Chapter 89: Chapter 89
Olivia’s POV
I groaned as consciousness slowly crept back, my head pounding like a little human was pounding my skull.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, expecting to find myself in some dim warehouse or the back of a van. Instead, I was staring up at the familiar ceiling of my own bedroom, with little glowing star stickers I’d glued up there myself.
What the hell?
I sat up slowly, my head spinning as I tried to piece together how I’d gotten here. The last thing I remembered was getting into that black car, then the hissing sound and that sweet, cloying smell filling my lungs...
"Kira?" I called out, my voice hoarse and scratchy. "Kira, are you home?"
Silence.
My heart rate picked up. Where was my roommate? Had she seen whoever brought me home? Was she even okay?
"KIRA!" I shouted louder, panic creeping into my voice.
Still nothing.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, about to stand and search the apartment, when something on my nightstand caught my eye. A folded piece of paper sat beside a single white flower - the exact same type of flower my stranger had given me at the karaoke bar.
My heart did a little flip as realization dawned on me.
Oh my God. It was him.
Without even reading the note, I was already smiling. My protective, ever-present stranger had somehow found me again, right when I needed him most. The thought made my chest warm with an emotion I didn’t want to explain just yet.
With trembling fingers, I unfolded the note:
My dearest Livy,
I’m so sorry I arrived late to help you. By the time I found you, you were already free from danger, and on your way home. Please forgive me for the gas - I only used it because I wanted to transport you home peacefully without compromising my identity in the process.
I hope you slept well. Your breakfast is waiting for you in the microwave in the kitchen. And don’t worry about whoever took you - I will find them and ensure they never bother you again.
Have a beautiful day, my love. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Forever yours,Your devoted admirer
By the time I finished reading, I was practically glowing. Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks, and I found myself pressing the note to my chest like some lovesick teenager.
He’s so thoughtful. I thought giddily. And he made me breakfast!
But even as my heart fluttered, questions swirled in my mind. How had he known I was in trouble? How had he found me in that godforsaken area? And most importantly, how had he gotten into my apartment?
I should probably be concerned about that last part, but honestly? After the night I’d had, having a mysterious guardian angel felt like a blessing rather than a threat.
I stood up, looking around for my phone, and spotted it plugged into the charger on my dresser. The battery icon showed it was fully charged.
God, this guy thinks of everything.
I smiled again, my chest filling with warmth. He was so considerate, so aware of what I needed. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like if I could actually meet him properly, if we could have a normal relationship instead of these secret encounters.
But then I remembered his insistence on staying hidden. What was he so afraid of? What was he hiding?
Maybe he’s married, I thought with a pang of disappointment. Or maybe he’s someone I know and he thinks I wouldn’t approve...
Shaking off those thoughts, I walked to Kira’s room, pushing open the door to find it empty. Her bed hadn’t been slept in.
Where the hell is she?
Worry gnawed at my stomach as I hurried back to my room. I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed her number.
"Liv!" Kira’s voice came through immediately, sounding tired but relieved. "Oh my God, I’ve been so worried! Your phone kept going to voicemail last night until it became completely unreachable. What happened?"
"Wait, you haven’t been home this morning? Where are you?"
"I stayed with Damien all night," she said, and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice. "The engagement party was absolute chaos, Liv. Like, Jerry Springer level drama. I couldn’t leave him there alone."
"Wow... was it that bad?" I asked, wishing I’d been there to experience the whole drama.
"Yes, Liv. It was. But listen, I’m on my way home now. I’m exhausted and I need a long nap."
After we hung up, I headed to the bathroom to clean myself up, my thoughts kept drifting back to my mysterious stranger. The way he’d taken care of me, made sure I got home safely, even thought to charge my phone... It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for me.
God, I’m pathetic, I thought, but I couldn’t stop smiling. And suddenly, I was looking forward to the day we would meet properly. I would give him a long passionate kiss - I’m sure he wouldn’t mind at all.
After freshening up and feeling human again, I made my way to the living room, planning to heat up whatever breakfast he’d made for me. But the moment I stepped into the room, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Eleven large boxes sat in my living room, taking up nearly every inch of available floor space. They were all different sizes, wrapped in black paper with silver ribbons.
What the hell?
I had been looking forward to opening up his package - probably a single box. But this? I hadn’t expected this much boxes at all.
I completely forgot about breakfast as I practically dove toward the boxes, my heart pounding with excitement and disbelief.
The first box I opened contained the most beautiful men’s suits I’d ever seen - perfectly tailored, expensive fabrics, in colors that would complement my skin tone perfectly. There were dress shirts, ties, cufflinks, even perfectly fitted dress shoes that looked like they costed a lot.
The second box was filled with sophisticated disguise supplies, just like the one he’d sent to Maxwell’s office - realistic prosthetics, professional-grade makeup, wigs that looked like real hair with good quality.
The third box made me gasp out loud. Beautiful dresses that looked like they’d been pulled straight from a fashion magazine, in styles that would flatter my figure perfectly. How did he know my size? My style preferences?
Box after box unveiled treasures that had clearly been chosen with care - shoes, handbags, jewelry, perfumes, lingerie that made my cheeks burn...
By the time I’d opened the last box, which contained the most gorgeous set of silk pajamas I’d ever seen, I was crying. Not just tearing up - full-on, ugly-crying.
No one had ever put this much thought into anything for me. The care, the attention to detail, the way he seemed to anticipate my every need... It was overwhelming.
Who are you? I thought desperately. And why are you doing all this for me?
Just as I was wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I heard the sound of a key turning in the front door lock.
Shit! Kira’s home!
Panic shot through me as I looked around at the explosion of luxury goods covering every surface of our living room. How the hell was I going to explain this? What lie could I possibly tell that would make sense?
Maybe I should just tell her part of the truth, I thought frantically. That I have a secret admirer who’s been sending me gifts? But then she’ll want to know everything, and if I tell her about the concert, the karaoke bar, the alley...
No. She would absolutely flip her shit.
The door opened just as I was contemplating whether I could somehow hide eleven large boxes in the next three seconds.
"Liv, I brought coffee and... HOLY SHIT!" Kira stopped dead in the doorway, her mouth falling open as she took in the scene before her.
For a moment, we just stared at each other - me crouched on the floor surrounded by designer clothes and luxury goods like some kind of fashion dragon hoarding treasure, and her looking like she’d walked into an alternate dimension.
"Olivia," she started slowly, setting down the coffee carrier and closing the door behind her, "what in the fresh hell is going on here?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How do you even begin to explain something like this?
"Are you moving out?" she continued, her voice rising with each word. "Because if you’re leaving me to deal with rent on this place alone, I’m going to murder you with my bare hands."