Filed to story: Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia & Ethan)
Annoyance came over me, and I wished that he would just tell me what he knew.
Finally, his eyes met mine, and he started talking
*Olivia*
“Kelly doesn’t have an uncle,” Alexander said.
His words hung in the air, swirling around me as I tried to make sense of them. His big reveal threw me for a loop because I had been expecting information about Kelly’s grandma, not her uncle
“The old woman that we met with earlier today was a neighbor lady that Kelly paid to act as her grandmother,” Alexander continued when it became obvious that I wasn’t going to say anything right now in my stunned silence. “My sources tell me that Kelly coughed up five hundred dollars to a woman named Dorothy who used to be on Broadway. That’s why she was so good at acting as Kelly’s grandma.”
My mind whirled like an out of control tornado. It spun through my head, creating destruction until I could no longer think straight. The more that Alexander told me, the more confused that I bec
“But…you said that you knew where Kelly’s real grandmother was.” I pointed out in an awed voice when I regained the ability to talk.
Alexander paused and eyed me like he was deciding whether or not I could handle the news that he was about to tell me. “Kelly’s grandmother is dead.”
The room around me spun, and I had to put my hands down on the soft couch and grip the cool fabric so that I wouldn’t faint. “What the hell are you talking about?” I demanded.
“Kelly’s grandmother passed away last week,” Alexander said.
“Are you serious?” I questioned and eyed him. A small part of me thought that this was all some big joke.
But I knew Alexander better than that. He would never joke about something as serious as this.
“Even though Kelly is so young, she’s had a very tragic life,” Alexander said, a troubled look crossing his handsome features. “After I left Kelly’s fake grandma house, I had my tech guy look into her, and what I found was…sad.”
I swallowed around the large lump in my throat and gestured for him to continue.
“Kelly’s parents divorced when she was very young,” he said and clasped his hands together. “Her mother remarried and moved away with her new husband, leaving Kelly in the care of her father. Then, her father passed away in a car accident two years after the divorce. After that, Kelly’s grandmother took care of her. She was like a mother to her. When her grandmother fell ill last year, Kelly helped take care of her, along with her aunt, until her grandma’s death last week.”
I didn’t talk for a long time after Alexander’s bombshell. My brain was buzzing because now I knew the reason that Kelly had gone off the deep end.
Because of her grandmother’s death last week-the only true parent that she had ever known-Kelly snapped. She was already a mentally unstable person, but the death of her closest loved one had driven her to become dangerous to herself and others. She reverted back to her high school self, and that was why she had become so obsessed with Russell. It was so that she didn’t have to think about the loss of her grandmother.
Sympathy for Kelly flowed through me. Maybe the young girl had even paid this Dorothy woman to be her grandmother so that Kelly could act like she was still alive. That thought made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
“I bet that Kelly had planned on using us to kill Chloe from the beginning,” I said more to myself than to Alexander. I had always done my best thinking out loud. “Kelly wanted to get revenge against Chloe for killing Russell. And because Chloe is so arrogant, she was able to fall for Kelly’s innocent act, and that was how Kelly tricked her into thinking she was on her side.” I paused for a few moments. “Thank you so much for telling me that, Alexander,” I said gratefully. “It’s really helpful to understand Chloe’s motivations.”
Alexander waved his hand nonchalantly and shrugged. “It’s no problem, I heard all of this information through village gossip. I thought that I should tell you to help with your investigation.”
A small smile crossed my face, and I leaned toward him. “I thought that you just said that you had your tech guy look into Kelly’s life after we met with her fake grandma,’ I said with a slightly teasing tone.
Alexander went red and averted his gaze from mine. It was nice to see him embarrassed for caring about me. For a moment, the shoe was on the other foot.
“I have more information if you’re interested,” Alexander said, quickly changing the subject.
I nodded frantically, anxious to hear anything that would help. In a situation as layered as Chloe’s life and the number of people she has wronged, even the smallest detail mattered.
