“You didn’t read about my last name after Layla’s death because my lawyers worked hard to keep us away from the scandal, but now it’s different.”
“How so?”
“If what I need to do to prove your innocence is shout from the rooftops that you’re mine, I’ll do it.”
“You sounded like a caveman just now,” she teases.“I own you, Olívia,”she says, mimicking my voice.
“I’m trying to get into the role of the hot CEO from your romance novels. I don’t want to disappoint you, baby.”
“You don’t need to try very had. You’re a delight and also a CEO. Just a few more phrases like that one just now and you’ll be a hundred percent within expectations.”
“Girl, you’re so cheeky.” I kiss her mouth and then her entire face. “The day I went to your house, the doorman called you a ray of sunshine. Never has a nickname fit so perfectly, Olívia. You are my ray of sunshine. I can’t imagine anyone else going through this sordid incident and still being able to smile.”
“I’ve dealt with worse, Guillermo. I watched my mother die without being able to do anything but stay by her side. It won’t be some jealous woman who defeats me.”
Caldwell-Oviedo Tower Hotel
I can feel her nervousness flowing in waves.
We’re standing in the hotel’s conference room after being instructed by our lawyers on what we can say and which questions we should ignore. There’s a lectern separating us from where the reporters from the top celebrity magazines are seated, and I shake her hand, which is cold and clammy, trying to make her relax. Immediately, Olívia looks at me, leaning toward me, albeit unconsciously.
Her vulnerability hits me hard, and forgetting where we are, I cup her face and kiss her lips. “It’ll be fine, little firecracker.”
Only when I notice some commotion in my peripheral vision do I remember that the microphone was already on.When I look at the reporters, I could almost swear that the female section is sighing. And then, it’s like the floodgates of hell have been opened, with a confusion of voices hurling questions, making my family lunches seem like a poetry recital in comparison.
“Little firecracker? Is that her nickname? Can you tell us more about that, Guillermo?”
Jesus Christ!
I hear a snort of laughter, and I realize it comes from Olívia.
At least my blunder served some purpose. Before I can think about how to respond, she takes the lead.
“Guillermo thinks I’m restless,” she says, smiling, and to me, that’s what matters.
“She’s perfect,” I say.
An “ohhhhhh” is heard, as if that was the right answer. I only stated the facts. Olívia is perfect for me.
The conference has been going on for about twenty minutes, and I’m ready to wrap it up when a reporter says, “So, Guillermo, can we start thinking about gala attire for the big day? Is there a wedding on the horizon soon?”
Olívia intervenes again. “We have to go. His schedule is full today.”
She’s offering me an out, and given the size of the secret I hold between us, I accept it because right now, any answer I give will be wrong.
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Our meeting is adjourned,” my public relations officer announces.
“I’ll spend the night at the hotel.”
“No, I’ll take you out to dinner, and then we’ll come home.”
“I don’t think I should. I need to think.”
“Don’t run away from us.”
“I’m not running away, but my peaceful life just turned into a reality show. I went from being your employee or secret lover, or whatever we were, to your overnight girlfriend. I can’t process all these changes.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
