Chapter 11

Olivia North

I woke up from the annoying ringing of my phone. I looked for it while my eyes still shut because I was too sleepy and my head hurts. My hands found it and turned it off so I can continue my sleep.

I opened my eyes and saw darkness. Where am I? I looked around and found my bedside lamp. I turned it on and walked my way to the bathroom. I looked at myself at the mirror and was shocked to see my face covered with smudged makeup, my hair was a complete me. How did I do this to myself? I sure partied hard last night. By the way what time is it? It's still dark. Anyway, I need to take a shower and fix my face.

I walked out of the bathroom feeling fresh and hungry. I checked my phone and was startled to see that it's already 7 in evening and i had 75 missed calls from Erin, Jowee, and Zac. What is going on? Did they miss me so much? Anyway, I'll charge my phone first and eat. I'll call them later.

After I ate dinner which is a chinese takeout, I called Jowee and Erin.

"What up, my loves." I asked while balancing my phone and the tub of chocolate ice cream on my hand because i put them on speaker mode as i walked to my couch.

"Are you crazy? We've been calling you since this morning. Are you ok? My God Livy." Erin bursted.

"Geez mom, I'm fine ok. I just woke up. No need to worry." I joked and sat on my couch. Seriously, why was she so panicked?

"No need to worry? Are you nuts? You passed out last night we thought we needed to bring you to the hospital because of alcohol intoxication. We also had to call your brother to notify him that you were so wasted. And he ended up driving us home." Erin exclaimed.

"Oh, that explains why there are so many missed calls" i mumbled and open the tv.

"Ahmmm, no. I mean partly for me because I was worried about you too but 70% of my calls were about you and Cameron." Jowee commented. I put a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth and asked them, "Who's Cameron?"

"You're really unbelievable. Dont tell me you forgot?" Jowee asked as I flipped the channel.

"Enlighten me please, Erin." I sighed and asked Erin instead because Jowee is hitting around the bush.

"Well, there are pictures and videos of you making out with Cameron James at the pub and the whole country made a big deal out of it, that the North heiress and the worldwide famous actor Cameron James are dating." Erin explained.

"Go to E! Network now, Livy." Jowee ordered.

After I flipped the channel to E! Network, I saw immediately the video of me straddling Cameron and cupping his face as we made out. There are also pictures of us dancing, sitting closely while I was leaning my head on his shoulder and my leg was on top of his leg. We really looked like a couple here.

I sighed and spoke, "Ignore it. It will die down in a couple of days." As I took a spoonful of ice cream again.

"Yah. But was he good?" Erin asked.

"I dont know, I honestly cant remember what happened last night if not from you two." I said honestly and logged on to my Netflix.

"Right. Leave it to you to forget about the nicest things in life. You actually kissed Cameron James, Olivia. If I were you, I would have continued it to his or my apartment." Jowee said dreamily.

"That's plain stupid and desperate, Jowee. Anyway, I have to sleep now, are we still game tomorrow for shopping?" Erin queried.

"Im still down." I answered

"Yasss, of course!" Jowee said

Jowee and I replied at the same time.

"Ok, brunch at Judy's tomorrow. Bye." And with that, we ended the call.

Today, I am wearing a white long sleeved off shoulder crop top and black high waisted skinny jeans and partnered it with my Gucci sneakers and black Celiné nano bag. I curled my hair, put light makeup and red lipstick because Im kinda feeling myself today.

I walked out of my building and waited for my car when I saw a group of paparazzis coming my way. They bombarded me alot of questions about my relationship with Cameron James.

I got scared by them and went inside after I asked the guard to shoo them away. I took my sunglasses out and put it on me. Geez, Erin and Jowee wasn't joking around when they said they made a big deal out of it. When i saw my car, I walked quickly to avoid them.

I sighed and took off to have brunch and shopping with my friends. The day went by like that, paparazzis chasing us.

