2 updates in 2 hours!? Unheard of! Some drama in this chapter, but still lote of fluff, because I canʻt help it.
They pulled up to the venue to see Diana and Liza overseeing the set up of a few last minute touches. Olivia looked at Charles. "I need to use the ladies room. I'll be right back." She made her way into the venue and ran into the bathroom, and into the stall just in time to throw up. She finished and flushed the toilet and walked to the sink and quickly rinsed her mouth out, popping a breath mint and reapplying her lip gloss. She looked in the mirror and took a deep breath, suddenly feeling sick. She made her way back out and smiled at Charles. "Hey there handsome."
Charles smiled and kissed her cheek. "My beautiful fiancée."
Diana looked at them. "So you two are really a thing?"
Olivia smiled up at Charles. "We really are." She looked at Diana. "I know it goes against rules but, I've never been known to play by the rules. Ask my former Captain."
Diana nodded. "Well, we won't give you too hard of a time, we like you, but we're all like family."
Olivia bit her bottom lip. "I don't plan on hurting him. I just want to be with the man I love. That's all." She started feeling sick again and she took a deep breath. "Wow, it's all getting so real."
Charles looked down at her. "You okay?"
Olivia nodded. "Yeah, just uh… nerves, you know?" She looked up at him. "And I have a nervous bladder, excuse me." She ran back to the bathroom and threw up again. "What is going on with me?" She whispered to herself after she finished. She walked out of the stall and saw Liza. "Don't tell Charles," she asked. "Please. Tonight means about as much to him as it does to me. I'll be fine, just please don't tell him."
Liza nodded. "I was sent in here to make sure you're okay. The throw up can be our secret."
Olivia smiled. "Thank you." She rinsed her mouth out and popped another breath mint. "Let's go." They walked out and Olivia sidled up to Charles. "Almost show time." She looked around. "It really looks beautiful in here. Diana and Liza did an impeccable job."
Charles wrapped her in his arms. "They take their jobs seriously. They're geniuses when it comes to things like this. Come outside with me for a few minutes before guests start funneling in?"
Olivia took his hand. "Lead the way."
Charles walked them outside and looked at her in the sunlight. "In this light you look like you have a halo."
Olivia smiled. "The horns hold it up," she joked. "Sorry, self deprecating humor is a specialty of mine."
Charles kissed her head. "You don't have horns baby. Not a one."
Olivia's smile turned to a smirk. "Then why do I get all horny for you?" She asked in a low, sultry voice.
Charles let out a chuckle. "That's a different kind of horny, my love."
Olivia wrapped him in her arms. "I needed this few minutes. Just you and me, out here on such a gorgeous late afternoon."
Charles rubbed her back soothingly. "I'm glad I could give you a few minutes. Soon all eyes are going to be on you."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Ah yes, just how I like them." She said sarcastically. "Being the center of attention makes me uncomfortable."
Charles gently swayed them. "I'll be with you all night."
Olivia smiled. "I appreciate that," she looked over his shoulder and saw people start to arrive. "We should get in there. People are starting to show up." She looked into his eyes. "Stay close? In case I need you?"
Charles rested his hand on her low back as he escorted her back inside. "Couldn't imagine being anywhere else, love."
Olivia walked into the crowd and smiled as people congratulated her. "I'm going to go get a drink, I'll be right back. Mingle." She walked over to the bar and smiled at the bar tender. "Can I have a ginger ale in a champagne flute?" She watched him pour her drink and hand it to her. "Thank you." She walked back over to Charles and took a sip of her ginger ale.
A man walked up to Olivia and Charles and smiled. "Pleasure to meet you, mademoiselle. My name is Pierre Beauregard, I was wondering if you'd consider having your book translated to French?"
Olivia looked from Pierre to Charles. "I'm afraid I don't quite know how this book thing works, I'm going to refer you to my editor, who I'm sure can help you with that, I'd love my book in French, I'm going to step away for a moment, I'll be right back." She broke away from the two men and snuck into the ladies room, throwing up again. She was sick, she didn't feel well, and she could feel a headache coming on. All she could do was count down until the night was over. She walked out of the stall and saw Kelsey. "Oh, hi Kelsey. Everything alright?"
Kelsey stood with her arms crossed. "I guess we're lucky you still published with us, huh?"
Olivia furrowed her brow. "Kelsey I don't understand, I was never going to publish with anyone else."
Kelsey rolled her eyes. "You got your hands on his money, planning on retiring anytime soon?"
Olivia's eyes went wide. "Excuse me?"
Kelsey stepped closer. "He's more than his money, and if you're planning on retiring because you have a sugar daddy now, think again."
Olivia's jaw dropped. "What kind of person do you think I am?"
Kelsey shook her head. "We all know Charles is only in this for the sex. Don't kid yourself into thinking he loves you." She turned and left.
