Chapter 80

OLIVIA

The next day, I found myself spacing out in the class. Mia had to literally poke me in the forehead using her pen. I was just about to ignore it, but then my thoughts were ripped out when I noticed that the professor was now standing in front of me.

"Ms. Reese Jones Maxwell, are you with us right now?" she asked, her face grim. "I’ve been calling your attention to read page fifty-six of the book."

"Oh, I—I’m sorry!" I went into an instant panic and quickly opened the book.

The professor snorted. "I know that you’re working now as a creative director for Ellie’s luxury brands, and you have so many things to do that make you really exhausted, but you’re here in my class to study, not to idle."

"I apologize, Professor. It won’t happen again..." I bit my lower lip and carefully looked at her. "What page do I need to read? I’m sorry, I just forgot."

Mia then was quick to rescue me in an awkward situation. She volunteered to read the book on my behalf and reasoned that I wasn’t feeling well and could not focus at the moment.

She was right, though.

I’ve been feeling under the weather, and my headache was terrible. I thought I could handle it, but after less than an hour, my head throbbed in a pain that was beyond bearable. I whimpered in pain and called for the attention of our professor.

"I—I need to go to the clinic..." I said and immediately stood up.

I no longer waited for the professor’s response and dashed into the door and opened it. I quickened my pace and went straight to the clinic as I felt like passing out at any moment.

"I need some meds for a headache, please," I told the nurse as soon as I entered the clinic.

The nurse was kind enough to assist me in laying down on one of the beds, and then asked me a series of questions about my condition before she gave me an Advil.

I was just right there lying and waiting for the medicine to kick in so my headache would go away when Mia stormed into the clinic and immediately found me.

"Reese!"

"Mia, what are you doing here? The class is still ongoing," I asked in my faint voice.

"Scrap it, Reese. I am your friend, remember?" She let out a sigh and continued to stare down at me as if I was a child. "I know you’re handling a lot of things right now and your mind is conflicted already. Let me help you, alright?"

I couldn’t help but smile, seeing how she was concerned about me. In the end, I just nodded and said how thankful I was that she was here with me.

"You don’t have to worry about the lessons you’re going to miss. I will take notes for you and, of course, do the admin task in the office."

"Thank you, Mia. I appreciate it."

"By the way, your flight will be on Monday next week. Have you packed your things?"

"No I haven’t. I’m still working on something in the office and also focusing on the exams..."

She frowned. "That’s nonsense. I’ll take care of your admin task for the meantime. Then go home and pack your things, okay?"

"Thank you, Mia. I’ll send an email to Ellie to inform her that I’ll be giving some of my tasks to you. Please check Elizabeth as well for me if she’s doing her job."

"Sure thing, Reese. I’ll do that even if she’s very intimidating." She rolled her eyes.

I giggled and let out a sigh. "You’ll be fine, Mia. She’s not going to bite."

***

It was already eight o’clock in the evening when Chase arrived home. He entered our bedroom, and saw me packing my things for my flight to France.

He went to me and pressed his lips to my forehead, then asked, "How many days will you be in France?"

"Just five days, baby." I looked back at him and smiled. "The seminar would take two days. I’d be preparing a short speech to introduce the school in my free time."

He nodded and offered me a smile. "Are you excited?"

"I’m worried, to be honest. I’m not sure if I could pull this off properly. There are times I wish I could still decline, to save myself from any humiliation..." I said, biting my lower lip.

He tucked my hair behind my ear and hugged me from behind. "You can do everything as long as you put your heart and soul into it, baby." He chuckled and continued, "You always win in the past. When I first met you, you were full of courage and determination, sexy and smart."

But it wasn’t me... It was the real Reese Jones.

"Now, I’m not all of that," I answered bitterly. Do you think I should take advantage of this opportunity? I heard that some people out there do not speak English."

We both laughed at my own argument.

"My brain will blow up if they don’t speak English to me..."

"Come on. It is only an event that would be held in France." He spun me around to meet his gaze. "You don’t need to speak their language, Reese."

