CHAPTER NINE
When Olivia arrived at the office that morning, the sun was still struggling to break through the clouds. As usual, she was running a little late, but nothing out of the ordinary. She had her coffee in hand and a file clutched under her arm, ready to tackle another day of work. As soon as she stepped inside, her best friend Jasmine spotted her and couldn't help but notice her unusually wide grin.
"Liv, you're actually smiling at eight in the morning?" Jasmine teased, raising an eyebrow.
Olivia quickly straightened her face, pretending to be serious, though she couldn't suppress her excitement. "I always smile," she said with a wink.
Jasmine wasn't buying it. "No, you don't. So what's the big news? Is it a guy?"
Olivia shook her head with a laugh, though her mind was racing with the news she couldn't wait to share. "No, actually, I got the sponsors. Two hundred of them."
Jasmine's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open. "Wait-how? Are you serious?"
Olivia's grin grew wider. "Yeah, Logan helped me. He didn't even give me any instructions. He just made things happen."
Jasmine let out a low whistle. "Logan? Wow, okay. That's a serious level of help." She chuckled. "Well, you know what that means, right? Celebration time."
After spending some time sorting through papers and finishing up her usual tasks, Olivia was finally called into Mr. Hayes' office. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous as she walked toward the door, her heart still racing from the morning's success.
She knocked lightly, then opened the door to find Mr. Hayes sitting at his desk, his usual cold, calculating gaze already fixed on her. "Good morning, Sir," she said, her voice calm, though there was a slight quiver of excitement she couldn't hide.
Mr. Hayes glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly, then turned his attention back to the papers in front of him. "Hmm, morning. What is it?"
Olivia stood there for a moment, trying to compose herself. She had always admired Mr. Hayes' professionalism, but today, she was here to share something that made her proud-something she knew would earn her some recognition, even if Hayes didn't show it.
"I came to drop off the reports," Olivia said, though she could tell he wasn't listening.
He took a slow sip of coffee, clearly uninterested in her words. "Didn't ask."
A slight tension built in her chest. But Olivia wasn't about to let this moment pass without saying what she had worked so hard to accomplish. She swallowed her nerves and stood a little taller. "I also got the sponsors. Two hundred of them."
She paused, hoping he'd say something, maybe offer even a hint of approval.
Hayes didn't immediately react. Instead, he just stared at her for a long moment, his eyes hard to read. He finished his coffee, set the mug down, and muttered something under his breath. "Okay."
Olivia stood there, feeling a bit deflated. She repeated herself, as if to make sure he'd heard her the first time. "I got the sponsors. Two hundred."
This time, Hayes didn't bother responding. Instead, he motioned for her to leave. "Good for you. Now get back to work. And don't forget to close the door behind you."
She walked out of his office, her excitement waning as the weight of Hayes' indifference pressed down on her. He was always like this-proud, detached, never offering more than the bare minimum.
As Olivia stepped out of Hayes' office, she spotted Jasmine waiting for her by the water cooler. She couldn't help but feel frustrated but still couldn't keep the smile from creeping back onto her face.
"Well?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow as Olivia approached. "How did it go?"
Olivia rolled her eyes, letting out a little laugh. "Like usual. Hayes didn't even acknowledge it. Just said 'good for you' and moved on."
Jasmine let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, what a guy. No appreciation at all." She shook her head, then grinned. "But hey, you're still killing it. And Logan-he's gotta be your personal hero now, right?"
Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "I guess so. I wouldn't have gotten them without him."
Jasmine chuckled, nudging her. "Looks like you've got a little mystery on your hands then. What else is going on, huh? Maybe you're not just getting sponsors, huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
Olivia smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "No, no. It's not like that."
"Uh-huh," Jasmine said, smirking. "I think you're just playing it cool, but we both know you're into someone. So, when's the next celebration? I'm in!"
They both burst out laughing, the tension from Hayes' indifference melting away as they shared a lighthearted moment before Olivia knew it was time to meet Logan.
After work, Olivia was met by Logan outside the office, leaning casually against his car, his confident smile lighting up his features. His presence immediately made her heart skip a beat.
"Hey," she greeted him, her voice a little lighter than usual.
"Hey, there she is," Logan said, his voice warm and teasing. "You ready to celebrate?"
