Olivia North

I am currently on my way to McAfee hotel, where the presscon will be held today. The hotel was owned by Erin's family and was now managed by his two sisters. Erin did not want to take part in their business because she wanted to be a writer. Luckily, her parents did not take it against her and supported her dream.

"We're here." I heard Jones simply said and went out to open my door. I stepped out of the car and looked at him sadly. He smiled and gave me a reassuring nod just like a father gives to her daughter when she's about to have her first job interview. I took a deep breath and went inside the lobby.

I saw Belle, my PA, sitting on one of the couches in the lobby with her laptop on. I assume she's waiting for me so I walked to her.

"Fancy seeing you here." I joked and she jolted because I startled her.

"Livy, I told you to stop doing that. Oh hi, Jones." she said while she shut her laptop and stood up to face me. Jones gave him a firm nod.

I smiled at her and clutched my left arm to her right and led the way to the lift. "So, I surmise that dad called you to be here. What does he want?" I asked.

I know that dad's expecting me to be on an apeshit mode today so he called everyone he knew who can maintain my mood, awhile ago, Jones and now, Belle. If you're wondering why I didn't make Belle my secretary in the office, it's because she's the one who's in charge to take care of the charities as well as my personal stuff such as paying for my taxes, leases, credit cards, and the like. Yes, I put my 100% trust in her because I know she won't betray me and she's like a family to me same as Jones and Lorna.

"Apparently, your dad wants you to be in great condition." she said while pressing the penthouse floor. I furrowed my brows and asked why we're going to the penthouse because I was told that the conference rooms are located in the 4th and 5th floor of the hotel.

"Oh yeah right. You're father wants to see you first, so we booked room the penthouse. Niccolo is already there, he just arrived 10 minutes ago. I must admit, he looked so hot and handsome, you sure are lucky to have him, right Jones." she winked at me.

I heard Jones chuckled.

I rolled my eyes at her and looked at my reflection on the lift's door to check myself. I straightened my hair today and parted it in the middle, as for my makeup, I put light makeup and a peachy brown lipstick. Today, I opted to wear a white sleeveless blazer dress with gold buttons and partnered it with my YSL strapped heels. To top it all, I was using my Hermés Himalayan Birkin in medium. All in all, I look so elegant.

"Stop checking yourself out, Adonis. You're beautiful, ok." Belle stated and I laughed because she just compared me to the Greek mythology's most handsome man.

The elevator dinged signalling us that we've arrived the floor. Belle went out first. My mood dropped again and I didn't make a move.

"Livy? Let's go." Jones said cautiously behind me. I looked at him with my eyes pleading him to save me. I heard a sigh and felt Belle's hand pulling my right arm. I faced her and saw sadness in her eyes too.

"You have to do this. You can do this." she said as she pulled me out of the lift. I hugged her and uttered, "For the children and elders." With that, I released the hug and went to the room.

I knocked and the door was opened by Lorna. I knew it. I knew she will be here too. She smiled at me and informed me that dad and Niccolo is at the room's parlour. She asked me if I need something to eat or drink but I told her that I'm fine. I walked inside the room and saw Niccolo Knights standing by the floor to ceiling window, typing something on his phone. He's wearing a white dress shirt without a tie and the first two buttons was left unbuttoned, he topped it with a blue blazer and it's matching blue dress pants. I must say, Belle was not lying about him being handsome.

"Good morning, my little Livy." I heard my father and turned my head on the right. I saw him walking out from a room which I believe is a powder room.

I looked at him bored and answered, "There's nothing good in the morning. Now, tell me why are we here? What do you need to talk about?" I asked as I took a sit on the couch and crossed my legs.

"Here." he gave me a piece of paper and I saw Niccolo sat on the couch in front of me still typing something on his phone. What is he typing anyway? Does he answering emails right now? I furrowed my brows and looked at my dad. He smiled at me and continued.

"In there are the questions that the press would likely to ask you two." I looked at it and scoffed, they really prepared for this.

"Now, I give you two 15 minutes to discuss. I expect you to be on your good behaviour my love." my dad said and I looked at him to see that he's already by the door and went out. Don't tell me that Niccolo and I were the only people in this room. I furrowed my brows and heard Niccolo's clearing of his throat. I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

"Is there always something wrong with your throat?" I inquired to irate him.

He narrowed his eyes at me and answered firmly, "None."

"Don't give that tone to me." I said coldly.

"Then don't give me that attitude of yours." he said flatly and took out his phone again to start typing. This is so annoying, I stood up, I walked towards him and snatched his phone. He looked up at me furrowing his brows and ordered, "Give it back."

"No." I said firmly and folded my arms across my chest.

He sighed and stood up. I took a step back because he's towering me and we're too close to each other that I can smell his manly sandalwood scent.

"Give it back to me, Olivia." he repeated exasperatedly.

"I know you're a busy man Niccolo, and this presscon thing is putting you off from your work, not to mention that I am also being irritating. Now, for you to return back to your work, go tell my dad that we're not doing any announcement today, or ever." I suggested and looked straight to his.

I was taken aback when he took a step towards me. I took a step back to give us some space but he took another one again and i took a step back. He did it again until the back of my knee felt the couch.