By Friday, the news died down a little bit as Cameron's side announced that we're not together. However, Zac and dad were mad about it in two different reasons. For Zac, he was mad because I was so wasted that time that any man could easily take advantage of me. As for dad, this was humiliating for Niccolo as he is my future husband. Like I care.

However, the news broke again after a week because the paps saw Cameron and I in the same restaurant. It was actually a coincidence because I was there for a meeting and he was there to eat, I guess. I actually didnt know and see him there but apparently, the paps saw it an opportunity to spark another rumor about us secretly dating.

The paps were so crazy, they follow me everywhere I went but I could care less because I was busy as hell in the office especially that the textile division was now under my leadership, thanks to my annoying of a brother. Tonight's actually my flight to Dubai, I will be there for three days to meet up with the potential investors in our textile division and I can tell that at the end of the week, I will be exhausted as hell.

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"Ms. North, please wake up, we're about to land." Nikkie, my secretary, shook me a little to wake me up. I opened my eyes and stood up from my bed to take a sit at our private plane's parlour. I buckled myself up and prepared for the landing.

Nikkie and I are on our way home from Dubai. We were both exhausted because in those three days, we never had any rest. I had to attend back to back meetings. Even last night, before I boarded this plane, I had a conference call with Mr. Sherate that lasted for 2 hours. Oh my god, this job is really tiring, how can Jowee do all this while maintaining her mischievous self? Oh right, I forgot to mention that Jowee is the sole heiress of The Distillery Inc., the country's largest distillery. Anyway, when I get home, I will take a bath and sleep.

As we landed, I thanked all the crew especially the pilot for the safe landing. When I exited the plane, I saw a man dressed in a North's security uniform. I narrowed my eyes and walked downstairs. I had a feeling that I won't be getting home to my apartment.

As I took the last step, the security spoke.

"Good evening, Ms. North, Mr. North would like you to be ushered tonight at the manor."

I looked at him bored and walked pass him to go to my car but another security stepped in front of me and pleaded me to get in the car. I glared at him and planned to walk pass him too when I heard a familiar voice.

"Ms. Livy, we really need to take you to the manor."

I looked behind and saw Jones, my bodyguard since I was 13 years old. I smiled widely, I ran to him and gave him a hug.

"Jones! What are you doing here?" I released the hug and continued, "I missed you, oh my god!" I smiled widely. This man right here, was the one of the few people who took care of me after my mom died. He cared for me like her own daughter.

"I was called by your dad to be of service again, because apparently, his little Livy is being followed and harassed by the paparazzis. Also, might I add, is being extra difficult to handle." He teased.

I rolled my eyes at him and hooked my left arm to his right arm while we headed towards the car.

"I wouldn't be extra difficult if he didn't force me to things I don't want to do. Do you know what he did?" I yawned.

"I heard. But your father sure has reasons." He said and opened the door.

"I don't care about his reasons. And oh, tell one of those hillbillies to drive my secretary to her home." I ordered as I stepped inside the car.

I arrived at the manor and told Lorna to announce my arrival to dad, I went to the kitchen to drink water because I was so thirsty. As I was refilling my glass again, I saw Bethany walked inside from the backdoor and she didn't notice me standing by the fridge. She was replenishing the spices in the cupboard across me and humming. I waited for her to notice me but when I realized that she's so into her duty, I spoke and that made her startled.

"Didn't I tell you to not show your face to me?"

She gasped and I can see the panic forming in her eyes. She apologized while stuttering.

"I.. I am sorry, M... Miss Livy, I-I di..didnt notice you." She was about to go out but I halted her.

"Come here." I ordered her. She hesitantly walked in front of me.

"What did you call me?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"M-Miss L-livy." I furrowed my brows and poured my water to her head. She gasped and looked at me with widened eyes.

"You don't have the right to call me Livy, do you understand?! Show your face to me again and I'll make sure that you won't be here the next day." I threatened.

