Unwelcomed Interruption

"Please, won't you reconsider it for one more time?"

Olivia sighed. She hated dealing with hardheaded people. They do not know when to stop and they irked her endlessly.

"Here's the thing, Gennadi," she emphasized on his name to make a point, and to change her empty glass of champagne from a passing waiter. "I don't usually make it a habit to go back on my words."

Gennadi shook his head. He was at his wits end on how to convince Olivia, when even pleading didn't work. "I regretted what happened earlier and I've seen that she was reprimanded sternly for what happened."

Olivia sipped her drinks. Of course she could do what he asked, especially when it brings profit her way. And having Gennadi in her debt was something she wouldn't miss on. The question was on how much she wanted him to feel indebted.

They both knew who was on the desperate end of their bargain after all. But before she could say her piece, her arm was grabbed and the force almost sent her reeling forward.

"Olivia!"

Olivia was very close to hitting Cedric with her glass in response when he suddenly grabbed her arm. He was lucky it ended up only with the champagne dousing him.

"What the-!"

Just as fast, Carlos seized Cedric's hand off of Olivia, and a very loud stunned silence filled the place before buzzing of whisper filled the hall.

Olivia took a deep, steadying breath to calm her nerve. She noticed Vivian hovering near, looking ready to leap at a call. She would laugh if the situation wasn't as overbearing.

"I'm fine," she assured no one in particular, but clearly directed it to her two assistances.

Vivian stood alert beside Olivia and Carlos released Cedric before making his way to Olivia. All the while, his eyed Cedric warily for another moment.

"Vivian. I'm fine." Olivia breathe out calmly after a short pause. When Vivian still had a fierce look on her, Olivia directed her best glare to her.

"Yes, Miss," Vivian reluctantly conceded.

"Carlos, step aside," she ordered after another pause. When he remained still, she placed a hand on his arm, and sensed how tense Carlos was.

"Carlos," she made it clear no compromise was allowed. He finally he stepped aside, but remained highly alert.

That allowed Olivia to face a clearly shocked Cedric. She realized he was not the only one with a surprised look on them. Gennadi tried to play it cool but evidently he was also shocked with what just happened.

"I apologize for the disturbance. Please, pay us no mind," she said to the small crowd around them, with a smile that demand it forgotten.

Murmurs of responses came promptly. Olivia said her thanks dismissively before turning to Cedric with a stern face.

"So? What do you want?" She may had spoken calmly, but her face was telling its own separate story.

Luckily, besides the five of them, no one was making it too obvious they were eavesdropping.

While it was evident Cedric seemed to realize what he had caused, Olivia couldn't care less. He had cross a line too far in just a night, adding on the earlier broken appointment.

"You pulled me with such urgency," she said as she moved closer to Cedric, and with only a step separating them, she continued, "so I expect it to be over a reasonably serious matter."

They stood so close Cedric could see the blaze dancing furiously in her eyes. He steeled his resolve, squaring himself against anything Olivia was going to send his way. He almost looked like a man marching to his demise.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you." He searched her eyes for a glint of forgiveness. And he found none.

"I was just glad to finally found you," guilt laced his voice for all to hear.

Olivia didn't reply. She simply leveled her gaze with his. It has been a dragging night, and she was angry. Cedric's abrupt action simply ended as the trigger. In her eyes, he appeared no more significant than a crushable insect despite his bigger and taller built. And she was very, very close to do what she would to such creatures.

Crush them.

"Miss, please don't," Carlos warned her. His voice was soft enough that only she could hear it.

As if on cue, Vivian also stepped forward. "Please Miss, now is not the best time to make a rash decision. You might come to regret it later."

Olivia took a breath in, and stepped back. Envisioning the possible consequences was enough to reign herself back in. "Very well."

All of then almost let out a breath of relief.

Almost.

"But another outrageous stunt from you, Faust," her low voice carried a frightening note to it. The promise of what to come in her next word were undeniable. "I will not tolerate it."

When she was sure her message was clearly conveyed, she turned around sharply and marched away. Eventually Gennadi played it safe and was smart enough to not approach her again.

Carlos and Vivian exchanged an uneasy glances. A normal Olivia that was having one of her outburst was definitely preferred to a silently raging Olivia. There was no way to know what she would pull next, and they couldn't hide their anxiousness.

