The following weeks became a blur for Olivia. Her days were consumed with endless meetings, site visits, and back-to-back discussions. If she wasn't sitting across from the designers hammering down details, she was at the venue overseeing adjustments, making sure every inch of the hall matched her standards. Suppliers, decorators, models, logistics—her fingerprints were everywhere.
The chaos that had once threatened to drown the project was now firmly under control, thanks to her relentless effort. Slowly but surely, Fashion Week was back on track.
But in the process, the Olivia the company thought they knew was gone.
Gone was the always-smiling, endlessly caring assistant who used to put everyone else's comfort above her own. In her place stood a woman with sharp edges, a blunt tongue, and a sass that cut like a blade when she didn't like something. She spoke without filters, and when she was displeased, everyone in the room knew it.
At first, the employees were stunned. The Olivia they had once whispered about as gentle and kind now terrified them. She had the uncanny ability to scold someone while still smiling, and that smile, paired with her razor-sharp words, was enough to make even seasoned employees break into a sweat.
It was a chilling combination, and before long, the employees realized that they would rather triple-check their work than risk her wrath.
Whispers began to circulate in the company halls: Olivia Bennett is scarier than the CEO.
And perhaps the most shocking thing of all—Aiden Ashford himself seemed to agree.
The staff watched in disbelief the first time Olivia openly criticized Aiden in front of the entire team. He hadn't argued, hadn't raised his voice. He had simply listened, his jaw tightening, and when she was finished, he nodded once and admitted, "You're right. I'll fix it."
The collective gasp in the room was so loud it nearly drowned out his words. This was the same man who had been infamous for his temper, who once sent senior managers trembling out of meetings. Yet here he was, calmly accepting criticism from Olivia.
If Olivia could make the mighty CEO bow his head, what chance did the rest of them have?
The fright was real, but after a few weeks, the employees adjusted. They learned to deliver flawless results before they reached Olivia's desk. They learned to interpret her sharp tongue not as malice but as demand for excellence. And, in an odd way, they began to respect her even more for it.
Since the work was now under control, Olivia no longer had to stay at the office until midnight every night. She could leave at more reasonable hours, though she still pushed herself harder than most. What surprised her, however, was the unexpected routine she had fallen into with Aiden.
It had started innocently. On nights when they both stayed late, he would suggest grabbing dinner before heading home. At first, she thought it was just convenience—they were both hungry, both tired, both leaving the building at the same time. But then it became regular.
Almost every night, they ended up eating together.
Sometimes it was at expensive restaurants, other times at small hidden places Olivia recommended. She discovered that Aiden was surprisingly picky about certain things—he refused to eat shellfish, disliked spicy food, and always avoided dishes with too many sauces. She teased him about it more than once.
"You're like a picky child," she'd say, smirking.
"I call it refined taste," he would retort, though the faint flush on his ears betrayed his embarrassment.
What surprised Olivia even more was how he would wait for her to finish work. Even when his own tasks were done, Aiden lingered in his office until she was ready to leave, so they could walk out together. It was subtle, never spoken aloud, but it didn't escape her notice.
She had to admit—though only to herself—that Aiden was… kind of cute. Not in the conventional sense, but in the way he quietly looked out for her, in the way he listened when she spoke, and in the way he accepted her criticism without defensiveness.
It was strange, but after weeks of shared dinners and unspoken companionship, Olivia realized they had become friends.
One afternoon, Olivia stepped into Aiden's office.
The air in his office always carried a certain weight—calm yet commanding, with floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the skyline like a living painting. Aiden was seated behind his desk, reviewing documents, but he looked up immediately when Olivia entered.
"You're here," he said simply, a hint of warmth softening his tone.
"Of course," Olivia replied, setting her folders on the table. "We need to finalize the models for the runway."
Aiden leaned back slightly, steepling his fingers. "Alright. Let's start."
After an hour of deliberation, they settled on the lineup. Olivia closed the last file with a satisfied sigh.
"That's done," she said.
Aiden nodded, then hesitated for a moment. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint glimmer in his eyes. "There's a new restaurant that just opened downtown. Do you want to try it?"
Olivia blinked, surprised. "A new place? You want to go?"
"Only if you do," he said casually, though the slight tension in his shoulders betrayed how much he cared about her answer.
Olivia tilted her head, studying him for a moment. Then she smiled faintly. "Alright. Let's go."
The drive downtown was quiet, the city lights casting reflections across the car windows. When they arrived, the restaurant's exterior was sleek and modern, with warm golden lighting spilling onto the sidewalk. A line of well-dressed patrons waited outside, but Aiden had already made a reservation, so they were ushered in immediately.
As Olivia stepped out of the car, however, something caught her eye. A familiar figure stood a few feet away, checking his phone.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"David?" she called out instinctively.
The man's head snapped up. Recognition flashed in his eyes just as Olivia rushed forward, her heels clicking against the pavement.
"David!" she exclaimed again, her voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and excitement.
She hurried toward him, a bright smile breaking across her face—the kind she hadn't shown in a long time.
Behind her, Aiden's steps slowed. His brows furrowed, a faint frown pulling at his mouth as he watched Olivia run to another man without hesitation.
The name echoed in his mind, sharp and unwelcome.
David.