Chapter 32

OLIVIA

EXPLORING what I was capable of and the idea of starting my own company were the things that kept me pondering the night after the ribbon cutting I attended with Chase's father. I did not know why, but the desire for me to try to establish a business which I could call mine had been fueled after hearing those encouraging words from Ernest Maxwell. They started from the ground too, and if Chase's grandfather was able to do it himself, then it was possible that I could do it too, as long as I worked hard for it.

"What are you thinking, Reese?" Chase asked curiously when we were having dinner. "You seem spaced out. Are you alright?"

Compared to last night, Chase went home earlier today as he was able to finish all his workload in the office. I cooked all his favorite dishes as part of me being a great wife for him. He seemed to enjoy it too, thanks to Lara, who helped me via video call on how to maneuver in the kitchen.

"Well, your father told me a lot of stories about your grandparents. I can't seem to erase it from my mind. I will honestly say that it is, indeed, inspiring." I sipped on my mango juice and continued, "Your father encouraged me to learn more about business stuff…"

"Reese, it's okay if you don't engage yourself in managing the company or handling some businesses. You can always do whatever you want, especially prioritizing your passion as a swimmer," he said, assuring me as he reached for my hand resting on the table.

I pursed my lips and glanced at him in a gentle manner. "But hearing your grandparents' story and how your grandfather started from the ground up actually inspired me to do something different this time, Chase. I think I want to explore what I am capable of. I want to know more about starting a business, the pros and cons, how to handle it, and everything I need to know in order to become a great businesswoman," I said.

The sheer determination and excitement were evident in my tone of voice as I spoke to Chase. The desire I felt was like a sugar rush that made me so hyper and energetic, and I assumed this emotion would keep me awake all night.

Chase glanced at me. Amusement was visible in his expression. He leaned his elbow on the table, fingers started to rub his chin while his attention was drawn to me. I pouted my lips. He might have thought that I was just bluffing, but I knew that I really wanted it...

I was well aware that it sucks too. Why would someone like me, who was only after the money and wealth of Chase Maxwell, ever want to enter the business world? I, myself, could not understand where this determination had come from. I just heard a simple story in the past... It was unusual for me to be carried away, but the way Ernest Maxwell encouraged me, I felt like he was giving me fatherly advice.

I had always thought that parents' advice was the best. With all honesty, they knew which were and which were not good for their children.

"Interesting," Chase uttered as he narrowed his eyes. "You weren't that interested in business when I first mentioned it to you. You said your heart belonged to sports and the arts. "

I rolled my eyes. Here he was again, bringing up some of Reese's infamous' statements that I was not even aware of and to hell with it...

"Too bad I don't remember anything in the past, and I don't feel like remembering them at all." I huffed out and clicked my tongue. "I want to start a new life and forget the past, Chase. This time I want to equip myself with knowledge about business. I think I could do more than just be a plain housewife for you."

His lips curled up into a smile. Gazing at me as if he was a proud husband, he nodded and licked his lower lip.

"Well, what my wife wants, she gets…" he uttered before he winked at me. "But you have to do it step-by-step. Before you enter the business world, you must have knowledge of it, from the basics to in-depth details. For you to acquire that, you will have to enroll in a university and take up some business courses."

I could have sworn that my heart skipped a beat the moment he said that I would have to enroll in a university. I did not have much of a proper education since I grew up in an orphanage. The idea of studying at a normal university made me feel both excitement and anxiety, but I did not want to entertain the negative emotions building up inside my chest and only thought about the positive outcome of this decision I made.

"Are you saying that you will let me study business?" I asked, making sure that I heard him all right.

"Yes, wife. You can choose the university you prefer, take the entrance exam, and become a business course student," he said with a grin. "I can't wait to see you wearing a school uniform again…"

"Oh my goodness, thank you, Chase!" I stood up from my seat and hugged him as I was so happy. "I promise you that I will study properly. I won't let you down and will make you proud!"

"I am already proud of you, Reese…" He chuckled and hugged me back. "Whatever it is that will make you happy, I will give it." He withdrew from me and looked me in the eyes. "I will always support you. Whatever you want to do, you can always count on me, as long as it won't harm or hurt you."

The familiar warmth embraced my heart. I was all too aware that I should not be feeling this way–comfortable with Chase, and the people around him–but I could not help but be carried away as they were the only people that made me feel and experience all the things I had been deprived of for almost my entire life, not just the money and wealth, but also those abstract things I could not name.

"Thank you," I whispered and glanced down at his lips before I tasted it.

