The Billionaire's Charade

Chapter 5 Sultry Tease

Steven stared at Olivia's face for a moment, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "Found a boyfriend?"

"Yes, didn't you say to find someone if I was lonely? I've been alone for three years now. Finding a boyfriend isn't too much, is it?" Olivia smiled faintly.

"What, only you can do it, and I can't?" Steven shrugged indifferently. "It's even better if you've found a boyfriend. If he can make you stop pestering me, I'll prepare a big gift to thank him in person."

Steven didn't believe for a second that Olivia had a boyfriend. He knew her too well. She must have seen him talking to Abigail and, out of anger, found someone to put on an act. And what an act it was. When Olivia hung up the phone, the man's jealous and angry tone was palpable, even to Steven. It was clear she had intended for him to hear that.

Naturally, the two didn't sleep together that night. Olivia took the bed, while Steven made do with a makeshift bed on the floor. He still retained that bit of gentlemanly conduct. Before sleeping, Olivia deliberately set the air conditioner to the lowest setting and hid the remote control. When she woke up in the middle of the night and saw Steven shivering on the floor, hugging a pillow, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

By morning, Steven had caught a cold. Olivia didn't pay him any mind and went straight to the TV station. Olivia was a TV host, primarily responsible for the midday news, and hosted a special segment called Midday News Eye. She was quite well-known in the industry. Recently, Linda, who hosted the prime time slot, had left for another station, and Olivia was vying for the prime-time hostess position. After finishing the midday news, she had the rest of the day free.

Olivia returned to the Walker Mansion at four in the afternoon. Steven had just come back from outside, seemingly having visited Abigail. When Steven entered, Olivia had just changed clothes and applied delicate makeup. Today, she wore a dress that accentuated her figure. It was simple and elegant on the surface, but up close, the intricate design became apparent.

Seeing Steven enter, Olivia stood up and gracefully twirled in front of him. "How do I look?"

Even though Steven harbored deep resentment toward Olivia, he couldn't deny her beauty. She had an impeccable figure, standing at 5'7" tall, and wore high heels that made her even more striking. The dress was custom-made, fitting her perfectly. The hem reached her ankles, revealing her delicate ankles that one might feel an urge to grasp. Olivia's waist was slender, almost fragile, but not bony, with curves in all the right places.

Steven's gaze moved from her chest to her stunning face. The dress was a plain color, but paired with Olivia's enchanting face, it created a unique allure. Steven's Adam's apple bobbed. Yet, he maintained a cold expression. "Ugly. White doesn't suit you at all."

Olivia rolled her eyes, turned around, and bent over to apply lipstick in front of the mirror. "Maybe in your heart, only Abigail suits white."

After applying her lipstick, Olivia straightened up, flashed a bright smile at Steven in the mirror, and provocatively said, "But I insist on wearing white."

Steven found her vivacity and charm at that moment irresistible. Her domineering tone even felt like a coquettish tease, making his heart itch. But he quickly realized she was deliberately trying to seduce him.

Frowning, Steven said, "Olivia, stop playing games with me. Even if you wore nothing, I wouldn't give you a second glance."

With that, he threw in, "I'll wait in the car," and left the room.

Ten minutes later, Olivia got into the car as well. Steven, eyes closed, leaned back in the rear seat. "Jasper, to Summit Manor."

An hour later, the car arrived at the foot of Summit Mountain. It wound its way up the mountain path, flanked by tall, lush phoenix trees whose leaves blocked out the sunlight, creating a dim tunnel-like atmosphere. After what seemed like an eternity, the view suddenly brightened. A grand, castle-like building slowly came into view, and the surroundings buzzed with activity.

The vast lawn was already dotted with numerous luxury cars. Countless waiters in white shirts and black vests were attending to guests. Olivia's car was guided by a waiter to the outdoor parking lot. The waiter then led them into the castle.

The heavy, ancient doors were open, and a red carpet stretched from inside to outside, guiding the guests. Olivia was taken aback by the intricate patterns on the carpet. It was a handwoven Persian carpet from Isfahan, made of wool, cotton, silk, gold, and silver threads, vibrant in color and complex in craftsmanship. The carpet beneath their feet was of the highest quality, with each square foot costing 200 thousand dollars. Seeing the seemingly endless red carpet, Olivia couldn't help but gasp.

Everyone knew the Thompson family was the wealthiest, but their exact fortune was a mystery. Now, it was becoming clear.

The interior of the villa was even more astonishing, with walls displaying valuable antique blue and white porcelain, a massive antique British clock, and antique European chandeliers. Everything was antique. And this was just the first-floor banquet hall. One could only imagine the treasures hidden within this castle.

Hannah's way of hosting was quite traditional, with 100 tables set for guests today. Round tables lined both sides of the carpet, each seat already designated for a guest. The invitation had specified the seating arrangements. The Walker family's two seats were at the 99th table.

"Look over there, the man in the black suit seems to be a famous politician. And the one in white, isn't he the mayor of Los Angeles?"

"Forget the mayor of Los Angeles, even the mayor of New York is here. The president even sent a gift. Hannah's connections are truly impressive."

"Exactly. Out of these 100 tables, only two were allotted to Los Angeles, and they're placed at the 99th and 100th tables."

"Compared to these big shots, being seated at the 99th and 100th tables is already an honor."

The conversation was between two madams, both wives of top families in Los Angeles. They were friends with Olivia's mother, Chloe, so Olivia naturally knew them. When they met, Olivia had to greet them. "Good evening."

They looked at Olivia with a trace of pity and regret in their eyes. "Hi, Olivia. You came too."

"Your mother and Mia are presenting a gift to Hannah. You should go say hello."