Unwinding After a Long Day

The bar was merry with Olivia's laughter and occasional laugh from the other four. Their conversation went from one serious subject to the most mundane things without much thought given, just so they had anything to talk about.

They had been going on for almost three hours, after Olivia insistence for Elliot and Danielle to join them too. And as soon as they did, Olivia made sure that they all had something to drink.

As the case with Elliot and Danielle who had obviously grown inebriated from all the drinks Olivia kept ordering for them the moment they finished one.

Trent played it safe and took his time to enjoy his drinks.

Carlos could only muttered his disagreement silently while swallowing his drinks, to Olivia's delight.

"Hey! Eli, there's still more to go!" Olivia shook his shoulder to wake him up. She was silently laughing at Elliot. "You can't sleep yet! Wake up!"

"No... more, I'm...," Elliot slurred. It was barely understandable.

Olivia laughed. She turned to Danielle and saw that she too was very close to her limits.

It didn't take long for Elliot to pass out after Olivia stopped badgering him to drink more. Danielle on the other hand managed to barely hang on from passing out.

"Carlos, take them upstairs." Olivia instructed, her voice mirthful.

Carlos dutifully did as she said. He helped Danielle to her feet and half-dragged Elliot away as Olivia watched them walked away.

"That was fun," Olivia chuckled.

Trent smiled. "I'm glad you are enjoying the night, Dea."

Olivia's smile remained, proof of her delighted mood, enough to brush off Trent calling her old nickname. Silence quickly greeted them, which they welcomed with open arms.

"How's your old man?" Olivia broke the silence after a while, pulling Trent out of his reverie.

Trent glanced at Olivia, searching her face, although he wasn't sure what he was looking for.

"He's seen better days, I guess."

"... I see,"

Trent went back to nursing his whiskey. "You should stop by when you're nearby, he'll be happy to see you."

"I guess so." Olivia said absentmindedly. Then she frowned. "It almost sounds like you go home often now?"

Trent chuckled. He shook his head at Olivia's question and the clear bewilderment in her voice. "We still ended up quarreling every time. I kept it short whenever I did."

Olivia laughed softly. "You guys need to compromise more."

She could almost hear Trent rolling his eyes. "I might come to agreement with Thomas, but dad is a different story. Unless you're there."

"No, that'll defeats the purpose of having you guys in the same room then."

"Wait, that was not the issue here," Trent stated, unsatisfied. "We were talking about you dropping by."

"Of course it matters." Olivia said, pointing her finger at Trent.

"How is that so?"

"Harry loves tiring me with his endless talk about his sons."

Trent stared open-mouthed. "His what?"

"You can ask Tasha. She was usually around to see me demean you and Thomas." Olivia chuckled. "Which anger Harry."

Trent was having a hard time processing what Olivia just said. While he knew she was close with his father and sister, he didn't know she was a trusted confidante.

Or maybe he did know.

"What I don't understand was how he's on bad term with you two despite all the love worth the world to shower you two with."

"Maybe because he never tell that to us," Trent deadpanned.

Olivia only laughed merrily at Trent's display of discomfort.

"On that note, Tasha was very angry that you didn't attend her wedding." Trent said.

Olivia grimaced. She felt guilty for that. "It wasn't on purpose."

"You know Tasha, she can be hard to reason with."

"It's been two years! She can't still hold her grudge against me."

"No," Trent answered her, a soft chuckle lacing his words. "We're talking about Tasha and you know how petty she can get."

Olivia sighed. Of course she knew. She had been on the receiving end enough time. "Well, I can't do anything about that, then."

Trent shrugged. Olivia and Tasha were very close, and he knew well that as long as Olivia didn't go to see her, she might as well carry her grudge to the grave.

"Send my regards to them when you see them." Olivia requested.

"Will do," If I go, anyway.

Trent's unfinished sentence hung over them.

It had been almost a decade since they last met. Of course she missed the Vladislavs. They were like her second family.

"Oh right. Mother asked you to come by when you're free."

Trent raised a brow. "Azalea?"

"No, a different Mrs Queneviere." Olivia replied sarcastically.

Which Trent ignored. "So sudden?"

"You did come and go before saying your hi before," Olivia explained.

When her mother knew it was Trent who dropped her off that night, she had been expecting to see him again. Even more so since Trent was among the few people that could access the mansion ground.

"How's your family doing?" Trent asked after a short silence.

"Father is getting better. So does mother."

"What about Athena?"

"She's excited to welcome spring." Olivia said. "Trent, why do you call us by our middle name, even after all the threat I made?"

Olivia was really puzzled about that. It wasn't once she told him not to, and not once she did so with a very dangerous threat. But Trent never listened.

