Chapter 69

OLIVIA

A PANG of anxiety went through me as I gazed at Elizabeth's pair of almond eyes, radiating hate for me. Her statement confused the sh*t in me, and I became completely dumbfounded in front of everyone here in the conference room.

What exactly did she mean?

"I... I don't understand what you are talking about," I said as I struggled to collect my thoughts.

My eyes glanced between the people who were frowning and looking at us, and I kind of felt ashamed that this thing happened during the supposed meet and greet with Ellie's team. I looked at Elizabeth again. Her chest went up and down, seemingly trying to take her emotions under control.

"I can't believe that I'm breathing the same air that you breathe." She shook her head and turned to Ellie, who gave her a wide-eyed look.

"Elizabeth, please remember that they are my guests, and you should not have acted so abruptly. Why did you slap her?" Ellie's voice sounded so pissed off.

"Guess what, Ellie? I don't want to work with her and if it means I have to resign from this project, then I'm willing to send my resignation through an email." Elizabeth then turned her gaze on me. "I can't work with someone who has taken part in ruining my life in the past."

"Elizabeth, can you please calm down and let's talk properly!" Ellie said.

"There's nothing to talk about. I"m going to leave."

Elizabeth shot me a glare. She bumped my shoulder as she walked past me and left the conference room in silence.

I could feel the lump in my throat at this moment. I was confused and hurt at the same time. The vibrating feeling on my cheek was still fresh after that woman slapped me so hard. However, the mere fact that she knew Reese and seemed to have loathed her intrigued me more. I didn't know that Reese's connections were so wide that wherever I went, I could still encounter a part of her past.

"I apologize for what happened, Reese." Ellie rushed up on me and inspected my cheek with worry. "Does it hurt? Would you like me to call a doctor?"

I immediately shook my head and offered her one thin and awkward smile. "There's no need for you to do that, Ellie. I..." I paused, inhaled heavily, and glanced at the two fashion designers behind her. "I would like to apologize for what happened. I didn't mean to cause trouble here at all."

"Do you know that girl, Reese?" Mia asked curiously while trying to console me by patting my shoulder.

"I actually don't remember her," I said and clicked my tongue. "I'm suffering from amnesia and I can't remember everything in my past."

Everyone gasped after hearing my statement.

"We're sorry to hear that, Reese. But I assure you that Elizabeth will not be a problem. In fact, with the behavior she showed us a while ago, I can go ahead and terminate her contract and find someone great with a pleasing personality to replace her." Ellie shook her head and turned to Sam and Eunice. "Have you seen how she acted so unprofessionally? Help me find a better one to take her position as soon as possible."

Sam nodded at Ellie, then she checked something on her phone. "I've made a shortlist of great fashion designers available. I can surely help you, Ellie."

"Good Lord, that's great, Sam!"

"Uhm... Isn't it a bit of an impulse decision to replace Elizabeth right away?" I asked hesitantly. All of them glanced my way. "I mean, she acted like that because of me. I was the one who's at fault here, so... I feel guilty that you're going to replace her."

"She really has an attitude problem, Reese," Eunice added, and Sam nodded in agreement.

I licked my lower lip and tried to come up with a solution. I just felt that it wasn't right for her to lose this project just because of Reese.

"How about I try to talk to her? Since I am the reason she acted that way, I need to take responsibility and fix what happened. If she still wants to resign after I talk to her, then I think you can find a new one to replace her."

"Are you insane, Reese? Have you seen how mad her eyes were?" Mia hissed at me.

"I want to understand why she's so mad at me, and if I could resolve it, then there's no need to replace her." I then looked at Ellie, who was staring at me confusedly. "Will that work for you, Ellie?"

"I don't see any problem with that, but I"m afraid she will just hurt you more. To be honest with you, Elizabeth isn't a calm woman."

"I'll keep that in my mind, Ellie. Would you be able to give me Elizabeth's home address?"

Ellie was still hesitant about my plan, but I persuaded her to let me first speak with Elizabeth. I wanted to know where her anger was coming from, and the only way for me to figure it out was to talk to her personally.

I just couldn't let it slide. How many women are mad at Reese Jones? There was Chandria, Nathalie, and now Elizabeth Risto... It was all because Reese was involved in a relationship with Chase.

And if ever I start working with Ellie and her people, I'd like to clear Reese's name.

I don't want to be named as a woman who stole someone else's boyfriend...

****

"ARE YOU sure about this, Reese?" Mia asked worriedly.

"A hundred percent sure, Mia. Don"t worry, I"m only going to talk to her," I said, and gave her an assuring smile.

Ellie gave me Elizabeth's home address, despite being reluctant about my plan. It didn't matter to me whether that woman would attack me. I just want to know what happened in the past that made her so mad at Reese.

Mia and I hopped into the car immediately. I commanded Mathias to send us to the address, and while we were on the road, Mia couldn't stop herself from giving me advice. She thought I was doing something insane, but I didn't see it that way.

"Don't forget how that woman slapped you in front of people who you will work with eventually. What if she tries to do it next time?" Mia scoffed.

"I can't ignore the fact that she's somehow related to me, Mia. I want to find out what happened in the past and how severe it was for her to slap my face," I rebutted.

Mia rolled her eyes. I couldn"t convince her, either. But I still wanted to do this for myself. The more I avoided people who were related to Reese, the more I'd get myself into trouble—so I realized I had to face them with confidence. In fact, there's no harm in asking.

