Chapter 92: Chapter 92
Olivia’s POV
I woke up to the most unusual alarm clock I’d ever experienced - a gentle purring vibrating against my ribs and the softest paw imaginable patting my cheek with the persistence of someone who clearly had important morning business to attend to.
"Good morning to you too, Your Majesty," I mumbled, opening my eyes to find Mitchell’s emerald gaze fixed on me.
She had completely abandoned her luxurious four-poster cat bed - the one with silk curtains - and had decided to sleep right next to me on my less luxurious human bed. Throughout the night, every time I’d tried to gently relocate her to her own sleeping arrangements, she’d given me a look of royal displeasure and promptly returned to her chosen spot.
"You’re going to be a problem, aren’t you?" I asked, scratching behind her ears. She purred louder, which I took as confirmation that yes, she was absolutely going to be a delightful handful.
As I sat up, I wondered about my situation. How on earth was I supposed to leave this pampered princess alone in my apartment while I went to work? She was probably used to having a full staff of people catering to her every whim, and I was about to abandon her in my little apartment compared to Maxwell’s mansion.
I walked over to Kira’s room, still in my pajamas, with Mitchell following me like a fluffy white shadow.
"Kira," I whispered, knocking gently on her door. "Are you awake? I have a cat emergency."
"Come in," came her groggy voice from behind the door.
I found Kira sprawled across her bed, her hair looking like she’d been electrocuted in her sleep. "What’s the crisis now?" she mumbled into her pillow.
"I can’t leave Mitchell alone all day," I explained, gesturing to the cat who had made herself comfortable on Kira’s bedroom chair.
"She’s probably never been without human supervision for more than five minutes in her entire life. What if she has separation anxiety? What if she destroys our apartment? What if she wanders off?"
Kira lifted her head and gave me a look that suggested I might be losing my mind. "Olivia, it’s a cat, not a toddler."
"It’s Maxwell Wellington’s cat," I corrected. "That’s basically the same as being responsible for the Crown Jewels."
Kira sat up, running her hands through her hair. "Okay, here’s the plan. I’ve got a half day today protecting Damien. So you set up some of her essential items where she can easily access them, and I’ll come home early to play babysitter to our houseguest until we figure out what Maxwell’s real game plan is."
"You’re a lifesaver," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
"I know," Kira grinned. "Just remember this when I need a favor involving something as ridiculous as this."
Back in my room, I spent the next minute setting up Mitchell’s five-star cat resort in the corner. Crystal food and water dishes, the cashmere bed positioned to catch the morning sunlight, toys carefully placed for her entertainment, and that miniature Persian rug positioned like a royal receiving area.
When it came time to get dressed for work, I selected one of the designer outfits from the mysterious boxes - a sleek black suit that fited perfectly, giving a little space to hide my curves, and I paired it with one of the expensive shoes.
Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. Oliver looked very sophisticated, and handsome, complete with my facial disguises and cool wig. It actually looked like I went to the barber’s to get my hair done and my skin smoothened.
"Wish me luck," I told Mitchell, who was observing my transformation with a look of approval. She didn’t at all look shocked that her roommate was switching between two identities.
I arrived at the office earlier than usual, hoping that today goes well. I got Maxwell’s coffee from Taylor’s and placed it on his desk before settling behind my own desk.
When Maxwell finally walked in, I was shocked to say the least.
He looked terrible and exhausted. His eyes were hollow, like he’d spent the night staring at the ceiling, wrestling with thoughts that wouldn’t let him rest.
His hair was slightly disheveled, and there were shadows under those piercing green.
Did he even sleep at all?
My first instinct was sympathy. The poor man was probably devastated about the whole Sabrina situation. Having your girlfriend kiss another woman at a party and become internet famous for it couldn’t be easy to process, even for someone as composed as Maxwell Wellington.
But instead of heading straight to his desk as he did every morning, Maxwell surprised me by walking directly to my station. I looked up at him expectantly, preparing to offer some kind of professional yet compassionate support.
"How’s Mitchell?" he asked without preamble.
I blinked, certain I’d misheard. "I’m sorry, what?"
"My cat," he clarified, as if it was the most normal thing. "How is she settling in?"
I stared at him for a moment, processing the fact that a man whose girlfriend had publicly humiliated him in front of half the city - was more concerned about his cat’s emotional wellbeing than his own love life.
"She’s... she’s doing very well," I managed, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Though I am a bit worried about leaving her alone all day. She seems to need a lot of attention."
Maxwell nodded seriously, as if we were discussing the most important thing in the world. "That’s perfectly normal. She’s used to constant companionship. Don’t worry about it - just set up her room according to her standards and she’ll manage perfectly fine on her own."
"Well, the thing is," I began carefully, "my apartment isn’t really large enough to create a separate room for Mitchell. I’ve done my best to arrange some things in my bedroom, but..."
Maxwell held up a hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. "There’s a new case coming in," he changed the subject quickly. "I’ll be handling it personally, so you’ll need to prepare for our client meeting."
I grabbed my notepad, ready to add the appointment to his schedule. "Of course. What’s the client’s name and when should I schedule the meeting?"
"Mr. David Banks,"
Wait what!? I looked up sharply.
"It’s a divorce case - he’s separating from his French wife, and he’ll be here at 1 PM."
The blood in my veins turned to ice. David is married?