Page 53 of Pain and Possession

Holy fuck get it together Olive. He's assaulted you. Killed for you. Stalked you and kidnapped you. This is not okay and feeling this way is even worse. I'm beginning to not care one bit.

I grab his hand as he opens up the door, helping me out as if I'm too small to do it on my own. An action that would've annoyed me last week, now it feels… endearing. He smiles down at me, unbothered by my swollen, bloody and bruised eye I've spent the entire ride over here complaining about. It really does look pretty bad but my vision seems to be fine and the pain is slowly subsiding. I reach into my pocket, pulling out the phone I'm still surprised I have as he leads me into the building. Five unread texts from Laney, I suppress my sigh. Not that I don't want to talk to her I just don't want to deal with her questions. I'm not sure how to answer them. She's got to be freaking out after everything that happened at the club. Why does that somehow feel like it happened weeks ago and not a day?

"Hey Olive, mom let me ditch this-" Charlotte's chipper voice nearly startles me as I look up from my feet smiling at her and the woman walking behind her down the mahogany-colored hallway.

"Oh my gosh, what happened?" She asks, a horrified look twisting her features. I don't answer, I can't. My eyes are locked on the woman behind her, unmistakably her mother. She's pretty, but there's something about her that's nervous.

Very nervous.

"She's here to see Marcus." Noè says, leading me straight up to his mother despite my attempt to wiggle my wrist free.

God please no.

"Mom, this is Olive. Olive, my mother Emma. Also stop ditching Charlotte I don’t care who approved it."

I smile shyly at her, wishing my eye didn't look like this. Her anxiety is mashing with mine making the air in the hall too fucking thick to breathe. It looks like she feels it too.

"It's nice to meet you." She says, giving me a warm smile before she reaches up underneath my chin inspecting my eye, her small hands trembling, "Some ice would've been sufficient, Noè. You didn't have to drag the poor girl all the way here to see a doctor."

I cast him a loaded look, because no fucking shit. He ignores us both, leaning in a giving her a peck on the cheek, "You won't stay for dinner?"

She looks away, as if she's embarrassed to answer, "No, not today. We were just here to visit with Nona for a little. It was a pleasure to finally meet you, Olive." My heart clenches as disappointment falls across his face seconds before its expertly wiped away. He looked so… vulnerable for a moment. Like a little boy who wants his mother's attention.

"Noè, Olive you guys should come by for dinner soon. Outside of the compound." Charlotte offers on their way past us. Noè looks down at me briefly before answering. I think it was meant as an attempt of consultation, but he ignores the loud no painted on my face.

"Sounds good."

I glare at him after we say our goodbyes, a weight lifted off my shoulders as soon as the interaction ends, "I work evenings Noè, also we aren't together."

"Quit your job, and yes we are."

I scoff, shaking my head, "I have bills Noè. A life outside of you." His hand tightens slightly on my waist, "I also have no interest in becoming your paid piece of ass."

"Careful doll." He warns, "You are so much more than that. Shall I make a scene? Declare my love for you from the loudspeaker?" There’s a hint of amusement in his eyes, a new lightness.

"Please don't."

He chuckles as we step towards his office, a small, framed man holding a large bag quickly stands smiling at us. "Mr. Arcuri, good to see you again. Miss. Hayes, I presume?"

I nod as Noè opens the door motioning us both inside before shutting and locking it. "I wish you could've made it down to the clinic, but this will have to do. We got the medical history just before I left."

They got what?

"Miss. Hayes-“

"Olive." I correct.

He gives me a curt smile, "Olive, according to your medical records you haven't been to a doctor since you were fifteen?" Flush falls over my cheeks as I cross my arms, nodding. He opens his bag pulling out several things and sitting them on the small table in Noè's office. "I'll take a look at that eye today, but I must insist you come in for a full evaluation soon. I have openings tomorrow morning."

"What time?" Noè chimes in cutting off the no that had already formed on my lips.

"Seven."

"We'll be there."

I shift on my feet, irritation flooding in, "Noè, I can make-“ I stop myself, remembering who I'm speaking to. Remembering the bar… the way he punished me for speaking out against him in front of his men. The tension between my legs reforms, as he approaches me taking my chin gently in his hand, "You've never hesitated to speak your mind before little doll, don't start now." He smirks as he runs his thumb along my jaw.

I flush an even brighter shade of pink as I take a half a step back addressing the doctor, "An appointment won't be necessary. Thank you though." The doctor raises his eyebrow at me as if he's preparing his own argument when Noè opens his stupid mouth again.

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