"Olivia, that's enough! Bethany you may go now." I heard my dad's angry voice. I smirked and turned around to see him standing in the kitchen entrance while standing behind him was a shocked Niccolo Knights. Why is he here again? I knew that the ushering would be related to him.

I placed the glass on the kitchen island and crossed my arms across my chest. I smiled at my dad and raised my brows, satisfied at what I did to Bethany.

"Don't you smile at me like that Olivia, I did not raise you like that." He reprimanded me while entering the kitchen.

I scoffed and tilted my head to the right.

"Yup, you sure did not raise me like that." I smiled and opened the fridge to see if I can eat something, I saw a tupperware of strawberries and took it out. I opened the lid, took one big strawberry and ate it. I took another one and pointed it to dad.

"Because you were so busy working instead of raising your daughter." I smiled and ate the strawberry.

I opened the fridge again to put back the strawberries inside. I faced my dad again and saw sadness in his eyes. I shrugged off the lonely feeling and directed my attention to Niccolo.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"He's here because I asked him to" my father replied to me instead.

"Let him talk, old man." I said and faced Niccolo again, "So, why did the old man asked you and I to come here?" I asked.

"We will announce on Monday that we're dating." He said and I was taken aback by that.

"No. And you agreed? Are you insane? Why do we have to do that?" I asked raising my voice.

"Because we need to put on a show first before we announce that we're getting married. We wouldn't be doing any of that if you're not popular to the press." He said in a calm yet agitated voice because I know for a fact that he values his and his son's privacy.

I walked angrily and stood in front of him without minding his personal space.

"So it is my fault now, huh. If you didn't agree to this sham then we wouldn't be announcing something to the press." I countered.

He gulped and I looked into his eyes, there I saw discomfort. He cleared his throat and took two steps back. And that's when I noticed how close we were.

He blinked his eyes and spoke, "If you're not this difficult to deal with then we wouldn't be needing to put on a show."

"Then don't marry me. I am willing to give you my 5% share in our company if you put an end to this." I said.

"For the record, I did not agree to marry you because of money. I can fend for my own, Olivia." He raised his voice a little.

"Oh yeah?! Then why did you agree to marry me? Because you're indebted to my father? Do you think I believe you? No, Niccolo, I don't because whatever that debt you have with my dad, whatever happens, in the end you win. This deal arrangement is a quid pro quo to you." I pointed my index finger at him.

"That's what you think, huh. That everyone wants money from you or from your family. Maybe if you change your attitude towards people and be good to them, then it will open up your eyes that this world does not only revolve to your money." He stated calmly but I can see the rage in his eyes.

"Who are you to tell me what to do? You have no right to tell me things, hell you don't even have the right to talk to me like that because you're just a mere puppet of my father, Niccolo." I spat those words with venom to him.

"See, that is your problem Olivia, you think so highly of yourself. You think that you're higher than the people around you. You think that every people will kiss your ass and worship you for being Anthony North's daughter." Seriously? Who told him that I enjoyed being my dad's daughter, i actually despised to be one. I raised my right hand to slap him but he's quick to hold my arm and said.

"And that's what your good at, humiliating people." He said angrily.

I wiggled my arm from his grip and pointed my index finger to his chest and spoke.

"I only humiliate people like you, Niccolo. I hope your son does not get that know-it-all attitude of yours." 

He was about to say something when suddenly, my dad cleared his throat and stopped our bickering.

"Enough you two. You're not even married and yet you fight like an old married couple." He chuckled while standing up from the stool. I can see the amusement in his face, I furrowed my eyebrows at him and spoke to him in a tired voice.

"Dad, I am so fucking exhausted, I haven't eaten anything since I've landed. The last thing I want tonight is being informed about this announcement thing. Can't I have a break from all this? I only came here because Jones was the one who picked me up." I said tiredly.

"Can I please go home now." I added and headed towards the door not before I heard my dad's faint apology.

"I'm sorry, my Livy." 

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