Overlooked(1)(118)
“I’m going to buy a house and settle all my debt. Invest a portion of it, then the rest is going in the bank so I can travel.”
It had been fairly easy to determine what I was going to do with the million dollar prize: invest in myself and make up for all the years I’d lost.
“That sounds like a great plan, Liv.”
Hearing my old nickname fall from his lips is downright dizzying. I’m not even going to examine why his approval means so much to me.
“Thanks to you,” I murmur lowly.
Out of nowhere, a pessimistic thought enters my mind.
“Did you pick my submission when you recognized my name?” I ask, suspiciously.
His face is impassive but he shakes his head emphatically.
“No, I had no idea it was you. My team narrowed it down the top ten submissions before they left them on my desk. The names weren’t on the stories I read. They were just numbered one through ten. I picked yours because it moved me.”
His words seem sincere so I don’t push the issue any further. Grabbing a luke-warm fry, I push it into my mouth for lack of anything else to do.
“Are you tired, Olivia?”
Yes, exhausted.
But there’s no way I’m going to admit it. I don’t want our night to end. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in ten years and he’s leaving soon.
“No,” I lie.
Sebastian’s tone is confident and clear when he decides, “We’re going dancing.”
CHAPTER SIX
SEBASTIAN DOWNS
So, this isn’t my best idea.
Not only is Olivia an incredible dancer, she draws a lot of attention despite her diminutive stature.
Every fucker in the building is practically drooling as they leer at her from different corners of the club.
Lucky for me, Olivia seems unfazed as she throws her hands in the air and winds her hips against me to the beat of the music.
I have a raging hard-on and I know she can feel it through the thin material of her dress. But she doesn’t let on. She just keeps working her ass against me until I’m sure I’m going to lose my mind.
Who knew little miss goody two shoes was such a sensual dancer?
We’ve both imbibed a couple drinks already, but I need another if I’m going to make it through this sweet torture.
Bending down to whisper in her ear, I catch a whiff of her perfume which is now mixed with the scent of berry sangria — her drink of choice.
I inhale a lungful of the seductive fragrance before speaking.
“I’m going to get us some more drinks,” I tell her, my lips brushing her earlobe.
In spite of the warm temperature in the club, I swear I feel her shiver before she looks up at me.
“I’ll come with you,” she shouts over the music. “I could use a break.”
Thrilled that I won’t be leaving her alone on the dance floor, I grab her tiny hand and secure it against my chest as I lead us through the throng of people on the small dance floor.
At the bar, I place our orders quickly then pull Olivia against me protectively.
The tourists and locals occupying the club are rude as fuck and have nearly knocked her off balance several times.
Still, a smile sits on her face as she sways to the music.
I decide she’s way too nice for her own good and that I will handle the next motherfucker who bumps into her.
My sexual frustration and slight buzz are to blame for my dark mood.
Just as the bartender hands over our drinks, my phone buzzes for the third time in half an hour and I know I have to take it.
Malakai is freaking out about something and I need to run interference before he flies to the island.
“Olivia, give me two minutes. I have to take this,” I rush to say before I head for the door with my beer in hand.
Lord knows I’m going to need it.
Malakai answers on the first ring and tears into a full-fledged diatribe about an error with a recent app update. Customers are complaining and he’s nervous that our stock will suffer if the programmers don’t fix it immediately.
It takes longer than I expect to calm him down and assure him that everything will be fine. With promises to video conference the development and logistics team when I return to my hotel room, I disconnect the call.
Pissed that I have to end my night with Olivia earlier than planned, I take my final swig of beer and reenter the club.
The sight before me tinges my vision a dangerous red color.
Olivia is in the center of the dance floor with another man, dancing her heart out.
With jealousy pumping through my veins, I march over to the two of them and pull Olivia’s arm harder than I intend to.
Alarmed, she yelps before realizing it’s me. Then her eyes widen as she takes in the angry expression on my face.
“Is everything okay?” she mouths, her voice no match for the deafening music.