I heard the sound of the doorbell echo through the apartment, a clean, elegant chime that matched the comfortable silence of that late afternoon. Since the doorman had already called a few minutes earlier, I knew exactly who was on the other side of the door. Still, there was a brief second of anticipation before I turned the handle.
It was Olivia.
As soon as I opened the door, my eyes were immediately drawn to her, and that was no accident. Olivia was beautiful—not in an exaggerated or artificial way, but with a natural beauty that seemed to refresh the air around her. She was wearing a blue skirt that reached halfway down her pale thighs, revealing well-shaped legs, and a fitted white shirt that hugged her body perfectly, subtly yet unmistakably highlighting her curves. The outfit gave off a light, almost carefree feeling, as if she had just stepped out of a calm summer afternoon.
For a moment, I remained silent, simply looking at her.
She really was impressive.
"Hi," I finally said, stepping aside to let her in.
I could completely understand why most of the guys in our course were utterly obsessed with her. It wasn't just her appearance—it was her presence. Olivia had a kind of energy that attracted people effortlessly.
As soon as she crossed the threshold, I noticed her almost immediate reaction. She slowed her pace, her eyes scanning the room with genuine curiosity. They sparkled with a mix of surprise and admiration, as if she were trying to take in every detail of the space.
I didn't know exactly what her family's financial situation was like, but it was clear that this was very likely the first time Olivia had ever been inside a place like my apartment.
The living room was spacious, well lit by natural light pouring in through large windows, with leather sofas arranged elegantly, a modern fireplace embedded into the wall, and décor that didn't scream ostentation but made it clear that comfort and money coexisted there naturally.
Sitting on the sofa, relaxed as if she were at home, was Bianca.
She had mentioned earlier that the next morning she would be going to the company for some recordings and photo sessions, which meant she had the afternoon free. Still, I hadn't given much thought to how that situation might look from Olivia's perspective.
The moment Bianca noticed her presence, her expression changed instantly. Surprise. Genuine surprise, as if she hadn't expected to see someone like Olivia there. For a brief moment, her eyes analyzed every detail, and then, as always, a provocative smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"So this is the girl you mentioned recently?" Bianca asked, her tone laced with a curiosity that bordered on malice.
That question triggered a small warning bell in my mind.
That was strange.
Bianca had never taken an interest in my personal life. She had never asked who I was seeing, who I was talking to, or what I did outside our shared routine. That question, specifically, was not innocent. There was something there—a veiled intention, almost as if she wanted to provoke some kind of misunderstanding.
Maybe jealousy. Maybe boredom. Or maybe just the pleasure of causing discomfort.
But unfortunately for her, there was absolutely nothing there to be twisted.
If Olivia were someone I had any kind of intimate relationship with, that question could easily have caused confusion. I could have come across as the typical problematic guy, involved with more than one woman at the same time. But that wasn't the case.
Not even with Vanessa.
Vanessa and I had a close relationship—intense, even—but there were no labels. No formal commitment. Nothing that prevented me from seeing anyone else.
"No," I replied naturally. "This is Olivia. She's a college classmate. We were paired up to work on a project together."
The answer was direct, clean, with no room for misinterpretation.
"Hi," Olivia said, in a slightly shy tone, clearly feeling the weight of Bianca's presence.
"Hi," Bianca replied, already losing interest almost immediately.
She realized she wouldn't be able to provoke me or generate any meaningful reaction and, without making any effort to hide it, returned her attention to her phone, completely ignoring Olivia's existence.
I sighed discreetly.
"I'm sorry about that, Olivia," I said, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. "She's… a difficult person."
"Oh, no problem," Olivia replied, though she still seemed a bit out of place, as if she were trying to understand exactly what she had just walked into.
It was clear she was taking everything in: the environment, Bianca, my reaction, the dynamic between us. That could easily interfere with the work, so I decided to act before things got any more uncomfortable.
"Let's go upstairs to my room," I suggested. "We'll be able to focus better there."
She agreed with a small nod.
