Chapter 40

OLIVIA

EMPTY CANS of beer were scattered on the floor. My eyes gazed at the wall clock and saw that it was already one o'clock in the morning. Lara had already fallen asleep on the couch. She had gotten more wasted than me as she had finished so many beers earlier.

I rose to my feet and grabbed the cigarette and lighter from the center table. I exhaled and decided to go to her small balcony. I leaned on the railings and let the fresh night air kiss my skin. I lit the cigarette, put it in my mouth, smoked it, and looked around at the street lights, the quiet neighborhood, the stray cats, and the empty street corners.

I recalled when I was still working in the bar. I used to walk through the dark alleys every morning after my shift. At first, I was afraid of the darkness of the alleys, but gradually I became used to it. At that time, I felt I was a slave for money.

The day before I met Chase, I was so happy and excited when Mike informed me that a VIP customer had offered to pay me three hundred thousand dollars for my performance. I thought that I could leave my filthy job using that money and had already looked forward to living a decent life afterward. But Chase, the ever-so-dashing God-like billionaire, appeared and changed everything.

I could not help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn't met Chase back then. I was curious about what life I would have lived if he had not shown up and I had received that money from my customer. Would it be less difficult for me?

Would it be easier to breathe?

I blew the smoke and put the cigarette in the ashtray sitting on the table here on the balcony. I wonder how Chase would react if he found out that I was smoking. I still did not know Reese's behavior, and I assumed I'd done some things and moved differently while pretending to be her. It was quite surprising that Chase hadn't been suspicious of me yet.

"I don't know why I can't erase you from my mind, Chase…" I murmured to myself. I clutched my chest, and I could feel and hear it loudly. My heart pounded so fast and loud whenever I thought of him.

I sucked in a breath and settled myself in one of the cold chairs surrounding the metal table. I leaned my back against the backrest and shut my eyes.

"I am so tired of thinking of you…" I murmured before the darkness swallowed my entire senses and I became unconscious.

***

I felt the rays of sunshine blinding my eyes, and its heat was kissing my cheeks, making my eyebrows instantly crease. As I opened my eyes slowly, the first thing I saw was the sunlight. I shut my eyes for a moment, and then began scratching them to adjust my vision before I opened them again. I looked around and figured out that I had fallen asleep on the balcony.

I exhaled heavily and stretched my arms while feeling the morning sunshine hit my face. I tilted my head from left to right and finally stood up and walked into the living room.

There I saw Lara, who was still sleeping on the couch. Her snoring was so loud that it made me shake my head in disbelief. She snored like a big man.

"Lara, wake up!" I said as I walked toward her. I tapped her cheeks slightly, but she did not move even a bit. "Lara!"

I finally gave up when she did not even respond when I tried to tickle her neck. She was sleeping soundly because she was so wasted last night. I threw myself on the other couch and waited for her to wake up, but then I felt sleepy and took another nap.

I woke up when I felt that I needed to pee. After doing my thing inside the restroom, I decided to check my phone to see if Chase had sent me any text messages. I realized that I forgot to send him some updates last night, as I was already tipsy.

My eyes widened when I saw that I had twenty missed calls from him. I covered my mouth in disbelief.

"Oh my goodness, what have you done, Olivia? Your husband called you numerous times and you didn't hear it!"

I took a deep breath and read some of his text messages. I winced as I knew he was mad as hell! I was about to send him a text message when I heard a loud knock that came from the other side of the door.

I immediately went to the door and pushed it open. A striking fear went through me when I saw a group of men wearing black suits and ties waiting outside of Lara's apartment.

"What the hell?" I reacted as my forehead creased.

One of the men stated, "We are here to escort you back home, Madame."

"Aren't you being so exaggerated?" I complained as it seemed that a dozen of them were here. I mean, Mathias could have picked me here instead.

"We are only following Mr. Maxwell's orders…"

"I know, but this is too much! I am going to call my husband!"

I was about to dial Chase's phone number when I noticed the familiar black luxury car that stopped in front of the apartment building from here on the second floor.

I then saw Chase, who came out of his car and immediately went inside the building. From the ground floor, he walked his way up to the second floor and went in our direction.

"Reese," he called my name. His voice sounded a little panicky.

"Chase, why are all your men here?" I asked the moment he walked towards me.

"I am so sorry. I got so worried that you didn't update me last night. That's why I gave them an order to pick you up here."

"All of them? Chase, come on. Lara and I were fine," I said, to clarify things.

