Unwrap Your Desire

OLIVIA

THE NIGHT felt surreal. After that steamy moment we had in the swimming pool, Chase and I played as if we were kids enjoying the cold water under the night sky. For a brief moment, I forgot the stressful happenings I had encountered earlier in the day. All the worries and anxieties that whirled around in my head instantly faded away now that Chase was with me.

He was like my happy pill, I must admit. When everything seemed difficult, like a gray sky giving me such heavy feelings within my chest, a simple smile from him would make it all different. The gray sky would turn blue, and my worries would turn into assurance.

“I am happy to be your wife, Chase,” I whispered sincerely into his ears when he carried me as we walked into the living room.

My heart raced so fast as I said those words I’ve been meaning to tell him. Not because I was pretending to be Reese Jones, but because it was how Olivia Marie Miller truly felt at this moment.

I swallowed so hard when I met his gaze. His oceanic eyes spoke a lot of emotions: hope, contentment, happiness, and lastly, love… Those were the emotions he felt for Reese Jones, the lies I made up, which I knew I could never pretend to be for the rest of my life.

“You made me the happiest man alive when you married me, Reese,” he said as he came to a complete halt. “You’ve completed my life and I cannot ask for more.”

I offered him a thin smile, but deep within I knew my heart was being torn apart because those words were not meant for me, for Olivia Marie Miller, but for the true love of his life, Reese. That missing woman, whose reason for leaving Chase was unknown. I’m envious of her…

“You completed my life too, baby. You have to know that,” I replied.

When he leaned forward to give me a soft kiss on my lips, my eyes went teary, but before hot tears could flow down my cheeks, I blinked them all away.

Chase smiled as he released my lips. “We better sleep now. You should not be staying up late, wife.”

“Who’s the reason why I am staying up late?” I teased him.

He rolled his eyes. “Making love with my wife before I sleep is really healthy. Don’t worry, we will do it way early next time, so we won’t have to stay up late.”

“Whatever, Chase.” I chuckled a bit.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

He chuckled too and planted a soft kiss on my forehead before we walked upstairs to our bedroom.

***

I DID not attend the classes the next day. Even though I wanted to, Chase did not allow me to, telling me I needed to rest for a couple of days after what happened yesterday, despite the assurance I gave him that I was feeling better now.

Chase had to go to work early, but before he left me, he made sure that breakfast was already served in bed, along with some meds I had to take in the morning, which, in my opinion, was so sweet of him.

“What?!” Lara’s eyes widened after I told her about what happened yesterday. I called and asked her to come visit me. I’d be crazy to stay at home with no one to talk to, so she went to visit me around nine o’clock after she sent Mikael to his school.

I nodded at her as I stretched my arms and moved my hips while following the gym instructor I was watching on the internet. I decided to do some morning exercises beside the pool while Lara was sitting comfortably on the sun lounger.

“You should have been extra careful about yourself, Olivia! You have to take your medications religiously! What if you had a panic attack in a public place? I would never forgive myself if something happened to you!” She scolded me.

A smile escaped my lips. Lara tended to act as if she was my mother. She knew everything about my anxiety disorder. She always worried about it when I was still in the bar, to the point that she constantly reminded me to take my meds every time I needed to and handled some VIPs for me whenever she felt that I needed to take a rest.

“The weather was too hot yesterday. Seeing my blood really triggered the sh-it out of me,” I said, catching my breath and pausing the video I was following.

I grabbed the small towel on the other sun lounger across from where she sat and then sipped some water from my tumbler.

“So Chase found out about it?” she asked curiously.

“Yeah, we went to the hospital after that incident at school. He was obviously upset about it, but I assured him I was fine.”

“Fine? You just had a nosebleed at the university!”

“That’s just an accident given the hot weather, Lara.”

“And you had a panic attack!”

“It has been taken care of too.” I rolled my eyes at her. “You two should have nothing to worry about. I can handle myself. I am not a child anymore.”

“Yes, you are not a child anymore, so you better follow the doctor’s instructions and stop acting like you can always handle everything. Let Chase help you, got that?”

I offered her a sweet smile. “Yes, mommy!”

“Stop that, you’re not funny!” She then rolled her eyes at me and I could not help but laugh a bit and inhaled heavily.

“If there’s one thing that we should worry about, I think it is none other than my feelings towards Chase.” I sat beside her and leaned my head on her shoulder.

I felt Lara’s curious gaze on me. “What do you mean?”

