Unyielding

The journey up was very quick. They soon reached the 26th floor.

"I'll be down in 10. Keep them entertained."

"Will do, miss," Carlos replied and waited until the elevator closed off again before showing her guests the way in.

The condominium was built rather uniquely as a high-end building. With 30 floors, not including the basements, the ground floor served as the lobby and the receptions to serve the residents and guests alike, whereas the first to fourth floor had varieties of accommodation available for the everyone staying to use.

The fifth up to 19th floor were the regular condominium —which actually exceeded your usual normal housing block. The building itself had a unique services where they also opened a few floors as a hotel accommodating a steady amount of visitors.

Although, 20th floor and above were a cut above the rest. The layout could be described as bizarre but for some reasons, were well accepted since early on. And one of its peculiarity included a very extensive and exclusive bar on floor 26th, which was regularly visited by Olivia herself.

"Please wait here." Carlos guided them to a secluded table. The place might be deserted most of the time but it some extra caution wouldn't hurt.

Trent was just getting seated when he saw Olivia walking towards them. He glanced at his wristwatch, and chuckled. She wasn't late by even a minute. Although, before he could call out to her, she beat him to it. "One moment, and I'll join you."

Without waiting for any reply, she headed off to the bar and engaged into an easy chatter with the bartender before returning to them, with a glass of drink in hand.

"So," she said as she slid into the seat in front of Trent. "Let's hear all the excuses you had prepared."

Straight to the point, very much like her. Trent displayed his usual, business-like smile. "I wouldn't call it excuses, since I have my reasons for being late, Olivia."

Olivia took a light sip, tasting the sweetly burning beverage. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she still had the time to wonder how Trent managed to drawl out her name to make it sound so similar to how he used to pronounce her nickname preciously. Managing to not give in to her curiosity, Olivia gestured with her free hand and a similar smile as if mimicking Trent's gracing her face, for him to continue. "Let's hear your 'reasons', then."

The controlled expression she had on could possibly froze a lake, and Trent swore he felt the place got marginally colder. That being said, she didn't have the usual raging storm that could be glimpsed from her eyes whenever she held fury in check. Trent took it as a not-to-bad-of-a-situation sign, but nonetheless couldn't bring himself to let his guard down.

"I really do apologize for the delay, Olivia. I really do." Trent said, the pleading subtle in his words. He made sure to keep his eyes glued on her face, to see even the slightest change in her expression.

Although it was in vain. Olivia simply nodded as she continued to sip on her drinks as if without care. He noticed that she almost finished her glass of drink, and how her attention soon was fully focused on him.

If he learnt any lesson living with his family, which he did a lot, he would do best to not ignore his screaming instinct cautioning him to tread very carefully. He locked eyes with Olivia for a brief moment before breaking it off to instruct his men to open the case he brought with him.

Olivia watched as three different velvet boxes were presented to her. She concluded that the biggest box held her gemstones and wondered out loud what the other two boxes might contain.

"This," Trent said as he opened the biggest box to reveal the contents, "are your gems, crafted into necklaces as you've instructed."

Olivia stared at the jewelries that laid elegantly on its bed. While she did remember issuing for the gems to be made into necklace, she didn't remember ordering it to be made with such intricacies.

"This is beyond excellent," Olivia sincerely complimented the work as she took one of it to have a better look.

The room seemed to relax for a fraction of a second. And it took just as fast for it to be tense again.

"This might be a very good work you've brought to me, Trent, but you clearly went over the agreed time."

Trent stiffened. Then he chuckled, before he frowned so deep Olivia felt like smoothing it up.

"I said I'll listen to your reasons. You probably should start with that." Having said that, Olivia waited. She had a menacing vibes radiating which she tried to dampened with a small smile.

It took him a while to arrange his thoughts, but Trent finally told her a summary of what happened.

It was a rather odd story even to his ears, and he was there to experience it himself. He wondered how Olivia would take the story in and could only hoped for the best.

Olivia was deep in thought for a short moment. "So, the smith's assistant decided to run off with the finished items and was caught not long after, just as he was about to cross the border?"

Trent nodded at Olivia's summary of his summary. It sounded less weird and more plausible when she put it so straightforwardly but make no more sense than previously.

Olivia played with her empty glass. The silence stretched a moment to long for comfort, before she spoke again. "I'll believe you, Trent. Only because this is too far fetched to be a lie, especially from you. But I hoped you remember that I dislike it when promises were broken."

She said it so carefully you wouldn't notice the underlying meaning unless you knew how she was as a person. Nevertheless, Trent looked visibly relieved when she said that.

She raised her eyes to look straight into Trent's. "This might be an exception but I don't want a repeat of this."

Trent nodded solemnly.

But they both know they couldn't do anything against such a situation.

