Chapter 3
Eric's face darkened as he stared at the keys.
"What are you up to now?" he asked.
"I'm here to get my stuff," I said.
"What stuff?"
"My laptop, my portfolio, and the file box I left in the back storage."
Chloe whispered, "But that's all the store's stuff."
I looked at her.
"Do you think any of the shop's stuff would have my dad's name on it?" I asked.
She shrank back and hid behind Eric again.
Eric was getting impatient.
"We signed the South Street project. If you start moving stuff now, you'll make it look like there's trouble between us," he said.
"What the client thinks is none of my business," I replied.
"Olivia," he said, his voice low.
"Don't make me say something harsh in front of the staff," he warned.
I couldn't help but laugh.
For seven years, he always tried to scare me with threats.
Back then, I was scared he'd make things hard for me, scared the staff would laugh at me, scared Susan would worry.
Now, the only thing I was afraid of was waking up too late.
Ben opened the back storage door.
Chloe had written a new label and stuck it on my file box.
South Street files, managed by Chloe.
I ripped the label off and threw it in the trash.
Chloe immediately burst into tears.
"Olivia, I know you don't like me, but you can't let your personal stuff mess with work," she said.
Eric strode over.
"Apologize," he said.
I picked up the box.
"To whom?" I asked.
"To Chloe," he said.
Ben looked like he wanted to say something.
"Eric, that box really has always belonged to Olivia," he said.
Eric shot him a look.
Ben lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
Chloe started crying even harder.
"Forget the apology, Eric. It's all my fault. I never should've come to your business," she said.
Eric moved in front of her, protecting her.
"Olivia, look at yourself," he said.
I walked out with the box in my arms.
Eric grabbed the corner of the box.
"If you walk out with those files today and anything goes wrong with the South Street project, it's all on you," he said.
"Fine," I replied.
He froze.
"Are you sure you can take responsibility for that?" he asked.
I looked up at him.
"You can try," I said.
A voice came from the doorway.
"Don't need to try," David said.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, holding my coat.
"I'll take responsibility for whatever happens to Olivia now," he said.
The first thing Eric noticed was the ring on David's hand.
It was a plain band, worn on his ring finger, catching the light in a way that was almost blinding.
Eric's expression shifted.
"Who are you?" he asked.
David draped my coat over my shoulders.
"Her husband," he said.
Everyone in the shop turned to look at me.
Chloe's crying stopped for a moment.
Eric burst out laughing.
"Olivia, you really went and got someone to play pretend to mess with me?" he laughed.
I pulled the marriage certificate out of my bag.
I opened it.
Eric's smile froze on his face.
Chloe covered her mouth.
"Olivia, how can you do this? You and Eric have been together for seven years. How can you get married on impulse?" she said.
I said, "Seven years? He spent it comforting you when you cried, and I used it to make things official. Sounds about right."
Eric reached out to grab the marriage certificate.
David caught his wrist, stopping him.
"Don't touch her stuff," he said.