Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows Chapter 6: The Dance Part II, a guiding light fanfic

Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kimberly21570

Fandom: Guiding Light

Pairing: Olivia and Natalia

Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia and Rafe Rivera, Josh Lewis and Matt Reardon are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.

The dialogue, props, etc. in these scenes are original, with the exception of the conversation between Olivia and Natalia outside Company after Olivia got Natalia's money back from Decker.

In my alternate version of Springfield, Jeffrey McRapist was not completely redeemed. Don't even get me started on how I feel about that heinous plot contrivance. I can understand Olivia's need to forgive him for the past – forgiveness is for the forgiver, not the forgiven; and while it's difficult, given the anguish she faced when her memories came flooding back, I can deal with her trying to be friendly with him for Ava's sake; but the idea that she actually married him? Puhleease! Takes me back to the early days of Luke and Laura … What a horrific message to send to young girls who have been the victim of rape: Marry your rapist and live happily ever after … The counselor in me cringes at the very notion. And what makes me cringe even more is that the Guiding Light writers actually had Olivia take partial blame for what happened! Rule number one in counseling victims of rape and abuse: NEVER BLAME THE VICTIM! What a heinous disservice they have done for the countless women courageous in this world who have suffered such atrocities!

But, I digress … and I apologize for the rant. Silence is fleeting, when it comes to the subjects that ignite passion within me …

Anyway, I'll stick with cannon as far as the marriage is concerned, even though I hate it, because her relationship with him is part of what brought her to the place where she was ready to love Natalia – I believe the terminal emptiness of her marriage to Jeffrey, contrasted with the passion Natalia ignited within her, even when they were enemies, brought life and vitality to Olivia, and when they fell in love, she embraced it with her entire being, because she recognized the love and passion for the truly immeasurable gifts that they are …

Beyond that, McRapist served his purpose as Ava's sperm donor, and as a plot contrivance to keep Olivia from revealing her feelings for Natalia earlier in the storyline, but that is the extent of his existence, and thus, he is not married to Reva. She is with Josh, where she belongs; and though they are not married, because in all honesty, they seem to do better without the rings and paper, Josh lives at Cross Creek, not the Beacon. I realize that I inadvertently characterized her as Reva O'Neil in a previous chapter, and have thus gone back to rectify my error. I have no idea where Matt lives; and honestly, I don't care. I just needed another male character for one of the scenes he will appear in during section 3 of chapter 6, and he was the logical choice, given the particulars of the scene.

Rating: Chapter 6 is rated R for sexual situations, strong innuendo and language; but subsequent chapters will eventually reach NC-17.

Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

"We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them."

Cato the Elder

"Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell."

Shana Alexander

Chapter 6.2 – The Dance:

Just as they had anticipated, their entrance into the Beacon lobby was met with the familiar cadence of unbridled energy; both in terms of physical activity, and the ever-present undercurrent of titillating gossip. Staff members scurried about, expertly handling the requests of early-rising guests; always in accordance with Beacon protocol, and the meticulous demands of their boss – all the while exchanging whispers and snickers, as they stole furtive glances at the hotelier and her executive assistant.

The low hum of their incessant tittle-tattle was something to which Natalia had grudgingly become accustomed; though, she was never one to participate, even before she had accepted the position as Olivia's executive assistant. She had patiently tolerated the prattling in the presence of its participants; often defending the innocent, when she knew a rumor to be fallacious; while never judging the contributors for their actions. And later, in her quiet moments with God, she would pray that the participants might be delivered from their unwitting transgressions. That's who Natalia was: a woman who was grounded enough in her faith to truly care about the spiritual well-being of others – a woman who realized that the key to winning them over to Christ lay in the ability to love and accept them for who they were; not who she thought they should be. Love them where they are, and God will take care of the rest; that was her philosophy – after all, that was how Christ lived, and she had long ago purposed to live her life in His image.

It was the quintessence of that very philosophy which had propelled her down the long and winding path that ultimately led her into the arms of the love of her life – Olivia Spencer. And it was the essence of that same philosophy which she knew in her heart would ultimately bring Olivia into her own place of faith …

When she realized that accepting the executive assistant position had inadvertently transformed her into the unsuspecting target of their ubiquitous scuttlebutt, she was, at first, disconcerted; especially given her internal unrest regarding the confusing feelings that had been burgeoning within her for the beautiful hotelier with the sweltering jade eyes. It had been difficult enough during those days, knowing those unsettling feelings existed within her, and she desperately attempted to eradicate them – to no avail; but then to have the staff members buzzing like worker bees in a hive, pollinating their unsubstantiated assertions with whispers, snickers and stolen glances, made things decidedly worse. She knew Olivia was aware of their incessant prattling – Somehow, she seemed to know everything; and yet the hotelier had remained silent about the rumors; almost eerily so. And now, months later, Natalia finally understood why: Protesting the rumors would only prove to emblazon them; making them all the more titillating for the Beacon Gossip Squad. The less attention she paid to the rumors, the more likely they would blow over, causing experienced gamblers to double down against the likelihood of a relationship between the two of them, and in the end, the odds would sway in her favor.

The resident Queen Bee, so to speak, was a woman named Betsy Stephens; the assistant manager of Watershed – the Beacon's exclusive restaurant and bar. She was a robust woman of average height, with blondish-brown hair that, in Olivia's estimation, was far too long, given the woman's advanced age, and pale blue-gray eyes; almost the color of the sky at the onset of a summer rainstorm. She was the overly emotional type; wearing her heart on her sleeve, and being easily moved to tears; even at the most ridiculous of notions. And yet, despite the fact that her emotions were all too often on display, she was also known for being secretive, and rather shifty. She was the kind of woman who would greet a person with a smile and a hug, while simultaneously stabbing them in the back with their own knife. As such, Natalia had learned to be personable, yet guarded with the woman.

Aside from her personal oddities, Betsy's management style also left much to be desired; and having realized long ago that the Peter Principle – a business principle which purports that, in a hierarchy, an employee tends to rise to his/her level of incompetence - was in play, Olivia frequently inwardly cursed Cassie for promoting the woman during her illness-induced absence; and she was thankful that retirement age was quickly approaching for the inept manager.

While it was true that the majority of the Beacon employees indulged in the rumor mill on an almost daily basis, some were certainly more active than others. The busiest bees in the Queen's hive were Nancy Butler, whose tenure in the laundry department had commenced long before Olivia purchased the Beacon; Diane Martin and Jackie Hanson, who worked as the head bartender and head server, respectively, at Watershed; and, of course, Greg Parker, their banquet manager.

Diane was a woman in her late-forties, slightly overweight for her average height, with wavy shoulder-length, blondish hair, and light green eyes. She had been married to her high school sweetheart for nearly thirty years, and was the mother of four children; three of whom were grown and married, with the fourth being a junior in high school; as well as a grandmother of two. She prided herself on having been active in her children's lives; always knowing where they were and with whom, and even going so far as to always volunteer to be room mother and scout leader, while also attending every sporting event, and every academic achievement banquet, as well as every PTA meeting and parent-teacher conference ever scheduled. In short, she was every teenager's worst nightmare.

She was equally active in the goings-on at the Beacon; and especially at Watershed. She knew everyone's business, and wasn't the least bit shy about offering her unsolicited advice, or sharing little tidbits of gossip with anyone who would listen. So meddlesome was she, in fact, that most regarded her as an intrusive busybody. She simply regarded herself as a good mother and a concerned member of the Beacon staff.

The scuttlebutt Diane had managed to raise regarding the nature of Olivia's relationship with her executive assistant had reached such epic proportions that Olivia herself had become impressed with the salacious content of the rumors. Oh, the hotelier could only hope that one day they might prove true. Beyond that, Diane had worked herself up from an entry level server position to head bartender during her tenure at the Beacon; and while she may have been a chattering busybody, she could also mix a vodka martini to such perfection that it could literally bring Olivia to tears. And thus, the hotelier regarded her with judicious consideration, and made allowances, where she might otherwise have been prone to engaging in a tirade.

Jackie, also in her late-forties, was a tall, gangly woman with short blondish hair, and clear blue eyes, that seemed to dull against her pasty complexion. She, too, had been married for the better part of thirty years, and was the mother of three grown children; grandmother of two. She and Diane had been the best of friends for more than half their lives; having lived near one another for years, and raised their children together. And while she also prided herself on being a good mother, Jackie was far less involved in her children's lives than Diane; instead, choosing to focus the majority of her energy on sticking her nose into the personal business of every other employee on the Beacon payroll. After all – Jackie considered herself somewhat of an artist when it came to rumors, and the members of the Beacon staff provided such a rich palate for the creation of rumors, what with all the variant textures and variegated hues of their personal lives. If there was a rumor to be heard, she'd heard it. If there was tale to be told, she told it. And if there was nothing juicy churning in the rumor mill, she made something up, and served it up as truth; along with the daily lunch special at Watershed – Just her little contribution to Springfield culture.