I quickly explained where the bedroom was on the upper floor of the duplex and told her to make herself comfortable while I went to the kitchen to get some water. Olivia simply followed my instructions and went upstairs, her soft footsteps echoing on the stairs.
As soon as she disappeared from my sight, I turned to Bianca, feeling a twinge of irritation rise.
"You could be a little nicer to visitors," I commented, trying to stay calm.
"Are you my father now?" she replied mockingly, without taking her eyes off her phone.
I sighed deeply.
Bianca had always been difficult. She constantly lived on the edge between provocation and indifference, as if she were always testing how far she could go.
Without responding, I turned and headed to the kitchen. In that short walk, I could feel her gaze on my back—something that had become almost habitual, even though I never fully understood why.
I grabbed two glasses and a bottle of water, arranged everything on a simple tray, and went upstairs to my room.
Olivia was sitting on the chair by my computer desk, looking around with curiosity. I placed the glasses and the bottle on the desk and pulled a stool from the corner.
"You can stay in the chair," I said when I noticed she was about to stand.
She accepted without arguing.
I turned on the computer, and while it booted up, Olivia broke the silence.
"How do you know Bianca?"
For a moment, the question seemed strange. But thinking about it, it made perfect sense. To me, Bianca was just… Bianca. A constant presence. To Olivia, she was a famous model, with millions of followers and a carefully curated public image.
"Well…" I began. "She's the daughter of my father's wife."
"My father's wife?" Olivia repeated, still confused.
"Yes. My father owned ALL Model. He met her mother at one of the company's parties when I was fifteen. Bianca has lived with me ever since."
"Is your father still at the company?" Olivia asked, but now her eyes showed more understanding than doubt.
"No," I replied, with practiced indifference. "He's probably in heaven… or not. He and Bianca's mother died in an accident a few years ago."
"Oh… I'm sorry," Olivia said sincerely.
I nodded slightly, without going into detail.
My father had died in a car accident. He and Bianca's mother were returning from a company party when, drunk, he lost control of the car and went off the road, plunging down a ravine. They both died on impact.
Because he was the owner of one of the biggest companies in the country, the news would have been a scandal. But my uncle did everything he could to suppress it. The family didn't want to see my late father's face plastered across newspapers and news broadcasts.
I decided to change the subject.
"Well, like I said before, I know a CEO we can interview—my uncle. I'm the heir to ALL Model, so I can schedule that interview whenever we want."
"So we just need to come up with the questions and put the presentation together," Olivia commented.
I nodded and sat beside her, turning my attention back to the computer.
While Olivia typed out the ideas that came to mind, I couldn't help noticing her again. Beyond her obvious beauty, there was something pleasant about her presence. A light, refreshing perfume that made the room feel more comfortable.
We worked at a surprisingly good pace.
Until my phone vibrated.
The phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the calm flow we had fallen into. The sound seemed louder than it should have been in the comfortable silence of the room. I glanced quickly at the screen and saw Vanessa's name.
For a moment, I hesitated.
I picked up the phone and read the message carefully. Vanessa said that her father had returned from his trip earlier than expected and that we could meet later that same evening. It was important. More important than I would have liked at that moment.
I typed a short reply, saying I was finishing a college assignment and would head over as soon as I could.
"All right," I murmured to myself, putting the phone away.
"Your girlfriend?" Olivia asked, almost casually, but with a faint glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
I lifted my gaze from the phone and met hers. Olivia's light blue eyes had something hypnotic about them—a clear, deep tone that contrasted almost unfairly with her delicate features. Silently, I cursed the injustice of genetics. Some people were simply born too favored.
"No," I replied. "Just a… friend."
The word felt far too simple to define my relationship with Vanessa.
Friend wasn't exactly the right word. Vanessa and I had something physical, intense, without clear labels. A friendship that crossed acceptable lines more often than not. A confusing relationship, full of gray areas. But we definitely weren't dating.
"So… I have a chance?" Olivia said, flashing a teasing smile that showed her white teeth.
I immediately frowned.
"What?"
