His Love, Her Revenge

Chapter five

Olivia’s Pov

I quickly straightened myself and stepped away, smoothing down my blazer as if that could somehow erase what had just happened.

My stomach dropped.

Of all the people who could have witnessed that, it had to be him.

“I’m okay,” I said quickly.

Kellen’s eyes stayed on me.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“I’m fine.”

I wasn’t.

Not really.

My cheeks were burning, and I suddenly became painfully aware of everyone in the waiting area. I could practically feel their eyes on me.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

Kellen had seen me like this.

Again.

It seemed ridiculous how often this man had witnessed me at my lowest since we’d found our way back into each other’s lives.

First, he’d found me bleeding and barely conscious.

Then he’d seen me at Josh’s house with tears.

And now he’d caught me in the middle of an argument with the one person I had desperately hoped I’d never have to face again.

I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

“Olivia, Are you hurt?”

His voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked at him.

“No, I'm not hurt.” I forced a little smile.

His gaze shifted to Eliana.

The warmth disappeared from his expression.

Eliana seemed to realize it too because she immediately straightened.

Eliana’s confidence seemed to falter for the first time.

“Mr. Hayes, I—”

“Don’t.”

His voice wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

Eliana’s mouth snapped shut.

I stared at him.

There was something intimidating about the calmness in his voice. He didn’t look furious. He simply looked like someone who had reached the end of his patience.

“Mr. Hayes, I wasn’t trying to—”

“I said enough.”

Eliana’s lips pressed together.

He studied me for another second before nodding.

Then he looked around the waiting area.

Every candidate suddenly seemed very interested in their phones.

Kellen’s jaw tightened.

“There’s no reason for you to sit out here.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re coming with me.”

I glanced toward the receptionist.

“But the interview—”

“Forget the process.”

My eyes widened.

“Excuse me?”

Kellen’s gaze moved briefly to Eliana before returning to me.

“I’ll interview you myself.”

I stared at him, genuinely caught off guard.

He was the CEO of Hayes Holdings. If anyone could walk into a room and change the rules, it was probably him. I knew he had every right to decide who he interviewed and how.

Still, I hadn’t expected him to do it.

Especially not after what had just happened.

Kellen didn’t wait for me to process it. He simply held out his hand.

“Come on, Olivia.”

I hesitated, painfully aware of the eyes following us.

Then I placed my hand in his.

He led me away from the waiting area without another word.

Only when the elevator doors closed behind us did I finally release the breath I’d been holding.

Kellen didn’t let go of my hand until the doors slid shut.

Only then did I realize how warm his palm was.

I gently pulled my hand away.

He let me.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

Then the elevator chimed.

The doors opened onto the executive floor.

The executive floor was unusually quiet. Soft footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor, and the only sound came from distant phones ringing behind closed office doors.

Kellen held the office door open for me.

“Ladies first.”

I smiled.

I had expected it to be impressive. He was the CEO of Hayes Holdings, after all. But the room was more understated than flashy. Everything had its place—the large desk was spotless, a few neatly arranged folders sat at one corner, and the shelves behind it held books and carefully displayed awards. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across one side of the room, letting in a wash of daylight and giving me a clear view of the city below.

Even the smallest details looked intentional.

Nothing was out of place.

I sat down slowly, placing my bag beside my chair and trying to ignore how awkwardly aware I suddenly felt of myself.

Kellen didn’t take his seat behind the desk.

Instead, he moved to the other side of the room and leaned casually against the edge of a console table, one ankle resting over the opposite knee. His arms folded loosely across his chest, but there was nothing casual about the way he carried himself.

His posture screamed power.

Money.

The kind of confidence that came from knowing you belonged wherever you walked into.

And standing there in his perfectly tailored suit, surrounded by an office that probably cost more than everything I’d ever owned combined, Kellen Hayes looked every bit like the man who ran Hayes Holdings.

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then his expression became more serious.

“About what happened downstairs.”

My shoulders stiffened.