Nancy was the self-appointed ruler of the laundry area; despite the fact that she was neither supervisor, nor manager. She was a prim-and-proper English woman, in her mid-fifties, who hailed from the North Oxfordshire village of Hook Norton, in Southeast England; replete with a thick regional accent, which belied her nearly 40-year hiatus from the village of her youth. Her English accent reminded Olivia of that voiceover on Sesame Street, announcing: "Nancy the Nanny goat likes to nibble on her nails …" and she could literally hear it in her head every time she encountered the woman. She knew she should feel badly about the comparison, but she could barely restrain herself while interacting with the woman, and just couldn't help but laugh as she walked away.

The woman was short in stature, with a tiny frame, to match; straight, shoulder-length, black hair that was obviously colored to hide the underlying gray, and her features were marked by squinty coal-black eyes, a sharp nose and pointed chin; giving her the appearance of a witch, without need of either a mask or wig. She pranced about with her nose upturned, never smiling; her lips being constantly pursed, as if she were perpetually sucking on an invisible lemon. She was critical of others, regardless of their work ethic or positive contributions to the workplace, and was often the creator of tall tales; and as such, others regarded her with understandable caution.

The only things Natalia knew of the woman's personal life were that shortly after their marriage, she had moved to the States with her husband, a U.S. Air Force pilot, whom she had met while he was stationed in England; and that she had lost him to cancer many years prior. She had lived a solitary existence since his death; never having had children of her own, or any family in the States; and Natalia often wondered why the woman had chosen to remain in Springfield, given her circumstances. In her wisdom, Natalia secretly suspected that the woman's critical nature was a defense mechanism; constructed in an effort to hide her deep sense of loneliness. And despite the fact that she had become the target of this woman's salacious nattering – or perhaps more accurately because of it, Natalia had purposed to show the woman kindness, and always included her, along with the others, whenever she prayed.

And Greg, the banquet manager, was their resident gay boy; tall and lanky, with dark brown hair, hazelnut eyes, and a satirical smile, that hinted at the devilishness that lay beneath the surface. He chattered incessantly about things which were clearly none of his concern, and he was often found stirring the mix in the center of the rumor mill. But his effervescent personality, keen eye for detail, and sharp flair for design made him perfect for his position as banquet manager. There was never a banquet room decorated, nor a table set, that didn't surpass Olivia's exceedingly high expectations; and the wait staff was always dressed and groomed to perfection. Greg also had a flare for the dramatic, and the most intriguing shoe fetish; both of which somehow managed to endear him to Olivia; though that certainly didn't deter her from ripping him a new asshole when he fucked something up; and sometimes even when he didn't. And regardless of her occasional hard-ass demeanor, he in turn regarded her highly; both for her strength and tenacity as a manager, and for her exquisite taste in shoes. He was loyal to her, and would have willingly done anything to acquire and retain the favor of the oft-temperamental hotelier. It was that sense of loyalty that Olivia found most useful when it came to remaining at the forefront of the scuttlebutt at the Beacon, as Greg had proven, time and again, to be a fruitful source of useful information, as well as a trustworthy ally in disseminating whatever information she wished to launch under the radar.

Natalia learned, early on, that the unwritten tenets of gossip transcended the confines of the managerial hierarchy; thus explaining the disturbingly enmeshed relationships between Diane, Jackie and their supervisor, Betsy. They fed off of one another, and when there was dissention in the ranks, Betsy was cunning enough to play them against one another. And ultimately, between the three of them, with the astute assistance from Nancy and Greg, and the occasional interjection from other staff members, they managed to keep the rumor mill turning with expertise that far exceeded their individual aptitudes; thus, reinforcing the Gestalt philosophy of "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

It was into this savage atmosphere they entered, as they swept through the gold-trimmed revolving door of the main lobby; heels clicking against the striking charcoal-marbled floors, as they readily discussed the details of their respective schedules for the day.

The bustle in the lobby quelled momentarily, as staff members and guests alike, stopped to witness their arrival. It was like watching not one, but two, veritable powerhouses ascending upon a target; each step, deliberate; every word, defining. And even as they watched, there were, of course, a few clandestine whispers …

"They were both gone the last two days – ya know …" Diane said; a pointed smirk on her lips, as she eyed them up and down.

"Yeah, I know, and they showed up together this morning …" Jackie replied clandestinely; shifting her eyes for a furtive glance.

"Well, they live together, you know," Betsy informed; the tone of her voice sounding as though she were tattling on five-year-olds who had refused to play with her at recess, "in some farmhouse out side of town …" she added; raising an eyebrow as if to say So you know that can only mean one thing …

"And they dallied out in that car forever this morning …" Greg reported; sounding like an anchor on the ten o'clock news. "They fogged up the fucking windows!"

"Mmm-hmm …" the four of them mumbled in unison; sealing their tacit speculations as truth.

But then, the energy level rose again, as everyone returned to the business at hand. And while admittedly, Natalia had, in the beginning, found the acerbic bite of the rumor mill to be disconcerting, now, it just made her smile; knowing that despite the incessant prattling of the staff, for now, only she and Olivia knew the real truth – that their destiny had long ago been determined by the Keeper of the Stars …

Stopping just a few feet from the front desk, they exchanged last-minute details.

"So, I'll check in with Rosalie to make sure everything is running smoothly down in housekeeping, and then meet you in your office for the 9:30 with Josh and Matt," Natalia announced, standing straight-postured, shoulders back; her voice strong and professional, as she took the initiative with regard to their early-morning schedule.

"Sounds good," Olivia readily agreed; regarding Natalia with deliberate professionalism in front of their employees. "You said the Emerson contracts are on my desk?" she recalled.

"Yes," Natalia confirmed, with an affirmative nod of her head. "Bottom file on the left-hand side, between your inbox and your pencil cup. I didn't … put it in your inbox, because I didn't want it to get mixed up with the spreadsheets I ran before we left on Friday, and …" she rambled; her rate of speech increasing with every breath, as her hands punctuated the words.

The remainder of what Natalia was saying was lost on Olivia, as that enchanting smile played at the corners of her mouth. My God, you're adorable when you do that … she thought; knowing how amusing she found the hastening clip of the Latina's speech when she wandered off on a verbal tangent.

"Why, exactly, do you have so many pencils?" Natalia asked, arching an eyebrow, as she interrupted Olivia's thoughts. "You never Use them …"

"Hey, don't hate on the pencils – M'kay?" Olivia replied; holding her hand up in protest, attitude in her voice that Natalia knew was designed for the staff. But she saw the teasing glint in those flashing jade eyes.

Natalia cast the hotelier a knowing glance, then turned her attention to the front desk staff.

Jennifer Morgan was a tall, willowy blonde in her early-thirties, with sparkling blue eyes and an effervescent smile, who had worked for the Beacon for the past ten years; supporting her two young children, as she earned her Bachelors degree, and worked toward her MBA. It had been a long, difficult road, and her education had come at a high price – time with her children. But now that she had accomplished her goal, she had been promoted to the management staff, and things were looking up for her and her family. Her joyful spirit made her a perfect fit for the customer-intensive front desk area of the Beacon, and she handled her duties and interactions with both customers and staff with effortless grace.

Jennifer's counterpart, Tracy Jackson, was a slender young woman of average height, with wavy, shoulder-length brunette hair, rich chocolate eyes, and an engaging smile, with a personality to match; who had worked at the Beacon since her graduation from high school six years prior. She was working her way through college at Springfield University, majoring in Business Administration/Management, and had her heart set on one day joining her supervisor, Jennifer, as a member of the management team at the Beacon. And beyond that, who knew, because Tracy was the industrious type – focused, and driven to succeed at whatever she set out to do. In many ways, she reminded Olivia of a younger version of herself, and as such, she had taken the assiduous young woman under her wing; much like she had Natalia.

Jennifer and Tracy had become friends early-on, as they started working closely together, and not long after, the rumor mill began to churn – It seemed nearly everyone on the Beacon staff noticed the spark between this unlikely pair; and being the gossip-mongers they were, they couldn't resist prattling on about their observations and associated assumptions. To their credit, the women ignored the chatter; choosing instead to mind their own business, and focus on their responsibilities, both at work and in their personal lives. Natalia admired them for their resolve, and had forged a strong working relationship with each woman in her own right, since taking over supervision of what Olivia deemed "the lower level staff."

"Good morning, Jennifer; good morning, Tracy," Natalia said cheerily; flashing those dimples as she greeted the two women who operated the front desk on the weekdays. "Have Mr. Lewis and Mr. Reardon arrived yet?" she inquired.

"No, Ms. Rivera," Jennifer replied politely; her striking blue eyes glistening as she smiled at her boss and straightened a stack of brochures; placing them back on the counter. "When do you expect them?"