And they both know Olivia's not so cruel to not take the situation into consideration.

Just as suddenly, Olivia smiled brightly —as bright as she could after a very tiring day.

"Well, that's that, then. Let's get some drinks. My throat's itching for some more." She also wanted to check the necklaces in more detail.

"Wait, Olivia, we're not done."

Olivia paused her step. "What?"

"This is something from me. As an apology."

When Olivia retook her seat, he reached for the small, square box and held it open for Olivia to see.

Inside were three pairs of colored stone earrings, beautifully designed to match the necklaces.

Olivia might be known to not accept gift as an apology but Aphrodite never refused what was presented to her.

"I hope it is to your liking, Olivia."

"It is," she nodded appreciatively. "Anything else?"

Trent reached for the last box. It was almost identical to the earring box except that it was much smaller.

What was inside was another story.

It was a golden brooch, crafted out from pure gold in her initials and decorated expertly and exquisitely. It was very pleasing to the eyes, and Olivia would be lying through her teeth if she said otherwise.

"The goldsmith gave you his sincerest apology and this brooch as a physical token. He would have come personally to see you, but something came up." Trent explained.

Olivia nodded. She took the brooch and held it close to inspect it.

"Who's the goldsmith you went to?"

"Robinson."

A smile formed on Olivia's face. She had an inkling, since the handwork was very much his, and too familiar to her. "How's the old man?"

"The same as ever. Stubborn and ever prideful."

Olivia laughed. "I see he's still whole and hale then."

Trent simply nodded and smiled as she watched Olivia's alleviated mood. He was glad she didn't refuse it because he wouldn't know what else to do if she did.

"So anything else, Trent?" Olivia snapped Trent's attention back to her.

"No."

"Good then. I really could do with something to drink right now."

"Allow me to keep you company then, Olivia." Trent offered in all sincerity.

Olivia just nodded and walked to the bar counter. She didn't mind a company but of course, she was not in dire need of one. After all she did intend to get as close to a drunken state as she could. Which meant a considerable amount of it.

Having Carlos around was not a good plan on her part. But no matter.

Olivia called the bartender for his attention and they could see the bartender's high spirit as soon as he saw Olivia. "Ma'am! I've been waiting with your order."

"Good," Olivia grinned. She took a seat right in front of the bartender and was served immediately.

"Enjoy," he wished Olivia as he placed her drink.

Olivia took it and finished it in a flash. She placed the glass down and took her second one that was promptly served just as she placed down her emptied glass.

Which, to everyone's shock and the bartender's pleasure, Olivia finished just as quickly.

"Damn, boy!" She said laughingly. "You've gotten better again!"

"The pleasure's mine, Ma'am." He said, looking genuinely pleased with her compliment.

Trent and company were still dumbfounded looking at Olivia even though they knew she was a heavy drinker. Carlos could only sigh.

"Get yourselves something to drink. You said you're accompanying me." Olivia ordered.

She even told the two that came with Trent to loosen up and have something to drink with her.

"No, we-"

Olivia recognized the thickly accented voices. She quickly turned to take in their profile.

"Eli?" She guessed. "And is that you, Dan?" She asked with a frown.

The both of them smiled.

"Yes, princess," Elliot answered as he took a step forward to bow.

"Stop."

The two of them froze midair from doing what they intended. Elliot raised a questioning eyes and stare straight into Olivia's. "Is there something wrong, princess?"

"First, don't bow. Secondly, why didn't you guys say anything? I mean you've been practically standing behind Trent for over an hour and said nothing at all?!? To me, no less."

They visibly tensed. Both seemed fraught with guilt.

Olivia stared sharply at the two. Previously, when she was still with them, Elliot and Danielle were her assigned guards, due to reasons. They were close enough she felt comfortable with them, and the two adored and doted on her very, very much, which had gotten a bit out hand with their overprotectiveness of her somewhere along the way

Let's not forget the fact that Carlos was also around to add on that.

It got absolutely overbearing sometime, but she managed.

And now, after such a long time, they once again stood in front of her.

"Forgive us, princess." Danielle spoke. She seemed to be struggling with what she wanted to say under the pressure of Olivia's intense gazes.

"We didn't mean to act disrespectful to you princess." Elliot joined. "We simply saw it unfit to interfere up till now."

Olivia narrowed her eyes. It was almost accusingly so. "Hmmm..."

"Please forgive us, princess," Elliot pleaded together with Danielle.

"I suggest that you stop teasing them, miss," Carlos said with a laugh. He pitied the two that would always got played by Olivia, and it seemed to still be the case even after so long.

At that, Olivia broke into an unladylike laugh and didn't stop for a while. When she finally did, she said with a grin, "You guys haven't changed and I'm glad to see you both again."