Heartless Billionaire: The Stolen Smile

It was busy and crowded as a young lady in pointed white high heels made her way out of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Her red luggage which she held in her hand rolled behind her as she pulled it along with her.

Her red dress danced at each step she made, her lips painted with red lipstick as a smile spread through them, and she inhaled the fresh breeze that ran through her face.

Not only that, but her eyes were covered with black sunglasses and her long brown hair bounced at the step she made.

She stopped, halting the luggage along with her, she glanced around the airport and drew a sharp breath.

"It changed." She softly said and adjusted her sunglasses. "I wonder if coming back here is worth it." She said to herself.

"Olivia!" She heard someone scream her name and she turned around in that direction and there she was, in a yellow top and blue Jean trousers, her friend Chloe Jade.

"Chloe!" Olivia screamed out in excitement as she took off her glasses as she abandoned her luggage and ran toward Chloe who ran towards her and they both embraced themselves and began to spin around with joy.

"Oh, Olivia, it's so good to see you after three long years!" Chloe said as she pulled her into a tight embrace again.

"I missed you so much, Chloe!" Olivia broke down in tears. "I thought I was going to die while missing you." She sobbed.

"Me too, it felt like I was missing a rib." Chloe began to sob too.

"You both never cease to amaze me, you still act like this." A deep voice said behind Chloe, recognizing the voice, Olivia quickly raised her head and her eyes dilated as she pulled out of the embrace.

"Lawrence?" Olivia mouthed as her face turned pink to the young, handsome man who was standing right next to them.

'He has not changed a bit' Olivia thought in her head as she stared at Lawrence.

Yes, he became more handsome, but he was still the same, the same as she had seen him the first time she laid eyes on him.

His looks had been one of the reasons she fell in love with him, his smiles had added to the second reason, and his smart brain, who wouldn't fall in love with him?

"Hey Ollie," He called her by the pet name he only calls her. "Welcome back to Seattle." He said in his intoxicating voice, and Olivia's lips parted.

'His voice is still as charming as ever.' She thought in her head as she stared at him.

"Thank you, Lawrence." Her lips parted in a smile, he was her best friend, and she had a crush on him.

Chloe turned to Lawrence. "I thought you were going to wait behind and show up like a surprise to her as we planned." She said, since they had planned to surprise Olivia.

She had not notified Olivia that Lawrence would be coming along with her to welcome her.

"I couldn't stay back, more especially after I remembered how you both usually cry and act stupid whenever you meet," He glanced at Olivia. "And I was right to show up, you were both crying and causing a scene." He pointed from Chloe to Olivia, who was still standing there and blankly staring at Lawrence.

"What do you expect, when it's been three years since I set my eyes on her." Chloe jutted her chin and then turned to Olivia, but she paused her lips when she saw Olivia ogling at him.

She smiled, since she knew Olivia had had a crush on Lawrence since high school.

"Olivia," Lawrence called out, pulling her out of her thoughts as he looked at her. "You are all dolled up," He pointed at her outfit.

Olivia quickly tucked her hair behind her ear and adjusted her dress. "Isn't it pretty?" She asked, raising her brows curiously as she waited for his remark, glad that she had dolled up like this, who knew Lawrence would show up here?

His forehead furrowed as he glanced at her dress that stopped right above her knees. "You shouldn't wear short dresses like this, you would only get yourself cold or attract guys who are lustful to yourself." He told her.

Olivia closed her eyes momentarily. 'He is still the same as I knew him.' She thought to herself.

"Come on Lawrence, this dress is beautiful, and it suits her perfectly, you look so lovely, Olivia." Chloe flashed her a smile.

"Thanks for the compliments, Chloe." Olivia smiled back.

Lawrence scoffed. "You even paint your lips now." Lawrence raised the corner of his lips as he gazed at Olivia's lips.

"I think I am the right age to dress up the way I like and paint my lips as I wish!" Olivia was infuriated now as she raised her voice and Lawrence was taken aback and so was Chloe.