Natalia glanced at her watch; noting that it was 8:45 a.m. "Our meeting is scheduled for 9:30; but Mr. Lewis is characteristically early, so I would anticipate their arrival any minute," she informed. "I have to run down to housekeeping for a moment, and Ms. Spencer has details to attend to in her office prior to our meeting, so if you would, please text me when they arrive," she directed; tapping her hand lightly on the counter.

"Sure thing, Ms. Rivera," Tracy replied, with a confirmatory nod of her head.

"Thank you," Natalia said appreciatively. Then, anticipating Olivia's needs, Natalia turned to her. "I'll meet them in the lobby, and buzz you on our way up," she announced.

"Thank you, Natalia," Olivia said directly; nodding her head; pride in her assistant's growing willingness to be assertive and to delegate authority, flickering in her eyes. "I'll see you in my office shortly …"

Then, regarding one another with a brief glance; they parted ways, as they went about their early-morning tasks.

When Natalia accepted Olivia's offer to become her executive assistant, the hotelier immediately charged her with three areas of responsibility other than the customary duties of her position: Assume the role of manager over the lower-level staff, including the housekeeping department, because she was familiar with the protocols, and meticulous about carrying them out; assume direct responsibility for management of the Concierge's, because for some completely ridiculous reason, at least in Olivia's estimation, the man was terrified of the hotelier; and show assertiveness by developing the ability to delegate authority when appropriate.

It was with that third directive in mind, that Natalia made the decision to promote Rosalie Lombardi to the position of head housekeeper.

Rosalie was a short, stout Italian woman in her mid-sixties, with soft mocha eyes, and slightly graying hair who, due to a childhood accident which severely injured her back, rendering her left leg shorter than her right, tilted slightly to the left as she ambled along; her shoes always squeaking, even on the plush carpeting that covered the Beacon floors. She had been born in the quaint fishing village of Porto Ercola, on the southern coast of Tuscany; and later immigrated to the States with her parents and younger sister, Isabella. Arriving in New York at the age of twelve, Rosalie spent her teenage years living in Brooklyn; where she eventually met her husband, Cristiano, while he was stationed at nearby Fort Hamilton.

Sadly, their life together had ended abruptly, when Cris had been killed during his second tour in Vietnam; leaving her with two little girls to raise; virtually on her own. A few years later, after the untimely death of her parents in a car accident, at the prodding of her sister, she had moved with her girls to Springfield, to be near her only remaining family.

Much like Natalia, Rosalie was deeply grounded in her Catholic faith; having attributed her ability to survive such devastating loss, to God's infinite grace. And despite her losses, she laughed easily and often, and always had a kind word to say, or a smile to share, with anyone who crossed her path. She never indulged in the endless tittle-tattle of her co-workers; instead, choosing to form her own opinions of people, based upon her personal interactions with them – and as such, she had been blessed with many strong and lasting friendships throughout her years at the Beacon.

Though her diction was clear when she spoke English, Rosalie still carried her Italian accent, and Natalia enjoyed listening to her speak because it reminded her of her Abuela – not the accent in and of itself; but rather, the amalgam of English spoken with a foreign inflection. It was Rosalie's effervescent personality, coupled with the subtle reminder of her Abuela, which drew Natalia to her, when she first joined the housekeeping staff at the Beacon. And later, it was their shared faith which formed the foundation of their friendship, as they talked often of their faith and values. And while Rosalie had worked for the Beacon since its inception, she hadn't even flinched when Natalia, who had only worked there for a short while, had become her manager; and even insisted upon addressing Natalia as "Ms. Rivera" while in the presence of other employees, despite Natalia's vehement protests against such a notion.

Natalia smiled as she rounded the corner, entering the double doors that led to the housekeeping department, where she knew she would find Rosalie busily sorting through supplies; ensuring the staff was well-prepared for their morning rounds.

"Good morning, Rosalie," Natalia said cheerfully; greeting the older woman with a dimpled smile.

"Ahh … good morning, Ms. Rivera," Rosalie smiled; greeting her boss warmly, as she looked up from the shelf she had been organizing. "I take it the roads are in better shape this morning?"

"I think they were actually passable yesterday, but Emma was still off of school, so we spent an extra day at home with her," Natalia explained. "You know how it is when it comes to school busses – They don't wanna take any chances with the kiddos …"

"Right, you are," Rosalie replied; smiling warmly at her. "So … You and Ms. Spencer have certainly come a long way …" she recognized; having picked up on the subtle hints in Natalia's explanation. Her tone was soft, with no hint of accusation or curiosity, as she spoke; bringing with it a sense of peace.

Natalia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the hotelier, and she smiled at her friend. Had the comment come from anyone else at the Beacon, she would have assumed they were on a fishing expedition; but with Rosalie, she knew there was no cause for concern. "Yes, we have …" she quietly acknowledged; a softly reflective expression in her eyes.

The wisdom of Rosalie's years allowed her to easily recognize the subtle stirrings of burgeoning love; and both the hotelier and the Latina had been exhibiting symptoms for quite a long while. It would only be a matter of time, she had been certain, before the two of them would realize what a gift they had been given – and by the added sparkle in Natalia's eyes that morning, Rosalie had accurately surmised that their time had indeed come. "Well, I think that's lovely, Dear," she declared; patting Natalia lightly on the shoulder, as she passed by, heading toward the desk in the corner of the room. "She seems much happier these days …" she observed, a knowing smile on her lips, as she took a seat at the desk, and began reviewing floor assignments for the day.

Natalia smiled to herself, knowing Rosalie was correct in her observation. "I think she is …" she said quietly; turning toward the older woman.

"Then your prayers must be working …" Rosalie said knowingly; despite the fact that Natalia had never divulged the details of her prayer life.

"How did you know I …" Natalia began to ask; a mixture of curiosity and surprise in her expression.

"First of all, because I know you …" Rosalie answered softly, before Natalia even finished her question. "And secondly, because I pray for her too, Dear … I have for years …" she shared. "It's just always seemed like she could use someone on her side – even if she didn't know they were there …"

Natalia didn't say a word; but rather, just looked at the older woman in wonderment. She was such an astute woman; always seeming to instinctively know far more than what she was told, and Natalia admired that about her. And as Natalia considered her, she wondered what else the older woman might know …

Snapping her mind back to the conversation, Natalia smiled softly at her. "I think we could all use someone in our corner, Rosalie," she contended; a reflective glint in her dark eyes. "And … that's actually kind of why I came to see you first thing this morning …"

"Oh?" Rosalie questioned; eyebrows rising to match the curiosity in her mocha eyes.

"Ms. Spencer informed me that you were one of the employees who graciously agreed to stay during the snowstorm, to ensure that things would run smoothly," she reported; gratitude in her expression.

Rosalie smiled warmly at her boss, and nodded her head. "Just seemed the right thing to do," she said forthrightly; dismissing the gesture as nothing more than what any reasonable person might do. "No sense in endangering other's lives by making them drive in such conditions, when I was already here, and had nothing pressing to do at home," she explained; shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, I want you to know that I appreciate it, Rosalie," Natalia said; the gratitude in her voice matching that in her eyes. "You went above and beyond what was required of you, and that doesn't go unnoticed – by either Ms. Spencer, or I."

"Thank you for saying so, Ms. Rivera," Rosalie replied; truly humbled by her boss's words. The kindness wasn't something that was to be expected from a boss – at least none she had ever had in the past; and yet, it didn't surprise her in the least, when coming from Natalia. "And … you're welcome. I was glad to do it."

"I assume everything ran smoothly …" Natalia accurately surmised; knowing Rosalie's character and dedication to her job.

"Of, yes, of course," Rosalie readily confirmed. "We were a bit short-handed, but we managed to pull together as a team, and get it all done," she said; a proud sense of accomplishment in her voice.

"I hope it wasn't too taxing on you," Natalia said sympathetically; concerned for Rosalie's physical well-being. Natalia had hoped that by giving the older woman the position of head housekeeper, allowing her control of floor assignments and the like, the physical demands of the job would be lessened on her. Not surprisingly though, what happened instead was that Rosalie poured even more of herself into the position; taking on extra responsibility, rather than delegating to those who worked under her.

Rosalie smiled at her. "It wasn't. I did just fine," she assured; patting Natalia gently on the arm, as she moved across the room to write the daily floor assignments on the board.

"Good. I'm glad," Natalia said gratefully. "And I hope the accommodations were suitable," she added; wanting to ensure her employee had been treated well, considering the sacrifice she had made.

"Oh, certainly," Rosalie candidly declared; nodding her head. "The reservations manager blocked off a few unassigned rooms, for those of us who volunteered to stay, the chef and some of the kitchen staff stayed, so we had plenty to eat, and we used the laundry facilities to clean our uniforms," she explained. "It was more than comfortable."

