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Olivia was dressed and ready to go. Dread filled her body as she entered the taxi and made the drive to the office. She paid the driver and went in, avoiding eye contact with everyone, as she made her way to the elevator. She got out on her floor, it was empty, save for her secretary, Lynn, who smiled at Olivia when she entered. Olivia acknowledged Lynn, but didn't speak. She entered the privacy of her office. She flipped the light on and was surprised to see a very large boquet of flowers sitting on her desk. She laid her briefcase down and smelled the flowers, their scent flooding her nose.
"Dammit!" she scowled as her phone rang.
"Yes, Lynn?" she asked in a harsh tone.
"I have a call for you. Shall I patch it through?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, fine. Hold all calls until further notice."
"Yes, Ms. Montgomery. I'll send your call through."
She hung up and waited for the call to come through.
"Olivia Montgomery. Can I help you?"
"Good morning, luv." Nick purred.
"Good morning." she replied.
"Did you get the flowers?"
"Yes I did. They're beautiful, but you really didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to. Liv, are you alright?"
"I'm just having a really bad day so far and I don't want to be here right now."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." he said tenderly.
"It's not your fault, Nick. It's just one of those days."
"I understand."
"I really have to go Nick. I've gotta get settled a bit before I see Mr. Adkins in a few minutes."
"Try to have a good day and remember, I love you very much."
"Thank you." she replied in a softer tone. "I love you too."
"I'll talk to you later today."
"Bye Nick."
"Bye luv."
Olivia disconnected the line. She returned her gaze to the flowers and found a card in them. She opened it and read
Olivia~
I love you with all my heart.
~Nick
She felt the tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them back as she prepared to meet with Mr. Adkins. Olivia stopped by the ladies room to see if the make up covered the effects of no sleep. She stood in front of the mirror and checked her face in the reflection. Her eyes were red and still slightly swollen from too much crying and not enough sleep. Her skin was pale for the same reasons.
"You ok, Olivia? You look like hell!"
"Thanks, Liz. You're the only one who's brutally honest with me."
"If your friend can't be honest with you, then who will? Hey, what are you doing back so soon?" Liz asked.
"Long story...I have to meet with Mr. Adkins now." Olivia said as she walked out.
She took a deep breath as she entered the conference room.
"'Ello?" Nick asked.
"You feel like company?" John asked.
"Sure....come on over." Nick said dryly.
"Be there in a few." John replied.
Nick laid the handset down and went into the kitchen. He began to fill the kettle with water for his tea. Before he knew it, John was ringing the doorbell. Nick went to let him in.
"You alright?" John asked.
"Fine." Nick muttered as he walked into the kitchen.
"C'mon, Nick. You've been in a shitty mood for the past two days."
"Am I not allowed to have bad days or be in a
'shitty mood' as you so eloquently put it?"
"I didn't say that at all." John defended.
"Then what are you saying?"
"I'm not saying anything. Dammit, Nick...I didn't come over here to argue with you."
"Good. An arguement is the last bloody thing I'm in the mood for."
"We agree on something. Talk to me, Nick."
"Aren't you supposed to be in the studio?"
"Why are you trying to change the subject?" John asked.
"Why are you so hell-bent on getting me to talk about something I clearly don't want to discuss?"
"Nick, you've gotta face the facts."
"Oh really? What facts are those? Enlighten me, Johnny."
"The fact that I've known you forever. You can fool other people by covering up with dry wit and sarcasm, but you can't do it with me. I know when something's bothering you."
"Any other facts I should know?"
"I know you're upset that Olivia's not here and your mad as hell right now and you're gonna take it out on anybody who crosses your path."
"Analyzing me again, eh Nigel?"
"No Nicholas...not analyzing, just stating a fact."
Nick stayed quiet, too quiet for John's liking.
"Have you spoken to Olivia this morning?"
"Umm-hmm." Nick mumbled, hanging his head low.
"Did something happen?"
"No. She's having a bad day too." Nick said woodenly.
CHAPTER 30
"Ah, well.....that's to be expected. Isn't it?" John asked as he stood
across the room from Nick.
"I guess." Nick said as he sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
Olivia walked through her front door and collapsed on the couch. The day
had been a real bitch, and her emotions seemed to keep getting the
better of her.
As she got up to go to the kitchen the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Liv, it's Lizzie. I just wanted to see if you were ok, and if you maybe
wanted to go with me to grab a beer."
"Actually...that sounds great. I need to take my mind off all this."
Olivia said.
"Ok...so meet me at O'Shea's in like what...half an hour?"
"Sounds good....meet ya there Lizzie." Olivia said as she hung up to go change clothes.
Olivia entered O'Shea's and found Liz.
"Finally." Olivia sighed as she took a seat.
"Liv, are you alright?"
Olivia ordered a glass of Merlot Rose before she turned to Liz.
"I'm fine, just really tired."
