The CEO

Chapter 8: Flashbacks

It’s been a couple of days since I started going to Stephen’s house and reviewing everything that’s been going on in the company. I was on my way to his house that night and I got a call from the police department.

“Ms. Adams, it’s officer Taylor.” He said through the speaker.

“Yes, good evening,” I answered the sound system in the car.

“Ms. Adams, we found some footage on the cameras from the scene of the accident. We’re still trying to find the owner of the car; however, we think that the car crash was not an accident.” I could hear him flipping pages like he was reviewing Stephen's statement about the incident.

I parked the car on the side of the road so I could be completely focused on what the officer is saying.

“What?” I answered after I turned off the car.

“We watched the footage from a couple of cameras and we realized that the car was following Mr. Malcolm and he knew that as he was trying to almost run away from him. When he thought he lost the car that was following him, he was startled by it coming out of nowhere and they both crashed. Obviously, Mr. Malcolm’s crash was much more deadly since his car was destroyed from both sides because he hit a wall on one side and the car from the other.” The officer explained.

“So, there’s a possibility someone wanted him dead?” I asked already knowing the answer.

“Dead, injured... yeah it seemed someone wanted this to happen. We’re doing all we can to find the one behind this. Ms. Adams, it would be really helpful if you can get the victim to give us a testimony or at least if he remembers anything from that day.” He said

“Okay, I’ll do my best.” We ended the call at that.

 I thought a little bit about what officer Taylor just told me and I directly remembered Dani the last time she spoke with Stephen.

'Did they hurt you?' 

She had to know something, she's obsessed with Stephen and from what I've seen her do and hear her say, I wouldn't be surprised if she was in on this.

I knocked on the door and Stephen opened his condo’s door with a smile.

“Come in.” He gestured for me to come in.

“I got dinner. Let’s eat and after that, we can go over everything.” He walked into his kitchen and I followed.

I placed my purse and computer on the kitchen counter and sat down on the stool.

“I’m actually thinking of going back to the company tomorrow. It’s about time and I can’t keep operating everything from here.” He said as he placed a plate filled with food in front of me then sat down to eat.

“That’s good. We have an important meeting next week anyway, so I think it’s time to go back too.” I nodded along.

“So, how’s the baby?” I pointed his fork at my belly.

“The baby’s okay. Actually, we’re going to the doctor’s Clinique to find out the gender in two days.” I smiled.

“Oh, that’s awesome.” That was the last thing we said before an awkward silence took over the room.

“Listen, Olivia, what you’re doing for Lea, it’s…it’s wonderful. I don’t remember her being this happy.” He looked at me.

I didn’t know what to say so I ended up smiling.

After we finished dinner, we went to the living room and started going over everything when I remembered my conversation with the officer.

I was reluctant at first but I decided to go for it and asked him about the accident.

“Hey, Stephen. I know I’m not in the place of asking this but, it’s just that I have to get it out and ask.” I closed my computer and looked at him.

He looked at me with a confused look and put his computer aside.

“Sure. Go ahead.” He leaned back on the couch.

“You don’t have to answer this but, do you think that there’s any chance your accident wasn’t one?” I asked slowly.

“You mean someone wanted to kill me?” He asked with his eyebrows almost touching each other.

“No,... maybe. Look it just seemed a little…suspicious. You were at my house one morning and then I get a call that you're in the hospital. I just want to know what happened.” I told him trying to avoid his gaze.

“I was with you the morning of the accident?” He was no longer leaning.

I realized what slipped from my mouth and I had no idea what to say.

“Yeah. W-We were working.” I gulped.

“In the morning?” he knew I was lying.

I nodded.

“Olivia, did we ever sleep together?” He looked at me waiting for a quick answer.

“No, no no never. Ok look you were drunk and you came to my house. I didn’t want you to back alone especially not in the state you were so I let sleep on the couch. That’s it.” I said all these words leaving out the most important part of that night. The night he said he loved me.

He sighed and nodded in relief.

“Hey, remember that girl Dani? The one that claimed she’s my girlfriend?” he asked.

“She’s not,” I told him almost triggered.

“I know she isn’t but, I asked her out on a date. I mean if she thinks we're still dating then there must’ve been something between us.” He explained.

Looking at him saying all these things make me regret not telling him that we were a ‘thing’. Dani was never his girlfriend she was there for Stephen to get back at me. For all I know she’s the reason this happened to him.

“I really want to settle down and end my ‘playboy’ attitude. So, maybe Dani is the one for it.” He continued.

He started talking about the conversation they had that day and how he felt like he liked her while I was sitting there like a stupid girl not doing anything.

My blood started boiling even thinking of these two together.  

“Stop it. Dani is manipulative and you dated her for one night to anger me and she is FAR from being ‘the one’.” I stood up looking at him.

He was surprised by my sudden outbreak so he followed and towered over me.

“What’s wrong?” he seemed really confused.

“Stephen, do you seriously not remember me? Nothing?” I asked crossing my arms.

“What do you mean?” he was looking deep into my glazing eyes.

“What we had, it doesn’t just…disappear like that. I can’t be gone from your head this fast. I refuse to believe that.” I could barely open my eyes.