Their conversation was interrupted by the buzzing of Natalia's phone. She retrieved it from her pocket, glancing down to find the anticipated message from the front desk staff – Josh and Matt had arrived for their meeting. She tapped a few buttons, sending a quick acknowledgment and thank you, then slipped the phone back into her pocket, and looked up at Rosalie. "Listen, I have a meeting with Ms. Spencer in a few minutes, so I have to run," she announced, "but I'm pleased that everything went well in our absence. Thank you again for volunteering to stay, Rosalie. Your willingness certainly made a difference," she said encouragingly.

Rosalie smiled at her again. "You're welcome, Ms. Rivera," she said warmly; patting Natalia's arm again. "Have a blessed day …"

"Thank you, Rosalie," Natalia smiled. "You have a blessed day, as well …"

And with that, she took her leave from the housekeeping department; heading toward the front desk to greet Josh and Matt.

Reaching their suite of offices, Olivia set her briefcase and handbag on the floor, and quickly hung her coat in the closet, as she quietly considered the catalyst behind this meeting with Josh and Matt: Larry Decker's cunning manipulation, which led to her resignation from Galaxy. Decker thought he was the victor in their skirmish, but Olivia knew differently, and a self-satisfied smirk spread across her face as she remembered her triumph …

Decker was a shrewd businessman – one who had gained the trust of Mr. Xiao, the head of the Galaxy Empire; and ran the genteel mogul's business with finesse. But when crossed, even if only in his own mind, he was also was a smarmy, self-serving shyster; hell-bent upon getting his own way.

When he hired Olivia to be the spokeswoman for Mr. Xiao's Galaxy Hotel chain, she was still recovering from her heart transplant; though, seemingly, she had been doing much better – enough so that she had been able to hide the truth about her medical issues from him. It had been Olivia's subsequent failing health – the threat of rejection of her borrowed heart, which brought Natalia to cover for Olivia with Decker by pretending to be the hotelier's assistant – an act that changed the course of their relationship; forever altering the cadence of the dance …

While working as Olivia's assistant, Natalia overheard a conversation between the Decker and the hotelier regarding a high-risk/high-yield Hedge Fund; and being concerned about Rafe's mounting legal bills, and her desire to both provide him a secure, permanent home, as well as a college education, Natalia approached Decker about investing the money from the cottage Gus had left her and their son. Though the fund required a minimum investment of a million dollars, Decker agreed to pool her money with his; thus, allowing her to invest. When the fund tanked, Natalia lost all the money she had; leaving Olivia feeling both guilty for not protecting the unwitting Latina, and angry with Decker for encouraging her to invest in the first place. She hunted him down, chastised him; albeit gently, by showing him that taking money from a working-class, grieving widow, would tarnish the Galaxy image. He agreed to consider her argument; albeit, pompously so.

The encounter left Olivia feeling physically weakened, and having nearly collapsed in the hall outside Decker's room at the Beacon, she called Natalia for help. When Decker overheard Natalia tell Olivia she was taking her to the hospital, he decided to check into the hotelier's background. After learning the truth about the heart transplant, and the hotelier's deteriorating health, he confronted her in the hospital, and agreed to return Natalia's money – under one condition: Olivia had to admit her deception, apologize, and resign her position with Galaxy; making him look like a saint for being so understanding about her condition, in the process. Knowing this was the only way to get Natalia's money back, and that a battle against Decker would be futile, Olivia agreed.

When Natalia returned to the hospital with Emma, Olivia heard the joy in the Latina's voice as she talked about Emma's performance in her school talent show, and as she watched the two of them together, she realized that between her daughters and Natalia, she had all should would ever need, and taking care of them meant more to her than any job or any amount of money ever could.

After Olivia was discharged from the hospital, Natalia saw the press release announcing the hotelier's resignation from Galaxy, and she questioned her about giving up a job that she so obviously loved. True to character, Olivia deflected with humor; telling the Latina that she also loved jumping on trampolines and eating cheesecake for breakfast. It was during this conversation that the foundation for the Beacon expansion had been laid, as Olivia attempted to quell Natalia's concerns by telling her that resigning from Galaxy would allow her the opportunity to franchise the Beacon; make it a household name, and do it on her own terms.

Concern clouded Natalia's usually clear visage, and she gently reminded Olivia not only of all the reasons her position with Galaxy had been important to her, but also of all the ways they had, together, managed to make it work, despite her recurrent health issues. The tone of Natalia's voice, the soft, pleading expression in those dark eyes, tugged at Olivia's heart; but knowing what she was doing was for Natalia's sake, Olivia gently reassured her that it was just a job, and that other things were more important.

Returning her thoughts to the present, Olivia acknowledged to herself that even back then, she was falling hopelessly in love with Natalia; and more than that, the pull she felt toward the younger woman was so strong, she was powerless to break her own fall.

She smiled to herself, as she retrieved her briefcase and handbag from the floor, and sauntered across the room toward the kitchenette, where she once again emptied her hands; this time by placing the items on the countertop.

Opening the overhead cabinet, Olivia grabbed a packet of pre-measured coffee grounds from the box; grinning at the telltale green packaging that indicated the contents were caffeine free. I can't believe you still think I don't know you switched my coffee, she thought; shaking her head in amusement. I had more caffeine than blood in my veins before you came along …

In the beginning, when Olivia was too physically weak and emotionally unstable to make observations, she really hadn't thought much about the incessant headaches; and if she were being totally honest, bitchiness wasn't really out of the ordinary for her anyway, so she hadn't connected the dots between her foul mood and caffeine withdrawal.

Being the perfectionist that she was, Natalia had covered all the bases – or so she thought, by instructing the Beacon staff to always prepare decaffeinated beverages when Olivia ordered from the kitchen or Watershed, and asking Buzz and the staff at Company to do the same. She knew she needn't worry when it came to Towers, because Olivia never ordered anything other than hard liquor when she frequented their establishment. Not that alcohol was particularly good for the hotelier's heart, with the exception of an occasional glass of red wine, but she knew she didn't stand a chance of keeping the obstinate woman from drinking, if she so desired.

Several months later, when Natalia had left her on her own while she ran to pick Emma up from a playdate, Olivia wandered into the nearby coffee shop – the one place Natalia had not thought to approach regarding the hotelier's caffeine intake – and ordered a Latte. Having experienced a complete dearth of caffeine since the transplant, the sudden insurgence of the chemical sent Olivia's body into a frenzied state; nearly causing her to think she was having a heart attack.

Then she looked down at the coffee cup in her hand, and realizing what was going on, she chuckled and shook her head. Tucking the revelation away at the back of her mind, she returned to the Beacon to wait for Natalia and Emma.

Months had passed since that day, and still Olivia had said not a word to her wily assistant; finding it completely adorable that the younger woman still believed she had gotten one over on the omniscient hotelier. Sometimes you're just so damned adorable. I'll let you keep your little secret, my Love … Some truths are just sweeter when they remain unspoken … she thought.

Dropping the packet of grounds into the filter basket, Olivia pushed the basket back into place, and hit the switch to start the morning coffee.

And then her thoughts turned to the conversation with Natalia outside Company, after she gave the younger woman the check she had ultimately been forced to blackmail out of Decker.

Knowing Natalia the way she did, Olivia readily conceded that she never should have underestimated the woman. She should have known the intuitive Latina would see through her false bravado, into the real heart of the matter, because it had only taken mere minutes for her to do exactly that …

"I'm really happy for you …" Olivia said softly; smiling at the woman sitting beside her on the bench outside Company. "I know how much this meant to you – You know, the house, Rafe's college fund …"

"You sound like me …" Natalia declared; locking eyes with the beautiful hotelier.

"I do?" Olivia replied; the look of surprise on her face, reflected in her voice.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I said to you earlier, about your job with Decker …" Natalia pointed out.

Olivia looked away to avoid the dark eyes that were probing her; causing Natalia to turn toward her.

Natalia smiled softly at the woman she knew had sacrificed so much for her. "It wasn't true – was it?" she gently prodded; hands clasped together in her lap, "what you said about my money not making it to the fund on time …"

Returning her gaze to Natalia; the two women locked eyes. "'Cause I had it wired …" Natalia informed; causing Olivia to divert her eyes again. "And … I got a confirmation number," she continued, "and it made it in there hours before the deadline," she reported; locking eyes with the hotelier for a brief moment. Then turning her eyes upward, Natalia wrenched her hands in her lap and sighed, "It shouldn't have taken me this long to figure it out …"

"I … I don't know what you're talking about …" Olivia denied; shaking her head back and forth.

"You got me my money back from Decker, only … you had to give up your job to do it," Natalia deduced. "Tell me how you did it …"

"It doesn't matter," Olivia insisted. "Not remotely …"

"I got my eighty thousand back, so I should just shut up – is that it?" Natalia said; sounding both frustrated and a bit annoyed, and more like the Natalia with whom Olivia so enjoyed sparring.