Olivia stood in the bathroom stunned. Now she wanted nothing more than to leave. She felt sick, she had a headache, and now the woman in charge of the publishing house that published her book thought she was some kind of gold digger. She let out a sob and covered her mouth. She leaned against the sink and cried. She ran into the stall and threw up again, coming out, wiping the corner of her mouth. When she looked up she saw Charles. "I'm fine," she said and rinsed her mouth out. "Are you only in this for sex?" She asked, her heart breaking.
Charles was feeling a mix of emotions. Hurt, concern, anger, fear, heartbreak. "What?"
Olivia turned to look at him and she just about sobbed at the look on his face. "Kelsey said—"
Charles held up a hand. "Don't listen to Kelsey. She's mad we're engaged because she's slept with her authors in the past and we got screwed on their books each time. Now why didn't you tell me you were sick?"
Olivia sighed. "I didn't feel sick until we got here. I've been hiding it from you because I don't want to leave a party you and Diana and Liza and Kelsey put together for me. But now…" she looked down and cried. "Now I feel sick and all I want to do is cry because Lelsey said you were only in this for sex, and the thought of losing you scares the hell out of me, which makes me cry which makes my headache worse which makes me feel sicker and you're mad at me for not telling you I was sick." She wiped her eyes. "Just give me a minute, I'll be okay."
Charles walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "I'm not mad at you, I'm concerned. Honey, I don't want you suffering by yourself. Screw the party. We can go now if you want. Diana and Liza can hold down the fort. And really, don't listen to Kelsey. She's not in my head. I'm not in this for the sex. We could never have sex again and I'd still be here because I am so deeply in love with you."
Olivia nodded. "I really don't feel well. Can we go? Before I wind up throwing up here again?"
Charles nodded. "I'll let Diana and Liza know you're sick."
Olivia looked up at him. "Liza knows. She came in when I was throwing up before. I made her promise not to tell you. I didn't want to have to cancel the party, but now… I just want to crawl into bed, in your arms, and sleep."
Charles took a deep breath. "You never have to hide anything from me. Ever. I will always be on your side, no matter what. Let's get out of here and get you to bed."
Olivia nodded. "I'm sorry, forgive me?"
Charles smiled. "Always." He walked out of the bathroom with her, his hand resting on her back. He talked to Diana and explained the situation and then he spotted Kelsey, and he saw red. He walked over to her alone. "Where do you get off Kelsey? Telling my fiancée I'm only in this for sex? How dare you?"
Kelsey looked up at him. "She's just in this for your money."
Charles stepped closer. "Keep Olivia's name out of your mouth, don't talk to her if you're only going to lie to her. You know nothing about our relationship Kelsey, and shame on you for assuming." He turned and walked over to Olivia. "Come on, beautiful. Let's go."
Olivia took his hand and they walked out of the party into the waiting limo. He helped her in then slid in after her. "Did I make things weird between you and Kelsey?"
Charles shook his head. "Kelsey brought a scolding on herself when she told you I was only in it for sex, when she said you were only in it for my money."
Olivia looked at him, wide eyed. "I'm not, I swear."
Charles soothed her. "Hey, I know that. It's okay now. Everything is alright."
Olivia rested her head on his shoulder. "I ruined tonight for the two of us, being sick and all."
Charles rubbed her arm. "It's not like you made yourself sick. This isn't your fault. We'll get home and crawl under the covers and I'll hold you all night while you sleep and hopefully you won't get sick anymore."
Olivia smiled weakly. "The party was so beautiful. Thank you for everything. Thank you for loving me, and being concerned about me being sick and upset."
Charles kissed the top of her head. "You never have to thank me for loving you."
Olivia nuzzled into him. "Mm, this is nice." A few minutes later the limo pulled up in front of their house and they climbed out and walked in. She kicked off her shoes and walked up the stairs, Charles right next to her. "Oh, thank you." Once they were in their bedroom Olivia turned around and looked at him. "Unzip me?"
Charles unzipped her dress and helped her change into cool pajamas. He kissed her forehead. "You're warm. Take your makeup off, I'll go get you some water, some saltines, and some medicine."
Olivia smiled. "You take such good care of me." She walked into the bathroom and peeled her false lashes off then took a makeup wipe and took her makeup off. She put on her glasses and climbed under the blankets on the bed, still sitting up. She grabbed her phone and called Noah to check in. Charles came in the room just in time to hear her say Goodnight to him. "Bye bye my sweet boy."
Charles set the medicine and water on the night table and handed her a sleeve of saltines. "Have a few crackers, then take the medicine with some water. Then you can sleep."
Olivia looked at him. "You haven't eaten anything."
Charles smiled. "I had a half a sandwich while I was downstairs. I'm good."
Olivia had a few crackers and then took the medicine he gave her with some water. She took her glasses off and lay down, facing him. "You promise you aren't mad that we left the party early?"
Charles kissed her nose. "Not at all. Now, get some sleep my love."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review if so inclined. Iʻll update again soon, but not tonight because I need sleep now.