"I don’t know. Maybe I am just pressured and scared, especially since you’re not going to be there."

"I have connections in France. I’ll make sure that you’re safe in there. I can send bodyguards to check up on you from time to time."

I was kind of hoping that he’d offer to come with me to France. But he seemed unable to read between the lines. Irritation welled up inside me and so I avoided his gaze.

"You’re not even listening to me..." I whispered.

"Were you saying something?"

"Nothing." My voice became cold. "I’ll just go ahead and sleep."

"Reese..."

I crawled onto the bed, and tucked myself under the blanket. Sighing, I couldn’t help but become teary because I felt Chase was not trying his best to understand me.

He could hardly see that my anxiety was picking up now that my trip was getting near. I knew I had to do stuff like this as it would bring such an honor to me. However, I was terribly scared... no, anxious with each passing day.

And it saddened me that Chase, of all people, could not see that.

It was around two o’clock in the morning when I slowly got up from the bed and stepped out of the bedroom. I went to the bathroom and dialed Lara’s phone number.

"Come on. Pick up the phone, Lara..." I said, as I paced back and forth while biting my lips.

"What the hell, Liv?!" She snarled from the other line. "It’s two in the morning. Why are you calling?"

"Tone down your voice, will you?"

"Go straight to the point!"

"Shh, listen to me." I craned my neck as I checked the door before I continued, "I’m scared to fly alone in France. Would you like to come with me?"

"What? Are you fucking serious, Olivia?"

I breathed hard and nodded. "Yes, I wanted you to please come with me on that trip."

"What about Chase? He should be the one to come with you. Not me!"

My lips formed a thin line. That's exactly what I’ve been thinking about. However, Chase couldn’t understand.

"Forget Chase. I hate him." I huffed in frustration. "He’s not listening to me. I bet he doesn’t give a damn anymore because he probably finds me annoying."

"Holy cow! Is this a lovers’ quarrel?"

"No, there are no lovers to begin with." I rolled my eyes and shoved her idea away.

"Right, he just loved the illusion of Reese Jones."

"Stop rubbing it in my face, Lara. Or else I’ll go there and strangle you."

She chuckled, more like teasing me more. "Don’t be so violent, Liv. You see, that’s the reason why you got suspended from your work. You’re not controlling your emotions."

I groaned, and I realized that I should not have done that, as Chase might wake up. My heart was pounding fast when I went outside of the bathroom and dashed out of the bedroom so I could continue talking to Lara.

"Come on, I need you there. Please!"

"For how many days, Liv?"

"It will only be for five days," I replied.

"What the fuck? I can’t leave my son for five days! To whom should I entrust Mikhael?"

"Oh, you can leave him in this house. Chase would look out for him. If he’s in the office, his staff would check up on him, and we also have Matthias here. He likes kids. He’s a very good guy."

Lara fell silent on the other line. After a minute, she finally spoke.

"Alright, fine. You owe me ten thousand dollars for this request, Liv. I’m sacrificing a lot of opportunities because of you."

"What? Are you serious? That’s huge amount of money!"

"Then, make it five thousand, deal?"

"Shit, fine!" I rolled my eyes and cursed once more when I heard the bedroom door open.

Chase shot me a glance that sent shivers down my spine. He furrowed his brows and breathed hard.

"Who are you talking to at this hour, Reese?"

"It’s Lara..." I simply answered and then ended the call.

"Why? It’s already the wee hour, Reese. You guys need to rest."

I walked up to him and caressed his arm. "I’m sorry. It was urgent. Anyway, Mikhael will be staying here for the next week, so I want you to look out for him. Lara will come with me to France. Is that alright?"

He nodded and grabbed me by the waist. "Sure, I can ask someone to check on him while I’m out working."

I smiled inwardly. "Great. Thanks, Chase!"

He leaned down and was about to kiss me, but I felt so sleepy that I slightly shoved his face.

"No, I’m sleepy. Come on, let’s get back to bed," I said and walked past him.