I immediately knew where this was going.

“It was nothing.”

Kellen leaned back slightly.

“Olivia.”

I sighed.

“It was just an argument.”

“She pushed you.”

I looked away.

“I know.”

“And you call that an argument?”

“It’s complicated.”

His eyes remained on me.

I could tell he wanted an explanation.

I wasn’t ready to give him one.

“She was someone I used to be close to,” I finally said. “Very close. Things happened between us, and I’d rather not talk about them right now.”

Kellen was quiet for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

I looked at him, almost surprised.

“That’s it?”

“You said you don’t want to talk about it.”

“And you’re not going to ask?”

“Not unless you want me to.”

Something about that caught me off guard.

I lowered my eyes to my hands.

After everything that has happened to me, I wasn’t used to someone simply accepting the boundaries I put up instead of trying to tear them down.

Kellen leaned back in his chair.

“But for the record, you don’t have to stand there and let anyone make you feel small just because you have history with them.”

My throat tightened.

“You barely know what happened.”

“I know enough.”

I looked at him.

His expression was calm, but there was something reassuring in his eyes.

He moved toward the desk, picked up my résumé, and glanced through it. His movements were unhurried, almost annoyingly calm.

I waited.

And waited.

Finally, he closed the folder.

“You’re hired.”

I blinked.

“What?”

Kellen looked up.

“You’re hired, Olivia.”

I stared at him, certain I’d heard him wrong.

“You mean… you’re not going to interview me?”

“No.”

“But I came here for an interview.”

“I know.”

He set my résumé on the desk as though we’d just concluded a perfectly normal business meeting.

Before I could figure out what to say next, he continued .

“I’ve looked at your application. I’ve seen your qualifications. We don’t really need to go the long way .

He tapped the résumé once.

“You’re capable.”

I stared at him.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

I stared at him, still trying to process the fact that I’d walked into Hayes Holdings expecting to fight for a position and Kellen had apparently decided the matter before I’d even sat down.

“Thanks for everything,” I murmured softly.

“You deserve it ,I have a meeting across town in a little while,” he said, reaching for his keys from the desk. “But I can drop you off on my way.”

I looked up at him. “Are you sure? You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

He walked toward where I was still seated. I shifted slightly in the chair, making room for him to reach behind me.

He leaned over, reaching for his jacket from the back of the chair.

He was suddenly so close.

My eyes betrayed me, lingering on the veins running across the back of his hand before drifting upward. His sharp jaw, dark lashes, and perfectly sculpted features looked even more striking this close.

I couldn’t help but stare.

No.

I quickly looked away.

I wasn’t supposed to notice those things.

Not after everything that had happened.

Not when my heart still felt shattered.

Kellen leaned closer, pulling his jacket across my chest. His shoulder brushed mine. His clean , masculine scent surrounded me and the warmth of his body wrapped around me. My breath caught.

For the briefest second, he didn’t move away.

His face remained only inches from mine.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I hated myself for it.

Seriously, Olivia?

You just got betrayed .

The last thing you should notice is how close another man is.

I silently cursed myself, forcing my gaze toward the window.

This wasn’t attraction.

It couldn’t be.

It was confusion… anything but that.

He was so close.

Close enough that I could feel his breath against my skin.

My heart skipped.

For one stupid second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

And when his eyes dropped to my lips, I stopped thinking altogether.

I leaned toward him.

Barely an inch.

But it was enough.

I kissed him.

Kellen froze.

Then he pulled away.

My heart sank.

“Olivia…”

The way he said my name made my face burn.

I quickly looked away, pretending I was suddenly very interested in the window. “I thought you were going to ….”

I stopped myself.

He was quiet.

Too quiet.

When I finally turned back, his expression had completely changed to something dangerous.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No Olivia… I want to, but we’re in the office .”

“I don’t mind.

“You sure? Cause baby, if I start, I won’t be able to stop.”

“Please start—“ He didn’t even let me finish before he grabbed my neck and slammed his lips on mine.