Rendezvous at Silver Lining

Olivia's POV: The meeting

I had a meeting with Monroe, and I was anxious to get there. I had mixed emotions because I wanted to see if he'd be able to look into that woman. But I'm a little hesitant because I'm no longer able to just appear and be around Damien freely anymore. Everyone thought I had a thing for both of the two most eligible bachelors, not that that would be a problem considering I deserve the best, but in reality, I only ever wanted Raphael. I ended up having to deal with Damien in order to work with Monroe. He's never told me what exactly he has against Damien and his family, but I'm assuming he has something Monroe wants. I had something of my own, at the time, that I needed assistance with, which is how I got entangled with Monroe in the first place. At times, I regret even getting involved with the man, but he was the quickest way and the most assured way of it never coming back on me or my family. But before I can see him today, Sarah was hounding the hell outta me and now I gotta meet up with her for coffee/lunch and discuss the rumors that has spread since last f*****g night. I really didn't feel like hearing her shrill voice nor her gloating saying “told you so” when it came to that b***h of a woman. I have never in a million years thought that I'd have competition but here we are. When I think back to her, I can't say she's heinous, but to think that's someone both Raphael and Damien would pine for. An image of her popped into my head. She had some of the most clear skin. A deep chocolate complexion. She was bigger but it suited her. She was more shapely than she was “big”. Her breast looked soft and perky which was strange considering they were pretty big and she had hips for days. Her thighs look toned but juicy. Her tattoos sat perfectly on her skin, like they were made just for her. Her eyes were like jewels. They sparkled under the light and became even more enticing when she became angry.

…

I'm not sure what's going on, but I've never felt this before. I'm not opposed to being attracted to the same s*x, I just never have been. I never even looked at another woman long enough to remember her eye color, let alone her name. What the f**k was she doing to me? I hate her and everything she represents in my life right now. She has the attention of the man I've always wanted. He was perfect. She has brought uncertainty to my life where there was none. I was perfect. She has made others second guess my place in the world and yet I can't help but feel compelled to be near her. With her. Touch her… have her touch me. I bit my bottom lip and tried to control these strange new desires that arose in me. All this chaoticness is her doing and it makes my blood boil knowing she's had this affect on me. I have to get rid of her before my life completely unravels into chaos.

Meeting with Sarah

I sat at a table near the counter of the coffee shop and waited. Sarah finally arrived in a gaudy outfit per her usual. I rolled my eyes at the scene before me. She came walking in in a too tight, too small green skirt with a beige crop top and a black jean jacket. She's always in heels. It just turned over to fall a few weeks back, but this b***h acts like summer was yesterday. She spotted me and made her way from across the room. I put on my fakest smile and waved at her.

“Hey, Liv!”

“Hey, Sarah. How's it going?”

“Not too great. What the hell happened last night.

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. I put on my biggest pouty face.

“Sar, Sar! That damn woman is what happened. When you told me about her, I honestly thought you were exaggerating, but then I met her for myself. She was so full of herself. She was all over Raphael and my Damien. It was awful.”

Sarah’s face was twisted in anger, and I inwardly smiled, knowing my plan worked. I needed to garner enough people to hate her. Sarah was easy cause she already couldn't stand her.

“I knew she was a conniving b***h!!! And what the hell? Did she have a wardrobe change or something?”

I furrowed my brows, and my heart dropped. How'd she know about that?

“What do you mean, Sarah?”

She rustled through her bag and pulled out her phone. She opened it and damn near pushed her phone in my face. The venom in my veins was aching to be released. How could this be f*****g happening?

“What the f**k is this?”

I knew what it was but still had to ask the question. I snatched her phone from her hand and zoomed in on the pictures in the front of me. It was two pics side by side with a headline that read: “Did McCoy finally find the REAL thing?”

My hands trembled, my anger at an all-time high. The picture to the left was, I assume, when Raphael and Divinity arrived at the ball. Raphael helped her out of the car. The look on their faces as they gazed into each other's eyes was so intense that you could feel it through the picture. Their emotions were tangible through the phone. The picture on the right was of them leaving. The pictures showed the dress she walked in with and his blazer she left in. This was my f*****g fault. I didn't think any paparazzi was still out there let alone take a picture of that nobody.

“How the hell do you have a costume change?”

I looked at Sarah and she was just as pissed. I decided not to tell her it was because of me. I didn't feel like dealing with her bullshit. We sat and talked more about random stuff after our conversation of disgust concerning Divinity and my Raphael.

I headed out towards a small town right outside the city. That's the usual meet-up point with Monroe. I sat in the back while Slate drove. I was going over all the documents. I took pics and made copies of them while with Damien. He kept the majority of his and his parents working in his office, especially since being given the reins of the company. I was starting to feel guilty about playing with him like this, but after the bullshit he pulled, he could go screw himself. We pulled up to a nightclub that just began to get customers.

“Pull around the side like last time and go park. I'll let you know when I'm ready.”