"No … No!" Olivia exclaimed. "You should just put it to good use …"

"And just shut up …" Natalia repeated; sighing softly, her lips curling into a frown, as she looked at Olivia guiltily. "He found out that you'd been sick? Decker?" she surmised.

Olivia's breath caught in her chest, and she closed her eyes to avoid Natalia's gaze. I Never wanted you to know; never wanted you to carry any guilt over this, she thought; staring at the ground beneath her feet. After all you've lost, I just wanted to make something Good happen for you – Not because I wanted credit, but just because No One deserves it more than you …

"Quitting your job at Galaxy wasn't your idea – was it?" Natalia asked rhetorically. "It was his …"

Not wanting to admit that Natalia was correct, Olivia attempted to divert the subject. "Why don't you go see how Rafe is doing …" she insisted; quickly rising from the bench; turning her back toward the probing eyes of the astute young woman.

"No, no, no …" Natalia argued; standing up, turning toward Olivia. "So you … you cut a deal? You just walk away, and … and there's no negative publicity for him, ya know - just so long as you …"

"Alright, alright," Olivia interrupted; finally confessing the truth, as she turned; meeting Natalia's eyes. "Yeah, that's … that it …"

"And you didn't fight … to keep it?" Natalia said disbelievingly; dark eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and guilt.

"I could have, but I would've lost, so I got what I could out of it …" Olivia explained; speaking the God's honest truth, with a mixture of empathy and love in her tone. But even if I could've fought him and won, I still would have chosen this road, because … I would do Anything for you, Natalia. Anything.

"You didn't get anything …" Natalia insisted; searching the beautiful jade eyes that gazed into her own. You lost So much – and you lost it for Me …

Gazing into those pain-filled mahogany eyes, Olivia forced herself to resist the urge to reach out and gently touch Natalia's face. "Of course I did …" she whispered; her heart filled with satisfaction from knowing she had done something to make Natalia's life better. Don't you understand? I got Everything … she thought; turning away from the Latina, as she attempted to quell the tears that stung her eyes as they fought for release. She sighed heavily; and stomping her foot, the heel of her shoe tapped against the concrete beneath them. "You never would've even heard of this investment fund if it weren't for me …"

"I don't see what one thing has to do with the other," Natalia replied; her voice almost a soft pout.

Olivia turned to her. I swear on my life, no one will ever hurt you or take advantage of you again …

"I made the choice to invest my money," Natalia insisted. "I put it all down there, and I lost it. And that's on me …"

"You didn't know what you were getting into …" Olivia argued. "You … you didn't have that kind of experience …" she sighed. "I'm not wrong …" she added pleadingly.

Natalia shrugged her shoulders. "I'm a grown woman," she reasoned.

"So you deserve to be taken advantage of … I get it …" Olivia said sarcastically; brushing past Natalia, frustration flaring.

"Well, that's how life works sometimes," Natalia declared, as Olivia turned toward her again; pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Not this time," Olivia staunchly declared; shaking her head side to side. Not when I have the power to stop it – When I can make life good for you, instead of allowing it to make things harder … You deserve so much better than that … "Not this time, so … can you just stop arguing with me? Just don't …"

Natalia pressed the palms of her hands together in front of her; almost in a prayerful pose. "I don't wanna …I don't wanna argue with you …" she said quietly. I just don't want to be the cause of you losing something that's so important to you and your girls … "I'm trying to understand how this works. I'm trying to understand how it's fair that you have to lose your job, so I can get my money back …"

"I was gonna lose it anyway – I told you …" Olivia insisted; the corners of her mouth curling into a soft smile.

"How am I supposed to deal with this guilt?" Natalia sighed.

"Denial's always an option," Olivia replied flippantly; attempting to deflect her emotions.

Natalia just gave her that look – the one that clearly said, Again with the jokes, Olivia? Really?

Olivia sighed in response. "Look, you were set up to fail. It's that simple. I had to do this …" she explained. I Love you, Natalia … I don't really understand what that means right now, but … I know it's the most genuine emotion I've ever experienced in my life, she silently acknowledged; jade eyes misting over. And I know that love isn't just a noun – it's also an action verb … I Love you, therefore, I must do what is best for You, regardless of the consequences for myself … And for the first time in my life, I actually Want be selfless for someone other than my girls … "And as far as the guilt is concerned, I mean … isn't that just a fact of life, like … a sunrise, or air, or crooked politicians?" she added; the corners of her mouth curling into that barely-there smile.

"Don't … make fun of me …" Natalia quietly requested; guilt plaguing her dark eyes.

"I'm not …" Olivia replied softly; momentarily diverting her eyes as she gently shook her head. "I live with guilt … every day …" she quietly confessed. "Gus …"

Natalia's heart nearly broke as she heard the long-unspoken pain in Olivia's voice; witnessed the slow-burning ache in those deep jade eyes. "I don't know … I don't …" she attempted to reply.

"I took him away from you …" Olivia interrupted; her voice cracking under the guilt she was feeling, even in that moment.

No, you didn't, Olivia … God took him, because it was his time to go … and it was Your time to Live, because we needed one another, you and I … I understand that now …

Before Natalia could even respond, Olivia halted her. "Don't … don't … because emotions … have nothing to do with logic," she sighed softly; fighting back the tears that were welling up in her eyes. "I feel guilty …" she announced; tears burning in her eyes, as she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Swallowing hard, she continued, "So … you know what? Now we both get to walk with a little bit of it … Great friendships have been built on far less – right?" she reasoned. What I feel for you is So much more than friendship, she silently acknowledged. I don't understand it … I can't comprehend it … All I know is, somewhere along the line, your presence in my life changed from being a necessity, to being essential – like the air I breathe, or the food and water that sustain me … You're the one person in this world, save my girls, for whom I would give anything, including my own life …

With that, she attempted to turn away; but Natalia grabbed the arm that was stuffed into her coat pocket; holding it firmly between her hands. Don't go … I need to hold you; need to tell you what you mean to me … "Wait, wait, wait …" she gently pleaded.

Olivia turned back to her. "No … I can't … talk anymore …" she gently replied; her breath laboring over the words. If I Stay, you'll hug me … and the moment I'm in your arms, my resolve will break, and the tears will come in unstoppable torrents … I need you So much, Natalia, but right now, I have to get away from you, before I break …

She steeled herself, and sought Natalia's eyes. "And besides, I need to get back home … I need to start thinking about how I'm gonna franchise the Beacon and put Larry Decker outta business, so just … enjoy your money … Spend it wisely …" she said quietly; turning away from the younger woman, and walking away.

Natalia watched her walk away; eyes brimming with unshed tears. I can't believe the sacrifice you made for me … she thought. If ever I doubted that you love me before, I have no doubts anymore. I Know you love me, Olivia. As surely as I'm breathing right now, I Know you do … And as confusing as it may be for me, I know I love you, too …

Returning to the present once again, Olivia smiled softly to herself. It was later that day that you formulated the plan to buy the farmhouse – the plan that brought the Emma and me to the only real home we've ever known – the plan that made us a Family …

And with that final thought, she poured a cup of the freshly brewed coffee, picked up her briefcase and handbag, and walked into her office to start the workday …

Walking toward the front desk, Natalia started to send a text to Olivia; letting her know they would be up shortly. Then, deciding she would rather hear Olivia's voice, she quickly hit the speed dial for her cell phone; smiling brightly when the hotelier answered.

"Hi there, Beautiful," Olivia cooed into her phone; her voice low and alluring.

"Hey, Gorgeous," Natalia flirted softly in return. "We'll be on our way up in a few, but … I just … I couldn't resist a little time alone with you before I meet them," she said shyly; pausing in the hall to prolong their time together. "I needed to hear your voice …"

Olivia arched an eyebrow; enjoying the cadence of this particular conversation. "You know … they're really early …" she noted, seductive insinuation in her voice; and Natalia could literally hear the sexy smile she knew was there, through the phone.

"Yeah … they are …" Natalia agreed; a playful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"So … deposit them in the reception area, and meet me in my office …" Olivia instructed; suddenly feeling a desperate need to kiss the Latina again.

The playful tugging at Natalia's lips transformed into a smile. "Two minutes …" she replied quickly; her heart racing in anticipation of being, once again, enveloped in the hotelier's arms.

A triumphant smile flickered across Olivia's lips, as her arms shot into the air in celebration; her heart doing back flips, much like a giddy school girl who has just landed her first big crush. "I love you …" she whispered; and with that, she terminated the call.

Natalia glanced down at her phone for a moment; watching the final moments before Olivia's caller ID disappeared. End Call: My Answered Prayer

She smiled softly. "And I love you, Olivia Spencer …" she whispered to herself; slipping the phone into her pocket, and scurrying down the hall toward the front desk.

