Chapter 2

I couldn't just stand there, so I walked over and playfully linked arms with Olivia. "Olivia, what are you talking about? Honestly, you barely look older than Victoria."

Olivia's smile froze in an instant.

Olivia and Richard were both forty-five.

But Victoria and Richard were in a May-December romance, with her six years older.

Lucy, the maid serving the dishes, chimed in right away. "Oh, Ms. Green, there's no need for that. Mrs. Grant is just one of those naturally beautiful people. She hardly even uses moisturizer.

"And we happened to make a fresh batch of green juice today. Have a glass. It's packed with antioxidants."

Richard seized the moment to play the gracious host, sliding his own glass toward Olivia. "Please, make yourself at home," he said warmly.

Olivia was visibly moved, her eyes glistening as she looked at him.

She picked up her glass and drank it all in one go, and then set it down a little stiffly before pushing Richard's glass back.

"Rich, you should have yours," she said. "I'll stick to my own. Wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea and thinking I'm taking advantage of you."

Instinctively, I glanced at Lucy and caught her giving me a smug little smirk. She'd definitely spiked that glass, probably with an extra heap of salt or something.

I got the message loud and clear. I slid my own glass toward Olivia.

"Olivia, you're our honored guest," I said. "Don't stand on ceremony. Here, take mine too. Enjoy it. You deserve to treat yourself."

With both of us insisting, Olivia had no choice but to keep drinking.

She'd finish one glass, only for us to push another toward her. In the end, she was gulping down the green juice and chasing it with big swigs of water.

Lucy and I shared a knowing look of victory, but my eyes drifted to the head of the table. Victoria didn't seem pleased at all.

She sat with perfect posture, taking delicate bites of her food. Her face was a smooth, unreadable mask, as if she were completely detached from the scene unfolding around her.

But I could see her slender fingers trembling, just slightly.

My heart dropped.

*****

That evening, when Edward got home from work, I was dying to spill all the tea about Richard and his "buddy."

But turned out, he didn't know any more than I did.

And honestly, Edward wasn't into gossip. He just wanted to snuggle up and shower me with kisses.

He tossed his coat aside and threw himself onto the bed. "Hey, we've barely seen each other all day. Can't you stop gossiping about other people and pay attention to me for once?"

Then he pulled me into his arms, and we messed around in all sorts of ways until it was way past midnight.

The next morning, Edward was up and dressed, looking fresh as a daisy after our wild night, while I was left sprawled on the bed, shooting him a resentful look.

Edward chuckled and came over to ruffle my hair. "Relax, my dad's just like me. He's all about older women who know how to take care of him. That woman doesn't stand a chance."

Dead tired as I was, I suddenly got a burst of energy, sprang up, and slapped him. "Who are you calling old, huh?"

Edward covered his right cheek with a cheeky grin, teasing, "Come on, hit the other side too."

Fuming, I flopped back down, yanked the blanket over my head, and huffed, "Crazy. Get out and go to work."

Edward couldn't help but laugh and kissed my forehead through the blanket. "I know my dad. He'd never do anything to hurt my mom. But if you're really that curious, go ask Mike. He's been with the Grant family way longer than I have."

*****

Later that afternoon, I spotted Mike in the break room, fussing over his precious collection of single-origin coffee beans.

I immediately put on my sweetest, most innocent smile and walked over, holding a rare, small-batch bag of Blue Mountain coffee, the kind you couldn't even buy without being on a waiting list.

Sure enough, he started spilling all the juicy, soap-opera-worthy stories from back in the day.

Richard, his childhood buddy Charles Miller, and Olivia were the famous trio in their circle.

Back then, both Richard and Charles fell head over heels for Olivia, who was young, gorgeous, and had a sunny personality.

Olivia, though, was a master at keeping things perfectly balanced between them.

She never leaned toward either one, which only made the two guys even more jealous and constantly at each other's throats.

It wasn't until Richard finally put himself out there and confessed that Olivia made her choice. She picked Charles over him.

Everyone thought they were totally meant to be, the perfect couple.

Then, a plot twist happened.

Olivia's dad and Charles's mom got married, and just like that, the two lovebirds became step-siblings.

Right then, Richard shot his shot and went for the top spot.

Mike suddenly let out a sigh and just trailed off, leaving me hanging.

I was totally hooked and couldn't help but blurt out, "So did they end up together? And how did Victoria end up marrying Richard?"

Mike took a sip of his tea and continued, "Nope, they never got together. Ms. Green just kept Mr. Grant hanging, never letting him get too close."

Olivia really knew how to play the game. She understood that for guys, wanting what they can't have is way more addictive than actually getting it.

So, the two of them just kept things vague and flirty for years, never making it official.

Then, out of the blue, an economic crisis came crashing in and finally shook up their whole awkward situation.