He waved his hand in the air. “Ah, that thing was a piece of junk.” He sighed. “How is it going with selling the apartment?”
“Slow, I had some visits and one offer which Dario refused. I told him I wanted to lower the price, but he doesn’t want to hear it.” She looked up at her father.
“Listen, Dad, do you think you can talk to him for me? He’ll listen to you,” she said.
“I will try, but you know Dario. He’s like you. Very stubborn.”
She wanted to say Dario was nothing like her, but she didn’t.
“What’s the story about this hippy?”
It was all clear to her now, the surprise last minute lunch. She felt her heart pounding in her ribcage.
“Nick is not a hippy, Dad.” Olivia laughed.
She imagined Dario would spare no time to report to her father, but it had always been that way. Every time she did something that her father would disapproved of, he would run to her father and tell him about it. Somehow she felt that she and Dario were always competing for her father’s devotion.
“Nick.” He repeated. “At your apartment?”
Olivia blushed, not wanting her father to think something happened in the biblical sense, because it didn’t.
“I don’t know why he felt the need to tell you. It’s really none of his business.”
“He didn’t do anything wrong by telling me. He still cares for you deeply. I wish you could see that.”
“Dad, I already know what you’re going to say, so let’s just stop right here.” She rubbed her forehead.
“Please, Olivia, don’t tell me you’re dating this … boy?” He cast her a questioning look then said, “It’s none of my business, but what about Dario?”
“What about Dario?”
“I thought you might patch things up.”
Olivia knew her father too well to know when he started his sentence with “it’s none of my business” really meant that “this is my business.”
“There is no hope of us getting back together.”
“I think you know very well it will never go anywhere.”
“Why do you say that?” she replied defensively. “You don’t know him. Nick is a good person.”
“I know right now this boy may seem very heroic in your eyes. He came to your aid and, of course, I am grateful for that, but don’t believe in this daydream. I know what it’s like to be young. I know how it must seem to you. Being an artist is a hobby, not a career, Olivia. How long do you think it will last before you realize he’s not for you?” When she didn’t say anything he added, “In the meantime Dario has been suffering. He’s hoping that you will come to your senses.”
She wished he suffered. She hoped that he was miserable. That would have given her some satisfaction for everything he’d done, but she knew it wasn’t true. As long Dario kept his job, his life would be perfectly fine. If her father knew the truth about Dario, they wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Of course, it was her fault he didn’t.
“And what? Take him back? No, Dad, that’s not possible.”
“No, it wouldn’t be if you have that boy Nick hanging around.”
“Please, Dad, you don’t know the whole story. Believe me, Nick has nothing to do with me and Dario not getting back together.”
“If I don’t know, then tell me … because I can’t understand how you decide to spend the rest of your life with someone and wake up and decide it’s finished. I don’t understand what happened. You would always come to me for advice,” he said.
She opened her mouth then closed it, contemplating telling him the truth that Dario had never treated her well. She wanted to tell him that Nick was a great guy, that if he gave it a chance he would see it too, but all she could say was, “Please, Dad. I am not a little girl. I can take care of myself.”
“You may be not a little girl anymore, but you’re still my little girl,” he replied gently. “He’s not like you, Olivia. He will never fit in.”
“He’s not that different.” She paused. “You’re just saying that because he doesn’t come from money,” she replied in a half whisper.
“Open your eyes, Olivia. Did you ever think about how he makes his living?”
“He’s an artist and works at his brother’s bar.”
“Right, he works at a bar and has a new apartment and a studio. I don’t see how this all adds up. You don’t know what kind of stuff he’s mixed up in.”
“That’s not Nick. Besides, I don’t need anyone to support me. I can support myself.”
He placed his glasses on the table. “You don’t know what you’re doing. There is more than just that, Olivia.”
“Really, like what?”
“Well, my love, you have different background … different traditions.”
“Look, you and Mom had also come from a different financial backgrounds, and you have been married for over forty years.”
“Yes, your mother’s father never did anything for his children. And it had been an issue of many arguments in our household, if you remember. But that was the only thing your mother and I had our differences over. Imagine if we had other things going against us. We never would have survived.”
“Did you ever think maybe you could be wrong about someone?” Her first thought was Dario.
“No, I’ve lived longer then you, Olivia. Unlike you, I have the talent of foreseeing the future. If you go down the path with this boy, Nick, you will only bring heartache … not only to yourself but possibly to Nick.” He paused and played with his glasses. “Have you given a thought to his feelings?”
She remained silent, not sure how to respond her father. He was right. She had been so occupied about her own feelings, it never crossed her mind that perhaps she would be the one to hurt him.
“Nick is just like that rusty old bike, Olivia. It was never for you and eventually you outgrew that damn bike. You will outgrow Nick too,” he said as she shifted in her chair. “Please, listen to me. I know you more than you think. Cross-culture relationships are so much harder than you think.”
