Felix

I can't believe how much holding Olivia's hand affects me. Wrapped in olive-green silk that hugs her curves, she looks as if not a day has passed since graduating. Her face is still youthful, her round, hazel eyes filled with innocence and mischief.

But I'm lying to myself. Her body is that of a woman and it's fascinating in its fluidity. And I knew this. I've studied her social media obsessively for the past six months.

It's so easy to get lost in her, forget why I'm truly here.

It feels so odd wrapping my arms around her. The melody isn't necessarily slow, but I took dance lessons before coming here, so I know how to lead her. She stumbles at first, before she falls into step with me. She's always been graceful.

I would hate her for it if my plan of humiliation wasn't a lot more complex than having her fall on her ass in the middle of the dancefloor.

"You can dance," she says, her voice sultry.

"I can do a lot of things," I reply and dip her. It only gives me a better view of her cleavage and damn, it does things to me.

That's not a bad thing. I need to get her to like me so I can act like I want her.

It's just an act. Just an act.

"So..." She digs her fingers into my shoulder as if to test the strength of my muscles.

I lean over and whisper in her ear, "So what?"

She shivers in my arms.

She's just a girl. A high school girl. She looks the same. She's eighteen.

She is not eighteen, she's twenty-eight, and she knows exactly how to rub against me to plant all sorts of thoughts in my head.

Maybe I should change my plan. A one night stand followed by ghosting would count as revenge, wouldn't it?

No! Focus! My plan is much better. If I give her what she wants, she'll completely lose interest and I'll be the one left hanging. Again. I need to do better this time.

"You seem a little tense," she whispers.

She's so close, her hair brushes my face. It smells amazing. Her skin is so soft. The chords of the music change and drift into something much slower. Olivia wraps both arms around my neck, pressing herself against me.

I'm falling. I'm definitely falling. I can't. Not so easily. She can't have everything she wants again.

"Maybe it's the bowtie," she says and unties it before I can protest. Then she unbuttons the first two buttons of my shirt, glancing at the exposed patch of skin. She takes in a shuddering breath.

I grab her wrists and we stop swaying. "What are you doing?"

"Just trying to make you feel more comfortable."

Damn, her voice is so low and sexy. She's hitting on me. And it's that thought that finally sobers me up. Finally, Olivia thinks I'm good enough to be the center of her attention. At least for now, and I have to take full advantage of this. I can do it.

"You're being rather forward, aren't you?"

She gives me a sly smile. "Do you have a problem with that?"

In this one second, I have the upper hand, so I go all in. "I'm just not used to you giving me that sort of attention."

She grits her teeth and looks away. I don't allow her to look bashful and get out of this.

"It's usually reserved for people who are a lot more... interesting."

She rolls her eyes. "Felix, we grew up. We're adults now."

I'd agree with her, but there have been too many signs tonight that she hasn't changed at all. Her snark towards Jenna, her refusal to take any responsibility for her actions, for the damage she's done, her inability to follow a conversation.

Olivia Hernandez hasn't grown up. She's as self-absorbed as she was the last time she was dancing in this decrepit gym.

It's enough to give me the strength to do what needs to be done.

"And in this new adult universe, what am I?"

"We're still..." She halts as if realizing that friends is not the word she wants to use. Her eyes narrow and her smile is predatory. "I don't know, Felix. You started flirting with me first. What do you want to be?"

I grin back. "Oh, I love being this." And I twirl her before pulling her back into my arms.

"There you go," she whispers.

My hands slide down her back. She presses closer, tightening her hold around my neck. I continue my journey and cup her ass. She takes in a sharp breath, and the sway of her hips intensifies as if she wants to give me a better feel.

Yep, she's definitely interested. And she thinks there's no way I could resist her. I took acting classes before I came here and know exactly what to do.

I lean over until my lips are a breath away from her neck. "You're mighty daring."

"I'm daring? Your hands are on my ass."

"They could be in other places as well."

This makes her pull away, her gaze a mixture of shock and pleasure. "Who are you?"

I don't answer. I don't know who I am anymore either. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that the plan is working and I'm so very close to successfully completing step one.

"This reunion is over for me," I say. "Unless you want to go back and talk to the frat boys."

