in a British accent. Olivia giggled before hanging up.

She took several deep breaths as she stared at the ceiling above her.

"You can do this Olivia." she whispered. "You are Olivia Elizabeth Wayne Heart."

First chapter!! Please comment and let me know what you think.