Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

O live adjusted the ring light to cast a soft glow across her face. She tucked a stray honey-blonde strand behind her ear and took a deep breath, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement as she hit the live button on her screen.

"Hey, book lovers!" she chirped, her voice warm and inviting. "It's your girl Olive, back with another update. And boy, do I have some tea to spill today! So, remember my mysterious hottie I mentioned last time? Well, things have been heating up."

Olive's heart fluttered as she spoke, her hands gesticulating animatedly. "His name is Chaos. Talk about a romance novel hero name, am I right? He's this tech mogul from Silicon Valley, total genius type. And let me tell you, the man is fine with a capital F-I-N-E."

She fanned herself playfully, eliciting a soft chuckle. "But it's not just his looks. He's got this intensity about him, this passion when he talks about his work. It's... electrifying."

Olive paused, her expression softening. "I know I've been skeptical about love in the past, but I've decided to give Chaos a real chance. There's something different about him, something that makes me want to let down my walls a little."

She reached for her phone, glancing at the notifications flooding in. "Oh wow, you guys are blowing up the comments already! Let's see what you're saying."

Her eyes scanned the screen, a warm smile spreading across her face. "‘Go get him, girl!' ‘You deserve happiness, Olive!' ‘I'm living for this real-life romance!'" she read aloud, her cheeks flushing with pleasure.

"You all are the absolute best, you know that? Your support means the world to me." Olive blew a kiss to the camera. "All right, let's tackle some of your questions..."

For the next fifteen minutes, Olive chatted animatedly with her followers, sharing tidbits about her budding relationship with Chaos and laughing at their enthusiastic responses. As she wrapped up the video, she felt a surge of affection for her loyal audience.

"That's all for now, book lovers. Remember, life's too short for bad books or lukewarm love. Go out there and find your own happily ever after!" With a final wink and wave, Olive ended the live.

She leaned back into the sofa, a contented sigh escaping her lips. It felt good to share her happiness with her followers. They'd been with her through so many ups and downs, it only seemed right to include them in this new chapter of her life.

Curious to see the response, Olive pulled up the video on her tablet. Her eyes widened as she saw the view count skyrocketing. "Holy cow," she muttered, scrolling through the comments.

At first, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Her regular followers gushed about how happy she looked and how excited they were for her. But as she delved deeper, Olive's smile began to falter.

"Is this a joke? No way a guy like that would go for someone like her." "Lol, she's probably one of many. Wake up, Olive!" "She's not even that pretty. What could he possibly see in her? "If he's as good looking as she says, he's probably not a one woman man."

The comments grew increasingly cruel, each a dagger to Olive's heart. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over.

"Don't let them get to you," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly. "They're just jealous trolls. Their opinions don't matter."

But despite her self-reassurances, the words stung. Olive had always prided herself on her thick skin, but something about these comments cut deeper than usual. Maybe because for once, she'd allowed herself to be truly vulnerable on camera.

Her phone buzzed, Athena's face lighting up the screen. Olive answered, trying to keep her voice steady. "Hey, cuz. What's up?"

"Olive, have you seen what's happening in your comment section?" Athena's voice crackled through the speaker, concern evident in her tone.

Olive sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I've seen it. It's... not great."

"Not great? It's a freaking war zone down there! Your die-hard fans are going to battle for you, but the trolls just keep coming. What's going on?"

"I don't know," Olive admitted, her frustration seeping through. "I guess some people can't stand to see others happy. But get this - the video's views are through the roof. Apparently, controversy sells."

Athena let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl. You're blowing up. But hey, are you okay? Some of those comments are pretty nasty."

Olive hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. "I... I'll be fine. It's not like I haven't dealt with haters before. It's just... I opened up more than usual this time, you know? Makes the backlash hit a little harder."

"I get it," Athena said softly. "But remember, those trolls don't know you. They don't know Chaos. Their opinions are worth less than yesterday's garbage. Focus on the people who matter."

"When did you get so wise, Athena?"

"Please, I've always been the brains of this operation," Athena retorted, eliciting a genuine laugh from Olive.

After ending the call with Athena, Olive sat for a long moment, staring at her tablet. The comment section continued to explode with activity, a battlefield of support and vitriol. With a deep breath, she made a decision she'd never made before.

Her finger hovered over the Disable Comments icon. It felt wrong, like she was letting the trolls win. But as another notification popped up with yet another cruel comment, Olive steeled herself and pressed it.

"Sorry, guys," she murmured to her loyal followers. "I just need a breather."

As the comments disappeared, Olive felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She wouldn't let this negativity taint her excitement for her upcoming date with Chaos. With renewed determination, she stood and made her way to her walk-in closet. She had a tech lab tour to prepare for, after all.

