Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

O live Russo stared at the sleek private jet before her, her blue eyes wide with disbelief. "You're joking, right?" she asked, turning to Chaos Amato with a raised eyebrow.

Chaos grinned, his hazel eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why?"

Olive snorted, playfully swatting his arm. "I figured we'd at least spring for business class."

"There's no need when I have a jet at my disposal."

As they boarded the jet, Olive couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her stomach. The interior was all plush leather seats and polished wood, more luxurious than any first-class cabin she'd ever seen.

"So," she said, settling into a ridiculously comfortable chair, "are you going to tell me where we're going, or is this some elaborate ploy to whisk me away to your secret lair?"

Chaos chuckled, taking the seat across from her. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"

Olive narrowed her eyes playfully. "You know, in most of the books I review, this is where the heroine starts to suspect the hero might be a secret agent or international jewel thief."

"Who says I'm not?" Chaos winked, reaching for a glass of champagne as the flight attendant passed.

The long flight passed in a blur of laughter and witty banter. Olive found the stress of Tia's schemes and work pressures melting away with each passing moment.

As they began their descent, Olive peered out the window, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized the sprawling cityscape below. "LA? We're going to Los Angeles?"

Chaos nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "That's just the first stop."

They touched down smoothly, and before Olive knew it, they were cruising through the sun-drenched streets of Beverly Hills in a sleek black town car. When they pulled up to the iconic pink facade of the Beverly Hills Hotel, Olive's jaw dropped.

"You cannot be serious," she breathed, taking in the lush gardens and elegant entrance.

Chaos helped her out of the car, his hand warm and steady on her lower back. "Only the best for you, bella mia ."

The term of endearment, spoken in his deep, rich voice, sent a shiver down her. She tried to play it cool, but her heart was racing as they entered the lobby.

"Welcome to the Beverly Hills Hotel, Mr. Amato," the concierge greeted them warmly. "Your Presidential Suite is ready for you."

Olive's eyes widened. "Presidential Suite?" she hissed as they followed the concierge to the elevator. "Chaos, this is too much!"

He simply smiled, pulling her closer as the elevator doors closed. "Nothing's too much for you, Olive. I want this weekend to be perfect."

The suite was... well, presidential. Olive wandered from room to room, marveling at the opulent decor, the stunning views of the Hollywood Hills, and the sheer size of the place.

"I have a decent-sized penthouse, and this is bigger than my entire apartment," she murmured, running her hand along the smooth marble countertop in the kitchenette.

Chaos appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Do you like it?"

Olive leaned back into his embrace, relishing the warmth of his body against hers. "It's incredible. But you know you don't have to impress me with fancy hotels, right? I'd be just as happy in a cozy cabin somewhere."

He pressed a soft kiss to her neck, sending tingles across her skin. "I know. But you deserve to be pampered sometimes. Now, how about some lunch? I've made reservations at the Polo Lounge."

Lunch was a decadent affair filled with delicious food, flowing champagne, and easy conversation. Olive found herself opening up more, sharing stories from her childhood and her early days as a vlogger.

"I can't believe you started your channel because of a dare," Chaos laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made Olive's heart skip a beat.

She grinned, taking a sip of her champagne. "Well, Athena bet me I couldn't get a thousand subscribers in a month. I never could resist a challenge."

"And now look at you," Chaos said, his voice warm with admiration. "A successful vlogger with a massive following, running a charitable foundation... You're incredible, Olive."

Olive felt her cheeks flush. "You're pretty amazing too, Mr. Tech Tycoon."

After lunch, Chaos surprised her with a trip to the hotel's spa. "Go, relax," he insisted, gently pushing her toward the ornate doors. "I have a few calls to make, and then I'll see you back at the suite. Wear that dress I told you to pack."

The massage was heavenly, working out knots Olive didn't even know she had. As she lay there, the scent of lavender filling her senses, she found her mind drifting to Chaos. The way his eyes lit up when he smiled, the sound of his laugh, the feeling of his strong arms around her...

"Stop this nonsense, Olive," she muttered to herself as she headed back to the suite. "You're acting worse than you did as a teenager."

But as she slipped into the long black formal dress she'd packed at Chaos's request, Olive couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach. Whatever he had planned for tonight, she knew it would be special.

Chaos was waiting for her in the living room of the suite, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored black tux. His eyes widened as she entered, raking over her form appreciatively.

"You look... stunning," he breathed, crossing the room to take her hand.

Olive smiled, drinking in the sight of him. "You clean up pretty well yourself, Amato. So, are you finally going to tell me where we're going?"

His answering grin was both excited and a little nervous. "How would you feel about attending a movie premiere?"

Olive's jaw dropped. "A premiere? Seriously? What movie?"

Chaos's grin widened. "Oh, just a little film adaptation of a book called Starlight Serenade . I believe you mentioned it was one of your favorites?"

For a moment, Olive couldn't speak. Starlight Serenade wasn't just one of her favorites - it was the book that had inspired her to start vlogging about romance novels in the first place. She'd raved about it countless times on her channel, dreaming of the day it might be turned into a film.

"Chaos," she finally managed, her voice thick with emotion. "How did you... I mean, this is... I can't believe..."

He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "I pay attention when you talk, bella . And I might have pulled a few strings to get us on the guest list."

Olive surged forward, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. Chaos responded immediately, his arms wrapping around her waist to pull her closer. When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Olive rested her forehead against his.

"Thank you," she whispered. "This is... it's perfect."

The premiere was everything Olive had ever dreamed of and more. The red carpet, the flashing cameras, the stars of the film - it was like stepping into another world. And through it all, Chaos was by her side, his hand a comforting presence on her lower back.

As they watched the film, Olive found herself tearing up at all her favorite scenes brought to life on the big screen. Chaos wordlessly handed her a handkerchief, and she squeezed his hand in silent thanks.

After the movie, as they made their way out of the theater, Olive was practically floating on cloud nine. "That was amazing," she gushed, her eyes shining with excitement. "I can't wait to tell my followers all about it. They're going to freak out!"

Chaos laughed, steering her toward their waiting car. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. But the night's not over yet."

Olive raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What else could you possibly have planned?"

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of a familiar yellow and red sign. Olive let out a delighted squeal. "In-N-Out Burger? Are you serious?"

Chaos grinned, looking quite pleased with himself. "You mentioned once that you'd always wanted to try it. I figured after all that fancy premiere food, you might be in the mood for something a little more... substantial."

They must have been quite a sight - Olive in her designer gown, Chaos in his tuxedo, sitting in a booth at In-N-Out after midnight. But as they dug into their burgers and animal-style fries, laughing and talking like they'd known each other for years, Olive couldn't remember the last time she'd been so happy.

"You know," she said, wiping a spot of ketchup from the corner of Chaos's mouth with her thumb, "for a tech genius billionaire, you're pretty good at this romance stuff."

Chaos caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "I have excellent inspiration."

The next morning, Olive woke to the sound of waves crashing against the shore. For a moment, she was disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings throwing her off. Then the events of the previous day came flooding back, and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

After their late-night burger run, they'd headed back to the airport where Chaos had revealed the next leg of their journey - a private villa in Cabo San Lucas. They'd arrived in the early hours of the morning, barely awake enough to appreciate their surroundings before collapsing into bed.