Chapter Twenty-Eight

‘Hmm … are you leaving me already?' mumbles Luc still half sleeping, holding my body tightly against his. I consider staying just a bit longer like this. His skin is warm against mine, providing me with the feeling of belonging.

‘I don't want to be late,' I say.

I try to get off the bed one more time. He pulls me back to him and tickles my neck and collarbone with his stubbled face.

‘Just when I finally can stay in bed longer,' he complains as I fight my way out of his arms, even though all I want right now is to be exactly where I am.

He finally accepts it and lets me go, but not before kissing me sweetly and needy, with a morning erection that was hard to ignore.

Yesterday feels like a dream, but I very much believe it happened. There is enough proof of it: all the messages waiting to be read on my phone, as well as the missed calls. There is also the news articles, which are all over the internet and on the covers of today's newspapers I see on my way to work. I'm glad when I see one featuring a photo of only Luc and his trophy, all the rest have my face stamped on them beside him. The favourite angle and scene seems to be of Luc giving me a kiss in the player box. I think I'll need time to wrap my head around all this.

UK Gossip Today's Blog

What a match! Lamaire wins Wimbledon and gets the boyfriend title.

Yesterday, Lamaire and Moretti played a match that is hard to forget. After over five hours with a memorable tiebreak under the stormy London weather, Lucas, the French Golden Boy, took the most dreamt-of trophy in the tennis world. Lamaire wins Wimbledon for the first time in his career, becoming the current world's number one tennis player. But for us, the highlight of the match was the presence of the most talked about woman of the week, designer Olivia Charlton. Proving the rumours to be true, after surprising Lucas during the match—mind you, almost making him miss a point—Miss Charlton was asked live if he was her boyfriend. The answer, dear gossipers is YES. We told you it was a match, didn't we? Also, can anyone explain how Miss Charlton could be at Henman Hill and the player box almost at the same time?

Tennis World

Wimbledon and love: Lamaire wins dramatic final and celebrates with new girlfriend Olivia Charlton.

Daily Mail

This year's Wimbledon's final goes straight to a romcom movie scene …

Le Figaro

Notre Golden Boy a gagné Wimbledon pour la première fois et a trouvé un match pour son c?ur …

I don't remember the girls being so excited about something that happened in my life as much as they are with me dating Luc. It's as if they started to see me in a different way, I could tell by their grins and excited tone as they helped me dress up last night.

Mum bombarded my phone before and during the match, I didn't have time to explain it to her before making my way to Wimbledon.

Yesterday at 11:30 am

Mum: Why are you and Nate taking so long? Your dad's starving.

Mum: For goodness' sake, where are you?

Mum: Nate told us about your plan. We think it's wonderful my love. Your dad says next year he wants to be in the player box too.

Mum: Olivia, I feel like I just watched my favourite movie. I think your dad is going to have a heart attack. I told him he better not or I'll sell his cars.

Yesterday at 6:38 pm

Nate: You owe me one. Just kidding, I'm happy for you. Love you sis. Now we want to meet the boyfriend, you know, we need to approve him…

Right now I'm standing in front of my desk at work. The office is still a bit quiet, it's early Monday morning after all. I enjoy the time and the quiet, taking one more look at the presentation and going over my speech.

When Caleb arrives he comes straight to me, and he looks just as I imagined he would: a pile of nerves, but immaculately dressed for the occasion. He has a black floral suit on, with big red flowers embodied on the shiny fabric. Only he can pull off wearing something like this and still look gorgeously chic.

‘Good morning, Queen,' I say, raising my eyes at him, contemplating his nervous smile.

‘Good morning, Celeb,' he teases.

He gets an eye roll from me.

‘Are you ready for this?' I ask, grabbing my stuff from the desk and standing up.

‘Oh, what do we have here?' he stares at me over the frame of his glass and motions his finger in a circle pointing to my collarbone.

I almost forgot about the hickey.

‘Shit,' I say, quickly trying to cover it with my blouse.

‘Shit? Didn't seem you thought it was shit while you were getting it,' he laughs at my expense.

‘Funny Queen,' I tease him sarcastically.

‘Let's go, let's do this,' he says, turning on his heel, waiting for me to follow.

Caleb and I are the perfect match at work. When he freaks out, I pull him back to his senses, when I need someone to make things happen under pressure, I have him. When it comes to work, we think alike; when it comes to designs, we complement each other; when it comes to loyalty, it's us before the rest. And so now, as we finish presenting the final changes for the new exclusive private collection of Secretive to our boss, Haley, we have no doubt it will be a success. Honestly? I have never designed a collection like this, and I might as well never do it again, not with these materials anyways.