The next day, Olive found herself standing before an imposing glass and steel structure, her reflection shimmering in its mirrored surface. AmTech's headquarters loomed before her, a testament to innovation and progress. She smoothed down her navy blue blazer, straightened her shoulders, and strode toward the entrance.

As she approached, the glass doors slid open silently, revealing a bustling lobby filled with people hurrying about their day. The air hummed with energy and purpose, and Olive couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.

"Ms. Russo?" A polite voice caught her attention. A young woman in a crisp suit approached, tablet in hand. "Mr. Amato is expecting you. If you'll follow me, please."

Olive nodded, falling into step beside the woman as they made their way through the lobby. She couldn't help but notice the curious glances thrown her way, whispers following in their wake.

The elevator ride was swift and smooth, depositing them on the top floor. As they stepped out, Olive's breath caught in her throat. The entire floor seemed to be one massive laboratory filled with cutting-edge technology and people in white coats scurrying about.

And there, in the center of it all, stood Chaos.

He turned as they approached, his face lighting up with a smile that made Olive's heart skip a beat. " Bella Olive," he greeted warmly, striding to her. "Welcome to my world."

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that made her knees almost buckle.

Chaos looked every inch the tech mogul in his tailored charcoal suit, but his eyes sparkled with boyish enthusiasm. He took Olive's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm so glad you could make it. Are you ready for a glimpse into the future?"

Olive grinned, her earlier nervousness melting away in the face of his excitement. "Lead the way, Chaos. Dazzle me with your genius."

Chaos chuckled, a deep, rich sound. "I'll certainly try my best. Let's start with our quantum computing division..."

As they moved through the lab, Chaos explained each project with infectious passion. Olive found herself drawn in, fascinated by the sheer scope of innovation happening around her.

"This," Chaos said, gesturing to a sleek, cylindrical device, "is our latest breakthrough in clean energy. It harnesses the power of nuclear fusion, but on a much smaller, safer scale than ever before."

Olive's eyes widened. "Nuclear fusion? Like... the sun?"

Chaos nodded, clearly pleased by her interest. "Exactly. If we can perfect this technology, it could revolutionize the way we power our world. Clean, virtually limitless energy."

"That's... incredible," Olive breathed, reaching out to touch the device before catching herself. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't-"

"Go ahead," Chaos encouraged, his voice soft. "It's perfectly safe."

Olive ran her fingers over the smooth surface, marveling at the potential contained within. "You're really changing the world here, aren't you?"

Chaos's expression turned thoughtful. "We're trying to. There's so much potential for technology to solve some of our biggest problems. But it's not without its challenges."

As they continued the tour, Olive found herself drawn more and more into Chaos's world. She asked questions, offered her own insights, and even made a few jokes that had Chaos laughing out loud.

"You know," Chaos said as they paused for a break, "I don't think I've ever had someone on a lab tour who was this engaged. Most people's eyes glaze over after the first few exhibits."

Olive grinned. "What can I say? I'm not most people. Besides, watching you talk about your work... it's pretty captivating."

A faint blush colored Chaos's cheeks, catching Olive by surprise. It was endearing to see this powerful man show a moment of vulnerability.

They settled into a cozy corner of the lab, two steaming cups of coffee between them. As they sipped, their conversation drifted to more personal topics.

"So, tell me," Chaos began, his tone curious, "what inspired you to start your vlog?"

Olive's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's a story. It actually started as a coping mechanism after my parents' divorce. I buried myself in romance novels, living vicariously through fictional happily-ever-afters."

She paused, taking a sip of her coffee. "Then one day, I realized I had all these thoughts and feelings about the books I was reading, but no one to share them with. So, I decided to start sharing them with the internet. It just... took off from there."

Chaos nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's quite impressive, building something so successful from such a personal place."

Olive shrugged, a hint of pride in her smile. "Thanks. It hasn't always been easy, but I love what I do. What about you? How did you end up as the tech world's golden boy?"

Chaos chuckled at her choice of words. "Golden boy? I'm not sure about that. But I've always been fascinated by technology, even as a kid. I was the stereotypical nerd, always tinkering with computers and dreaming up inventions."

His expression softened, a faraway look in his eyes. "My father... he recognized that passion early on. He nurtured it, challenged me to think bigger. When I took over the company, I wanted to use our resources to make a real difference in the world."

Olive found herself leaning in, captivated by this glimpse into Chaos's past. Her eyes traced the strong line of his jaw, remembering how it felt under her fingertips just nights ago. "That's amazing. It must be a lot of pressure, though. Running a company this size, being responsible for so many people... not to mention all those gadgets. Do you have a secret lair too, Mr. Bond?"

