Page 46 of Heart Match

#

‘Hey, I was thinking. What if we try to convince Haley to use at least the steel boning? It can be easily sourced here in the UK,’ says Caleb rolling his chair next to mine.

‘We can suggest it, but I’m not including them in the main designs just so she can make us change it again.’

‘Yeah, you’re right,’ he looks as disappointed as me, but the difference is I’ve already embraced what Haley wants.

‘Queen, I know it sucks. I feel you. Not everyone will agree with our ideas, but it doesn’t mean we can’t still have them, right?’ I’m not sure if I say this more to him or to myself.

I’m also in need of reassurance. Every single day of the past week I’ve been trying to convince myself Secretive is still the right fit for me. Maybe I just need to find a way of implementing my ideas in a smoother approach. Or maybe I should just make that change my guts are telling me to do and ignore my rational thoughts.

‘If I ask you a question, promise you’ll be honest?’ I say, not yet sure if I should. Caleb and I have been working together for a while now, but our relationship is mainly professional. Of course, we talk about our personal lives here and there, but when the topic is work, there’s only Secretive.

‘You can ask me anything. And when am I not honest with you, Olivia?’ he lowers his face, and peeking under the rose frame of his glasses, he rolls his eyes. It makes me chuckle and gives me the opening I need to ask what I want to.

‘Have you ever considered leaving Secretive?’

‘Was that the question?’ he sighs.

‘Yep.’

‘Of course, silly. Of course,’ he says in a way that tells me he has been putting some thought into the possibility.

Caleb and I end up getting into a whole deep conversation about work, and our future plans. Then as he drank his coffee and I my green tea, we imagined how amazing it would be if clothing brands were to invest more on sourcing recyclable and fair-trade materials. It would be costly at first, but then, in the long run, what a big difference it would make in the world. The textile industry is, after all, the second most pollutive in the world, behind oil. I just wish more people thought like we do, and that more companies believed in this and proved how possible it is.

With back-to-back meetings, I barely had time to breathe, let alone eat. By the time I get home my stomach is complaining, and I have already forgotten all about the weird feeling of being watched this morning.

#

I kick my heels to the side, place my bag and laptop on the kitchen island and realise how much I’m starving. All I want is to eat something, and ok, who am I kidding? I want to see Luc.

Just as I open the fridge to consider my dinner options—realising there aren’t many—the cause of my routine disturbance shows up at the door. As I pass by the mirror in the hall, I see myself with an expression I’m not familiar with. It’s a mix of joy and excitement, but not like when I receive a gift or when someone makes me laugh or when I’m praised. It’s the kind of joy and excitement that’s only celebrated between my heart and mind.

‘Hi, Olivia.’

Luc’s standing in front of me with a bottle of champagne in his hands.

‘Does that mean you had a good day in the office?’ I ask, my eyes roaming between the champagne bottle and gleam of his eyes.

A grin comes without warning and takes over my face.

‘Yes.’

He kisses me when I’m still stupidly beaming at him.

‘Wait. Is this granddad’s Lamaire champagne?’

His eyes grow excited and intense, implying so much my breath catches in my throat for a moment.

‘Come in,’ I manage, tugging on his T-shirt, pulling him inside.

I close the door behind us and he says, ‘I’m cooking for you tonight. Then, we’ll open the champagne …’ He’s holding me tight, and walking against me, leading me backwards to the kitchen island, where he sets the bottle that’s already cold.

‘… and then?’ I say, slipping my arms around his neck.

‘We’ll see what happens.’ He lifts me up and places me on the island.

He’s glaring at me like I’m some kind of prize. I sink my fingers into his hair, leaving it the way I like it. Messy.

---