She giggled. “Dad, we’re both Canadians.”
“Olivia, what kind of future can he give you? Think about it?”
“What do you mean?” She frowned.
“I think there is a lot he hasn’t told you about, and it’s my job to protect you, my love.”
She looked at him for a moment then said, “He’s just a friend, Dad. That’s all he’s ever been.” Something from the way back of her mind told her she wasn’t really being truthful, at least to herself.
“Okay.” He was finally satisfied with her answer and placed his glasses back on and looked down his newspaper. “I told Dario that you had more sense than that.”
“Dad, please don’t talk to Dario about me or anything that goes on in my life.”
“Why? He still cares for you, Olivia. I don’t know what exactly happened between the two of you, but I wish you would give him another chance.”
Her father continued to talk from across the table, but her mind drifted back to that old, rusty, gold bike. It was in the far back of the big barn, where her grandfather kept two tractors. She had spotted it in the corner. All sorts of things were piled on top of it, so she managed to get her grandfather to retrieve it.
Her father had asked, “What do you want with that pile of junk?”
Her grandfather whispered, “Forget your father. He doesn’t see the true value in things like you and I.” With a wink he cleaned it up the best he could and greased the chain for her. She loved that bike; all its defects had added to it’s charm. Then she realized Nick was like the rusty, old bike for which she’d seen his true value but her father disapproved. Dario was the new, superficial, shiny, pink bike with tassels at the end of the handle bars. She sat there quietly, wondering what the right thing to do was … the right thing for her, or doing what was best for her father. Olivia wasn’t sure which side of the scale was going to tip.
O
livia hated Wednesdays … actually she just hated when she had to come into work. Not that she hated what she did. It was more that she wasn’t content with the company she worked for. Especially when she knew what kind of day they had lined up for her: meetings with suppliers, fittings, and coming up with the next collection. Of course there was still no talk about the promotion her boss had promised her.
“Hey, I need you to do me a big favor,” Jessica said as she flew into Olivia’s tiny office.
“What’s up?” Olivia glanced up from swatches that were scattered all over her desk.
“My fit model canceled on me, and I was wondering … if you could ask your boyfriend to come in, maybe try some of my samples?”
“Nick? He’s not my boyfriend, and no, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Friends with benefits? Shit, I never thought you had it in you.” Jessica had a twinkle in her eyes.
“What? No! I just told you we’re friends.”
“You’re so lame.” Jessica sighed.
Olivia rolled her eyes.
“I’m just kidding. Please, I really need to send these specs out today or else I’ll be late for production.”
She gave Olivia big, brown, puppy eyes. “Olivia, don’t you dare make me beg.”
“I’m not sure if he’s even available.” She paused. “Why didn’t you schedule this last week?”
“I did. My dimwit assistant had sent out the wrong specs. Thank God the production manager in China caught the mistake. It would have been a brutal disaster. Everything would have come in two sizes too small, and Jack would have my head on a silver platter.” Jessica plopped into the chair in front of her. “I need to fix it before Jack finds out that this happened again. Call him, see if he can help me out. PLEASE!” Jessica said, clinging the samples to her chest. “I can’t find anyone else and Nick lives down the street. I know he’ll do anything for you.”
Olivia frowned. She never remembered telling her anything specific about Nick, especially that he lived nearby.
“How about the guy in the graphic department? What’s his name? Derick?
“Too small …”
Olivia snapped her fingers. “Oh, Steven!”
“Too big.” Jessica smiled wickedly.
“I don’t want to know.” Olivia exhaled a long breath before saying yes.
“Thank you! I owe you big time!”
Where did she hear that one before?
Oh, right.
Last week when Jessica left work early and conveniently forgot to print out her catalogue, the one that Jack wanted on his desk that afternoon. It seemed Jessica had been taking advantage of their relationship, but what was Olivia to do? She valued their friendship and friends helped each other out, didn’t they?
“Don’t get excited just yet. I haven’t called him.”
Jessica waved her hand in the air, already knowing Nick would come.
“Oh, did I tell you what Jack said to me the other day?”
“No.”
“He said you’re amazingly talented and is satisfied with your work so far.” She smiled. “Looks like somebody’s getting promoted.” Jessica sang out the words and winked just before she fled the room.
A permanent smile planted on Olivia’s face. It would be a dream come true if she was given the honor of head designer for one of D.S. Design’s labels. She just needed to keep the faith.
An hour later Nick texted her that he was downstairs in the lobby. She wrote back her office was on the fourth floor and she would meet him at the elevator doors. Olivia nervously waited, worried that the people at work would think they were together. They’d probably gossip about how fast she moved on when she really hadn’t … Nick was obviously only a friend, or so she told herself.
The elevator doors opened, and she was greeted by Nick’s bright eyes.
