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“It’s my birthday. Shouldn’t I be able to do whatever I want?”
“Is that a no?”
“Do you want me to behave?” he asked seductively.
I chuckled. “No.”
Chapter 3
After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and mini bagels, we headed for the office. I kept the gift for Oliver tucked in my purse along with a card, planning to give it to him at lunchtime. Our day was a whirlwind of phone calls, reports, and meetings with his internal staff. Everyone was polite, but I could sense a few people might create problems for me.
By the time lunch rolled around, I was both starving and eager to give Oliver his birthday present.
“Would you like to go out to lunch?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
“It’s your birthday, it’s entirely up to you,” I replied with a smile.
“Let’s go out.”
I went to my office to grab my black wool coat while Oliver straightened his desk. A few minutes later, he showed up at my door. My new furniture had finally arrived, making the space feel cozy and welcoming.
“I like everything you chose,” Oliver said, plopping down on the champagne-colored microsuede couch and bouncing up and down.
I watched him with a mix of amusement and fascination. “What exactly are you doing?”
“I’m checking to see the bounceability of the cushions,” he replied, grinning like a mischievous child.
“Is bounceability even a word?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Probably not, but these are springy,” he said, bouncing again for emphasis.
“And why exactly would I need them to be springy?” I inquired, trying to suppress a laugh.
`“For after-curricular activities,” he said with a wink.
I softly cursed under my breath. “This is a professional environment, not exactly suited for what you’re implying.”
“Do you think you’ll be fired?” he teased, a playful glint in his eye.
“Not if you keep it professional,” I shot back, shaking my head with a smile.
Oliver stood up, offering me his arm. “Shall we, Ms. Stewart?”
“We shall, Mr. Fox,” I replied, linking my arm with his.
As we walked to the elevator, I felt a surge of excitement for the day ahead. This man, with his mix of childlike enthusiasm and steely determination, had a way of making even the most mundane days feel special. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction to the gift I had carefully chosen, a token of my love and appreciation for everything he had brought into my life.
“Where are we going for lunch?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
“You’ll see,” Oliver replied, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
I frowned slightly, hating when he kept things from me. It should've been me taking him to lunch, but Oliver always did things his own way, even on his birthday. He led me to the elevator, and we squeezed in with the lunch crowd. As we moved to the back, he held my hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb, a soothing gesture that calmed my mild irritation.
When we exited the building, Vlad was waiting for us with the limo. The weather had turned unseasonably warm, much warmer than it had been in the morning. I shrugged out of my coat before getting into the car. Once inside, Oliver pulled me onto his lap, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss. His hand fisted in my hair, preventing me from pulling away. When he finally released me, I was breathless.
“What was that for?” I asked, dazed and flushed.
“I love you. I love you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
