Chapter 3: Chapter 3

“Wait, you said you had a family emergency? Never heard that one before,” Kate said almost bursting out from laughter.

“You don’t even know what I looked like. Even Tyler told me to go look in the mirror before going to any of the meetings.”

“Oh, I see! That’s why you got cold feet.” By then, Kate was crawling on the floor from laughter.

“You’ve never been less supportive when I actually need you to be,” Olivia replied, handing Kate a cup of black coffee.

“You know, these last few days you’ve really surprised me,” Kate said, sitting back up to sip her coffee.

“What could’ve changed? According to you, I’m just a regular blend.”

Kate smirked, “You make me sound bad. You know as a best friend I kind of like you that way.” She patted Olivia on the shoulder. “It’s just that you care less about what people think of you these days. Self-confidence is what I call it.”

“Well, I’ll take that as I compliment.”

For a few moments they just sat in silence, sipping their coffees like two old ladies. Sometimes Olivia felt like unspoken words were said in the silences between people, when the rush of life finally pulls its brakes.

Suddenly, Kate's eye caught the window overlooking Golden Holdings. Something Olivia wished Kate would forget about. It's like a treasure she wished would stay unseen

“Wait, there it is again. The view of Tyler Brown in his office. Can I move in?” Kate joked, but looked longingly out of the window nonetheless.

“Yeah, sometimes I find myself looking.”

“Sometimes, you say,” Kate said, squinting.

“Okay, every other night.”

“You mean like last night?”

“Oh please, Kate!”

“You stared so much that you overslept!”

“Okay, you’re right. Now go, I still need to work out our CEO’s schedule for tomorrow,” Olivia replied, emphasising the fact that it is just a work relationship.

“If you say so. See you tomorrow, Ms Hardworking! And, remember, sleeping on your bed may prevent some back pain,” Kate teased as she walked out the door.

Well done, Olivia. Mission failed.

“Ugh!” Olivia shouted out, hoping it would get rid of her bottled-up anger.

She sank deep into the couch, trying to hide herself from the rest of the word. Well, now Kate knows. Who else will find out. After all the years, her secret was finally out.

Why is it that when it comes to love, I just want to hide? Isn’t love something to be celebrated? That’s what I ultimately wanted, wasn’t it? True love? Or was it true happiness?

That night, after she had finished planning the next day’s schedule, she went to bed. The coffee had already worn off and her energy had been drained to the point where nothing around her, except the warmth and comfort of her own bed, mattered. Not even the Bing of her cell phone could interrupt. Not even the quick glimpse of a message from Tyler Brown.

- First thing tomorrow, you in my office. There is something we need to discuss. -

The next morning at 7:30, her alarm went off. In her morning daze, she did not look at her phone and continued with her normal routine, making herself breakfast. Well, if you can call a mini granola bar breakfast. Sometimes she considered that it was her own fault for not having enough time in the morning as she only gave herself half an hour to get ready. Eat, put on makeup, dress, grab phone and leave by 8:00. Her morning routine never changed, except for days like this day, when she was almost five minutes late.

With a rush, she jogged by Tina’s reception desk. Taking the stairs is usually quicker, especially when she is running late. She learned that through experience.

“Sorry I’m late! I…,” Olivia started, struggling for her next breath of air.

“Ms Acker.”

It was never a good sign when Tyler talked in short sentences, especially when you were late for work.

“Yes?”

“I trust you got my message last night.”

“Message?”

“Yes, Ms Acker. You didn’t get it?”

“No, after finishing today’s schedule, I went to bed,” she said. She was unsure where the conversation was leading.

For a few seconds, the office was quiet.

“Ms Acker, I think you need a break.”

“Excuse me,” she said, moving closer to make sure she heard right.

“You heard me. Take off till Monday. That gives you a five-day vacation.”

“Why now, Mr Brown?”

“It may seem strange, but I realised that you haven’t had a few work days off since you started working here, except Thanksgiving and Christmas day.”

Olivia sighed. She did not understand what was going on.

“So, I’m suspended then?”

“I don’t think I said anything like that,” Tyler replied, leaning with his back against the front of his wooden table.

“Well, isn't that what you meant, sir? It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.”

Olivia’s frustration grew by the minute. She bit the inside of her cheek as she usually did when she was upset.

“I’m sorry, I should probably work on my tone then. I have a meeting with Mr Smith. I want you to handle him; he’s a pain in the… back,” he replied. He smiled only briefly before taking on his normal professional demeanour and preventing his true self from revealing too much. “Dismissed,” he quickly added.

In shock and without a word, Olivia left his office.

“Vacation? Now in our busiest time of the year,” Kate asked, following Olivia out of the big, glass sliding doors.

“Yes, it all seems so strange. Nothing makes sense.”

“Are you going somewhere?”

“I think I’m going to my parents’ ranch in Livingston till Sunday. I’ll message you when I’m back.”

“Do your parents know?”

“No. I think I’m going to pack and take the first flight to Montana tonight to surprise them.”

“Is there something I can do to help,” Kate asked. Olivia found it surprising that Kate looked more worried about her than usual.

“I wasn’t fired or suspended, so I think I’ll be just fine. You know, sometimes I wonder why I didn’t just became a landscape architect. But no. I wanted the city life,” Olivia said, throwing her arms in the air. “Don’t worry about me; just keep me updated.”

“I’ll miss my coffee partner; you won’t be easy to replace,” Kate said, winking at Olivia.

“I’d hope so.”

They hugged and said their goodbyes before Olivia headed back to her apartment.

As soon as she had unlocked her apartment door, she ran to the grey couch facing the window that overlooked the office. Resting her head on one of her spring themed couch pillows, which she had received as a birthday gift, thoughts began to swirl around her mind.

A break? Did I really neglect my job so much that I need a break? Something must really be wrong with my company or maybe I am the mistake here. Maybe I really do need a break. I just don’t know.