“Thank you so much for doing this for me on such a short notice …”
“I would have gotten here sooner, but I was in the middle of something when you called,” Nick said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“No, it was no bother. It gave me a reason to come and see you.”
Olivia studied him for a moment. The last time she spoke to him was on Monday, when she canceled their plans to meet. At first she suspected he might be upset with her because the tone in his voice seemed a little uneasy, like he was holding something back. Whatever it was, it was gone now.
“Hey, do you want to see my office?” She was the first one to break away from their gaze.
“Sure.” He followed her through the glass doors. Her office was at the end of the hallway.
She spun around with her arms in the air. “Welcome to my home away from home. Sorry it looks like a tornado came charging through. I’m in the middle of working on two seasons at once.”
Nick looked through the samples on the rack along the wall.
“Did you design all these?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re a designer?”
“I’m an assistant to the CEO of the company. It’s not the same thing.”
Nick seemed confused.
“I do all the work but get no recognition for it … or the pay.”
“How does that work?” Nick asked.
“It doesn’t. Hopefully I should be promoted soon.”
Olivia nodded while she had the receiver to her ear, dialing Jessica’s extension.
“Maybe I should have asked this before,” he said as he browsed around the room. “It’s guy stuff you wanted me to try on, right?”
“Shoot, didn’t I tell you it was for a bikini?” Olivia smiled devilishly.
Moments later Olivia accompanied Nick to Jessica’s much brighter, larger office.
“Nick! You’re such a sweetheart, thank you! Olivia, can you show him the samples he needs to try on? Now, where’s my idiot assistant …” Jessica picked up her phone then hung up. “I’ll be right back.” She frantically walked out the door.
“Is it always crazy like this?” Nick frowned.
“Well, you’re lucky my boss isn’t here, because there would be most likely be some screaming going on.”
“Should I even ask?” Several lines appeared on his forehead.
“No, not here. I’ll fill you in later.” She half-smiled.
She went to the clothing rack and pulled out some short-sleeve shirts and polo tops from Jessica’s summer collection.
“So here they are.” Olivia handed him the hangers. “You can change here if you like.” She placed her hand on her hip.
Nick looked around the room. “Is there a changing room or a bathroom I could use?”
It had never occurred to Olivia that Nick might be modest. She was accustomed to models readily pulling off their shirts, changing right in front of her or anyone else in the room. They’d even get down to their boxers without batting an eyelash. If there was a model who was shy, she’d never met one.
Olivia smiled at Nick’s bashfulness.
“Oh … yeah, sure. There’s a bathroom just out of the office to your right.”
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you. You’re doing me a huge favor.”
Clarification: Jessica a huge favor.
“Hey, do you want to grab a bite later?”
She nodded and with a smile Nick vanished out the door.
When the sounds of laughter flowed from down the hall, Olivia couldn’t help steal glances at Jessica’s doorway. She wasn’t purposely standing by Jessica’s office. The printer was just conveniently adjacent to it and Olivia was waiting for her sketches to be printed out. She wasn’t being noisy either. The door was left wide open for anyone to see. She didn’t know why it bothered her that Jessica’s assistant Racheal was standing very close to Nick, her hands all over his arms and chest, pinning the fabric of the sample that he wore. It was obvious she was flirting with him, but was Nick flirting back? She couldn’t see his face, but his tone suggested that he was b
eing friendly and nothing more.
Why did it bother her? She was used to Dario flirting with women, even in front of her, and it never ruffled her feathers before. Olivia was never the possessive type. And besides, Nick was allowed to do whatever he wanted. It wasn’t like they were committed to each other.
When she got to her office she found Jessica rummaging through her sample cards.
“Hey, do you have the swatches that Brian from Fabrictex brought over last week? You know the one with the Lurex thread?”
“Yeah, it’s right here.” Olivia pulled it out from the bottom of the pile and handed it to Jessica.
“What’s wrong?” Jessica’s eyes focused on Olivia.
“Nothing.”
“Was the view from the printer good?”
“The printer was broken. I was trying to get it to work.”
“Funny, it was fine when I used it.”
Olivia sunk into her chair and wondered if Nick also thought she was spying. Just before she was able to clarify things, Racheal glided into her office with a smile that Olivia wished she could wipe right off her face.
“Olivia, what’s the story between you and Nick?”
Olivia frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Are you dating him?”
“No … he’s a friend.” Olivia could sense Jessica’s eyes on her.
“Well, if there is nothing between you two, do you mind if I ask him out. I think there’s a connection between us, and I want to get to know him better.”
“Yeah, pfft. Sure, go ahead. He’s very much single. Yup, he’s very free to date who ever he wants.”
She couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, but there they were. When Racheal walked out, Olivia turned to see Jessica giving her a nasty look.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Wow, so that’s how you look when you’re lying?”
“What? I wasn’t lying. We’re not dating.” Olivia’s voice was tight and she felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
The Proverbial Mr. Universe Page 16