He palmed his face and heaved a sigh. "I know. I'm sorry, Reese. I felt bad that I had to give them such an order out of impulse, and I know you will react this way, so I went here to personally clear things out." He then reached for my hand and squeezed it as he looked at me with his eyes full of guilt. "I do not want you to think that I am trying to be so possessive of you, all over again. I'm sorry, Reese…"

"Again?" I was somewhat confused about the last words she said.

Did he ever be so possessive of Reese before, up to the extent that he became so overprotective and exaggerated?

He nodded and then glanced at his men. He then ordered his men to get back to their cars. I sighed in relief when they left. Gosh! I still had a hangover and seeing a bunch of big men in suits and ties truly scared me!

Chase sniffed and leaned down on me. "You smelled of reeking liquor and cigars," he stated, his brows furrowed.

I cleared my throat and stepped back once.

"We finished a few canned beers and champagne, then I tried to smoke, but I threw it right away. Lara was really pushy for me to try it," I reasoned, as I was nervous about his sudden comment about me.

He inhaled sharply and then nodded his head as if he understood it. "Did I scare you? I'm so sorry, wife. I really just got worried."

I felt a little bit guilty and responsible as I was all too aware that it would not have happened if only I had sent him some updates telling him that we were alright.

"I tried to call you last night and first thing in the morning, but you did not pick up any of my calls. My emotions were so high that I ordered my men to come here."

"Chase, it's fine. I was only frightened to see a dozen of them here, but I understand. I should be the one apologizing…"

He bit his lower lip and I saw how his Adam's apple moved. "I'll do better next time. You might be thinking that I am weird and so overprotective."

My lips curled into a thin smile. I really could not understand why Reese Jones left this man so easily. He was so cute...

"There's no need for you to apologize, Chase." I held his hand and caressed it. "It was my fault and I am sorry if I didn't update you."

I engulfed him in a hug and patted his back.

I knew that Chase was so worried that Reese Jones might have disappeared again, and his being so overprotective was only the result of his fear of losing the woman he loved the most.

"Don't you have to go to work?" I asked when I released him from that embrace.

He smiled and said, "I actually had a meeting, but I canceled it because I wanted to go here to personally see you. I sincerely apologize for my actions, wife. I know you only wanted to celebrate with your friend."

"Is there a fire or something?! Why is everyone so loud!" Lara almost yelled out of annoyance.

I turned around and saw her walking near the door frame, yawning and scratching her head.

"Hey! Chase is here," I said as soon as she stood in front of us. I gave her a wide-eyed look as I was afraid her mouth would say something she shouldn't.

"Oh! Alright! Hi, Chase! Goodness, your husband is here!" She laughed so awkwardly that it made me cringe.

I rolled my eyes at Lara, then spun around to meet Chase's pair of oceanic blue eyes. "You can go ahead now, Chase. I will just call Mathias to pick me up later, alright?"

He nodded. Compared to the expression he had earlier, he was more relaxed now. He then leaned down to kiss me on the lips. Lara let out a shriek. It was so awkward that I stepped back a bit because my face was engulfed by an intense heat. I knew he also noticed it but he played it cool and he just simply smiled at me.

"I will leave now, Reese."

I nodded, and then he went back to his car and drove away.

I exhaled out loud. I hoped I didn't offend him…

Lara tapped my shoulder, which drew my attention.

"Did you see that? Chase Maxwell is really a catch, right?" She exclaimed, feeling so giddy. "He is undeniably charming, handsome, understanding, and rich…" She then chuckled. "A billionaire who already has everything! Oh, did I mention how hot he looked just earlier? Oh, my goodness! My hormones are raging because of him! He's truly a catch!"

I didn't know why, but I got irritated. "Are you saying that he would never fall in love with someone who is not beautiful, charming, and wealthy? Is that what you are trying to say, Lara?"

"Huh?" her forehead creased, completely confused.

I shook my head and went inside the apartment.

"Goodness, why are you so grumpy? It's too early, Liv!" she hissed and then followed me in the living room. "You know what? We have no other choice but to look for the real Reese Jones. We need to know where she is, or if she's still alive or not, right? I assure you it will give you peace of mind and you can decide whether you'll continue pretending to be her or you'll get out of that mess once your bank is fully loaded."

Lara said from behind me. She may be right, but my mind couldn't seem to entertain any conversation that was related to Reese. Perhaps because of the hangover I had from last night's drink… I just didn't want to hear Lara's voice at the moment.

"Lara, can you please tone your voice down? I don't want to be bothered by Chase's feelings. Once I have enough money in the bank, I will stay away from his sight, regardless of whether Reese was alive or not!" I said, and it was like a promise that I engraved in my heart.