Chloe blinked, and then she smiled as she glanced at Lawrence. "See, Olivia isn't that girl you once knew and scolded." She said with a chuckle.

Lawrence exhaled sharply as he shook his head. "What can I say? She became more stupid and stubborn." He brushed past her and walked over to her luggage, and he grabbed it.

"Oh, come on, Lawrence, that's not a way to welcome her, you are being so harsh again!" Chloe gritted her teeth as she frowned.

"Let's go, rather than talk about how dolled up and stupid you have become, your parents are waiting," Lawrence said and walked ahead of them as Olivia watched his back with a shattered heart.

"Aish! What is wrong with him all of a sudden?" Chloe said as she gazed at Lawrence with a frown.

She turned to Olivia. "Don't pay much attention to him, he acts up sometimes, let's go," Chloe said and linked arms with Olivia.

"You have to tell me all about your stay in Hawaii and the men there," Chloe told her with a smile and thrills.

"Sure, I will fill you in, and you have to fill me in on everything that has happened here too," Olivia told her as they walked behind Lawrence.

"Leave that to me, I downloaded them all into my memories and would share them all." They both chuckled as they headed out of the airport and towards the car Lawrence had brought.

Lawrence pulled over at Olivia's family apartment parking lot, and he turned to the two girls who had been talking nonstop in the back seat.

"We are here." He announced to them and stepped out of the car, they both got down and Olivia glanced at her family house.

She had grown up in this building since she opened her eyes as a baby, they had not moved, and it had been a happy place for her and her family.

Not until she went to further her education in Hawaii, but something about the place changed.

Lawrence took out her luggage from the boot and walked over to her. "Would you stare at it all day like you haven't lived here for many years?" He questioned her when he saw her staring.

Olivia turned to him and exhaled softly. "Perhaps it's because it's been three years since I saw the building." She softly said.

"What are you talking about?" Lawrence shook his head at her like she was stupid and walked ahead of her, heading inside the building.

"Come on, Olivia," Chloe told her and linked arms with her as she pulled her towards the apartment.

"Olivia!" A young woman in her late thirties called out as she saw her daughter come in, and Olivia's face lit up.

"Mom!" Olivia beamed as she rushed into her mother's open arms, and Juliet embraced her daughter with a smile filled on her face.

"How was your trip?" Her mother asked, pulling her at arm's length.

"It was fun, I was too excited on my trip back here, couldn't wait to see you again." Olivia grinned.

"You look so great." Juliet scrutinized her daughter and then cupped her cheek. "You turned into one hell of a pretty lady, if you weren't my daughter, I wouldn't have recognized you." She complimented her and Olivia blushed.

"Mrs. Juliet, aren't you overreacting?" Lawrence chipped in and they both turned to look at him. "She didn't change at all, she still looks the same." He added, pointing at her.

"She did change," Chloe voiced out. "Can't you see her hair that was kinky then had become all straight up and so soft and her entire image changed," Chloe said, pointing from Eugenia's hair down to her body.

"She became curvy too, Olivia, you looked like you did some butt surgery, your hips, and butt look bigger..." Her mother added as she glanced down at her daughter's waist.

"Mom!" Olivia felt embarrassed now as she glanced from Lawrence, who was currently staring at her waist, to her mother. "I did no surgery!" She added, and her face turned pink as she quickly glanced around the room.

"I don't see dad." She quickly asked them to shift their thoughts from her, and it worked.

"Oh, he should be in his room," Juliet said softly as she turned around and called out. "Honey!" She shouted. "Come greet your daughter, she is here!"

Olivia glanced at Lawrence, who looked away from her and touched the corner of his hair, and she pressed her lips together.

"I'm coming, honey!" He called out from inside.

"Take a seat," Juliet told them, and they all sat down, she sat next to her daughter.

"Thank you, Lawrence and Chloe, for bringing her here," Juliet spoke up, and they nodded.

"We couldn't wait to see her," Chloe said with a smile. "I feel like a part missing in me is back." She added, and they all chortled.

"Ollie baby!" A deep voice clamored out as Olivia saw her dad and got to her feet and rushed over, she embraced him.