After greeting Josh and Matt at the front desk, she chatted amiably with them, as she showed them to the reception area outside their suite of offices.

Taking their coats, she dutifully hung them, along with her own, in the closet in the corner of the room. She smiled softly to herself, as her fingers gently cascaded down the length of Olivia's full-length, black overcoat – the one with the dark gray piping. She could smell Olivia's light, musky scent emanating from the coat, as it hung there next to her own; and she felt the heated rush of desire coursing through her veins; the liquid evidence of which pooled between her thighs, as her mind wandered to a place where their bodies were pressed together; clinging tightly, and never letting go. She swore she could feel Olivia's warm breath on her skin, as those soft, full lips explored her body; and her face flushed deep crimson, as her body temperature spiked, causing her to feel light-headed; almost faint.

Grasping the closet doorframe for support, she closed her eyes for a moment; drawing in several deep breaths, and exhaling each slowly, as she steadied herself; thankful that the men were, well … men, and so engaged in trivial conversation that they were rendered completely oblivious to her plight.

Once she had regained her composure, she turned to her attention back toward the men. "Please, have a seat, gentlemen," she said warmly; motioning toward the stylish black leather couch and arm chairs in the room. "May I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Soft drink? … Bourbon?" she offered; sharing a knowing smile with Josh, as they acknowledged the long-established fact that Olivia Spencer could drink with the best of them; and she wouldn't hesitate for a moment to indulge in hard liquor, even at nine in the morning, if she thought it might seal a deal.

"It's a little early in the day for me …" Josh declared, referencing the hard liquor; the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "That's perhaps best left for after our meeting," he suggested.

Natalia grinned. "Coffee, then?" she offered.

"That sounds perfect," he smiled; setting his briefcase down on the floor, as he took a seat in the chair closest to Olivia's office door.

"Matt?"

"Coffee would be great … Take the chill off," Matt replied; rubbing his hands together, as he sat down on the couch.

She poured two cups of the hot liquid; smiling to herself as she noted that Olivia had made the morning brew; then set the coffee pot back down on the burner. "How do you take it?" she asked; directing the question at both of them, simultaneously.

"I'm a cream and sugar guy," Matt was quick to answer; the slighted hint of flirtation in his voice, as he stood up from the couch; pacing nervously. "But let me take care of that for you," he said; his eyes slyly perusing her body, as he took the cup from her hand.

She rolled her eyes when he turned his attention to the cup of coffee. You're Almost as annoying as Frank - Too eager to please, and needing to take care of everything for me, she thought. Perhaps the two of You should go on a date …

Josh shook his head at the blatant show of interest in the young Latina, as he rose from the chair. "Black, for me," he answered; crossing the room to save her the steps.

He walked with an air of confidence, though not even the slightest hint of arrogance, and she regarded him kindly as he approached her, in his well-fitting faded jeans, charcoal-gray button-down shirt, and brown leather work boots. She knew him to be a wealthy man – a man of power and influence, which rivaled that of Olivia, and even the Spaulding family; and she marveled at the stark differences between all of them. Where Alan Spaulding flaunted his wealth; used it to control those around him, and his son Phillip had used it to terrorize the people he claimed to love, Josh Lewis underplayed his prominence; allowing his character to be seen and heard through his actions, rather than his wealth or possessions. And then there was Olivia, for whom wealth and power had once been the ultimate means of controlling her own world; and for whom now, it meant only that she could provide for and protect her family.

Josh smiled warmly at her; their eyes making direct contact for what she believed to be the first time ever. "Thank you," he said kindly; accepting the cup from her hand; his slate blue eyes flickering with just a hint of mischief as he smiled at her. Looking into them, she could see the kindness in his soul; and in that moment, she understood why Olivia had loved him; why she still held him in such high regard.

"You're welcome," she smiled graciously. "Sit. Relax," she encouraged; motioning toward the couch and chairs once again. "We'll be with you in a few minutes."

Josh nodded his head amiably; taking a drink of his coffee, as he returned to the chair.

Natalia nodded in return; then quickly disappeared into Olivia's office, gingerly closing and locking the door behind her.

Josh eyed the door curiously when he heard the lock latch; then glanced toward Matt, offering him a perceptive grin.

"What?" Matt chuckled; completely oblivious to the situation.

"Nevermind …" Josh sighed; rolling his eyes. Sometimes I really wonder how the Hell you ended up with Vanessa … and how it took her so long to leave your sorry ass …, he thought; shaking his head at the clueless man. He sat back then, relaxing in the chair, and smiled.

Olivia posed, arms lightly crossed, right leg tossed over her left, as she leaned casually against the front edge of her desk; her head cocked slightly to one side, that ghost of a smile playing on the corners of her mouth. "Took you long enough …" she purred, her voice low and sultry; jade eyes intently watching the Latina as she walked into the office, and closed and locked the door.

Natalia smiled, offering a glimpse of those intoxicating dimples, as she sashayed toward the hotelier. "Well … I had to be a good hostess, and offer them some refreshments, or … I'm afraid my boss would've been displeased …" she explained; arching an eyebrow, as she casually draped her arms around Olivia's neck. "She can be a bit … difficult … to work for, ya know?" she teased.

Olivia leaned her head back and nodded. "Ahhh, yes … so I've heard …" she said covertly; a teasing grin on her lips. "That Olivia Spencer … Well, she's a regular barracuda …"

"Yeah, but I think I've figured out how to tame her …" Natalia declared nonchalantly; mahogany eyes overtly scanning the upper portion of the hotelier's body.

The blatant desire in those darkening eyes was certainly not lost on Olivia. She arched a perfectly threaded eyebrow toward the Latina, "Oh, really?" she flirted; that ever-present teasing smile flickering at the corners of her lips. "How's that?"

Natalia smiled devilishly, and answered the inquiry with the claiming of those soft, full lips; pressing the luscious curves of her own body against the complementary landscape of Olivia's, as she kissed her slowly.

Olivia's lips parted, allowing Natalia to deepen their kiss; fingers tangling in soft chestnut locks, as her tongue languidly explored the depths of the hotelier's mouth.

Moaning softly at contact, Olivia felt the embers of desire flickering in her belly, burning throughout her body; and once again, she was taken aback at how Natalia was able to elicit such a feral response from her, with nothing more than a kiss. I cannot even Imagine what Sex will be like with you, 'cause I swear to God, just your tongue in my mouth is enough to make me come …

As her own arousal heightened, Olivia gently sucked on the proffered tongue. She had never done that before, and Natalia's body responded instantaneously; liquid heat flooding her center, bringing that now-familiar throbbing ache along with it; causing her head to spin. Jesus Christ! What Is it about you that makes me feel this way? I've never even Liked sex, let alone Wanted it … And now, all I can think about is you – kissing me, touching me; making this throbbing ache go away …, Natalia's mind groaned. Sigh. I know, I know. I'm sorry … she thought; frustration rising in her soul. Hail Mary, Full of grace … The Lord is with thee … she began, silently beseeching the Virgin Mary to intervene with the Father on her behalf. But her prayers were stymied, as stealthy hands swept beneath the fabric of her open suit jacket; firmly clutching her slender waist, pulling her closer. You make me crazy with want for you …

Heart rates simultaneously increased and once-steady breathing turned to short, rapid gasps; and Olivia groaned, as she slipped her tongue into Natalia's mouth; engaging its adept counterpart in a heated skirmish, as she pushed away from her desk; rising to her full height; skillfully turning the tables on the Latina.

It was Natalia's turn to moan then; all coherent thought vanishing from her mind, replaced with heady desire for the woman who kissed her so fervently, as Olivia spun her around; pressing her against the edge of the desk. The pressure of Olivia's body leaning against her own was exquisite. Her head reeled, her pulse raced, her center throbbed, and all Natalia knew was that she wanted more – more of these transfixing sensations; more of Olivia. Hands slipping away from Olivia's neck, they slowly meandered down the hotelier's side; causing goosebumps to rise all over her taut body. She shivered slightly at the sensation, just as Natalia's hands reached her ass; jerking her forward.

In that one swift movement, as Olivia's body slammed into her own, Natalia moaned gutturally; her right elbow making contact with the pencil cup; sending it careening across the hotelier's desk, where it crashed into the computer monitor with a cacophonous thud; sending its contents scattering in every direction.

The forgotten men in the waiting area heard the crash, and Josh sprang from his seat; quickly making his way to Olivia's office door. He attempted to open it; then remembered hearing the lock catch when Natalia entered the room. "Olivia? Natalia?" he called; tapping lightly on the locked door. "Everything okay in there?"

Momentarily startled, both by the occurrence, and by Josh's inquiry, in the midst of their kiss, they simultaneously grinned; laughter bubbling into one another's mouths.

"Uhmm … Everything is fine …" Olivia squeaked; her heart racing faster than an engine on a rocket boat.

