Chapter 21: Flirting with Me?

Olive had mistakenly sent the picture to Elvis instead of North. She quickly considered deleting it, but it had already been sent. A surge of heat engulfed her as she paced the room, hand to her lips.

North’s message arrived: “I needed to see your picture to ascertain which pajamas will fit. PURPLE STILL just released new sexy nightdresses. But I’ve sent the pajama pictures—choose your size and your husband’s taste, and let me know.”

“Oh, so that’s why she needed my picture,” Olive muttered, reading the message. She opened the pictures; a velvet pink one caught her eye. Thinking she’d made her choice, she swiped, only to find another beautiful option, leaving her indecisive.

Miles away, in a tall skyscraper, Elvis sat in a conference room with other executives. The chief financial officer analyzed the year’s sales reports. Everyone listened attentively, their gazes occasionally drifting to Elvis in the VIP seat.

Dressed in a black suit with a white silk scarf in his pocket, his neatly styled hair enhanced his handsome features. His appearance was alluring yet powerful.

The room was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Then, a "ding!" All eyes turned to Elvis as his phone buzzed. It was a message from Olive. He’d added her the previous night.

Elvis gestured for the CFO to continue, then opened the message: a picture of Olive in a green and floral swimsuit. Her long, silky black hair draped wetly over her glowing shoulders, though her face remained masked. Since they met, Elvis had never seen her bare skin; even sharing a room, she’d always been properly covered. Nevertheless, her beautiful figure was visible even through loose clothing.

Elvis typed a message: “Flirting with me?”

Olive, awaiting his response, flushed with embarrassment.

“It’s still daytime here,” another message popped up. Night for her, day for him.

Olive touched her flushed face, unconcerned about the time difference. “Would you believe if I said I didn’t intend to send it to you?” she replied quickly.

Elvis frowned: “Who did you intend to send it to?”

Olive felt robbed of a chance to defend herself. She hastily screenshotted her chat with North and forwarded it.

“You can buy them all and try them on. I’ll tell you which I like later.”

Olive reread his reply three times before responding: “Rogue.” He raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. He knew her to be smart and calm; anger meant he’d made her anxious.

“Go clean up,” his final message read.

Olive lay back on the bed, curled like a prawn. His last message echoed in her mind. She shut her eyes, trying to focus on the day’s events, then remembered Derrick.

She was certain he’d surfaced to taunt her. Now among Los Angeles’s four major families, he was powerful and difficult to deal with. The situation was unfavorable. She pondered his calling her “dirty” and a “ragged shoe.”

She grabbed her phone and messaged North: “Do you wanna confront him about it?”

North replied: “To be honest, Olive, perverts aren’t that difficult to deal with. He’s just bitter he didn’t end up with you.”

Olive didn’t reply, but understood his implication.

Chapter 22

Later that night, Derrick took Gabriella to the hotel’s presidential suite. He’d just showered, wearing a white bathrobe, and sipped red wine elegantly. Gabriella hugged him from behind.

“Derrick, do you think my father loves Olive’s mother?”

Derrick looked at the ceiling: “Why do you say so?”

“My dad’s wallet has a picture of Olive’s mother. It’s precious to him; he never lets anyone touch it. And Dad values his reputation so much, yet he slapped my mother outside the hotel…”

A beautiful face filled Derrick’s mind. He said calmly, “Olive’s mother is a legendary woman.”

Gabriella had never met Olive’s mother; it was as if she’d vanished, all information about her life and death erased. The more Gabriella thought about it, the more scared she felt. Someone truly controlled everything!

“My mum was right; Olive really is a lustrous woman. First, a gigolo, and now the CEO of Augustine’s Corporation,” Gabriella muttered as Derrick turned to stare at her.