"Dad." She grinned with smiles on her face and then leaned back and glanced at his face as the smiles on her face gently disappeared.

"Dad, you have become thinner than when I last saw you." She didn't think twice to say it out, and He glanced at his wife who gently lowered her gaze, and he forced a smile as he looked at his daughter.

"I also said it when I saw him." Chloe agreed with Olivia since she usually comes around to help Olivia's mother.

"I am okay, just been dieting lately to look healthy." He lied.

Olivia felt something was wrong, but she brushed it off even when she saw her father's expression look pale, and it seemed he was stressed out a lot.

"Okay, but you still look healthy to me either way." She said to him and flashed a smile. "It's good to see you, dad." She grinned.

"I will go set the table, I am sure you all must be hungry," Juliet said, getting up. "Go change into comfortable clothes, Olivia, your room is still the same." She added and walked over to the kitchen.

"I will go help her in the kitchen," Chloe said, and went to the kitchen with Mrs. Juliet.

Olivia smiled and made her way to get her luggage, but Lawrence grabbed it.

"I will send it into your room for you." He informed her and took it in with him, and Olivia turned to her dad.

"I will change now, dad." She informed him, and he nodded, and she went into the room behind Lawrence.

He placed her luggage beside her bed and glanced around her room.

"It hasn't changed much," Lawrence said softly and Olivia glanced around her room, he was right, it was still small but neat.

He had been in this room before, they usually studied here with Chloe, since they rationed studying at each other's homes.

She could think back to the day Chloe didn't turn up since she went on a trip with her mom, she had stayed alone here with Lawrence.

It was the first night she attempted to kiss him while he dozed off, he still didn't know, but she had brushed her lips against his that night.

Olivia gently smiled since she had acted perverted, she often wondered if he would have loved her back if he knew about the kiss that day, but she feared letting him know since they may never become friends.

"You should change and come out." Lawrence, who had stared at her for a while and saw her in a daze, said out loud.

His words pulled her out of her thoughts, and she pressed her lips together and nodded.

"I will be with your father." He said and turned to leave, but Olivia quickly grabbed hold of his arm and he stopped.

He gently stared at her hand on his arm, then he raised his eyes to look at her.

"What is it?" He questioned. "Do you also want me to take your dress off you?" He asked, and Olivia's face quickly turned pink.

She left his arms quickly. "No." She quickly said and covered her chest with her arms.

Lawrence didn't sound like the person she knew three years ago, he was suddenly open-minded and straightforward.

She lowered her gaze, and Lawrence glanced down at her and exhaled sharply.

"Then what?" He questioned and Olivia lifted her eyes.

She was silent for a while, trying to pull herself together, as his words from earlier had clouded her mind.

"Why didn't you tell me you were back in Seattle?" She asked him, the last time she spoke with him, he had told her he was in Los Angeles.

Lawrence touched the corner of his lips. "I didn't see the need to tell you that." He said coldly.

Olivia studied his expressionless face. "Aren't you being too harsh on me lately, Lawrence?" She questioned.

She considered him her best friend, but most times he treats her like she was unimportant.

"You didn't tell me you were leaving Seattle three years ago." He clenched his jaw.

"I had to leave in a hurry," Olivia said, her eyebrows gently creased.

"Do you know how I felt when I had to hear it from Chloe, do you know how it hurt me that you left like that before I even had a chance to say goodbye to you?" He blurted out and Olivia was taken aback.

Honestly, she had wanted to contact him and inform him that she was leaving, but she didn't since she wanted to stop the crush she had on him.

It always felt one-sided, ever since high school, she had loved only him, it had hurt her that he wouldn't look at her, so she wanted to drop all the feelings she had for him right here.

Now she was back, and her feelings didn't change, she is still in love with him, and she may never stop, but right now, his words had stirred her heart again.

'Could it be him also...?' She thought in her head, searching his eyes.

"You know what?" Lawrence quickly said, running his hand through his hair.

"Just forget it, I am here now, that is all that matters, hurry and come out." He said and walked out of the room and shut the door.