"I love your middle name. It suits you both better. Athena and Aphrodite." He mused out loud. "Why do you dislike it so much anyway?"

Olivia shook her head. "It's not that I dislike it. I used to call Ophie that, after all. Athena. It really symbolizes her..."

"Then?"

"Some things are better off not known, Trent. And I really prefer not remembering." She said after a stretched out silence.

"But Olivia," Trent began. "Regardless of everything, you will always be our very own Aphrodite."

Olivia sighed. "Whatever, Trent. Whatever." She had given up trying to have him –them– drop it. She called the bartender for another drink.

"Olivia, please slow down on the drinking," Trent said worriedly.

"I'm fine."

Trent watched her with concern. She might be fine but she had had countless glass for the night. He knew how well she could handle her liquor but too much wouldn't be good for her health.

They talked for another hour, all the time Trent tried to persuade her to ease her drinking, which was in vain. After her seventh tequilas, Trent gave up altogether in trying to stop her.

"It's late." He said when he glance at his pocket watch.

Olivia eyed him. Trent just had strong passion for antiques. And it suits him very much too.

"Really?" She asked, her voice carrying a note of slurring.

"It's over midnight, nearing two. Will you show the way, Olivia? I need to get them." Trent requested, ignoring her clearly foxed state, knowing that if he did try to point it out, she would just deny it.

Olivia nodded. "Sure."

They payed off their bills and headed out to the elevator. It was a different one that they had used before.

"Trent, why don't you spend the night here?" Olivia suggested just as the door closed and she pushed the button to her floor. "You can stay at Carlos's quarter. There's still a room left, I think."

There seemed to be no room for refusal.

The elevator opened up and they stepped onto carpeted hallway. The exterior was your typical white-walled hallway on one side and a floor to ceiling glass wall on one side. It gave a beautiful view of the city at night.

"Who else lived on this floor?" Trent asked.

"I owned half the floor but haven't seen anyone else on this floor."

He wasn't surprised.

"The floor upstairs, the rooftop is an exclusive penthouse and also the owner's." Olivia told as she unlocked her door. "Though I don't think I've ever seen the owner before."

Trent followed Olivia inside and was amazed by the design.

The wood-floored room –which he believed to be the the living room– was very spacious and the sparsely furnished room gave off an exclusive vibe.

From the doorway, occupying a small space to his left was a simple kitchen and a decent counter passable as a table to eat at. High stools rested neatly underneath.

In front of him was a simple yet grand show of wealth. The furnishings that graced the big space were a black leather U-couch, a glass coffee table in the middle, and a built-in fireplace that was blazing and warming the ambiance.

A home theater set was attached to a 54-inch LCD screen that hanged above the fireplace like a proud frame. At each side of the fireplace was a massive bookshelf filled to the brim with different volumes. While it was covered with heavy maroon-colored curtains, Trent was sure the wall hidden was made up of glass. There was one door on each end.

"What's behind the doors?"

Olivia gestured to her left. "That's my room. And that," she pointed to her right, "are where Carlos and Vivian stayed."

Trent followed Olivia as she went to the massive refrigerator. "Did you alter the interior?"

"No, not really."

"Then is the whole building identical to this?" He asked with slight disbelief.

"Of course not." Olivia laughed. "Long story short, I met the owner before he built this and kind of helped him with his stuff. And he kind of took my words seriously."

"What do you mean?" Trent was getting curious.

Olivia led him across the door on the right and they were immediately in a differently built space. "Hmm... I jokingly asked him to built mine the way I liked it after we finished discussing the whole building layout."

"The way you liked it...?"

"Yes. I doodled something and he came up with a solid picture of it," she confirmed nonchalantly.

Trent went speechless.

But again, Olivia always had such random encounter.

"What do—"

"Miss," Carlos appeared.

Trent sealed his lips tight. He turned to face Carlos and gave him a nod.

"Where's Eli and Dan?"

"Elliot is in the back room, and Danielle is in Vivian's room."

Olivia nodded. She felt bad having to wake those two up. "Why not just spend the night here Trent?"

Carlos stopped for a split second but managed to cover it up. Olivia might not noticed it but Trent did.

Trent gave Olivia his sweetest smile. "I wouldn't like to trouble you further, Olivia."

"You won't. But I'm not forcing you." Olivia glanced at him. "Carlos, show him to Eli and Dan."

"Yes, miss."

"Good night, Trent. Till next time," Olivia waved.

Trent took her hand and lightly brushed a kiss, handling her hand as if it was a very precious and fragile glass which she was not. "Sweet dreams, Olivia. Until next time."