They burst into laughter then, as they glanced around; noting all the pencils strewn about the room. Natalia opened her mouth to speak, and Olivia immediately read her mind. "Don't even go there …" she teasingly cautioned, as she pulled Natalia firmly against her; halting the impending snark with a deliberate kiss.

A knowing grin flicked across Josh's lips. Well, well, Olivia … Now I know why you stayed at the farmhouse, and why you looked so Annoyed when Natalia suggested going out for dinner with Jeffrey and me a few weeks ago, and … this Certainly explains all those times you just randomly came onto me at Towers, and then changed your mind before anything happened … he thought; smiling to himself, as he instantly forgave her for being such a brazen tease. You were in denial about your feelings for her, and trying desperately to prove to yourself that you were still attracted to men … "Okay …" he said gently; dismissing the incident, as he returned to his seat. Good for you, Darlin' … I couldn't be happier for the two of you …

When their kiss ended, Natalia smiled up at her. "We should probably get this meeting started, before we do anymore damage in here," she teased; eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I know …" Olivia reluctantly agreed; a miserable sigh escaping her lungs, as she released Natalia from her hold. "Being patient sucks," she whined.

"Yes, I know …" Natalia empathized, "but … it also has its rewards," she winked flirtingly.

"Tease …" Olivia accused with a pout.

"Whiney Gus," Natalia playfully retorted, causing them both to chuckle; albeit, a bit uneasily at the inadvertent mention of his name. She searched Olivia's face for a moment; attempting to read her thoughts. "I'm sorry, Olivia …. That was a really poor choice of response," she admitted; shaking her head at the faux pas. "I'll just … pick up these pencils …" she said; scrunching up her nose, and bending over to retrieve the wayward items, as she attempted to cover the awkwardness of the moment.

Once the pencils were all in her hand, Natalia looked at Olivia; a sorrowful expression casting a haze across her dark eyes.

Olivia stooped down; retrieving the pencil cup, and holding it out for Natalia, as if it were a peace offering. "It's only an expression, Sweetheart," she said quietly; attempting to comfort the disquieted Latina.

"I know …" Natalia sighed softly; dropping the pencils back into the cup. They clattered against the metal, as they bounced in the cup; but the women were oblivious to the ruckus, as Natalia continued her explanation. "It's just … sometimes, when I … think about him, or even … hear his name, I … well, I … think I'm feeling … a little guilty …"

Olivia furrowed her brow. "Guilty … about what?" she asked warily; jade eyes searching a perfectly tanned face, as she attempted to gauge the Latina's impending response. "Us?"

Natalia smiled softly; their fingers brushing lightly, as she took the cup from Olivia's hand, setting it back on the desk; her eyes never leaving the hotelier's. "Of course not …" she quietly reassured; reaching out, touching Olivia's cheek. "I could never feel guilty for loving you …"

"Then what's wrong, Honey?" Olivia asked quietly; gently pulling Natalia into her arms. "Talk to me …"

Shuffling her feet, Natalia shifted her weight nervously, as she considered Olivia's questions.

For Natalia, sex had always seemed to be more about the man – his desire for the woman; his craving for physical contact; his need for release. That's how it had been with Nicky; both in the beginning; and even the second time around, when they were adults.

When they were in high school, his interest in her made her feel special - even loved – in that giddy first love sort of way; but as far as sex was concerned, it was never something that she desired for herself – In fact, she had been raised to believe it was wrong; shameful to even think about, let alone desire or enjoy. No, she had never desired or enjoyed sex; but rather, she merely submitted to it, in an effort to please him, and ensure that he wouldn't leave her. His disappearance soon after, understandably left her feeling used and abandoned; and proved to be not only one of the hardest, but also one of the most valuable lessons of her life.

When she found Nicky again years later; and waged a battle against Harley for his heart, she knew it was his physical desire for her, for her body, that initially tipped the scales in her favor – try as he might, he couldn't hide the lust in his eyes, as he watched her – even in the presence of his wife. And Rafe had been the trump card that allowed her to claim her victory, as she won him, though not his heart, away from the love of his life. Even then, sex was something she submitted to because it pleased him; not because she wanted it for herself. Her only desire was to give Rafe the home, and the father, he deserved; and finally prove herself to her parents, by making her life and her son's existence, respectable in their disapproving eyes.

And sex had been that way with Frank, too – it was about comforting him; taking care of his needs; and never about anything that she wanted for herself. Frank truly had been a considerate lover; however, despite his attempts to make it otherwise, it had been an unpleasant experience for her, both physically and emotionally, and she regretted her actions immediately. The only thing that helped her get through it was the fact that she had fantasized about Olivia the entire time – that winsome smile, those captivating eyes, the calming lilt of her voice, the sensation of those soft hands, as they gently touched her. She found herself locked in a physical, mental and emotional double-bind, because the very thing that brought her through that regretful experience, had also both tantalized, and completely unnerved her. Natalia tried with all her might to forget her poor choice that night, but her heart still ached from knowing her actions had hurt Olivia deeply, even though they had yet to confess their love.

Now, as she looked back on her past, she found that she was thankful for the lesson she had learned from Nicky, because it made her strong, taught her independence, and ultimately, led her to this place were her life had been made complete. Everything was different with Olivia – Certainly, there was a physical attraction between them; one that was maddeningly arousing, and undeniably reciprocal; one that was infinitely more powerful than anything she had ever experienced before. The intensity of Olivia's eyes on her body sent waves of heat coursing through her veins; the warmth of Olivia's breath on her skin caused every nerve ending to tingle; the silkiness of Olivia's fingers as they caressed her body caused Natalia to throb and ache in places she never even knew existed; and unbeknownst to the Latina, she had a similar, if not more intense, effect upon the hotelier.

But it was so much more than just physical – Olivia appreciated Natalia for her intelligence, her mind, not just her body; she challenged her, and encouraged her to better herself in whatever ways would make her happy. She considered Natalia's needs, valued her opinions, and endeavored to fulfill her deepest desires. Olivia was everything Gus had never been, and more, to her; and Natalia loved and wanted the beautiful hotelier more than she ever dreamed possible. Though, truth be told, the intensity of her own desires terrified her; and being completely uncertain as to what two women might do in bed together, she was even more fearful of the unknown. And yet, here she was, gazing into the eyes of the love of her life; aching to touch, and be touched; craving the exquisite sensation of Olivia's bare skin against her own; wanting, for the first time in her life, to share the intimacy and ecstasy of making love with the one she loved without reservation; the one who completed her.

She drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly, as she prepared to share her truth with the woman who held her so tenderly; loved her so completely. "I feel guilty because I … I want You … in a way that … I never … wanted him …" she quietly confessed, as she averted Olivia's gaze; blushing under the gravity of her daring admission. "You make me feel things; want things, I've never wanted before, and … I feel guilty, because … well, first of all, because … I was taught that it's shameful to want such things, and … even if it weren't, I never really wanted my own husband, Olivia – at least not in that way … Yet, all I can think about is how much I want You … in every way possible …"

Olivia's ego battled with her heart; her emotions vacillating between self-satisfaction and empathy, as she considered Natalia's confession. And then, as she gazed at the woman she loved, her heart easily won out. "Hey …" she whispered; reaching up, tipping Natalia's chin, to meet those enchanting dark eyes, "you're not the only one wanting things in a way she never has before …" she quietly admitted.

Natalia swallowed hard; attempting to dislodge the lump that had formed in her throat. "Really?" she asked shyly; hopefulness in her eyes.

"Really," Olivia gently reassured; cupping Natalia's face in her hands. "And I don't think either one of us should feel guilty about that, Sweetheart. There's nothing shameful about wanting to share that kind of intimacy with the person you love …"

"You really think so?" Natalia asked demurely; peering hopefully up at Olivia.

"I know so …" Olivia quietly replied; caressing Natalia's cheek. "Haven't you ever read Song of Solomon?"

"We were never allowed to read that book," Natalia announced; blushing slightly at the thought.

The corners of Olivia's mouth twitched; a warning to the Latina that a devilish comment was about to spill forth. "Well … if it were bad … it wouldn't be in the Bible – right?" Olivia reasoned.

"It's like … God-approved erotica …" she smirked. "Yeah … Lots of great ideas in there … You should definitely check it out …" she winked.

Natalia pinned her with that look; the one that said you're treading on thin ice.

"What? I'm just sayin' …" Olivia attempted to defend.

"Really, Olivia? Really?"

"At least I've read some of the Bible …" Olivia quickly pointed out. "You should be proud of me for that …"

"I might have known if you were gonna read the Bible – that would be the first book on your agenda …" Natalia said flatly.

"Hey!" Olivia yelped; furrowing her brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you have a one-track mind …" Natalia replied forthrightly.

Olivia arched a deliberate eyebrow. "Lucky for you …" she smirked; pulling the Latina into a heated kiss.