It only took almost an hour before we arrived at an extravagant village. My eyes roamed around while Mathias was driving his way to the parking lot. I could see beautiful three-story houses on both sides of the wide road, and from the looks of the village, it was obvious that only rich people could live here.

"We finally arrived, Madame," Mathis announced as he stopped the car in front of an elegant white house.

I opened the window next to me and looked at the house. It was a Greek-styled three-story house with large glass windows on its second and third floor. It had an annex area for a spacious balcony and plants.

"Reese, do you think this will really work?" Mia asked hesitantly.

"Believe in me, Mia. I can handle this situation. Don't worry! Just stay here and wait for me." I looked at Mathias and instructed him to take care of Mia while I tried to speak with Elizabeth.

I got out of the car and tried to peek through the gate. I saw a car parked in the garage. It might be hers, so I rang the doorbell.

While waiting for someone to open the gate for me, all I did was take several deep breaths and collect my thoughts. I didn't exactly know where to begin, but I hoped Elizabeth would talk to me in a calm way.

A maid opened the gate for me.

"How may I help you?" she asked.

"Hi, I'm looking for Elizabeth Risto. Is she here?"

"Yes, Miss. May I know your name?"

"My name is Reese Jones, and I want to talk to her about something."

The maid nodded, closed the gate and probably informed Elizabeth of my arrival. My heart raced so fast as I waited. After a few minutes, the gate opened again and I saw Elizabeth herself.

She was crossing her arms, brows furrowed, and jaw clenching while she looked at me.

"What brings you here?" she asked coldly.

"Uhm..." I swallowed hard. "I... I want to talk to you, Elizabeth."

"What for, Reese?" She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "If you're here just to humiliate me, then save it. I'm not up to any of your games."

"No, please, listen to me..." I said, trying to stop her when she was about to close the gate. "When I said that I don't understand what you're talking about earlier, I meant it. I have amnesia and I can't remember you, Elizabeth. I came here to talk, and understand what happened between us in the past... and apologize if I ever hurt you."

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me. It was as if she was trying to read my mind and see if I was lying.

"I don't get it..."

"I just want to know what happened in the past... and correct every mistake I made," I said bravely.

She sighed heavily and, in the end, nodded.

The side of my lips curled up into a smile. "Thank you, Elizabeth!"

Her expression didn't change at all. She looked mad and kept her guard up. But I was fine with that, as long as I could clear things out between us.

"Don't thank me. You're creeping me out," she said and rolled her eyes. "Come in."

She walked inside, and then I followed her. We went into the living room of her house. My eyes wandered, totally fascinated as to how her house was professionally designed in an elegant way.

"Have a seat," she ordered, still with her voice so cold.

"Thanks," I simply said, and sat on the long couch.

"You have amnesia?" she asked.

I nodded. Clearing my throat, I gazed at her and spoke, "I do. I can't remember anything that happened in the past. I don't remember people whom I previously encountered. And I came here because I wanted to say sorry..." I huffed and swallowed. "I'm sorry if I hurt you in the past. I may not be able to recall what really happened, but I don"t want to live my life having so many enemies because of the wrongdoings I had in the past."

"So you don't remember how you stole Chase away from me?"

I bit my lower lip, and shook my head.

"Before you and Nathalie Smith came into the picture, I was the only person Chase had years ago. We were best friends, and I loved him more than the label we had. His father wanted us to arrange for a convenience marriage and both sides had decided to go through it until you and Nathalie happened when we stepped into college. You drove him away from me. The only man who ever treated me as a woman became so different when you came into his life, and in just an instant he tossed me aside..."

A sting of pain struck my chest upon hearing her statement. I didn't expect Chase to have so many women in the past. Let alone Reese taking part and hurting them...

"You don't remember how you humiliated me in front of my batch mates?"

"I don't, but I'm sorry... I really do, Elizabeth..." I inhaled sharply. "Please, don't make an abrupt decision. You don't have to resign as Ellie's designer. You can ignore me all you want, and I promise not to do anything that will hurt or piss you off..."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked with her furrowed brows. "What's the sense of acting as an angel when all the damage has been done?"

I fisted my hand. Perhaps she was right about it, but I am not Reese Jones... I couldn't live a life with so many enemies waiting for my downfall.

"I'm trying to change my life, Elizabeth, and if it means I have to apologize to all the people I wronged in the past, I will do so because I want to start anew and do good things I will live by," I said bravely.

She smirked. "You're funny."

"I'm dead serious, Elizabeth. I'm sorry for what happened between us in the past, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm already suffering, you see... Having this amnesia makes me feel lost every single day, and even though I don't remember anything, I want to be a better person that I can be proud of..."

She stared at me intently. There she was trying to read my mind and find sincerity in my expression. After a few seconds, all she did was sigh and then look away.

I didn't know how I could persuade her, but I thought I'd done my part, at the very least.

"Well then, I will talk to Ellie over the phone and see if she will still reconsider me after what I've done back in her headquarters," she finally said.

My eyes widened, and no matter how I tried to suppress my smile, I couldn"t do it.

"I apologize... for slapping you." She inhaled heavily and stood up. "You know the way out, right?"

I nodded. "Thanks, Elizabeth!"

She rolled her eyes and then left me in the living room, feeling so happy that she agreed to work with me.

Way to go, Olivia!