I let out a huge sigh. “I think I’m falling in love with him, Lara… and I don’t know how I can stop myself from falling so deeply in love with that billionaire…”

“Holy crap!”

I chuckled at her reaction. “Yeah, I know you’ve given me a lot of warnings, but no matter how I try to avoid it, my heart is betraying me, Lara. Don’t you think it’s unfair?” I sat properly and looked at her. “It’s my heart, a f-ucking part of my body… Why isn’t it letting me control my feelings?”

“I told you to be careful, Olivia Marie. Once you fall for him, it would be hard for you to detach yourself when the right time comes.”

“I know…” I sighed in defeat and gazed at the swimming pool instead. I don’t know why, but this conversation made my chest tighten a little. “Believe me, Lara, I tried…”

“I’m speechless, Liv. You are making me so freaking worried,” she said.

I bit my lower lip. I could not utter anything after confessing everything to Lara. I just felt that I needed to let it out or else I would explode. These feelings I’ve been feeling towards Chase feel like both heaven and hell… And the funny thing was, I could not do anything to even get away from it.

“I’m telling you this, Liv. It will only be difficult for you if you let your emotions take over your mind. You should be able to control the situation and decide according to your plan, not to be carried away with this pretense that will only hurt you in the end,” she added, and I knew to myself that she was right.

I nodded and glanced back at Lara, and then offered her a thin smile.

“I know and I promise I will do something to stop this…”

“You better be, Liv. I am worried that your feelings would only cause your downfall.” She let out a long sigh and shook her head afterward. “I apologize, but I can’t find the will to support it when I know how it will only hurt you in the end. I completely detest it.”

I nodded, assuring her that my feelings towards Chase would cease in any way possible, even though I knew it would never be easy… My heart wouldn’t want to listen to what my mind dictates it to do.

***

LARA WENT home in the afternoon. I spent my time inside the bedroom, and could not help but overthink the fact that I was falling in love with Chase Maxwell… No, I think I had already fallen for him, and as the days passed, the feelings that I accidentally harbored for him were becoming stronger and deeper.

“You are so stupid, Liv,” I told myself as I snuggled into the pillow beside me in bed.

Never in my entire life had I expected to be in love with a man. All I cared about was my own survival and earning money to leave my rat race life. But it actually happened and it was too late before I realized it.

Was this some kind of consequence? Is this bad karma that I should bear for deceiving him? Was this the turn of events that fate had to offer me because I chose to be a bad person?

I don’t know…

I wish I could answer it myself.

My eyes went teary as I looked at the side of the bed where Chase usually sleeps. I caressed that part and for every stroke of my hand, my chest could not help but tighten more.

Was there any way to get rid of these feelings?

I blinked several times when I heard a knock on the door. I inhaled heavily, sat up and made sure that my eyes were perfectly fine as I was on the verge of crying a few seconds ago.

“Madame…” I heard the baritone voice of Mathias from the outside.

I rose and walked to the door and opened it. Mathias lowered his head as soon as he saw me, and then handed me a small envelope.

“What’s this?” I asked curiously and took the envelope. When I opened it, I saw a red card inside, which had a message from Chase.

Get ready, my love. I have a surprise for you. See you at seven.

Love, Chase

I could feel the familiar warmth in my heart as I read the message. I glanced at Mathias, and spoke, “What is he planning?”

He cleared his throat and looked at me. “It is a secret, Madame. Please get ready. We’ll take our leave at six-thirty.”

I pressed my lips. This guy never really tells me anything. His mouth was zipped whenever I asked him about Chase. He deserved a loyalty award…

“Sure thing. You can go now,” I told him.

He lowered his head once more and then descended downstairs. I closed the door and leaned my back against the bedroom door. I read the card once again.

I fought the urge to feel giddy, as I knew it wasn’t right to feel that way. However, my heart seemed to have mastered the art of betrayal. A smile escaped my lips. My heart was pounding loud and fast, and I could not help but anticipate what was about to happen tonight.

I did not waste much time and started to prepare. After taking a bath, I went inside my walk-in closet and looked for a nice dress to wear. Whatever it was that Chase had planned for tonight, I must have looked stunning in his eyes. That thought made me feel giddy.

I settled with an apple green spaghetti strap fitted and glittery dress. I partnered it with a silver stiletto and simple yet glimmery jewelry.

After putting a light makeup on my face, I fixed my hair and let it loose on my back. I then sprayed my favorite perfume on my neck and I was all set.

