Chapter 233 - Hand In Hand (1/2)

The tea was still steaming when Natalia Vasiliev left Olivia's office after receiving the custom-made solution for her nail extension.

Shifting her sight from the untouched teacup, Olivia kept her stare at the doc.u.ment on the table.

Natalia's signature hasn't dried up yet, and the ink glimmered as the sunlight filtered through the window.

Subconsciously, Olivia smiled, happy that she didn't need to use as much force as she anticipated on Natalia Vasiliev to get the doc.u.ments signed.

It was the thinnest doc.u.ment that Olivia had in file to date but it felt as if she conquered the world with it. It was a five-page doc.u.ment ensuring that Natalia Vasiliev wouldn't pull something as nasty as burning the painting or stealing from Olivia's apartment.

At first, all Olivia wanted to do was blackmail Natalia into signing the doc.u.ment by showing the latter the footage of her heinous act—infiltrating the restricted access room of the Cultural Center, and burning Xandra's painting thereafter.

It was the incriminating footage that Natalia wanted to steal from Olivia. However, her woman's intuition told Olivia that such means wouldn't scare Natalia.

With the help of her gal pals, they studied Natalia's routine and pinpointed one activity that she frequently did in a week—nail art.

Who would have thought the princess of Vuono had a penchant for nail art and would frequently get her nail art changed after a day or two?

After finding out Natalia's obsession with her nails, Olivia and Emily thought it would be nice to play with Natalia's head by giving her the scare of her life—waking up with ugly nails.

Olivia snorted one more time upon remembering how Natalia fainted. That image was gold. They did amazing with Natalia's nails ah! How could she faint on that?

Olivia's reverie was cut short when a soft rap on the door echoed in her office.

”Come in,” she said. To her surprise, Secretary Gail was holding a box in her hands. ”And those are from?”

”From…” Secretary Gail trailed off. She flipped the card sitting on top open and read, ”His Highness, Prince Maxen of Nisia.”

Suppressing a smile that threatened to escape her lips, Olivia stood up and received the present from Secretary Gail. ”You may leave. Thank you,” Olivia said. When the door gingerly closed, Olivia pulled the ribbons apart and lifted the box open with wide eyes. Her hazel pools glistened as her eyes laid upon the black leather jacket neatly folded inside the box.

'Roses are red, Violets are blue. This is a leather jacket for you.'

”Are you kidding me?” Olivia uttered. She could not believe that she finished reading Maxen's letter without breaking into a peal of mocking laughter. Can't he get more creative next time?

Biting her bottom lip, Olivia locked her office door and sauntered towards the loo inside her office to change.

It was almost two in the afternoon when all the doc.u.ments she needed to sign were handed back to Secretary Gail for filing.

Walking out of her London office, heads turned towards Olivia as she owned the hallways, walking with her eyes straight ahead and chin held up high.

”Okay, back to work children,” Secretary Gail barked. She snapped her fingers to get everyone's attention away from the door as soon as Olivia stepped out of the office.

Employees scrambled and heads burrowed back to their desks.

Down in the lobby, Olivia paused as soon as she stepped out of the elevator car. She looked left and right, scanning the place, but saw not a soul in sight. She thought maybe it was downtime and people were up in their offices.

Sauntering out of the lobby, Olivia's hand flew to her c.h.e.s.t, shocked when a bouquet randomly popped out of nowhere.

”Maaax,” she exhaled his name. ”Thank you. This is lovely,” she said, accepting Maxen's beautifully curated bouquet. ”I'm glad you didn't steal flowers today.”

Maxen snorted at Olivia's comment. He rubbed the skin above his eyebrows and admitted, ”Well, I can't steal flowers from Buckingham Palace, so I have to ask the Queen for a little favor.”

”Maxen!” Olivia's eyes grew large. She held the bouquet up, about to hit Maxen with it, but realized they were in public. ”Stop mooching flowers from other people,” she angrily whispered.

”Why are you whispering?” Maxen asked.

”Who's whispering?”

”You.”

Olivia tilted her head to the side. ”Me?” She scanned the area one more time and realized not a soul was in sight.

Slowly, a kaleidoscope of butterflies was released from a cage inside of her stomach, sending a fluttering feeling in her heart.