"Whoa! What's this?" Liz asked, taking Olivia's hand.
"Nick gave it to me." she said with a smile.
"Damn Liv. Those are some serious diamonds, are you two that serious?"
"We're serious, but it's not like he asked me to marry him for God's sakes."
"How serious are you?"
"C'mon Liz...I came here to have a peaceful evening, not to be asked 20 questions."
"Liv, something's going on with you, I see it."
"Ok....if you really want to know. We love each other, Liz. Nick loves me and I love him, what more do we need?"
"Kinda fast, don't you think, Liv?"
"Liz, why are you giving me shit? You know what my life's been like for the past few years. You were there."
"Yes, I was."
"Liz, I never thought I'd meet another man after Drew. Hell, I didn't even want to meet another man. You of all people knew I never went out because I was afraid a man would speak to me. Then, the one night I do go out, I meet Nick. I was so mean to him and all he wanted to do was talk to me-nothing else. I was a complete bitch and what does he do? He asks me out to dinner."
"Must've been some dinner." Liz laughed.
"It wasn't the dinner....it was him. He made me laugh, made me feel alive for the first time in years."
"What happened in England? This is obviously when things changed."
"Nothing happened in England. I just got to know him. I met his parents, met his friends and I made friends."
"But are you sure Liv? You only met him a little less than a month ago."
"I'm very sure about Nick. I've never been more sure about anything. Liz, he's my soul mate. He's warm, gentle and loving. He loves me for me and for the first time in years, I know what it feels like to truly love someone. Please don't start on me by saying it's going too fast....it's not."
"I'm sorry, Liv. I guess I'm just protective of you since Drew."
"It's ok. I understand.I've just had a really bad day and I think I still have jet-lag."
"Well, you do look a little tired. Liv, I'm sorry your vacation was cut short. It sounds like you were having a great time."
"Thanks Liz. I did have a great time. Ya know, I think I need to go home and rest. I'm really tired and I think sleep is the only thing thing that will get me out of this mood."
"I understand. Maybe some other time?"
"You've got it. I'll see you in the morning."
Olivia left a tip and headed out. Once she held a cab and got in, the tears came from nowhere. She entered her house, closed the door and leaned back on it.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" she cried as the tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I must be really tired." she sighed as her tears began to slow."
She went up to her bedroom, undressed and fell into bed. The phone startled her from her thoughts.
"Hello?" she asked.
"I miss you."
"Nick!" she cried.
"You alright, luv?" he asked hearing her sobs.
"I'm fine. It was just a long, hellish day."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I'm just tired and cranky."
"I shant keep you then, luv. I just wanted to say goodnight."
"I'm glad you called. It's good to hear your voice."
"It's good to hear your voice too."
"I miss you Nick."
"I miss you too. Liv?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. I love you very much."
"Oh Nick...I love you too."
"G'night, sweetheart."
"Goodnight, Nick."
Olivia laid the handset down and smiled as she clutched Nick's shirt and inhaled his scent from it as she fell fast asleep.
"So, how's Olivia?" John asked.
"She's better. She's just tired....jet-lag and a long day at the office didn't help."
"I can only imagine." John sighed.
"I just miss her so damn much."
"I know ya do, mate." John said as he laid a friendly hand on Nick's shoulder.
"It just hurts to hear her cry, knowing there's nothing I can do."
"What could you possibly do Nick?"
Nick glared at John and drew a deep breath before he spoke.
"I can't possibly expect you to understand, Nigel....but, I would hold her, kiss away her tears and tell her I love her. Dammit.....I love her and I want to take care of her."
"Look mate, I know how you feel about her, but you've gotta stop snapping at me, Rhodes. I know how you are, I know you're a private person, but I'm your best friend and we've been through a lot together. Nick, you've gotta talk or you're gonna explode or worse...bite somebody's head off. I told Kate I'd be here for the evening, so you've got me whether you want me or not, Nicholas."
"Oh bloody hell, John.....I don't need a nanny." Nick sighed as he ran his hands through his hair.
"I'm not your nanny Nick.....I'm your friend. And you are gonna talk to me even if I have to stay here all night." John said, firmly standing his ground.
"Alright...you win. Go put on a pot of tea and let's have at it." Nick said as he and John walked into the kitchen.
"Wow.." John said as he sat across the table from Nick. "Yeah...Now do you see why I was hesitant to get into all this?" Nick asked, as he poured the last of the hot water into their tea cups. "Yeah, I do...but I am glad you talked to me Nick. You needed to get all that off your chest."
They finished their tea, then John got up to leave. Nick stopped John at the door.
"John...do you love Kate?" Nick asked.
"Dunno mate.She is a wonderful woman, she is fun, smart...obviously since she is a teacher, she's warm..." Johns' words trailed off as he saw the smile on Nicks' face.
"Go be with her, John. Hold her and be happy that you can." Nick said as he gave his oldest friend a hug.
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