Chapter 95: Chapter 95
Olivia’s POV
Maxwell glanced up from his computer screen with the distracted air of someone expecting to see his assistant. But the moment his eyes focused on me - really saw me - his entire body went rigid.
His fingers froze over the keyboard. His lips parted slightly, as if he’d been about to say something but the words had simply evaporated. For several long seconds, he just stared at me, his green eyes wide with shock.
Then, as if suddenly remembering himself, his gaze darted quickly to Oliver’s empty desk behind me before snapping back to my face.
That look - that quick, telling glance at the assistant’s desk - sent a thrill of vindication through me. Julian had been right. Maxwell knew exactly who I was.
"Why are you looking at the desk?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual as I moved closer to his desk.
Maxwell blinked, as if my question had broken whatever spell he’d been under. "I... what are you doing here, Olivia?"
The way he said my name - like it was something precious and dangerous all at once - made my pulse quicken.
"Why did you look at the desk behind me?" I pressed, taking a step closer to his desk.
Maxwell’s jaw tightened, and I watched as he immediately composed himself. The shock that had filled his face moments ago was gone, replaced by his usual air of smug control.
"What do you mean by that question?" he asked, his voice returning to that familiar cold, dismissive tone. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of him. "Are you here for a reason, Olivia, or did you just come to ask me about my eye movements?"
The way he deflected sent a thrill through me. Julian had been right - Maxwell absolutely knew who I was. But now that he’d regained his composure, he was going to make this difficult.
I moved toward one of the chairs facing his desk and sat down, crossing my legs deliberately. The green dress rode up slightly, and I didn’t miss how his eyes tracked the movement before snapping back to my face.
"I came to see you specifically," I said, leaning back in the chair and meeting his gaze directly.
"What for?" He asked in a controlled voice, but there was something darker lurking beneath. Something that made the air in the room feel charged.
I noticed how his eyes seemed to have a will of their own, despite his attempts to remain professional. They roamed over the curve of my neck, the way the dress hugged my shoulders, down to where it dipped just enough to be intriguing without being inappropriate. The intensity of his gaze sent heat coursing through my veins, and I had to fight to keep my breathing steady.
"You can’t seem to keep your eyes off me," I observed, tilting my head slightly. "Is that part of your usual consultation process?"
A muscle in his jaw jumped, but he didn’t look away. "You’re avoiding my question."
I took a deep breath, "I want to know why you were so rude to me that first day in your Dr. Heart’s office. And more importantly, why you’ve been trying to sabotage what Gabriel and I have."
Maxwell went completely still. His green eyes, which had been heated moments before, turned calculating and sharp.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said carefully.
"You don’t right?" I leaned forward despite my heart hammering at the fact that I was challenging my boss. "The way you dismissed me in your office, told me I wasn’t good enough for Alex. The way you spent our entire first date trying to convince Gabriel that I was dramatic and unstable. The way you’ve been..."
"You think I’ve been sabotaging your relationship with Gabriel?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
"Haven’t you?" I challenged, studying his face for any tell, any crack in his armor. "Or is this about something else entirely? Do you have feelings for me, Maxwell?"
Maxwell’s entire body went rigid, his knuckles whitening as his hands gripped the arms of his chair. For a moment, something raw and unguarded flickered across his features - surprise, desire, and something that looked almost like pain.
The silence stretched between us, thick with tension. I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears as I watched him struggle with my question, watched him try to formulate a response that wouldn’t give away whatever he was desperately trying to hide.
Just as his lips parted, just as I thought he might actually answer me, there was a knock on the door.
Maxwell’s head snapped toward the sound, and I saw something like relief flash across his face at the interruption.
"Come in," he called out, his voice rough.
The door opened, and my blood turned to ice. Damn. Why now?
David stepped into the office, looking every inch the successful businessman. His hair was styled perfectly, and there wasn’t a single hint of the chaos from our last encounter visible on his face. He looked confident, composed, and completely in control.
But the moment his eyes found me sitting in the chair across from Maxwell’s desk, his composure cracked. His step faltered, and I saw his jaw clench as recognition dawned.
"Mr. Wellington," David began as he recovered from his surprise. "I’m David Banks, we met at Alex’s party Saturday night. I have a 1 PM appointment regarding my divorce proceedings."
Maxwell glanced at his watch, then back at David. "Mr. Banks, yes. Please, have a seat." He gestured to the chair beside mine, and I felt my stomach drop.
David’s eyes met mine for a second, and in that brief moment, I saw something dark and possessive flash across his features. But when he sat down, he was all professional charm again.
"I hope I’m not interrupting anything important," David said in a tone that made my skin crawl.
Maxwell looked between us, probably happy about this interruption. "Not at all. Olivia was just leaving."
"Actually," David jumped in, "I don’t mind if Olivia stays. In fact, given the nature of my situation, a woman’s perspective might be quite valuable."
The trap was being set, and I was caught right in the middle of it.