At exactly six-thirty in the evening, Mathias escorted me to a luxurious limo, from which I didn’t know where it came from.

“I will take you to the place where you’ll meet, Mr. Maxwell, Madame. You can relax in the passenger seat. An appetizer and wine are served to you,” he said.

“Thank you,” that was all I could say at this point.

I hopped into the car, my eyes couldn’t help but roam around the insides of it as it was my first time riding in a limo. I didn’t even know Chase owned one…

Charcuterie board with grapes, biscuits, slices of cheese and other fruits was sitting on the center table across from the comfortable leather where I sat. The aroma of wine filled the entire car, and I couldn’t help but smile as if I were a high school student being courted by the most popular man on campus.

Mathias started to drive the limo and all that was left for me to do was sit back and enjoy the appetizer and wine that were prepared for me.

I felt so excited. It was as if there was a ticklish feeling inside my stomach, and the butterflies inside it could no longer calm down. As I sipped on my wine glass, my eyes couldn’t stop looking at the window, lowkey checking if we were near our destination or not yet.

I wanted to see Chase already.

It did not take that long before the car stopped in front of a skyscraper building.

“Is this the place?” I asked Mathias as I looked above the building. It looked like it was the highest building among all the buildings my eyes could see.

“Yes, Madame. Let me escort you inside,” he said.

I only nodded, and then we entered a stunning lobby. I was in awe while looking around. Everything in here screamed nothing but elegance. We used an elevator, and Mathias pushed the button for the rooftop.

I inhaled heavily. I couldn’t help but feel both excited and nervous.

“How do I look, Mathias?” I asked, which made him look at me.

His cheeks flushed, and I laughed a bit.

I said, “I just want to make sure I am presentable for my husband.”

“You look very lovely, Madame, and Mr. Maxwell will always be stunned by you, even in your pajamas.”

My eyes narrowed at him, and he only offered me a thin smile.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Madame?” He seemed shocked.

“I am asking you if you have a girlfriend.”

“I… I do,” he replied.

“Well if you love your girl even in her pajamas, then I bet you’re really head over heels in love with her,” I commented with a smile.

Mathias’s smile widened, and he seemed satisfied with what I said.

“You’re right, Madame.”

I nodded and pressed my lips together.

When the elevator reached the rooftop, all I did was inhale heavily and clutch my purse. The door opened and the first thing that welcomed me was the fresh night air.

We walked through a small hallway, and as soon as I stepped into the man-made bermuda grass, I saw the romantic dinner at the center of the place.

My heart was racing so fast.

It was a candlelit dinner and there was a musician playing a piano on the other side. Beautiful, dim lights formed in the shape of a heart were lit on the floor and surrounding the table, and right next to it was Chase, holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand and wearing a sincere smile.

I bit my lower lip. Seeing him right now made my heart pound more aggressively. My feelings for him were getting deeper and deeper, there’s no doubt about that… Even though my mind reminded me not to entertain such feelings, my entire body speaks otherwise, telling me it’s completely fine to get drowned with this love for now.

“Chase…” I called his name, and tried my best not to tear up in front of him.

He walked towards me, and with every step he made, the butterflies inside my stomach couldn’t stay still. The ticklish feeling inside of me became stronger, and I couldn’t do anything other than be carried away with it.

“Wife…” he greeted me when he stood in front of me, kissed my cheek, and handed me the bouquet. “This is for you.”

“I love it,” I said as I looked down at the fresh roses and glanced at him. “Thank you, Chase.”

“Come.” He offered his hand, and I didn’t hesitate to hold it.

He guided me to the table, pulled a chair for me, and let me sit on it. My emotions were so high. My eyes roamed around and landed on him after a few seconds. All I could see in his pair of blue eyes was love. That’s all.

“I felt that we were lacking some quality time as I’ve been busy with the company, and I apologize for that. Tonight, I want to make you feel that you’re special, loved and appreciated, my wife…” he said sincerely.

His words reached my heart. The familiar warmth made my eyes teary, but I smiled it away as I didn’t want him to see me cry.

“Thank you, Chase.”

He reached for my hand, and I let him take it. Then he kissed my knuckles. “I love you, Reese…”

“I love you too…” I replied with a sincere smile, even though his feelings weren’t meant for mine.

This was the hardest part of being in love… I had to accept that my feelings would not be returned in the way I expected because we started in a game of deception where truth has no place…

This love was the consequence of all the lies I made up for money.

This is your real karma, Olivia Marie Miller.