I went inside and went straight for the VIP lounge and found Monroe already there. The fucker is always early. He sat on a couch, legs open and arms wrapped across the back of the couch. There was a stripper in the middle of his legs dancing. I stood at the room entrance not wanting to see or be a part of it. But like the hawk he is, he spotted me as soon as I walked up.

“Good evening, Olivia. Please, don't be shy. Come in.”

He never took his eyes off the dancer, but pointed and wagged in my direction for me to be seated. I eased my way into the room and sat in a single arm chair. Monroe said nothing to me for a few minutes, being entranced by the stripper. I rolled my eyes. I forget sometimes that he's still a man. Monroe can be cold and calculating at times, and other moments, he can appear genuine and gentlemanly. Most of the times I've met with him, I've been given the gentleman side. It was to the point where I questioned how they hell he was running s**t. All those thoughts jumped ship once I saw him for who he really was. I still get nightmares about that night. I involuntarily shuddered and it brought me back to what was happening. I lifted my eyes up and was immediately met with his. He had an intense stare and my breath was caught in my throat. For a man that could be my father, he was incredibly handsome. I know he caused problems in his day, hell, he probably still does. He finally waved for the dancer to stop and she cleared the room. He took a deep breath and sighed.

“Alright! Let's get to business.”

Monroe slid to the edge to the seat, placing his elbows on his knees. He turned his head to look at me.

“Do you have something for me, Ms.Gensen?”

I took out a folder and slid it to him on the table. He picked it up and read through the documents. He looked at me.

“How'd you get these documents? I mean these specifically. His father's name is on some of these. I know for a fact because you told me that he's been signing off on documents for the past year or so.”

He went back to thumbing through the paperwork as he waited for my answer. I might have stayed quiet for too long because he again broke the silence.

“I don't plan on asking again, Olivia.”

I cleared my throat.

“They were with the other documents. His father has sent over all relevant documents to him once he began his process of handing over his company to his son. Damien always works on work when he's home, so he often brings his work home. But all of it is legitimate. You asked for all of the tax information from the last 10 years, it's there. You wanted company coding and the who and for how long other companies have worked with or for Damien's. It's there. They are categorized from oldest to youngest. He has put away all documentation for the company now, so this is all we can get. The one thing we don't have is the information regarding Silver Lining. And that's only because it is just now starting to be processed. I even went out my way to research individual company heads, which wasn't too hard, being that my family works with a few of them. So getting info on them wasn't that hard. It would seem quite a few of them have some skeletons in the closet.”

Monroe, still looking through, nodded his head and smiled.

“Indeed they do.”

He put the folder back together, and a man stepped forward and took it.

When they hell did he get here?

The man left with the folder in hand, and I turned my attention back to Monroe. He had a big smile plastered on his face. I took a deep breath.

Looks like I won't be dying today.

“You've done well, Livie. I knew you could. Are you sure you don't wanna work for me? Oh, no, excuse me, with me? With work like this, you could be a very important person in my little organization.”

I chuckled haphazardly.

“No thanks. I know what happens when I'm no longer of use. I've only done this much to repay my debt. Since I'm finished, there's no need to continue meeting like this.”

His smile fell.

“Who said you were finished?”

“Uhh, I did what you asked for, correct?”

“Almost.”

I jerked my head back in shock.

“What do you mean ‘almost’?”

I stood up abruptly. I was tired of doing this s**t. I was betraying everyone that I knew just to keep my neck. If I was with Rahpael, none of this would be a problem.

“I still need you to get information for me from Damien. He has something I need, and I needed you to help me find it.”

My heart sank.

“Damien no longer wants to see me.”

He frowned at me.

“Why's that?”

I hesitated before answering.

“I kinda let my anger get the best of me yesterday. I messed up that woman's dress at the ball. She was just on my last nerve, and he and Raphael were all over her. Everyone acted like they've never seen a woman before. She took my spotlight. I was not about to allow some nobody to outshine me.”

Monroe raised a brow and smirked.

“Oh? Well, if she was able to dim your light, is she really a nobody? Let me see her again.”

I replayed his words over and over in my head. Was he right? Just cause she didn't come from a prominent family, it doesn't mean she can't marry into one. And with that display last night, I can't say it's impossible. I took my phone out and showed him the picture from the article Sarah showed me. He took my phone.

“Mmm. This is the same woman from the pictures you sent, correct?”

“Yeah.”

He leaned back and stared at the picture.

“What did you say her name was again?”

“Divinity.”

What the f**k is with the 20 questions about her. He should be telling me about her since I asked him to look into her.

“I wonder if it's that Divinity?”

Huh?

“What do you mean? You know her?”

Monroe chuckled and shook his head.

“Not necessarily. Ha. I'm gonna do you this last favor. On the house. Mainly because it's becoming something I could use myself… You've grown to be quite the beauty, little Vine.”

He chuckled again as he handed my phone back to me.

“You may go.”

I nodded and headed out the door.

What the hell did I just get myself into? Does he know her? How? I don't think I just made the right move. If anything, I probably just dug myself deeper into this bullshit.