As if to prove that it was not the end of her increasingly horrible night, Olivia walked straight into the Roswalds' —a distant family on her mother's side.

Just my luck, she seethed out silently. Unless she planned to make it obvious she was avoiding them, there's no choice but to greet them. Olivia did have her manners after all, so she wasn't about to blatantly avoid them. But nothing could disguise her annoyance.

She noticed that they also already saw her, which mean she really do not have other option than to greet them. Unless she wants another round of dumb rumores spread by them.

"Hello, Roswalds."

Her aunt threw her a disgusted glance. Her uncle stepped forward and extended a hand with a calculating smile. "Haughty as usual, Queneviere."

"And you're still your disdainful self, but I'm not complaining am I?" She displayed a matching smile and took his hand to shake.

Last she saw them, they were being a spectacular pain in her neck. She hoped at that time it would turn slightly better the next time they meet but as usual, her wish went unheard.

She nodded at their daughter and was ready to calmly excuse herself away, when her aunt said something incoherent but audible enough for her to hear her name mentioned. "You said something?"

Olivia could see the urge to strangle herself from her aunt's eyes. She couldn't help a stray, cheerful smile. That only darkened the look she received in return.

Which made her even much more elated.

"Mother was saying that you weren't anywhere earlier so we assumed you weren't attending." The daughter stepped up, relaying a polite version of the original statement.

"Huh," her aunt disguised a snort. "What's the use of speaking with manners in front of that chit," she said loud enough for Olivia to hear. "She must have come with that dog of hers."

Olivia twitched. No one get away with badmouthing her people. No matter who they were. But instead of snapping off, she put on her most brilliantly captivating smile.

"Glad to disappoint you then. Today I'm simply a partner to someone else." She said sweet enough to make others nauseous.

"And who might that be?" Her uncle asked with interest.

Olivia shrugged. "None of your business. Meanwhile, my trusted and loyal aid, Carlos, is here with Vivian, under my instruction to grab hold of new investors and, well, 'clients'."

The way she said it was as if she asked Carlos to go buy her a cup of coffee.

They stared at her wide mouth. Maybe at her audacity, or it could have been anything else. Whatever it might be, she reveled in their discomfort, as much as they did with hers.

She could probably laugh her eyes dry from their expressions alone. Their daughter, on the other hand, looked absolutely mortified over their exchange.

Just as she decided to grate on their nerves some more, Carlos approached her. He had been keeping his distance ever since her uncle greeted her. "Miss Olivia, Mr Kingsley was searching for you."

Carlos purposely said it loud enough for those around them to hear it, and Olivia noticed it. She turned to see Gein standing near Vivian.

When he noticed her eyes on him, he raised his glass. He had an unreadable expression on. "What does he want?"

"I wasn't told."

Olivia raised her brow. Weird. But that might be the chance she needed to get out before hands flew up and all act of civilization disappeared. "Sure. I'll be there."

Carlos retreated. She turned to her uncle. "It seems my partner needs me. I'll excuse myself first."

Without so much as a nod, she turned to walk away. However, to reach Gein, she needed to pass her aunt. What other choice did she have besides getting the most out of it?

None.

"Oh right, I forgot to mention," she said as she passed her aunt. "My aid, Carlos had just made a clean 200 million profit not long ago." With a snigger, she added, "Since according to you, he's my loyal 'dog', seemed like even a dog would be way better than you to have."

Having said that, she walked away with a very graceful stride. All the while trying not to laugh like a looney at the satisfaction of catching a glimpse of her aunt's red face.

"I'd like to hear the reason for your euphoric mood, but seeing their face, I assumed they were the cause?"

Olivia nodded. She took Gein extended hand. "I'll tell you later."

Gein couldn't help wondering just what had she done. Before they walked away, she stopped to ask. "Do they looked that bad? How do they even look right now?"

Gein paused. He slightly angled his body to have a better view. "Hmm... The lady looked like she just chocked on a rather chunky bone, or similarly and direly need to breathe. The man looked slightly less bewildered, although a kitten could pass through his mouth now. And the girl looked troubled... Is she holding back a laugh?"

Olivia laughed, a hearty and lilting sound. She turned more than a few heads in their direction.

"Great! I wish I could see it myself but I'll make do with your words," she said with traces of her laugh.

"I hope you keep your words. I really wondered now what have you said to them."

"I will. But not now," she said with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.