“Russell Lewis was a childhood friend of Kelly’s,” Alexander revealed. “Ever since they were born, the two were inseparable.” He paused for a fraction of a second before he continued. “The man that I had visited today was Russell’s uncle.”
My eyes widened, and I leaned toward him, intrigued.
“Russell’s uncle was hoping to meet with you,” Alexander continued. “I have his contact information.” His dark eyes locked onto mine, and his expression grew somber. “I really think that through this meeting, you will find the answers that you’re seeking.”
I lapsed into silence as all the information he just told me ran through my head.
My throat became slightly choked up as I thought about how much Alexander had done for me today. There was no possible way that it was a coincidence that he had been meeting with Russell’s uncle today. Alexander had come to Luceland to quietly help me with my investigation. But he kept it a secret because he didn’t want me to feel like I owed him anything.
I stared into his eyes as my heart burst with a deep emotion that I didn’t want to examine too closely.
As I gazed at him, I tried to think of something-anyrhing-to say in order to express my gratitude, but I couldn’t figure out the words to say in order to express my gratitude.
Alexander leaned toward me, and the closer he got, the harder my heart slammed against my ribcage. His eyes glanced down at my lips, and my mouth dried.
I had no idea what was about to happen.
When our lips were right next to each other, Alexander abruptly pulled away from me.
“You should go,” he murmured in a deep voice. “Or you won’t be able to leave.”
I blinked at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?” I asked.
He smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t really lose our bet, Olivia. Soon, someone is going to knock on my door again, and you need to leave before they do.”
My stomach swooped when I realized what he meant. I shot to my feet. “You think that Ethan is the one who sent you that bottle of wine?”
As I waited for Alexander’s answer, my pulse quickened just like it had a few moments ago, but now it was for an entirely different reason.
*Olivia*
“I don’t know for sure, but I can’t think of anyone else who would send up alcohol as a present other than Ethan,” Alexander said and frowned. “Can you? I mean, you know him better than I do.”
My back straightened, and my stomach jolted. I didn’t like his tone or his insinuation that I knew Ethan better. I mean, it was true since he
Dupe THE had been my husband, but I didn’t like the reminder
Alexander looked up at me as he waited for a response. The expression in his eyes made me pause. If I didn’t know any better. I would think that there was jealousy in his gaze.
My shoulders slumped, and my anger left me as quick as it came. I blew out a long breath, then thought of something and a reluctant smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
“Well, maybe Naomi sent you that bottle of wine,” I suggested in a teasing tone. “I bet she hasn’t left the hotel yet and wants to try her luck with you again, and the bottle of wine is a sort of olive branch.”
I crossed my arms and stared at him. If he wanted to mention my ex, then two could play that game. He had a potential love interest that I could bring into the conversation, too.
“You always seem to be the one bringing up Naomi,” Alexander pointed out and leaned back on the couch, his posture relaxed. “Maybe you’re the one who is interested in her. Go ahead and ask her out. Since I’m not the least bit interested in her.”
I blushed and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I wanted to tell him that if it weren’t for him, Naomi would be the last thing on my mind, but I didn’t want to reveal that he had any control ?ver my thoughts.
*Author*
Meanwhile, a few rooms over from Alexander and Olivia, Ethan was standing in a room across from the waiter who delivered Alexander the wine. There was an impatient frown on Ethan’s face, and he crossed his arms.
“Well, was she there?” Ethan asked.
The waiter nodded. “Yes, the woman whose picture you showed me was in Mr. Green’s room.”
As soon as the words were out of the waiter’s mouth, Ethan swore under his breath. His face turned red with rage, and he began to pace the room with his hands behind his back and his body tense.
Of course, Ethan had already suspected that Olivia and Alexander were seeing each other in some capacity. But it was different when the proof was staring him in the face. The fact that Olivia was in Alexander’s room made his hands shake with anger. How could Olivia do this to him? How could she move on so quickly? Sure, Ethan had, but he was a man, and he had needs.
After the waiter left, Ethan waited fifteen minutes before he went to Alexander’s door. He knocked and waited with his arms crossed and his foot tapping an impatient rhythm.
