Chapter 3 Unexpected Encounter

CHAPTER THREE

After the meeting, Hayes didn't give her a break. He leaned against his desk, arms crossed.

"Rose. From now on, you'll be in every meeting. Every call. Every deal." Olivia straightened. Every meeting? She tried to keep her voice even. "Sir, I-"

"You're not negotiating. Your job is to ensure that every contract, every document, every file is prepped before I step into a room. I don't walk into meetings empty-handed, and neither will you."

Olivia straightened. "Understood."

He exhaled through his nose. "Good." Then, dismissively, "You can go."

Olivia adjusted the file in her arms as she approached the receptionist's desk. The morning had been chaotic, and her to-do list seemed to grow by the minute.

Dana, the receptionist, barely looked up. "Mr. Hayes wants this organized before noon," she muttered, sliding a folder toward her.

Olivia took it with a nod. "Got it."

Just as she turned to leave, the office doors swung open.

A woman strode in, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She was tall, glamorous, and exuded an air of confidence that seemed to part the office crowd.

She stopped at the desk, tapping her fingers on the surface impatiently. "I'm here to see Hayes.

Dana didn't flinch. "Do you have an appointment?"

The woman's eyes narrowed. "I don't need one. I'm his girlfriend."

Olivia's eyebrows shot up. Girlfriend?

Dana glanced at her screen, unfazed. "I don't see your name on his schedule."

The woman folded her arms. "Give him a call."

Dana sighed but picked up the phone. A moment later, she hung up. "You can go in.Sorry ma'am."

The woman smirked and strutted toward Hayes's office.

Olivia shook her head, gripping the file tighter. She shouldn't be surprised. Hayes never seemed to be the commitment type.

As she turned to head down the hallway, the elevator doors slid open.

A man stepped out.

He was tall, light-skinned, with an effortless posture that made him seem untouchable. His presence filled the space around him, and for a split second, the noise of the office faded into the background.

Olivia's heart skipped. She knew that face. That jawline. The scar near the base of his neck.

It was him.

The guy from last night. The one who had driven her home.

She wasn't sure if it was her nerves or the unexpectedness of it all, but she couldn't help herself.

"Hey," she called out, her voice unsure.

He didn't stop, didn't even acknowledge her, but there was a flicker in his eyes as he glanced her way.

She stepped closer, blocking his path. "Wait-I know you."

He paused for a second, barely. His eyes flicked over her, unreadable. "Do you?"

She crossed her arms, trying to steady her voice. "Yeah. You drove me home last night."

A faint look of recognition, but it quickly vanished. He gave a slight nod. "Right."

Olivia frowned. "That's it? Just 'right'?"

His gaze met hers, indifferent. "What else is there?"

She swallowed, feeling the awkwardness settle in. She had expected something more-an acknowledgment, maybe an apology for his coldness-but all she got was this disinterested version of him.

"Do you work here?" she asked, her tone a little sharper than intended.

He glanced around the office, as if the question didn't quite make sense. "No."

That was all. No explanation. No interest. Just a single word.

Olivia blinked. "Well, okay then."

Silence stretched between them before he checked his watch. "I've gotta go."

And with that, he walked past her, leaving her standing there, more confused than before.

She shook her head and headed to Jasmine's desk, her mind still reeling from the interaction. She dropped the file onto Jasmine's desk with a heavy sigh.

Jasmine looked up, her eyes immediately scanning Olivia's face. "What happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Olivia exhaled sharply. "Not a ghost. Just... a guy."

Jasmine's lips curled into a grin. "A guy? Ooh, sounds intriguing."

Olivia slumped into the chair. "He drove me home last night. I ran into him just now, but he acted like he barely remembered.

Jasmine leaned forward, interested. "Barely remembered? How?"

"I don't know. He seemed like he couldn't care less, like it didn't matter. It was like I was just some random person to him."

Jasmine's eyebrows shot up. "That's cold."

Olivia shook her head. "I didn't expect anything, but still-"

Jasmine's curiosity didn't seem to wane. "So, was he cute?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Jas, that's not the point."

Jasmine gave her a knowing look. "Oh, but it is. You're not going to leave me hanging, are you? Was he cute?"

Olivia hesitated, but the image of him-the sharp jawline, the way his eyes briefly met hers-kept replaying in her mind. "He was... fine."

Jasmine leaned in dramatically, eyes wide. "Fine? Is that code for 'he's so hot, I can't talk about it'?"

Olivia laughed, the tension slowly melting away. "Okay, okay. He's hot. But that's not why it's weird."

Jasmine leaned back, satisfied. "Well, now that's out of the way, let's talk about the weird part. What's his deal?"

Olivia exhaled. "I don't know. He's just... distant."

"Maybe he's shy," Jasmine suggested.

Olivia scoffed. "No. Not shy. Just... cold."

"Hmm," Jasmine mused. "Sounds like someone's playing hard to get."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Right."

Jasmine chuckled. "Yeah, well, you don't get to choose with guys like him. But don't worry, I'll be here for the next chapter."

Olivia gave her a look. "You read too many romance novels."

Jasmine grinned. "Maybe. But it doesn't make me wrong."

Olivia laughed despite herself, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something about her encounter with him was far from over.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I need a break."

snacks? Jasmine asked

"Definitely".

But as she left for lunch, her thoughts drifted back to him. How could someone who looked like that act so indifferent? And why had he barely acknowledged her?

Was he really that detached? Or was there something else going on?

She shoved the thoughts aside. For now, she'd focus on work. But something told her this wasn't the last time she'd be running into Logan.