"What do you want?" I asked him in a shaky voice. He smiled and took a step closer to me and I leaned back until I lose my balance. I fell on the couch and as I looked up, I saw his face slowly leaning on me. I widened my eyes and spoke, "What the hell are you doing?"

He grabbed his phone from my hand and returned to his spot. When he was seated, I released the breath I was unknowingly holding.

"To get this." he raised his right hand and wiggled it a little to show me his phone. He put it inside his blazer and smiled at me, as if teasing me.

I'd gotten mad at him because of the stunt he pulled so I took the pillow beside me and threw it at him. He was startled by my action and looked at me with slightly widened eyes.

"Do that again to me and I'll make sure that I'll throw the hardest object to you." I threatened and composed myself.

"Why are you so violent? You look harmless but you're not. Anyway, we're running out of time so let's discuss our supposed love-story." he said while picking the paper on the table.

"You're really into this huh? Why Niccolo? If it's not about the money what is your reason? Did my father threatened you to agree in to this? Tell me, I can help you, just please please don't marry me." I asked desperately.

He looked at me shocked. Is it because my father really threatened him? Oh my God. No. I don't think dad will do that...

"No, Olivia, your father did not threaten me. I told you before I am indebted to him. Thus is the only repayment I can give to your dad after all that he'd done to me. So I'm sorry, I will still marry you." He stated and I huffed and looked at him angrily.

"What did he do to you to agree to this sham?!" I asked angrily.

He smiled and I frowned even more.

"He trusted me when no one did, Olivia. He invested a lot in my company when everyone's mocking me. He let me burrow money when there were countless of banks rejected my loan application. If not from him, I may be still struggling for a loan application. So that is the reason. This was his wish from me, and I have to return the favor. As for his reason on choosing me to be your husband, I don't know it either." he explained seriously. I looked into his eyes to see if he's telling the truth or not and I can see the sincerity in them.

We stared at each other until I felt uncomfortable and looked away.

"So he's using that as an emotional blackmail to you?" I asked and picked up the paper.

"No, he never once used it against me. You see, your father is a good man, Olivia. When he came to me and asked to marry you, of course I didn't agree all of a sudden. I thought he was only joking because he always asks me when will I get married. But days later, he called me and asked me if I have given it a thought, and that's when I knew he's serious about this. I thought this through, Olivia, I was about to reject it but seeing your dad pleading at me to agree, I just couldn't say no. Who am I to say no to him when in the past he gave me everything, support, money, and endorsement without doubting me. So I agreed." he paused waiting for me to react but I still stayed silent assessing him.

I narrowed my eyes at him. So my father supported Niccolo from the very beggining? Zac was right he really is a good person, imagine agreeing to marry a stranger because you think you owe your success to someone. But still, he should've put his foot down and disagreed. I feel like there's still a reason behind why he agreed. I will find out what is it.

What are your reasons dad? Why him and I?

As I was about to speak, we heard a knock on the door. We looked at it and saw Lorna entered announcing that it's time for us to be at the conference room for the presscon.

I sighed and stood up, I grabbed my Birkin and walked outside the room. I can feel Niccolo behind me walking. We stopped in front of the lift, he stood beside me and pressed the down button. We stood in silence while we're waiting for the lift. Suddenly, I remembered that we didn't talk about our 'story'. I looked at him and asked nonchalantly masking my nervousness, "So, how did we meet?"

"We'll just say we met at your dad's office." he suggested.

"When did we start dating?"

"2 months after that." he said.

"Make it three." I said as we entered the lift.

"We've been dating for?" I asked again

"7 months" he answered and I nodded.

The lift opened and I walked out first, I slowed down my pace so he can walk beside me.

We halted in front of the door and I can see from my peripheral that he's looking at me. I looked at him with a questioning look and he asked, "Ready?"

I nodded and widened my eyes when he placed his arm around my waist and opened the door.

We went in front of the press and we smiled. As expected, they asked a lot of questions regarding our relationship. Niccolo was the one who answered almost all the questions but when one of the reporters asked if I already met his son, I answered.

"Yes, I've met him once. He didn't know me that time as his father's girlfriend but he's a good kid, very respectful and cute." I answered and smiled.

Then another reporter asked if I'm fine with him already have a son. I frowned a little because does he thought of me like that, that I am a bitch who doesn't like kids?

"I am fine, in fact, I don't have a problem of him having a son. If I hadn't I wouldn't agree being his girlfriend, also, the kid is nice, he's fun to be with." I said in irritation.

"How about the footage of you and Cameron making out?" another reporter asked.

I smiled and answered him, "That was when Nick and I broken up. We patched things up already so no need to bring it up, right Niccolo." I looked at him waiting for his reply and I saw his face darkens and glares at the reporter. Woah, he's good. He's good at acting huh.

"Can we please not talk about it? I'm not comfortable hearing that." He said and placed his left arm on my shoulder and pulled me gently.

After that, they resumed on asking us about our relationship.

After 15 minutes, the presscon ended and the reporters asked us to pose for a picture. Niccolo put his left arm around my waist again, I smiled for the picture but was shocked when he kissed my right cheek.