"Oh, fuck no!" She lets out a strangled giggle, and I can tell she's embarrassed about letting the curse slip.

I see her game. She wants to appear as a sophisticated lady to fit my billionaire, business tycoon persona. A lady does not say fuck. She implies it. But I don't want her to be a lady. I want her to be what she really is.

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind," I say.

She quirks an eyebrow. "I'm not sure what you mean."

I cringe internally, but lean even closer, until our noses touch. "If you want to say fuck, it's fine. If you want to fuck, that's also fine."

"Felix!" She slaps my chest, but it's playful.

Then, she glances over her shoulder as if to make sure everyone saw this cute interaction.

Yes, a lot of the people in the room are surveying us, and she's eating it all up. She's the center of attention, dancing with someone she deems presentable enough to show off. I bet half of these people don't recognize me. Maybe I should be hurt, but I don't care. I've truly left high school far behind. If I didn't have my plan, I wouldn't have even bothered to show up. But I know how much this matters to her, so I let her bask in the spotlight a bit more.

"I didn't expect you to be like this," she says after a while in which we continue to sway.

"Like this how?"

"So daring."

"Seems to be working for you."

"Don't get cocky now."

"Too late."

She laughs at this, and I'm done being a show monkey, so I stop dancing and take her hand.

"I've had enough. Let's get out of here."

She doesn't resist when I lead her back to the table so she can grab her purse. When I lead her towards the door, she gladly follows, making sure all eyes are on us. Right before we reach the door, she stops me.

"Wait a moment."

I try not to look annoyed as she fishes her cell phone out of her purse and reaches her arm out to take a selfie of us. I manage to smile right before the picture clicks and hope she doesn't notice my temporary look of disgust.

"We're so cute," she says, glancing at the photo. "And you can see the reunion banner behind us and everything."

"Mission accomplished for the night, right?"

She doesn't catch my snark and just nods, honestly thrilled. "Those losers who stayed home with sick kids should see what they missed out on."

Losers with sick kids... Lord, give me strength not to strangle her before this night is over. My smile probably looks like a grimace.

We sail past Betsy Coleman's desk and Olivia doesn't even let me answer her disappointed enquiry as to why we're leaving so soon. I just wave at her and try not to feel bad. I'm not here to entertain. I'm here to get revenge. And part two is coming right up.

"Where's your car?" Olivia asks the moment we're out in the parking lot.

I press down on the key and the headlights of my new ride turn on. She lets out a shriek and stares at my brand new black Lamborghini.

"That's your car?"

"Yes indeed."

She's drooling over it. For a moment, she even forgets about me as she hurries over to inspect it. I let her because I need some space, and being so close to her is giving me anxiety.

Nope, this is going great. All I have to do is take her home now and the night will be over.

"Felix?"

I jump. What the hell? Who recognized me? But as I glance over my shoulder, my stomach drops horribly. An old lady is heading towards me, her hair completely white, but her posture straight. She's wearing a light blue tracksuit and a great big smile. I know too well who she is, except the last time I saw her, her hair wasn't white and her frame so frail.

Olivia joins me, a frown on her face. "Nana? What are you doing here?"

I can't include her grandmother in this plot. I adored the woman when I was a kid.

"I'm walking Freckles." The old lady nods towards a huge orange cat on a leash.

"Dogs are for walking, not cats, Nana," Olivia points out, rolling her eyes.

"You shush about that." Nana glances back at me and her grin lights up the night. "I was hoping to see you. That's why I swung on by."

A boulder dives into my stomach. "It's very nice to see you again, too, Nana."

The old lady nods sagely. "Olivia needs some good influence in her life."

"Nana, come see Felix's car," Olivia says, grabbing her grandmother's arm and pulling her towards the Lamborghini.

I want to die but I follow them and wait as they gush over the beautiful car. Then Nana turns to me, her eyes misty with tears.

"I always knew you'd do well for yourself. You're such a smart and considerate boy."

I have a knot in my throat so I just nod. This has taken me back to my childhood more effectively than the entire reunion. "Thank you," I manage to choke out.

"It's great to see you," Olivia says, "but we were on our way out."

The old lady lifts her eyebrows, and for a moment I'm sure her brown eyes can see right through me. "You're leaving with Felix?"

