Chapter 81: A New Beginning at Eva Enterprise

The sun shone brightly over the bustling city as Olivia and Ethan approached the newly refurbished office of Eva Enterprise. After all the struggles they had endured, it was a moment of triumph. Emma and Alex walked alongside them, excitement radiating from their faces.

"I can't believe we're finally here!" Emma exclaimed, looking up at the sleek glass building that housed their dreams. "This place looks incredible! I'm so proud of what we're building together."

"I know, right? It feels surreal," Olivia replied, glancing at Ethan, whose presence next to her felt like a protective aura. "After everything, we're really doing this."

Ethan smiled, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "We've come a long way. And now, it's time to show the world what we're capable of."

As they entered the office, the atmosphere was alive with energy. Employees busily typed at their desks, phones ringing, and the faint smell of fresh coffee lingered in the air. Olivia felt a surge of adrenaline. This was her domain, and she was ready to reclaim it.

"Welcome to Eva Enterprise, ladies and gentlemen!" she announced playfully, raising her arms as if they were entering a grand theater. "Let's make this place shine!"

"Are we going to get matching T-shirts that say 'Team Eva'?" Alex joked, grinning widely. "Because I'm all in."

Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "As long as they come in stylish cuts, I might consider it."

Ethan chuckled, rolling his eyes. "How about we focus on not getting fired on our first day?"

They spent the morning getting acclimated, going over plans and strategies for the future of Eva Enterprise. Olivia was in her element, brainstorming ideas, jotting down notes, and empowering her team.

"Alright, team!" Olivia announced after their morning meeting. "Let's take a lunch break. I think we deserve a little treat after all this hard work."

"Finally! I'm starving!" Emma exclaimed, her stomach rumbling audibly.

Ethan walked closer to Olivia. "So, where to? I know this great little café down the street…"

"Sounds perfect!" Olivia replied, her heart fluttering at the thought of spending time with him outside the office.

As they made their way to the café, Ethan was still getting used to navigating around the bustling city streets, but Olivia was right by his side, guiding him with care. Their dynamic felt effortless, as if they had never been apart.

"Hey, did I ever tell you about the time I tried to impress Olivia by cooking dinner?" Ethan asked, grinning mischievously. "Let's just say the fire department wasn't very impressed."

"Oh no, what happened?" Emma asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "He burned a pot of water! I think he was trying to make pasta or something."

"Excuse me, it was a complex recipe!" Ethan defended himself, feigning seriousness. "I just underestimated the power of boiling water."

"Right, because water is so hard to handle," Olivia teased, poking him playfully.

They arrived at the café, a cozy spot filled with sunlight streaming through large windows. They found a table and settled in, chatting animatedly about their plans for the enterprise.

After placing their orders, Olivia leaned closer to Ethan. "So, do you think people will recognize you? I mean, with the cap and the mask?"

Ethan shrugged, glancing around the café. "I'm hoping my disguise is good enough. I can't have people knowing I'm back yet. We still need to flush out Patrick."

"Right, right," Olivia replied, her brow furrowing for a moment before she smiled again. "I just hope we don't end up on some tabloid magazine cover."

"Oh, come on! That would be great publicity!" Alex chimed in, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Imagine the headlines: 'Mystery Man Reunites with Businesswoman—Is She Finally Moving On?'"

"Or how about, 'New Love Blooms in Eva Enterprise?'" Emma suggested with a wink.

Olivia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "Very funny, you two. Let's keep the headlines about our business, not my love life."

Just then, a reporter entered the café, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He spotted Olivia and Ethan, and a sly grin appeared on his face. Olivia, oblivious to his presence, continued to chat with her friends.

"Ethan, do you remember that time we went on that ridiculous team-building retreat?" Olivia asked, laughing as she recalled the memory. "I swear, they had us doing trust falls from a ledge!"

"Yeah! And I think I may have dropped Emma by accident," Ethan replied, pretending to look guilty. "Sorry about that, by the way."

"Hey! I thought I was going to die!" Emma exclaimed, mock glaring at him. "But I guess it built character, right?"

The reporter, now getting closer, snapped a few photos, his mind racing with the possibilities of the story he could write. He caught Olivia and Ethan leaning closer, their chemistry undeniable.

"What's the deal with these two?" he muttered under his breath, already envisioning the headline.

The waiter arrived with their food, interrupting their laughter. They began digging into their meals, enjoying the moment together. However, the reporter continued to lurk, ready to capitalize on the unfolding drama.

As they finished their lunch, Olivia noticed the reporter hovering nearby. "Um, is that guy staring at us?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ethan turned to look. "Yeah, he's been here for a while. Just ignore him. We're here to enjoy our time together."

"Good call," Olivia said, attempting to brush off the discomfort.

Just as they were getting ready to leave, the reporter approached their table, a confident smile plastered on his face. "Excuse me, Miss Carter? May I have a moment of your time?" 

Olivia shot a glance at Ethan, who frowned slightly but remained silent. "Uh, sure. What do you want?" she asked cautiously.

"I couldn't help but notice you and your companion," he said, motioning towards Ethan, who was still masked and wearing a cap. "It seems like there's quite a story here. Are you really moving on from your ex-husband, Ethan Pierce?"

Olivia's stomach dropped. "I think that's a bit personal, don't you?" she replied sharply.

The reporter smirked, clearly enjoying himself. "Of course! But you know how it is—people love a good story, especially one involving a handsome masked man. Who wouldn't want to know if love is in the air again?"

Olivia opened her mouth to respond but Ethan cut in. "Look, buddy, we're just here to enjoy lunch with friends. No story, no drama—just good food."

The reporter shrugged, unfazed. "Well, how about a picture, then? Just to capture the moment?"

"Absolutely not!" Olivia said firmly, standing her ground. "This is our personal life, and it's off-limits."

"Really?" The reporter's grin widened as he snapped a candid shot of them. "You seem pretty cozy, though. I'm sure this will make a fantastic headline!"

Before Olivia could respond, he hurried away, leaving them stunned at the table.

"Did that just happen?" Emma asked, blinking in disbelief. "What a creep!"

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Now we're probably going to be plastered all over the news."

"Ugh! This is so typical!" Olivia exclaimed, frustration bubbling within her. "I just want to focus on our work and not have my personal life dragged into it."

"Welcome to the world of being in the public eye," Alex said, trying to lighten the mood. "Just think of it as free publicity!"

"Yeah, because that's exactly what we need," Olivia muttered sarcastically.

As they stepped out of the café, Ethan felt Olivia's hand brush against his. "Hey, it'll be okay," he reassured her softly. "We're in this together."

"I know. I just want to keep our focus on the business," Olivia said, exhaling deeply. "We've worked so hard for this."

"Then let's show them what Eva Enterprise is all about," Ethan replied with a smile. "Let them write what they want. We'll keep moving forward."

"Right! Let's make this our comeback story!" Olivia declared, her determination returning.

"Now, where to next?" Emma asked, beaming with enthusiasm. "I vote for a brainstorming session at the office!"

"Sounds perfect," Olivia agreed, a smile returning to her face. "Let's show the world what we can do."

As they walked towards the office, Olivia felt a sense of empowerment wash over her. They had faced numerous obstacles and challenges, but now they were united and ready to take on whatever came their way. And even with the potential headlines looming over them, she knew that their bond was stronger than any tabloid could capture.

Little did they know, the article that the reporter would write would soon catch fire in the media. As they stepped into the bustling office of Eva Enterprise, the whirlwind of their lives had only just begun.