"What? No, I choked on my own breath," Gwenda said, coughing a few more times.

Olivier chuckled softly before raising his voice slightly. "Is it because I haven't called you in a while?"

"How did you know?" Gwenda regretted the question immediately and changed her tack. "No, it's not that."

"It isn't?" Gwenda could hear the smile in Olivier's deep, mellow voice. It sent a thrill through her, like an electric current.

A blush crept uncontrollably onto her face. Gulping, she changed the subject. "What did you call me for?"

"I'm on a business trip," Olivier said softly.

Gwenda blinked. "Okay." No wonder she hadn't heard from him.

"Do you want anything? I'll get it for you."

"No, thanks, I don't need anything," Gwenda replied, just as she heard a woman's voice on the other end of the line: "Sir, this is the latest model in our store."

Gwenda was stunned. "Are you shopping?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah, I'll be back tomorrow morning. Can you pick me up?" Olivier asked, examining a bracelet the clerk had brought him.

Gwenda hesitated, about to refuse, when he added, "I'll be waiting for you."

Gwenda facepalmed. "Do I even have a choice?"

"What do you think?" Olivier countered.

Gwenda pursed her lips. "Mr. Petit, you're the one wooing me. How can you demand things of me?"

"Well, that's reasonable," Olivier chuckled, then deliberately asked, "So, you'd like me to find you at your studio after I get off the plane?"

Gwenda's thoughts raced, and she choked on her words. "Then the whole world would know he's wooing me! What the hell!"

Knowing she couldn't argue, Olivier's smile widened as he instructed the clerk to wrap the bracelet. He then gave Gwenda his flight information. "I'll be waiting for you tomorrow, Gwenda," he said before hanging up.

Gwenda stared at her phone's darkening screen in disbelief, facepalming again. He was still so rude.

The next day, Gwenda carved time from her busy schedule to drive to the airport. On the way, Hattie complained over the phone, "Gwenda, you're already so busy, and you have to go there in person? How long will that take?"

"It won't take long. I'll head back as soon as I pick him up," Gwenda said evasively.

"What kind of VIP is this?" Hattie asked, confused.

Gwenda hesitated. "Just a friend," she mumbled.

"Friend? Your boyfriend?" Hattie quickly figured it out. "Oh, I know! It's Mr. Petit!"

Gwenda admired Hattie's perceptiveness but didn't respond.

"It's really Mr. Petit?" Hattie laughed joyfully. "Then it's alright, you guys have fun. I can handle things at the studio. If I can't manage something, I'll text you." She hung up cheerfully.

Gwenda rolled her eyes and tossed her phone onto the passenger seat. She didn't want to think about it.

At the airport, Olivier's flight arrived early. He reached the arrival hall but didn't see Gwenda. His handsome face darkened.

Otto, knowing his boss had asked Gwenda to pick him up, saw the empty space and reassured him, "Miss Evans may be caught in traffic. Why don't we wait a little longer?"

"Fine," Olivier agreed, moving to a less crowded area to wait silently.

Otto sighed. Only Miss Evans would dare make the boss wait.