Circumstances

"Circumstances."

There was something in the way she said it that couldn't help but got him intrigued. The way she waved her hand and tried to hide the subtle eye rolling.

He watched as she finished her glass of martini in an instant and was soon on her feet, steady and not at all as if she had just sat for a round of drinking.

He downed the rest of his drinks and quickly followed her.

"I very much like to visit here again soon," she told the bartender as she handed her card.

The bartender smiled. "You're always welcomed here, Miss."

"Put it on my tab. Including hers. My secretary will come to settle it later." He instructed the bartender, barely in time to gently push Olivia's extended card away.

"Very well, sir,"

Before Olivia could protest, which he knew was on the tip of her tongue, he steered her away towards the exit.

"That was not necessary. I can pay for myself."

"Let me be the gentleman here, my dear."

"Gentleman or not, I don't accept others paying for my drinks. It get less enjoyable."

"Then treat it as a commemoration of our acquaintance," he tried.

"No." She was somehow seething with objection and stubbornness.

He stopped short of the bar entrance. He found it puzzling on how someone could be so damn adamant about the payment of a few glasses of drinks. It wasn't even a full-course meal at the most expensive place he could think of, and he could think a few, but simply a few glasses of drink.

They stared and stood in silence before she turned. There was no compromise in her voice. "I will have Carlos send you the notes later."

"It's just a few glasses of drinks, Olivia."

"Exactly my point. And I enjoy paying after myself for them."

For some mysterious reason, he knew they could argue about it forever and she wouldn't budge at all. He finally gave in to her. "Anything you say then."

She nodded, her expression softening, and gave him a lopsided smile before extending her hand for him to take. Placing her hand in the crook of his, they walked, side by side, out of the bar, down the floors, across the hallway and into the banquet hall. It was a rather smooth proceeding, unlike what she had in mind.

At the back of her fuzzy brain, she had imagined it to be closer to a war procession. Olivia bitterly admitted to herself that maybe, just maybe, she had one too many glasses for the night.

"Maybe I should've just barged in earlier," she wondered out loud.

Gein chuckled. "Perhaps. But maybe you shouldn't have."

"Perhaps," she agreed. Then, with a secretive smile added, "However, that remained to be seen as a future potential plan."

Gein had to silently questioned what that was even supposed to mean and the plan it entails.

While they talked with no care to their surroundings, they did noticed the obvious silence from the moment they entered the hall. When they finally scanned the ground, the situation came as funny to her.

A jubilant look shone in her eyes and was noticed by Gein.

"I couldn't help but wonder what occurred to put such a happy expression on you, my dear."

Olivia noticed that he had been casually calling her dear and she had to admit it was fun hearing that from someone not considered family. Although, before she could answer his question, someone called her name in a calm tone, but with clear urgency in their voice.

She recognized the voice as Vivian's just in time to see her.

She offered him a smile before turning away, instead of answering him.

She could see Vivian and Carlos approaching her with their respective feelings painted clear on their face. While Vivian looked relieved, Carlos couldn't completely hide his mixed feeling of relief and slight disappointment and disagreement.

"I'm glad to see you, Miss," Vivian said earnestly. She seemed to not noticed Gein's presence who was standing just behind Olivia.

"So am I, Miss," Carlos said, his voice so smooth and calm it felt weird to hear. To Gein, Carlos nodded in acknowledgement.

"I haven't been far, and it hasn't been that long either." She said straight-faced, as if she didn't just spent the last hour drinking her anger away. She vowed to never admit to it, no matter what came her way later. Fixing her gaze on Carlos, she asked, "I assume they didn't cause you much trouble."

Carlos nodded. "Nothing more than the usual."

Olivia wanted to laugh as much as she wanted to growl. "I'll go meet them. Fill me on what 'the usual' includes while we walk," she dictated.

"Before that, Miss Olivia," Carlos called. "Please excuse my rude behavior earlier. I crossed the line back then."

Olivia's stare could bore a hole through him. Carlos knew he was at fault but he couldn't help feeling anxious at her silent look. Then, with a light-hearted laugh, she dismissed the matter. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to work you for your mistakes worth."

That was when she remembered how they had been ignoring Gein. She turned to a rather amused-looking him, who had been watching over their exchange in silence. Olivia raised a brow and a small smile tugged at her lips. "I hoped you were entertained, Gein."

"Quite, actually." He said with a genuine smile. "Mind doing the introduction Olivia?"

"Gladly. Gein, this is Carlos, my trusted secretary. His jobs entails a vast variation. He's also my close aide."

The two men exchanged a very firm hand shake. "Gein Kingsley."

"An honor to meet you."

"And this here is Vivian, my personal attendant. She also helps with my work whenever needed." She continued.

Vivian bowed slightly, and echoed Carlos's reply, "An honor to meet you, sir."

"The honor is mine," Gein replied.

"I love to stay with you but there's something that need my urgent attention somewhere else," Olivia said regretfully.

Gein faced her. A gentle smile adorned his handsome face. "I'll be here. You are my partner for the night after all."

There's a teasing note in his voice, but also with a subtle assurance hinted. Olivia laughed. She had to admit she rather welcomed the sense of camaraderie she sensed from him. "I'll see you later than, partner."

She disappeared into the crowd as soon as she flashed him a dazzling grin, followed closely by Carlos and Vivian, and he watched until she disappeared from his view.

Gein allowed his mind to linger on the thought of her for a moment longer, pleasantly surprised by the amusing person he had the chance to finally get to know and had a talk with. He had to admit that he was in a rather good mood as he moved around to greet others and mingle around while waiting for Olivia's return.