Chaos chuckled. "If I did, I'd have to maul you after showing you." He winked, then his brow furrowed slightly. "But you're right, it can be overwhelming at times. There's always another deadline, another problem to solve. And then there's the expectations of being a pride leader on top of that..."

He trailed off, seeming to realize he might have said too much. But Olive simply reached out, placing her hand over his. The warmth of his skin brought back memories of their passionate night together. "Hey, it's okay. I get it. Different scale, but I feel that pressure too sometimes. The constant need to produce content, to keep my followers engaged... it's like being a lion tamer, except the lions are behind keyboards and have very strong opinions about fictional characters' love lives."

Chaos turned his hand, intertwining their fingers. The gesture sent a jolt of electricity through Olive, reminding her of how those fingers had explored her body. "How do you handle it?" he asked softly, his thumb tracing circles on her palm.

Olive considered for a moment, fighting to keep her thoughts coherent as Chaos's touch sent her mind wandering to less professional territories. "I try to remember why I started in the first place. The joy of sharing stories, of connecting with people. When it gets to be too much, I take a step back, reconnect with that passion. Sometimes literally - there may or may not be a secret stash of romance novels in my office for emergencies."

A smile spread across Chaos's face, warm and genuine. "That's good advice. I should probably do that more often myself. Although I'm not sure how my board would react if I started reading romance novels during meetings."

Olive laughed, the sound light and musical. "Oh, I don't know. It might spice things up a bit. ‘And now, for our quarterly report... Chapter One: The Billionaire's Secret Baby.'"

Chaos's eyes crinkled with mirth. "I'm more of a ‘Sheikh's Forbidden Love' kind of guy, myself."

As they sat there, hands linked and faces close, Olive felt a sense of connection she hadn't experienced in a long time. It wasn't just attraction – though there was plenty of that simmering just beneath the surface. It was understanding, a shared experience of the pressures that came with success, and the joy of finding someone who could make you laugh through it all.

Chaos leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You know, I've been thinking nonstop about our night together. The way you felt in my arms, the sounds you made..."

Olive's breath hitched, heat flooding her cheeks. "Chaos," she murmured, her free hand coming up to rest on his chest. She could feel his heart racing beneath her palm. "We're in your office. With very transparent walls, I might add."

He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I do own the company. I could always order everyone to take an early lunch break."

Olive laughed, pushing him back playfully. "Down, boy. Save that CEO power for your board meetings."

The moment was broken by a discreet cough. They looked up to see one of Chaos's assistants hovering nearby, her expression a mixture of amusement and apology. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Amato, but your three o'clock meeting is about to start. And may I remind you, sir, that the walls are indeed very transparent."

Chaos sighed, reluctantly releasing Olive's hand. "Thank you, Sarah. I'll be right there." He turned back to Olive, apology written across his features. "I'm sorry, I lost track of time. I hate to cut this short..."

Olive waved off his concerns, rising to her feet. "Don't worry about it. Duty calls, right? Besides, this has been... incredible. Thank you for sharing all this with me. And for not actually ordering everyone to take a lunch break."

As they walked toward the elevator, Chaos suddenly turned to her. "Listen, I know this is short notice, but... would you like to get away this weekend? Just the two of us. I know this beautiful spot upstate, very private. We could... continue our discussion without worrying about transparent walls."

Olive's heart leaped, a thrill of excitement running through her. "I'd love to," she replied, unable to keep the smile from her face. "Although I hope there's more than just ‘discussion' on the agenda."

Chaos's eyes darkened with desire. "Oh, I can guarantee that."

"Are you busy tonight?"

The instant flare in his eyes made her breath catch. "I'm always available for you."

"I was thinking we could get takeout and just watch a movie."

"Is that all?"

"Well…" She leaned into him and rose on her tip toes. "I also have a bookshelf I need moved and was hoping you might want to help."

He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. "I like that you're looking to use my strength. Sounds like a plan. I'll see you tonight then."

"Great." She tried to step away but he pulled her closer and kissed her. The kiss was hard, fast, and all-consuming. She instantly melted into him, curling her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him. The kiss was hot, erotic, and toe-curling. She pulled back breathless, her body fired up as desire danced in her blood.

"Later, bella mia ."

She licked her lips and nodded.

As Olive stepped into the elevator, she felt a surge of warmth in her chest. Despite the negativity from her vlog comments and her lingering doubts about love... she couldn't deny the connection she felt with Chaos. It wasn't just physical attraction, though that was certainly there in spades. It was the way he made her laugh, the way he listened and the way he seemed to understand her in a way no one else had.