Page 84 of His Cruel Billionaire Scorecard

Olivia kept her voice steady. “I appreciate your concern, Ave, but this is something I need to do for myself. I can’t continue living in a cycle of unhappiness. It’s time to explore new avenues and find a fresh start. It’s not too late for me.”

Avery’s frustration grew. “And what about all the hard work you’ve put into your career? All those years of dedication? You can’t just walk away from it all.”

Tears welled up in Olivia’s eyes, her voice wavering. “I know it’s not an easy decision, but staying in a job that drains me is not the solution. I need to find my passion again, even if it means taking a different path.”

Avery sighed, and her tone softened. “Liv, I just want what’s best for you. If you truly believe quitting is the right choice, then I’ll support you. But promise me you’ll take some time to reconsider and explore other options.”

Olivia nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I promise, Ave. I’ll give it some more thought. But right now, this feels like the right decision for me.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of Olivia’s choice hung in the air. Avery reached out, enveloping Olivia in a comforting embrace. They sat there, holding each other.

***

Roman stepped out of his car, his head throbbing with a persistent ache. As he made his way towards the company’s entrance, Linda, his assistant, intercepted him.

“Roman, someone is waiting for you in your office,” she said, avoiding his gaze and fidgeting with a stack of papers in her hands.

His irritation peaked at her vague response. “Who is it?” he snapped.

Linda hesitated for a moment before finally responding, “She didn’t provide her name, but she insisted on seeing you personally.”

Rolling his eyes, Roman let out an exasperated sigh. “Great, just what I needed today. Fine, I’ll see whoever it is. Get me some aspirin, would you? This headache is killing me.”

Linda nodded, relief evident on her face as she scurried off to fetch the painkillers. Roman continued his way toward his office.

As he entered his office, he found a woman standing by the window, her arms crossed and a furious expression on her face. Roman’s surprise was evident as he stopped in his tracks; momentarily taken aback, he recognized her. She was Olivia’s friend.

“Avery, I assume? What are you doing here?” Roman asked.

“Here to have a serious conversation with you, Roman,” she said, her anger simmering.

Before Roman could utter a single word, Avery closed the distance between them, surprising him, her finger jabbing into his chest with accusation. He was taken aback by her assertiveness.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Roman cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “Yes, I’m Roman. And you are Olivia’s friend, I presume?”

Avery scoffed. “Yes. I’m Avery, Olivia’s best friend. The one who witnessed her passion for sports, the one who saw her light up when she talked about her dreams.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because of you, she’s quitting.”

Roman’s heart sank as he connected the dots. The pieces fell into place. Guilt washed over him, weighing heavily on his shoulders.

“I didn’t realize,” Roman began, “I’ve been so caught up, I never intended for Olivia to give up on her passion because of me.”

Avery’s expression softened slightly. “Well, now you know ,” she said, “it’s up to you to fix this mess. My friend will not be hanging up on her passion because of you.”

Roman nodded.

“You’re right, Avery, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right. She’s not quitting because of me. That is unacceptable.”

Avery studied him for a moment, assessing his sincerity. She recognized the genuine remorse in his eyes and nodded; he was more upfront than she thought.

“I hope you mean that, Roman,” she said, her voice softer now. “Olivia deserves someone who will support her dreams, not someone who takes them away. Don’t let her down.”

Without another word, Avery walked out of his office, leaving him to contemplate.

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