Chapter 177
Olivia
I stifled a yawn, staring at my computer screen while stretching my arms above my head. My back cracked in three distinct places as I twisted side to side. After hours of tweaking, our concept boards were polished to perfection.
“And we’re officially finished, I announced, saving the file one last time.
Dylan pumped his fist in the air. “Thank god. I was starting to forget what sunlight looks like.”
Ava closed her laptop with a dramatic thud. “If I had to adjust that logo placement one more time, I might have thrown myself out the window.”
“Top floor,” Marcus reminded her, gathering his sketches. “You’d definitely die. And then who would make our presentations look pretty?”
“Someone less talented and twice as expensive,” Ava replied, flashing a tired grin.
I checked the time on my phone, 9:37 PM. We’d been at it for nearly fourteen hours straight.
The team began gathering their belongings, moving with the slow, dazed movements of people who’d been staring at screens for too long.
“Anyone want to grab a drink?” Brandon suggested halfheartedly.
A chorus of groans answered him.****
“My bed is calling,” Ava declared. “And it’s saying very dirty things about how good it’ll feel to collapse into it.”
“TMI, Ava,” Marcus laughed, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder.
one, they said their goodbyes and filed out of the conference room until only Dylan remained, hovering near
to stay and help clean up?” he
Dylan. You’ve done enough.” I waved him off. “I’ll
“Thanks, Mrs. Carter.
a moment to breathe. The quiet felt good after hours of discussion and debate. I gathered the scattered printouts and coffee cups, tossing them into
into my chair and pulled out
Finally finished. Team just left.
came
Still
Yep. About to head
you. Don’t drive yourself when you’re
fine to drive. I have my
I insist. Wait for me.
the parking garage, perfectly capable of getting me home. But the thought of
Okay. See
down to the lobby, waving goodnight to the security guard who looked as tired
late again, Mrs.
into one of the
boss making you work
But I volunteered for
cooler than I had anticipated. I stood alone at the curb, taking a moment to breathe in the crispness
distant hum of traffic, each car’s headlights slicing through the darkness in a brilliant flash as they glided smoothly
with a text from
tomorrow?
O’Malley’s: Ryan’s confrontation, James stepping in, and Alexander showing up
Can we do the day after tomorrow instead? And maybe somewhere other
Her response came quickly.
someplace new and fancy. Maybe that rooftop
text
end with Alexander last night? You
smiled at her not-so-subtle fishing
you everything the day
T1I1m3PwmI1YMzzzscSlH9XYUJwvZYIjxahMpLqSNu6C/83C8yCD2x1ABqJDJnq8YGAbzs5aTaSOY9go3O8coQKPWTcrmhW2WP7IojsOi3F/LWKOT/LbJEOCYNGmcvaztu3FKUJuAWeJLNLJGU/f/NlMQLh9xcArcixtktZmPQouTvkgEzSCOqxMlf+1yZmV+TYSnt3PHmEo1xecga01AZkI+V3ZrCyl0nRoC8JpaQa8TwFsjiE7SsSigOSs7NzXWBsUHp+4RPS2pXUkKEN/mfLOdBZnvTkvq/Y6+QfknRYVkG6j15tANMAEVMZMhgyXIZv+wJe57bCSyWBiXyen66KBeg3AQS0IQs4fUM/Q/uURgM/Gkst8jgVPOfUpmrHcnqSGJXGHA26ujybuEXq0gzSePxNNE/KE8La20ddMVZm6KB6wyWr1TcjhOPGxTsNx1g0NulYJP25clYUE2kiYVTKJDX0GVlZMjHM6mZI0t7LMfp8BVzjTJ1nb3sqSv/a6zuEC/rD+HRbtXe5YejPQ9gCmKSCweTsZhqbnMTj36b9gDJaqfQT3WtMPl44N8AmrPZrpU68lL1/2