A Distant Memory

Chapter 10 - 'Sweetheart'

It's been a week since the diner, Marko keeps on teasing me, and I keep reminding him that I despise him through and through.

There's a charity gala coming up to fund for kids in need, and I need to go. Unfortunately, it's child-free. Ironic, right?

"Mommy but I love galas!" she protested as I tucked her in. 

"I know, Rosie. But this gala is for grown-ups" I explained, "I promise I'll be good!" she pouted. 

"Honey, I don't doubt it. But no one can bring their children" I covered her with a blanket. 

"But I want to feel pretty with a pretty dress and pretty shoes and pretty hair" she whispered, I chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I know, baby. I promise that I'll take you to the next one, okay?" I looked into her gorgeous blue eyes, she was so adorable.

"Okay" she murmured, I saw as sleep started to overcome her. When I got up, she stopped me.

"Wait! can you tell me the story of when daddy gave you the ring?" she asked, referring to the story of when Rowan proposed. "Of course"

"It was summer, five years ago, I could feel Notus everywhere."

"Even on your fingertips?" she asked, she already knew the answer.

"Even on my fingertips" I smiled before I continued, "We were walking in a beach no one knew of, our spot.

He had told me to wear swimwear, I thought that we were just going to swim, but he had other plans. He made me close my eyes-" Rose interrupted me, "Don't forget of when he surprised you with a picnic!" she hurried. I chuckled, "I didn't even get to that part, did I?" I shot back, she shook her head from left to right.

"When he told me to open my eyes, there was a beautiful picnic set out in front of me, he had made my favorite foods from scratch. I kissed him, and then, we watched the sunset.

When the sky was orange, daddy told me to get ready to get into the water, and after I put my dress away and turned to him... he was kneeling on one knee, with a ring box open, and a beautiful, beautiful ring in it"

I stared at the ring on my finger and wondered how things would be if Rowan were here. How he would be with Rose, no doubt that he would love her to the moon and back. When he went missing, and I assume when he died, a part of me died with him. I also wonder how I would be if he hadn't gone missing. Would I be a better mother? A better daughter?

Rose was asleep when I turned to her. I kissed her forehead and left her room, I was pretty much a walking zombie.

-

"There's a gala tomorrow. You're coming with me." I told Marko. I would have to make a public appearance with him sooner or later, besides, my dad detested those things, so I couldn't take him.

"See, Oli, I'd love to go, but who would watch over Eve?" he asked as he read some files, I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"My dad is going to take care of Rose, he can take care of Eve, too" My dad wouldn't mind, he loved toddlers.

"It's fine, sweetheart. Eve's mom can watch her" he admitted

Sweetheart? did this man just call me sweetheart?

"Did- did you just call me sweetheart?" I asked in disbelief and shock, "Ah, are you nervous, sweetheart?"

I groaned in annoyance again, "do you have to be that annoying?" 

"Yes, yes I do" he teased, I sat back on my desk. Then it hit me;

Eve's mom? Is Marko married? 

"are you married?" I voiced my thoughts.

"No. Why? Do you want me all for yourself?" he teased, relief washed over me, but I didn't let it show. "Oh suck my dick. If your ego is going to get so inflated I'll just fire you, no empty promises" I snatched the papers off of his hands, he stared at me with wide eyes.

"Olivia, you threatened to fire me over a hundred times. I don't think I believe you anymore" He stood up, got in front of me, and snatched the papers back. I gasped in shock. "Remember who's the owner of a billionaire brand" I snatched the papers again. "Remember what contract you signed" he snatched the papers, again. I stood up, mad.

"Remember what I'm going to make of yourself!" I almost yelled, when I tried to take the papers away from him, he wouldn't let go, we fought and fought but none of us would budge. "Let. Go." I said through gritted teeth

Suddenly, he pulled the papers back with huge force, I still had my hand gripping them tightly which made me fall to the floor, on top of Marko.

"Fuck me" I muttered to myself, before acknowledging the pose that we were in. I was straddling Marko fucking Anderson. 

"Dios santo" Marko murmured breathlessly in spanish. I'm not sure if I was meant to hear it, but I did. I wanted to ask him about it, I wanted to force him to tell me what it meant. But I forgot, No. I could not speak. I tried, I swear I did. But the words simply got stuck in my throat, and I was forced to stare right into his eyes.

I had never really looked into his eyes. They were grey, with a hue of light green. They weren't numb. 

Right then and there, he saw me. Not the powerful billionaire businesswoman but he saw me, in every and all aspects. He saw right through me and caught a glimpse of who really was Olivia Luxor Rossi. I think I even forgot myself who that actually was.

I opened my mouth to speak, say something, anything. My body betrayed me once again. I tried to stand up, but my body wouldn't budge, I was stuck on top of him.

Great.

I was finally able to stand up when I heard the sound of a throat clearing; 

Maria.

I was able to stand up quickly, I straightened my shirt and picked up my prada purse, as well as putting on my sunglasses.

"I came to inform you that the car is waiting for you, ma'am" I could tell that she was holding back a snicker, what a bitch.

"I'm going" I shot daggers at her, she covered her mouth to prevent laughter from erupting. I turned to Marko.

"I need to run some... personal errands. Consider yourself free for the day" I announced formally, "You're gonna miss me greatly, sweetheart" he winked at me as he passed me and headed towards the regular elevator, he had learned the hard way that my elevator works for me and me alone. 

I turned to Maria, who was staring at me wide-eyed. "Don't" I walked past her, and she trailed behind me. "Girl that man is into you. You better hit. I say that he's a definite smash" she smiled as I activated the elevator with my fingerprint. She wasn't lying, Marko was a total smokeshow.

"I said don't" I rolled my eyes, she just smiled.

"What even happened?" she asked, "We were fighting for some papers, he pulled too hard and I fell on top of him, not a big deal" 

Was it not a big deal?

"And you didn't get off him?" she teased and narrowed her eyes at me, I groaned, "I was about to, before you came in" I informed her with a bitter tone. "It didn't look like it" she shrugged as she stepped off the elevator. Then, she interrupted me before I could even respond.

"Come on, let's get you a dress for Marko to take off tomorrow" she teased

"I can't with you" I sighed in annoyance, she laughed, the car was waiting for us.