TO HAVE & HAVE NOT

64

Olivia

As Johnny and I stepped into the bustling ambiance of Fanelli Cafe, the warmth of the cozy, romantic setting enveloped us. My hand was clasped tightly in his, a small comfort against the flurry of nerves building in my chest. Johnny had only mentioned that we would be having dinner with a few people, not providing much insight as to who they might be. Despite his assurance that I would know them, the uncertainty gnawed at me a little.

"I'm nervous," I confided, my voice barely making it past the lump in my throat.

"Nothing to be nervous about, my love," Johnny replied, flashing a reassuring smile that seemed to wash away the worries threatening to bubble over. "You'll know everyone there. And I promise, I'm going to be right by your side the entire time."

His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and I couldn't help but smile back at him. He always knew the right things to say, how to soothe my anxious heart with his unwavering support. But as we made our way through the restaurant, my gaze fell upon a familiar face at our table—a face that sparked memories I wished to forget. Leo was sitting there, his wide smirk holding the promise of past troubles, and my stomach sank. Suddenly, my cheeks felt ablaze, and I gulped, desperately trying to swallow the knot in my throat as Johnny confidently moved toward the table, my eyes locked onto Leo's sinister expression.

"Johnny, I saved you guys a seat!" Leo called out, rising from his chair as if he owned the place.

Come on, you're an actress. You have two Oscars under your belt; you can do this, I reminded myself, attempting to summon the courage I often portrayed on screen. Johnny approached Leo, the two exchanging warm hugs before Leo turned his attention to me.

"It's so good to see you again!" Leo exclaimed, wrapping me in an embrace that felt far too tight. It lingered a moment too long, and I sensed the edge of his intentions behind it. All the while, Johnny and I took our seats, but I could feel Leo's gaze drilling into me, a weight I couldn't shake off. I tightened my grip on Johnny's hand instinctively, feeling the tension ripple through both of us. He glanced at me in concern, prompting me to flash a brave smile, trying to disguise the turmoil churning inside.

"You okay?" he whispered, his voice low and laced with genuine concern.

"I'm not feeling well," I answered a little too quickly, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere. "I'm going to go to the restroom, and I'll be right back."

"Okay," he nodded, his eyes still searching mine for reassurance as I excused myself, my heart racing. As I moved away, Leo purposefully helped me pull out my chair, and I could barely suppress a shudder as I fled toward the sanctuary of the women's restroom. Once inside, I leaned over the sink, splashing my face with cool water as deep breaths filled my lungs. I pulled out my phone and called Tommy, the only person who truly understood the extent of my relationship with Leo.

"Olivia, how's fashion week?" Tommy asked, his voice cheerful and light.

"Tommy, Leo's here," I blurted out, urgency spilling from my lips.

"Oh, well, just steer clear of him—" he began, but I cut him off.

"No, I mean we came to this dinner and he's here, sitting next to me. He's trying to invade my thoughts and control my emotions. Tommy, I'm having a panic attack in here. You have to help me; I can't go back out there and face everyone!" I said, my voice trembling with fear.

As I stepped out of the women's restroom, I collided with Leo, who had slyly excused himself from the table under the guise of needing the men's bathroom. My eyes widened in shock and I instinctively placed a hand over my chest as I gasped.

"Oh my God," I breathed.

"Sorry, I scared you," he said, his smirk widening.

"No, you're not," I shot back, the fire in my voice surprising even myself.

He chuckled, "You're right. I'm not. It was kind of amusing."

I narrowed my eyes at him, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "I have to get back to Johnny."

"Sure," Leo replied, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "Because he hasn't figured out what a snake you truly are, right?"

I spun around to confront his piercing gaze, feeling my anger rise. "If you hate me so much, why do you insist on harassing me every time we cross paths? Is it because I'm the one who got away?"

He let out a low, sinister chuckle. "No, you're just so amusing. It's like watching a train wreck and waiting for the moment it implodes. I'm just simply a spectator, and you know I love a good show."

A chill raced down my spine at his words; they made my skin crawl. "Why are you even here? Planning to slither your way into a young supermodel's bed?"

He leaned back, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face. "I came to harass you, but I'll probably do that too."

"You're vile," I hissed, disgust pouring out with each word.

"You know what they say," he said with an infuriating smile. "Birds of a feather flock together."

I could feel the walls closing in, the shadows cast by his presence looming larger.

As I walked back to the dinner table, I felt a whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. I tried desperately to muster up my best act for the rest of the evening, forcing a smile and engaging in conversation with the other guests around me.

Despite the laughter and the clinking of glasses, I could feel a heaviness in my chest; thoughts of Leo haunted me like a shadow I couldn't shake off. I knew Johnny was stressed, and the last thing I wanted to do was pile more worry onto his shoulders. How could I possibly confess the tangled web I had woven with Leo?

On our way back to the hotel, the silence hung between us like a thick fog. The night air was charged with unspoken words, and I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't probe too deeply. But he eventually broke the stillness. "What happened back there?" His voice was calm but curious, a mixture of concern and gentle insistence that made my heart race.

"I just wasn't feeling well," I said, my voice a little too forced, as I reached for his hand. I gripped it tightly, giving it a slight squeeze, hoping the warmth of my touch would instill some sense of reassurance. "Maybe it was the food. But I'm okay now." I plastered what I hoped was a convincing smile on my face, but inwardly, my heart was racing.

He scrutinized my expression, and I could sense his doubt as clearly as if he had voiced it. "You're my girl, Olivia. You can tell me anything. Is there something wrong?" His words wrapped around me, making me feel both loved and trapped.

"What?" I panicked internally, my mind racing at a million miles an hour, desperately hoping my face didn't betray my thoughts. "No, nothing's wrong." I tried to sound casual, but there was a tremor in my voice that I couldn't completely conceal.

"Promise me," he urged, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my insides twist. "Promise me there's nothing wrong." His plea dripped with sincerity, and guilt washed over me.

And I hated myself for what I did next. With a heavy heart and a faint tremor in my stomach, I looked him straight in his soft, innocent eyes—eyes so trusting, so full of love—and said the words that felt like poison on my tongue, "I promise."

I felt a fracture in my heart, knowing full well that every word that passed my lips was a deceitful shield protecting the chaos I had entangled myself in. In exchange for his peace of mind, I was willing to bury my own truth even deeper, pushing it down into a chasm of guilt and confusion. But as I glanced away, unable to hold his gaze any longer, I couldn't shake the feeling that the consequences of my silence loomed just around the corner, waiting to unravel everything.