Their lips met in a fiery crash, causing Natalia's head to instantly spin again; and when the hotelier's tongue secured entrance to the Latina's mouth, the younger woman thought she might faint from the sheer pleasure of it. Olivia kissed her, long and slow; her skillful tongue exploring, caressing, enticing, as adept hands gently touched and stroked along the sides of Natalia's body; her thighs, hips and the outer edges of her breasts – enough to ensure the Latina was thoroughly aroused; yet, not in a way that would leave her feeling tormented or teased in a malicious way. And when Olivia felt the sharp intake of air filling Natalia's lungs, heard the soft moan of pleasure that escaped in its wake, as fingers twisted and tangled in her hair, she knew she had accomplished her goal. She gently broke away from their kiss; eliciting a heady groan of disapproval from Natalia, and leaned her forehead against the Latina's temple, as they both attempted to catch their breath.

"Now …" Olivia exhaled; breath rushing from her lungs, and blowing across Natalia's ear; causing a light shiver of pleasure to trickle down the Latina's spine, "does anything about this feel shameful to you?" she whispered breathily; languorous hands still gently caressing Natalia's body.

"No …" Natalia whispered breathlessly; tears misting those dark, expressive eyes. "It just feels good, and … right …"

"It does for me, too, Natalia. I've never wanted anyone, the way I want you …" Olivia quietly confessed; nuzzling against the Latina's ear, "and I don't feel guilty or ashamed about that …"

Natalia's body responded to the close proximity of Olivia's lips to her ear; to the warmth of Olivia's breath on her skin, as she melted into the hotelier's arms.

Olivia sighed softly; burying her face in the soft, dark tresses at Natalia's neck, as her fingers lightly traced along the skin of the Latina's lower back. "I can no longer even remember a time when I didn't want you …" she whispered.

And then, as quickly as it had responded, Natalia's body tensed slightly, and she pulled away from their embrace; averting that penetrating gaze; her mind entranced in deep thought, as she considered the hotelier's admission.

Sensing Natalia's unrest, Olivia bent her knees; dipping down as she attempted to meet the shorter woman's dark eyes. "What's going on in there?" she quietly inquired.

Still avoiding Olivia's eyes, Natalia chewed her bottom lip; indicating to the hotelier that her mind was engaged in nervous contemplation. "Is it really all that bad?" Olivia asked; arching an eyebrow at the Latina, as that barely-there smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

Finally meeting Olivia's gaze again, her lips twisted; creating a pensive smile. "I know you, Olivia, and … I know you're really trying, but … it's not like you to wait for anything," she astutely pointed out. "So … if you want me as much as you say you do, then why aren't you pushing me harder?"

Given the weight of Natalia's question, Olivia considered it carefully. She smiled softly, as she brushed her knuckles against a silky cheek. "Because … I think it best that we move slowly …" she said frankly; searching the Latina's eyes.

"Since when do you move slowly?" Natalia asked rhetorically; arching a suspicious eyebrow. "You don't …" she punctuated. "You jump in with both feet, you make no apologies, and you never take 'no' for an answer …"

"Yeah …" Olivia readily conceded; nodding her head, "and where did that ever get me – especially when it comes to love and relationships?" she asked; posing her own rhetorical question. She smiled softly at Natalia then, as she caressed that perfectly tanned cheek. "All it ever got me were broken hearts and shattered dreams," she said ruefully. "So … after you and Gus gave me a second chance at life, I promised myself that … if I was ever lucky enough to fall in love again … I would do exactly the opposite of everything I've ever done in my past … And I promise you, Natalia … that's what I'm going to do with you, because … what I realized is that nothing I experienced in my past even comes close to what I feel for you, or how I feel when I'm with you …" she quietly shared.

Natalia smiled softly, and nodded her head in understanding. "I feel that way, too, Olivia …" she quietly admitted. "No one has ever made me feel the way you do …"

Olivia gently traced her thumb across Natalia's jaw line; sending more light shivers cascading down the Latina's spine. She smiled softly at the reaction; her fingers landing under Natalia's chin, where they rested, as jade eyes met mahogany. "I know that you want me, Natalia. I'd have to be dead not to notice," she said candidly, "but …"

"That's not funny, Olivia," Natalia said dryly; interrupting the hotelier's comment.

"I'm not trying to be funny," Olivia countered; her visage displaying an expression of true innocence with regard to the subdued accusation. "I'm being serious," she reassured. "I know that you want me as much as I want you, but … the thing is, you may be ready physically, but … I know that you're not ready emotionally …" she quietly asserted; eyes filled with concern, as she searched the Latina's face. "And … quite honestly, Sweetheart … neither am I …"

Natalia eyed her carefully. "You're really not ready?" she asked; seeking irrevocable confirmation of Olivia's declaration.

"Listen … I'll be completely honest with you, Natalia … Physically, every time I look at you, or touch you; every time I even think about you, I'm ready – more ready than I've ever been in my life …" Olivia candidly confessed; eyes never leaving the Latina's, causing the younger woman to blush, "but … emotionally, well … I just …"

"Emotionally, I don't think either of us is really there yet …" Natalia quietly interjected; attempting to take the pressure off of Olivia.

"Yeah …" Olivia exhaled; breathing a sigh of relief that Natalia truly understood. "I want everything to be different with you," she whispered. "And there's just … so much that we still need to talk about; that we need to explore and understand about one another – Like … our past experiences, and our dreams and expectations for the future …"

Natalia smiled softly and nodded her head in agreement. "Maybe we could talk about some of those things on our date …" she suggested; dark eyes shimmering with anticipation.

Jade eyes sparkled with tiny flecks of gold, as the corners of Olivia's mouth curled into a smile. She was excited about taking Natalia out for their first "official date" – Excited about the plans she had in store for the woman she loved, and excited about showing the beautiful Latina off, and letting all of Springfield know that this amazing woman loved her in return. "That's perfect," she said quietly. "I can hardly wait for Friday night …"

"Hmm … perhaps for once it's a good thing that you're so impatient," Natalia grinned, "because I was thinking … Emma really looks forward to movie night on Fridays, and ... I know she's handling our new relationship extremely well, but … things are changing really rapidly for her – for all three of us, actually, and … I think we should try to keep the little things in life as stable as possible for her – ya know? So maybe …"

"Maybe we should move our date up to tomorrow night, since we're going to your Cosmic Bowling thing on Saturday …" Olivia interjected; reading Natalia's mind.

Natalia canted her head to one side; peering up at her partner. "Do you think maybe we could?"

Tipping Natalia's chin, Olivia smiled into the luminous eyes that gazed into her own. "I think … I really love you … for always considering our little girl's well-being …" she whispered, before drawing Natalia into a slow, tender kiss.

When their kiss ended, Natalia smiled up at her. "Our little girl … is the light of my life," she whispered; "and her Mommy … is the love of my life …" she confessed; eyes shining with adoration for the woman who held her so close. "Considering her well-being and yours is second nature for me, because I love you both so much …"

And with that, Natalia pulled her into another languorous kiss …

Several minutes later, Olivia finally unlocked her office door, and the two of them emerged to greet their patient visitors.

"Sorry about all the racket," Natalia nervously apologized. "I tried to … grab … something, and … knocked the pencil cup off of Olivia's desk …"

A slight blush crept across Olivia's face, as she thought about just exactly what that 'something' was, that Natalia had grabbed. She quickly cleared her throat. "I thought we could convene in the conference room," she announced; attempting to dissuade the blush from deepening. "We'll have more space to spread out the blueprints in there …"

"Sounds good to me," Josh agreed; casting a genteel smile toward the hotelier.

Olivia knew Josh was attempting to be discreet; but she also knew him far too well, and she easily noticed the mischievous flicker in his shimmering blue eyes. Oh, my God – You Know!

The panic-stricken expression on Olivia's face made Josh chuckle; and he offered her a look that said he was not only happy for her that she finally found the happiness she deserved; but also that he was proud of her for embracing it.

She considered him carefully, as she watched him standing there; hands submersed in the pockets of those form-fitting, faded jeans; that accepting expression in his slate blue eyes. Josh Lewis had always been able to understand her; to make her feel safe and accepted in a way no other man ever had – not even her father. She had loved him once; probably always would, though, certainly not in the way she loved Natalia; but as she smiled at him; a sense of appreciation for his understanding ways washed over her, and she found that she was truly thankful for his friendship.

Though she had been engaged in light banter with Matt, the wordless exchange between Olivia and Josh had not been lost on Natalia. As she watched the silent communication pass between them, she felt a sense of uneasiness that she couldn't quite explain.

But then Olivia smiled at her; and the glimmer in those gorgeous jade eyes caused the uneasiness to wane. She brushed it off as nothing, and escorted Olivia and the men into the conference room, where they spent the next two-and-a-half hours discussing the details of the planned renovations.