Page 15 of Love Her Always

She loved going to work…she just hated the end of the day when it was time for her to go because it always meant that she was going home to Scott. He’d backed off this past week of the physical violence after spending the weekend at his cabin. He still wouldn’t let her sleep in the bed or any bed in the house while he was there but for those three nights she’d slept like she was free. That’s what she wanted now more than for him to end her misery…she wanted the freedom to choose what she wanted, and her choices were leading her towards Will more and more.

“How long do we have to stay?” Scott questioned making her irritated.

“You didn’t have to come. I could have said you were working.”

“And let another man put his hands on you? You’re lucky I let you out of the house in that dress. It’s too short and you’re my bitch,” he stated quietly against her ear making her back tense slightly.

“If it isn’t the beautiful Olivia,” Thomas said as he and Janice headed towards them. He reached out and hugged her, and she quickly made the introductions.

“Scott this is Thomas O’Leary. Will and I flew out to meet him in Vancouver, and his wife Janice. This is my husband Scott.”

“Good to see you’re well. Olivia was quite upset when we said good-bye after hearing about the accident,” Thomas stated shaking his hand.

“Olivia worries too much sometimes,” he said in a way that made the pair instantly like him and she hated that he could manage to do that to everyone. It terrified her how quickly he could flip a switch and pretend to be the perfect man—sweet, charming, caring…it was all an act but no one else saw it.

“I see you’ve met Scott,” Will said coming over to them. “Liv you look amazing as always.”

“Thank you Will,” she said giving him a light smile well aware that Scott was starting to seethe.

“Do you mind if I steal Liv for a few minutes?” he asked looking towards Scott. “We need to talk to Christian about a business matter.”

“No problem, I’ll be over by the bar,” Scott answered, and Olivia held in a sigh knowing the trouble that meant for her later tonight.

She moved to the far side of the room with Will and paused behind a column to fix his tie. “One of these days I’m going to have to teach you to tie these correctly.”

“But then I wouldn’t have an excuse to steal you away. Thunder misses you.”

“Oh, he does, does he?” she asked with a grin. “He’s very talkative then?”

“Goes on and on about you,” he agreed as they headed over to Christian and moved about mingling with their clients, workers, and guests.

“Dance?” he asked as the band started back up.

“Why not,” she replied enjoying being this close to someone who wouldn’t hurt her. “Great party…a booming success.”

“Thanks to you. You’re incredible Livy, Scott is a very lucky man.”

“Yeah,” she responded but her smile dimmed.

“What is going on with you two? He’s at the bar while you’re here with me…why is that?” he asked giving her a look that stalled her breath.

“He knows this is business.”

“Is it? I haven’t seen you smile or laugh with him in months, not when he’s around or when you talk about him.”

“What are you asking Will?” she questioned wondering what he was thinking.

“Are you happy being married to him?”

“I’m not a starry-eyed newlywed anymore. It’s just different now.”

“Really? So, I’m just imagining the fact that you don’t want to go home at the end of the day? That you’d rather stay at the office, stay with me than go to him?”

“Stop it,” she said softly not wanting to talk about it anymore. If they did, she’d tell him and that would be a death sentence for someone.

“Fine…but one of these days you’re going to have to admit it to yourself if nothing else,” he told her as they finished the dance.

“I’m fine,” she stated then moved off as the party continued.

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