Olivia blushes and I hate her. So I step in front of her and muster up the biggest and most honest smile I can. This woman deserves it.

"Don't worry about it, Nana. I'm just taking her home."

Nana smiles back. "I'm not worried if she's with you, Felix. I know you will take good care of her." She leans over and says in a conspiratorial whisper. "You're exactly what she needs."

I can't say anything to that, so I just squeeze her gnarled hands before saying goodbye and heading for the car. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Nana used to cook me lunch when I was in grade school. She babysat me when my parents were too busy. She was like my own grandmother since mine were both dead.

"Ugh, I'm sorry," Olivia says, getting inside the car and closing the door. "That effectively killed the mood."

It had. Both the chemistry between us and my confidence in the plan.

"How's she doing?"

"Being a killjoy and a nosy pain in the butt, obviously," she mutters.

That's it, I'm strangling her. When I turn to her, she's running her hand over the dashboard, more interested in a fucking car than her amazing grandmother.

I'm sorry, Nana, but she deserves this. I will help her by teaching her a valuable lesson.

So without another word, I start the Lamborghini and pull out of the parking lot. Good thing I've had some practice with the car and no longer press the brakes too hard. It's so easy to lose control of this monster. Olivia doesn't know that, so of course she demands that I go faster.

I oblige, and mere moments later, her hand is on my knee. She's so turned on by the expensive car, she'd probably give me road head if I asked. But I don't. I take the time to her place to prepare myself for what's about to happen.

She gives me the directions to a rather rundown apartment building next to the city center and I somehow manage to find a parking spot right in front of the door. For a moment, she appears embarrassed by her less-than-stellar lodgings, but she probably figures she'll get to spend my money soon, because she turns to me, eyes hooded with desire.

"It was so great to see you again," she purrs.

Ugh, I just want to kick her out and drive off. But I can't. I must press my advantage while I still have it. Showtime.

I lean over until our noses touch. "To be honest, you're the only reason I came to this boring reunion."

"Is that so?" She leans in closer, but I don't bite.

My plan isn't to kiss her in the car. I just brush a lock of hair behind her ear and run my thumb down her neck. Her skin is so soft and she smells like honey. She shudders and places her hand on my cheek. She's dying for me to kiss her, but won't initiate. I don't give her what she wants either, I just continue to run my fingers over her shoulder, playing with the strap of her dress. She lets out a low moan and I hate myself for finding it attractive. It's hard to resist the pheromones flying in such a confined space, but I do.

"Oh, Felix," she breathes.

I don't say anything in return, just wait for the inevitable.

"Do you want to come upstairs?" she asks.

There it is. "Only if you're comfortable with it," I say, keeping my voice low and sensual.

"I've been thinking about it all night."

She's good. In any other circumstances, I'd be all over her. But I can't. So I get out of the car and am grateful for the cold air hitting my face and sobering me a little. Who thought hate could make everything so intense?

Before I can round the car, Olivia is out as well, and she takes my hand and pulls me through the door. The building looks even shabbier on the inside and we have to climb the three floors to her apartment. She holds my hand all through it, having me trail behind her so I can admire her perfect ass. Once we reach the door, she leans back against it and pulls me close.

"Enough playing hard to get."

"We're in the hallway," I point out.

With a giggle, she turns and unlocks the door. Once she throws it open, she tosses her purse inside and grabs my hand again.

This is it. The moment of truth.

I don't let her pull me in. Instead, I press her against the doorframe, half in and half out and trap her between my arms. This time, when she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down, I let her. Her lips crash over mine, hot and hungry. I can only feel their softness for a second before she opens her mouth and her tongue is on my lips.

Dear God.

I fall harder against her, letting her in, exploring her mouth. She knows how to kiss, her tongue swirling against mine. Insecurity nudges at the back of my mind, but it's kept at bay by the feel of her silky dress under my fingers, the way her body slides against mine. Her fingers are in my hair, and the intensity of her kiss just grows.

Before I can control myself, I'm sliding the suspenders off her shoulders, touching her bare skin, gliding her dress off until it pools around her waist. Her breasts are perfect too, not just her ass, and they feel amazing in my hands. The way she moans is driving me up the wall.

This shouldn't be happening. The plan wasn't to go this far.

But the plan dissolves under Olivia's kisses.