His Ex Called and He Ran, His Rival Called and I Ran Straight to Him Chapter 03

His Ex Called and He Ran, His Rival Called and I Ran Straight to Him Chapter 03

I had no intention of going.

But the moment I walked out of the building, Tanya threw her arms around me.

“Olivia, come on. Felix is taking us to dinner.”

It was the middle of rush hour, with employees pouring out around us.

I didn’t want to create a scene outside the office.

The moment she pulled me into the car, I heard someone nearby whisper excitedly.

“Oh my God, Felix and Tanya are definitely together.”

“He’s even taking their matchmaker to dinner.”

They weren’t entirely wrong.

I had introduced them.

Tanya stuck out her tongue.

“Looks like they misunderstood. Don’t be mad.”

“Do you want me to explain?”

I held her back.

“No need.”

Everything I owned had already been delivered to the oceanfront condo.

After this dinner, Felix and I would go our separate ways.

Felix seemed to mistake my calmness for maturity.

Right before we entered the restaurant, he handed me a small red velvet box.

Inside was a delicate bracelet.

“Don’t waste your energy responding to gossip,” he said.

“You handled it well, Olivia.”

“This is for you.”

I held out my wrist and watched him fasten it.

Two years earlier, a colleague had spotted us eating together and given us one curious look.

Felix fired him the next morning.

“Carter Group doesn’t employ people who spread gossip.”

Now he looked pleased by my silence.

“Not angry anymore?”

“Tanya is young and playful. She can be difficult to manage.”

“I was harder on you in the office because I wanted you to set an example.”

Felix rarely explained himself at this length.

The words sounded polished.

They also sounded false.

We sat down.

I took one side of the table.

Felix and Tanya sat across from me.

They held the same menu between them.

Felix pointed to one of the pictures and laughed.

“Tanya, this looks exactly like you.”

“What? My head isn’t that big.”

She puffed out her cheeks and turned to me.

“Olivia, see? Your boyfriend keeps picking on me.”

They laughed like children.

I said nothing.

A strange buzzing started in my head.

Felix was always cold and controlled in public.

I had never seen him laugh this freely in a restaurant.

So this was who he became around Tanya.

Even choosing dinner made him happy.

Good for them.

They took their time ordering and never once asked what I wanted.

I didn’t bother speaking up.

I wasn’t hungry.

This was probably the last meal I would ever share with Felix.

As long as I ate enough to keep my stomach from flaring up, that would be fine.

Then the food arrived.

Spicy small plates.

Shellfish.

Rich, sugary desserts.

Tanya ate enthusiastically and praised every dish.

I couldn’t lift my fork.

Just looking at the table made my stomach twist.

Tanya peeled a full plate of shrimp and pushed it toward me.

“Olivia, you haven’t eaten anything.”

“I thought maybe you didn’t want to peel them, so I did it for you.”

The briny smell hit me.

I covered my nose and frowned.

“No, thank you. Seafood makes me nauseous.”

“You two keep eating. I’m going to the restroom.”

I dry-heaved several times before the smell finally faded.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and stepped into the hallway.

To my surprise, Felix was waiting outside.

I forced a smile.

“I’m fine. Go keep Tanya company. She—”

“Olivia Bennett.”

He used my full name.

“I just praised you for being reasonable, and now you’re deliberately embarrassing Tanya?”

“That expression on your face—who was it for?”

“My stomach hurts.”

I tried to explain.

But in Felix’s eyes, anything that challenged Tanya sounded like an excuse.

“You can handle a table full of difficult executives without breaking a sweat.”

“But you can’t manage a polite smile for one younger woman?”

“Olivia, where is your professionalism?”

I pressed a hand to my stomach.

My voice came out quiet.

“What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Eat the shrimp.”