Olivia just stared at the door blankly for a while before exhaling sharply and turning around to change into something comfortable.

***

Lawrence and Chloe thanked Mr. and Mrs. Parker for the meal as they bid them goodbye.

"I will walk them to the car," Olivia told her parents, and they nodded and Olivia linked arms with Chloe as they walked towards Lawrence's car.

"I will be here tomorrow to see you, Olivia," Chloe told her as they got to the car.

"I was thinking of coming over to your apartment, I should come to see your parents and greet them too," Olivia suggested.

"Okay, that is a great idea, I will come here then we can both go over to my family's house," Chloe said with a smile.

"Thereafter, we can go have fun since so much has changed since you have been away, I should show you numerous nice places." Chloe became excited about the idea of hanging out with Olivia.

"Great." Olivia paused her lips and turned her eyes to Lawrence, who was standing next to the driver's side of the car.

"Hang out with us tomorrow." She invited him, and he gazed at her for a while, her heart filled with expectation.

Lawrence exhaled sharply and looked away from her pale blue eyes. "I have an appointment, so I can't go with you." He told her.

The smile on Olivia's face disappeared as she lowered her eyes, she wasn't sure if things would be the same with Lawrence.

But, now she was back, she would try her best to muster up the courage to tell him about her feelings.

"Okay." She said softly with a heavy heart.

"Chloe, I will drop you off at home, so, say your goodbye to her and get into the car, you will still see her tomorrow so don't make it long." He said, and got into the car without sparing Olivia a glance.

"Aish!" Olivia gnashed her teeth. "He always gets on my nerves." She glanced at the car with a frown.

Then she turned to Olivia and flashed a smile. "Olivia, I don't feel like parting ways now." She pouts.

"Me too." Olivia pushed her lower lips out as her eyelids drooped. "Can't you spend the night here?" She asked.

"I wish I could, but my mom needs me home today," Chloe said, and Olivia pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay, I will see you tomorrow then." She said softly and Chloe nodded.

"I will be here as early as I can. "Good night," Chloe said and waved at her. "I love you." She added, and Olivia blushed.

"I love you too," Olivia called out and waved to Chloe as she turned around the car and got into the passenger seat.

Lawrence winds down his window glass. "Go in, it's freezing outside, you shouldn't risk catching a cold." He told her, and Olivia froze up again as she stared at his face.

Lawrence pressed his lips together and started the car, winding the glass up again, he drove off and Olivia felt her heart thump inside of her chest.

"Does he care now?" She said softly to herself as she watched the car slowly disappear from her sight.

"I should probably tell her." Mr. Parker said as he glanced at Olivia from the window where he stood.

"She just came back today." Juliet voiced out, and Mr. Parker turned to her.

"She would still find out one way or the other." The color drained off the face of Mr. Parker as he gazed at his wife.

Juliet raised her eyes to suppress the tears that filled her eyes. "I won't get that smile out of her face today," She said firmly. "We won't tell her today, so put a smile on that face." She told him and the front door was pushed open and Olivia walked into the apartment.

She felt the tension in the room and glanced at her father and mother. "Is there something wrong?" She questioned.

They both turned around and looked at her. "No, did you send your friends back safely?" Juliet asked as she took Olivia's hands.

"Yes." Olivia glanced from her mother to her father, and he quickly forced a smile.

"You should go rest now, I will be inside." Mr. Parker said and walked into the room, and Juliet drew a sharp breath.

"Is daddy okay, I noticed something is off about him?" Olivia questioned her mom with raised brows.

"He is stressed lately, nothing to worry about, go in and have some rest," Juliet told her as she pulled Olivia toward her room.

"Okay mom," Olivia smiled and pulled her mother into her embrace. "I am glad to see you both again." She grinned.

"Me too," Juliet patted her back. "Now go in and rest." She told her and pulled from the embrace.

"Alright, goodnight mom." Olivia flashed her a smile and went into her room, and Juliet drew a sharp sigh as years rolled down her cheek.

"I am sorry, Olivia." She said softly and wiped her tears before walking away.