Haley is looking at us, speechless. I have never seen her speechless, it could mean something really good or really bad. But Caleb and I know for sure that it's good, more than good.

Everyone's holding their breath. The only two people in the room who seem to be self- confident and carefree about this moment are Caleb and me. We have our reasons.

‘Wow,' she says, finally. ‘This is amazing.' Her mouth's hanging open. She stands up and shakes our hands, congratulating us on our work. She only ever does this when someone manages to impress her.

We gave her what she wanted, what she thought she didn't want and what she'll need until she finds a replacement for the two of us, because right now we are going to tell her that we quit.

Caleb and I look at each other. I see signs of pride for the work we've done all over his face. I can feel my shoulders already happily dismissing the heaviness they carried in the past few months.

‘You're joking, right?' says Haley, the blood on her face immediately disappearing. Her big blue eyes almost popping off her face. Desperation taking over her.

Unfortunately for her, she has just lost two of her best designers, and though we still offer her to help with our replacements, we know it will never be enough to help her stop her shaking hands or ease the confused look on her face at this very moment. I almost feel sorry, but then I think about how amazing it will be to have the freedom to design whatever and however I want to. A world of possibilities lays ahead.

Quitting had been on my mind for a while, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. When the opportunity to talk to Caleb about my ideas for the future appeared, without expecting it, I gained an ally. The most important one, because there's no one else I'd rather work with on founding my own brand than him.

And so after presenting my best work so far to the company that used to be my dream, I announced I'm quitting to work on a personal project, my biggest dream. Even though speculations started to appear across the room, I gave them no clue of what is to come. Thanks to that, people forgot that yesterday I was live on TV and all over the press today.

#

The black BMW is waiting for me just in front of the revolving doors of Secretive's building. The past two weeks are playing like an 8mm movie in my mind, and my heart is jumping with excitement for what's coming next.

I forgot how good it felt to be carefree, at least for a while. Comfort zones feel good, they're safe, you know what to expect from them. But sometimes, stepping out of them can make you question whether it's worth saying no to the new. It's scary, it throws you off balance, and it may make you feel out of control, it's true. But what if this also means you get to feel alive? Wouldn't it have been all worth it?

Steps away from reaching the BMW's door, Luc opens it for me. I join him in the back seat of the car, where he greets me with a Sweet Relief green smoothie in his hand. If this isn't a dream, I don't know what else it could be.

‘Thought you needed to celebrate,' he says with a wink.

He showered, but still smells of sex. His hair looks like it dried naturally, and it makes me want to mess it up even more. He didn't shave his stubble, which I'm thankful for. He's all the celebration I need today.

‘Stop,' he says, watching me with a wicked smile.

‘What?' I pretend I don't know what he's talking about.

‘Don't look at me like that, Olivia.'

He can't stop staring at me either.

I take a sip of my smoothie, but my gaze's still holding his.

‘Are you bringing that devious design of yours I didn't get to take advantage of?' he asks.

‘You mean your punishment?' I tease, thinking of the morning I made him watch me put the black bodysuit on.

‘If you say so,' he says with smiling eyes.

‘Of course,' I say. ‘I'm wearing it right now.'

His mouth envelopes mine, taking me by surprise, spreading heat and longing through every part of my body. Too bad we aren't alone in the car.

‘Ready for your prize?' he asks with his lips hovering over mine.

‘Yes.'

Outside the tinted windows of the car Londoners are living their usual Monday and the familiar rainy weather, whereas I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and saying yes to a life I never thought I'd have the courage to live just a few days ago.

How much can one person mess up your life within two weeks? A lot, but sometimes, messing up can be a good thing, and I cannot wait to find out how messy my life will be with Luc holding my hand. I cannot wait to find out how I will fit into his life and he into mine. I cannot wait to find out where this summer will take us. But I'm ready. Oh, I'm so ready to find out.

Tennis World

After becoming France's Golden Boy and number 1 tennis player in the world, Lamaire's taking time off this summer to celebrate his 5th Grand Slam title at the C?te-d'Azur with his new girlfriend, Olivia Charlton.

UK Gossip Today's Instagram

Gossipers, Gossipers, what if we told you that the spotlight couple of the moment, Lucas Lamaire and Olivia Charlton, were spotted at Nice's International Airport just yesterday? Oh, we can't wait to see what these two are up to this summer. Should we call the new lovebirds #LOvia or #LOvaire? Share your thoughts in the comments below.