***

The next day, Chase accompanied me to Steinfeld's University, one of the prestigious universities in the country that specialized in business entrepreneurship. I was so excited when I first saw the entrance to the university. It definitely looked like a dream university to all students who would enter college.

Chase, being the best supportive husband he could be, had helped me register so that I could take the entrance exam that day as well.

"Are you sure you can go home by yourself?" Chase seemed worried when he asked me that.

I told him to go to his office while I waited for the entrance exam to start, which would happen in less than thirty minutes. We both stood up just outside of the huge room where I would take the exam. I did not want Chase to waste more time accompanying me, as I was aware that he had a lot of things to do in their company. He looked at me with furrowed brows, and based on his expression, I already had a feeling that he wanted to stay until I finished the entrance exam.

I nodded in response to his question. "I have my bodyguards who will wait for me and send me home. You don't need to wait until I'm finished. You can go, Chase. I will be fine here and thank you for helping me. I greatly appreciate it."

"I just don't feel like leaving you alone here." He sighed in defeat.

"Chase, I am not a teenager anymore. You sound like a worried father!" I snorted and rolled my eyes at him. "But kidding aside, I assure you I will be fine and I will call you once I get home."

"You really have to," he reminded me. "If in any case, something happens, can you promise me that you will call me immediately?"

I nodded my head as fast as I could. "Rest assured, baby!"

I even saluted him to make him feel at ease. He pursed his lips but then let out a chuckle when I started making some wacky faces in front of him.

"Alright, I will leave you here now." He then tapped my shoulder and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "Good luck on your exam. I know you can do it. You outsmarted a lot of your classmates before, and I am confident you will ace the exam today."

"I will do my best, Chase…" I said, but deep within me I could already feel the jitters crawling all the way down to my spine.

So that girl, Reese Jones, was a smart-ass kid? Oh, sh*t!

"Rooting for you, my love. I will see you later at our home," he said, and then this time he kissed my lips and then bid our goodbyes to each other.

I sat on one of the benches and waited for my name to be called by the proctor. I could have sworn that my heart pounded so aggressively inside my chest. It felt as if my rib cage was about to get destroyed, and the pang of anxiety rushed through my veins. Even my palms were sweating so badly at the same time. I took several deep breaths as I tried to compose myself. Being nervous was not going to help me pass the exam at all.

I closed my eyes as I inhaled and exhaled. I recalled that Chase mentioned that Reese outsmarted some of her classmates before. Based on his tone, he'd seen Reese as a smart woman who could even perfect an exam, and he hoped that I would be doing the same thing too… but I was not Reese. My name was Olivia, and I hadn't had a chance to finish my studies before, even though I wanted to do so badly.

With that in mind, I was kind of anxious and afraid to fail. I could never let Chase down, as he thought so highly of me. I must pass the exam and make him proud, no matter what.

You could do this, Olivia... I told myself before I heard my name being called by one of the staff who went out of the room.

"Mrs. Maxwell, please get inside…" the lady said, and then gestured the way inside.

***

JUST WHEN I thought that I could start a new chapter in my life and pursue taking up a business course, the surge of reality would have hit me so badly, slapping me with the truth that I was stupid enough to the point that I was not able to answer all the questions in the exam. I was not even close to answering half of the entire questions written on the test paper.

Difficult was an understatement. The exam was far more difficult, and if there was one word that could ever describe it, it was none other than savage.

My shoulders were both down when I came out of the room, disappointed at myself for not making it. The fact that I was not able to answer all of the questions on the test paper made me feel very emotional. I blinked several times as I walked my way to the parking lot, making sure that no tears would be shed because it would only make me feel worse.

I took my phone from my bag and was about to dial Chase's number, but then I contemplated. How would he react if I told him that I was not able to answer the whole test paper?

Would he be disappointed? Or would he regret helping me enroll at this university?

Would he be suspicious of me since the Reese he knew was smart and I wasn't?

"Damn it! " I huffed out of frustration as I ran my fingers through my hair. "He will be disappointed, that's for sure…"

I was only trying to explore and find out what I was really capable of. Why the hell was the process so hard for me to figure out?

Fuck fate for making me feel less of a person once again...

I slid my phone inside my bag. Biting my lower lip, all that was left in me was pity.

I pity myself for not being enough.

"Let's go, Mathias. I want to take a rest," I said to one of my bodyguards, and I proceeded to leave the university.

Sad to say, just when I realized that it was my dream university, fate slapped me with the truth that I was not capable enough to study at such a prestigious school. That, more than any other, hit me to the core.