She let out a small, contained laugh.
"Just kidding."
Her smile widened slightly, clearly amused by my reaction. For a second, I was genuinely surprised. Olivia, who always seemed so reserved and careful with her actions, had thrown that out with unexpected lightness.
It took me a moment to respond, but I ended up smiling too.
"You take things too seriously," she commented, turning her attention back to the screen.
"Maybe," I replied, still feeling a faint warmth creep up my face.
After that, the atmosphere grew even lighter. We continued working until fatigue began to set in. We took a short break for a snack. Olivia stretched in her chair, raising her arms above her head, and the movement accentuated her curves even more.
I quickly looked away.
Or tried to.
"It's getting late," she commented, glancing toward the window.
The sky was beginning to change color. Shades of orange and pink spread across the horizon, creating a beautiful, almost cinematic view.
"I'll head out soon," I said. "I can drive you home if you want."
"I'll take the ride," she replied with a natural smile.
"I'll just get ready real quick."
I got up and went to the main bathroom of the apartment. I avoided using the bathroom in my bedroom since Olivia was still there. I went in, closed the door—or thought I did—and took a quick shower, trying to organize my thoughts.
The hot water helped ease the built-up tension.
When I finished, I turned off the shower and began drying myself. That's when I realized something was wrong.
I looked toward the corner where I usually left my clothes.
Shirt? Okay. Pants? Okay.
Underwear?
It wasn't there.
I sighed.
And to make things worse, I realized I hadn't locked the door.
Before I could react, the bathroom door opened.
Bianca walked in.
For a second, time seemed to freeze.
She stopped in place, her eyes automatically dropping to my naked body. More specifically, to my dick. Her gaze wasn't quick. It wasn't accidental.
It was direct.
"Wow," she commented, without any shame.
I grabbed the towel instinctively and covered myself immediately.
"Bianca," I said firmly. "Tell Olivia to wait for me in the living room. I forgot to grab underwear and she's in my bedroom."
She tilted her head slightly, a provocative smile appearing on her lips.
"I won't."
"BIANCA."
My voice came out louder than I intended.
For the first time in all the years we'd known each other, I yelled at her.
And for the first time, I saw an expression on her face that I had never seen before: shock.
Her eyes widened slightly. The smile vanished. The mockery disappeared.
"Fine," she replied dryly, closing the door behind her.
A few seconds later, I heard a light knock on the bathroom door, signaling that I could come out.
I dressed quickly and went to my bedroom to finish getting ready. In just a few minutes, I was ready.
I went downstairs.
Bianca was talking to Olivia, but as soon as she saw me, Olivia stood up immediately.
"It was nice meeting you," Olivia said politely to Bianca.
"Likewise," Bianca replied, without much enthusiasm.
Olivia walked past me toward the exit. Before following her, I looked at Bianca.
"About earlier…" I tried to say.
"Never yell at me again," she said without looking at me, her voice tinged with hurt.
"I'm sorry."
She didn't respond.
It was clear she was still upset, but Olivia was already waiting for me, and I couldn't keep her waiting.
We left together and went down the elevator. We talked about random things—light, trivial topics. I noticed Olivia was acting more naturally around me now, more relaxed than when she was surrounded by constant attention from others.
We reached the garage.
"Your car is really nice," she commented.
"Become my girlfriend and you'll get to ride in it all the time," I said casually.
"What?"
Olivia's face immediately turned red, and her surprised expression was… adorable.
"I'm kidding," I added.
The blush on her face deepened when she realized I was throwing back the same joke she'd made earlier.
We got into the car, and I started the engine.
The atmosphere between us was light and harmonious. Anyone watching from the outside could easily mistake us for a real couple.
I dropped Olivia off in front of her building, a typical college-student apartment complex—simple, functional.
"Thanks for the ride," she said before getting out.
"We'll talk about the project," I replied.
She nodded and went inside the building.
As soon as I pulled away, I accelerated toward Vanessa's house.
That night was far from over.
Today, I needed to talk to her father.
I needed to make him believe in my plan.