Olivia nodded, her excitement bubbling up again. "Absolutely."
He opened the door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat, feeling a mix of anticipation and the comfortable ease she always felt around him. As they drove through the city streets, the soft hum of the engine was the only sound between them.
The restaurant Logan had picked was even more stunning than Olivia had imagined. The moment they stepped inside, she was taken aback by the elegance-soft golden lighting, cozy corners, and the quiet buzz of conversation. Logan took her hand as they walked toward a secluded table by the window, his touch sending a thrill through her.
When they sat down, Logan pulled her chair out for her with a smooth motion, his eyes never leaving hers as she settled into her seat. "I know you're going to love it here," he said, his voice low and calm, like he was sharing a secret with her.
Olivia smiled, feeling like she was in the presence of someone who truly understood her. "This place is gorgeous. Thank you for bringing me here."
"Anything for you," Logan said with a smirk. He leaned back in his chair, looking at her with a glint in his eyes. "But just so you know, I'm not always this generous. You're lucky tonight."
Olivia laughed, a little breathless from his teasing. "I think I'm okay with that."
As they ordered, the conversation flowed easily, their chemistry undeniable. But soon, Logan leaned forward, his gaze softening as he caught her eye. "You know, I think you're incredible," he said, his voice now quieter, more intimate. "All this success, you're handling it so well."
Olivia felt a flush creeping up her neck, her heart racing slightly at his words. "Thanks," she said, trying to hide her nerves. "I mean, I couldn't have done it without you."
Logan smiled, his lips curling into something between a grin and a soft smile. "Well, maybe I'm just getting started with helping you. Who knows, maybe we'll both be celebrating a lot more than sponsors soon." His eyes twinkled with a flirtatious edge.
Olivia bit her lip, unsure whether to respond or just let the moment hang there. She took a deep breath and smiled, feeling the excitement of the evening wrap around her. "I'd like that," she said, her voice light but with just the right amount of meaning behind it.
Logan chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm sure you would"
As they finished their meal, Logan leaned forward, his gaze softening as he caught her eye. "You know, I think you're incredible," he said, his voice now quieter, more intimate. "All this success, you're handling it so well." Olivia felt a flush creeping up her neck, her heart racing slightly at his words. She met his gaze, her eyes locking onto his.
The soft glow of the candles on the table cast a warm light on Logan's features, highlighting the sincerity in his expression. "Thanks," Olivia said, trying to hide her nerves. "I mean, I couldn't have done it without you." Logan smiled, his lips curling into something between a grin and a soft smile.
"Well, maybe I'm just getting started with helping you," he said, his voice filled with a quiet promise. "Who knows, maybe we'll both be celebrating a lot more than sponsors soon." His eyes twinkled with a flirtatious edge, leaving Olivia wondering what he meant. She bit her lip, unsure whether to respond or just let the moment hang there.
The air between them seemed to vibrate with unspoken tension, the only sound the gentle hum of conversation from other diners. Olivia took a deep breath and smiled, feeling the excitement of the evening wrap around her. "I'd like that," she said, her voice light but with just the right amount of meaning behind it. Logan chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm sure you would."
As the day drew to a close, Logan drove Olivia home, the city lights flickering outside. The drive was smooth and easy, filled with casual conversation and comfortable silences. Olivia couldn't help but feel the weight of the evening settle in-she was having a great time, but there was a lingering feeling that this might just be the beginning of something deeper.
"I had a great time tonight," Olivia said sincerely, turning to him with a warm smile.
Logan's eyes flicked to her, his smile just as sincere. "I did too. I'm glad I could make you smile."
"Definitely," Olivia agreed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "You definitely did."
As they reached her apartment, she turned to him, a little hesitant. "I, uh, might owe you a hug for all this."
Logan grinned, his usual confident demeanor slipping into something more tender. "A hug, huh? Guess I could live with that."
She leaned in for a brief but warm hug, his arms wrapping around her with a comfort that made her feel safe and cherished. When they pulled away, Logan gave her a lingering smile.
"See you tomorrow, Olivia," he said softly, his voice holding a quiet promise in the words.
"Yeah," she whispered, "See you."
As Olivia stepped out of the car and made her way to her apartment, she couldn't shake the feeling that the night had changed something between them. Something exciting, something new.