XHrUP7SlJ2YsSQSTqTZenVQKKVjDjjr/2ts9f7utXpRsQbG4kqyv0O1QIIAljYXOCPQlk2sXCYoE8uGui9HS8lgk+RpG2ezX80wo417V8crmL9XSFZsu18PvX5sylSRFyuN5vu3rLExE5uCSY4k4Aj9qHiqTbhx3CHALGSUMyBXTaRRsUvwHzdrrAnutKfc1xHuzOT32npUuDOfrSpfZGR+I1IGpy8lZs8WydJGaWOTpxX+jlMGQKmQKImF2BoOoolOSc0bSw/sIbGcvuls+j/UBkIhuXC1a0Xwd1XuIA+zDVARAaoL3b3kj/D3s+9TJO4MTc3bDnEs39R9Waz4A2+kJ9FGmZ4vCk/b1Tp2IoN40IAVaar/6bEkUCPbJw01SAVGu1ssbMnvqhF5fNhzYp/0XaEpTsQa+X8jScLRqjeLi4lfTaNmYH7XUphMQVQb4pAVgBqJUWqk/1SvM1PDxsEFnxQ1GdkN1k5NWrU4w6XW9Pb0nDyAkqSM1sCOLSIjNTSsk1lQq2kA03jXOkNHbZ4WqbIw6cjppTniSXp8o2h2snG/r90kEulTlgqjjcWWkvrbWNonthjBw0qTchwpLcVei/IrFJvu2tGXCg4yEi+EXKQNDz6u7hP6STCnfeCeFsya3X2e6ayuBVFgHkgZbRmhx6vnL64anYW0N9OSnibGDP4xCh1ZH3Av8h66k0PRYeigAIpJb+rVWi9aMDSC07CjOPfbr7Fx0bwbbuEwI1wbtTbT1IL3NE/7vNdcUxfJIYjmHQdRJP3+bsHNWX1BNhMJgJBSlqJSjw2Iph+jYoaBe91VqTNXRGN6EjgCkeFWbR+La+EQr3gyPzz2QmZZKpMg7AT837f6RP+dWzcY6ivO73UwrskKeFG8GHy4HqMnCTLuaG8oCozEXkZc1if7KfSSbSSRlGFr8PsuMeo+e143afNkquZmjlvu9Gy/gtsOP7qEx9SSmx1qZQ7NIPdpUwdSIMs8oCs7Fzi2SMpMKxKYI6kaFGQJ2SJ4DF8eQUiGcbaMEUtFY+ArJa7hlaE4rp2OL6sEXxF956NrHddHDTQ3aaeDwVF9m4snUVXuj+YELl9AsoHHpS9hkFKOoFI9+qf5SNajqlMSEAh5HyIgxrFtiAlcUrbKv2jOaXExDl/8Nw1sxUuHIu12p1BSWOlo2L9dDtwyBNtVkCkQKd8YjM2h8AmEhe3j3GPcyVtzn41cxbbdGz64c9Wz6QJPyyx4Hv/EC/ESl9tWV2PEnawvdfLNklO5/u7x7l7AuWDROXP0T7kGxzgw1ZXL6C9Gaf/U61rybTGzyVGOJOfVC40L0cPV5rtPwdSs+94EgRDiI9ekTCcBoCQ2AuoFkNlhppjEUKvFQz3toweAt6RejnDVYdybKkriJzfjU9G/l0+3tRxjWeKg32yjahet6mTQjWR8F08HApy00q4NZkztzNE3OANluzoq88UuMt1YHdss5gpXY/ZLni4oLhNVGtdHD2wkgi0wbX1gc9D5/pW4EknpifsJ+oYp1O507T6yCFHECoLlIJmP0RvvuRGdL5pVYvdavHKDyKq8dB8RtEQG8W8nw8wLkUGv8wtYxUwOJL+DPDtGPMAusFhpp0p6n/TfI3ndgQR02Tr9xLkK2KltLUAQ9QNiveOfORDvS7ZXcBHFNNLNCG9sxKJogG8woOakiRiMGPjgbKfo6WwNqRSnGFHqBnZLAsQpzu2rOZNlIDnrYYHNDWYsVFwMl+4vJeO5F/h60rW6kv7fB0zs+aRnT5XDcTBtFBlP3A4LA/jefmx4wWigV5Hg5yJ2UwDeAQxXsDCS8ssOv9Q9AXJcEqtZQDJPTFnVN8FZMcukZWNwxRvm8wOK0Vg47ivSsuc/XYsJv3huwmbwzNkrfoRe3Cg5ex4Vrgr56LxLMDmO5Ol/c/ZJThfqi4GHPzZAdxnJblRI7/5dq818IRYqqXbTiTu/a/EmmFrmFe9lMv2ZNoKZEf24ud/PC1cuiRPx3fF7Tdws7ahvFVuGcA/rcidDaSotv5hBKOhCDs3Ye5F0Th2Fu+iYneA/4ta1tsP2dpjtrl0CLFWhLdOKyqBC32MhWsB8pH2WjxaaIkF7c4xlRuKRzsV0Yglcxo5IIkKhtviRcoaYBPc2igUF02C2sKegd3O4Ahp5cCmrG1+MwHKn33uov/TmqMKNCCzGgeAp1YlbP9UsSZtp9XKi9cigoHLaZ45/H3wykDPDfP7Rss2pnGWtAYXdXqu4qC5nEwJEMunCWJab39jv1+4YmFxKDT+n4mFGHsC+k2uPheJVQ5a9Dr5sMm5k+yDb/GvogmpHsvu7tIGn04K/7WdxTCxCTzVehqzhaahFO3sTMw58R/+gMRkuBsH2KuTPymR55qz0jIKpsYwKyEwl4ILIu7oR/p0ZAwR6JiNqtljyuft6LzDlg0Sr+HrPLOkEj5tzVdjzPrRPUoW84O/PyV4l24s3IDZGq0zQHjG6sOOcM+2damLTB13rHpBHREzFXvzs0x6E+O1EAXZhw+6rH+hBj2v8HTdPRG++jk+kS3X7W8Px2/btr0IqLT4F2pPgRI1f6Y0w6fTeN5jvWgaVFRdcBGPcB3I1y9jqjlGynkWxeKi6eOnnKLvBheRXyXWOQVhVWvcpOo745dkNEN0VLeq1xPfTsEUXNKSbWSH2rpDN7g5r5h/TNUrtoUFsaYdYpx/7aWZaIArVNstPZLpZSX+K8wbZwrOFjDikCw/trsAaa+4LIyqmCYI6ylzPQIXvfbsVKVn8jN8KolWXJfN2txSaRsiHZ5oWVPoCNTJe8b0tR7DIRx0/VEBfN4r73qgzRXhvmCAPcHgRXip2DkIF1LM3Cc/E66fM0CFSgRV41SJW5rmx8JbShgFD9JwCQ28bvsFElkLZYt9w0yKi6sqXluyxiZGvrLNU3I9KydjJgsiH6vQJgaQGcIT488K6RekKnb/RacdG7zCuB4wkNnDR3xZa4XOokj13OWvWAYxQ0XZsrl4utEgfYZezpReTqxER8Xfo87CRAcXIr+JeVamct9WTKTwGPkT83RDxwx7LW/KCXQ+rR54cc2pOsgtRVXtd8c7VCHzkPtlq93UxkCZQXZG7B6MHE/jRA+WPhmGzNPfAJYcJa72/LMaWfdwVGKY6bpMdMc8eUkzIEGypOwd3Ycw1JubDbbW8V/Sw6WcQNMiMdLNYHRu2oO5sInEk=
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!