He put his hands on my shoulders and stepped closer.

“What aren’t you telling me? Why are you asking about the accident and are so mad about me going out with Dani?”

I looked at him a little and then I did the one thing I didn’t think I had the courage to do.

-Stephen’s P.O.V-

I was holding Olivia’s shoulders waiting for her to explain her outburst instead I got something else.

Suddenly Olivia’s lips were on mine and I stood there and didn’t pull back, I didn’t really want to.

When she stopped the kiss with a sorry, I looked at her for a split second, grabbed her elbow, and kissed her again. While my eyes were closed, I remembered something, it felt like this wasn’t new. Like I’ve kissed Olivia before and I felt happy.

My hand was on her waist and I could feel the baby bump pressed against my hard stomach so I made sure I was careful. I pressed on her soft lips a bit more walking forward a little bit until she sat on the sofa's arm with me towering her with my lips still on hers.

After a while, we both pulled away and looked at each other. How could I forget her? How can I forget someone who I’m sure made me feel again?

“We did this before, didn’t we?” I almost whispered and she nodded holding the hand that was already on her cheek.

I knelt and held her baby bump then looked at her.

“I did this too.” I looked at her.

She took my hands and looked at me while helping me stand up.

“Who are you? Why does kissing you not feel new?” I asked cupping her face.

“Remember how I said you were drunk and came to my home? That night you came and kissed me and you also said some things. I didn’t know if I should believe you or not because you were drunk, but these words meant a lot to me.” She looked at me and smiled.

“What did I say?” I asked even though I had a feeling I knew already.

“I don’t want to say and I didn’t talk to you about this before because if I do then I would be throwing this on you and it would seem like I’m making you live by these words when you don’t remember me properly.” She said looking away.

“What if I never get my memories back? Are you going to let that stop us?” After that kiss, I knew that this girl was more than just a coworker or my sister’s surrogate.

“If you feel like there is an us, to begin with, then I have hope will remember the real me.” She kissed me on the cheek on proceeded to pack her stuff.

Before she left, I pulled her for another kiss because I loved what it did to my heart. After it, she closed the door behind her and left.

Later that night, I took a shower wore my sweatpants then went to bed. As soon as I fell asleep, I had a dream, more like one of my memories was coming back.

I remember we were happy, Lea, Olivia, and I. I can’t see why but were. Everyone had left the room and I was caressing Olivia’s belly. I looked at her…

I woke up at the sound of the alarm cursing it.

I drove to my sister’s house before going to work for a quick visit. I was also hoping to ask her more about my situation with Olivia and see if she can help.

 “Hey.” I kissed my sister’s cheek and sat down on the large sofa.

“Soooo, I heard you’re going back to the company today, Mr. CEO.” She sat down next to me.

“Hey, did you know that we’re going to find out the gender of the baby tomorrow?” she sounded so excited.

“Yes, actually Olivia told me last night.” I took my cup of coffee and drank it after the housekeeper placed it on the glass table.

“You’ve been spending time with Oli?” she asked.

“Yeah, she’s been updating me on all the things that were happening in the company since I had to stay home a couple of days,” I answered her.

“Are you two going somewhere?” She questioned again.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about it,” Lea asking if we were moving forward just tells me that she knows something that could help trigger my memory, so I took my chance and asked her.

“Last night, Olivia and I…kissed.” I wasn’t done and her eyes were already wide open.

“I remembered it and it felt like it happened before like the kiss wasn’t sudden and at night I had a dream of us being happy at the office but I woke up after that and didn’t remember the rest. Lea if there’s anything you could tell me about this, please do.” I looked at her like I was almost begging her to say something.

“Did Olivia tell you anything?” her face was serious.

“She told me that one night I went to her house and I was drunk and I said things to her but she didn’t say what they were because she said she’d be almost forcing me to live by these words. Lea, it’s killing me that I might have something with this woman I barely remember and the kiss w shared…it doesn’t make you feel the things I felt if it didn’t mean something.” I explained.

“Stephen you said you loved her,” Lea said like she wanted to get it out and didn’t want to hear the rest of my explanation.

“What?” I looked at her my chest going up and down.

“You said you loved her. The night you were drunk, you told her you loved her because you knew you wouldn’t say those words when you’re sober.” She looked at me with sad eyes.

“What did she say?” I asked hoping for a specific answer.

“The next day, we got a call that you had an accident and while we were at the hospital the doctors said your situation was critical and that you might not make it. At that moment, she told me she loved you and that losing you would be reliving her nightmare.” She put her hand on my shoulder.

Lea explained how she was my first kiss since I never kissed a girl after my mom died because it felt like replacing her.

She also told me about how we decided not to speak to each other unless it was professional or baby-related but we ended up falling even more.

I understood why Olivia didn’t tell me all these things because now I feel like I let her down. Like I have a promise to keep and I failed by doing the worst thing ever, 

‘Not remembering’.    

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What will Stephen do with this info? Will he go after Olivia. Will they start over?

Continue reading to find out. Don’t forget to like the story for more.

Stay Safe 

XOXO