Stranger in my Ass Chapter 63

Olivia’s POV

"Could it be because of my na?" I asked, leaning forward across the table. "Maybe he just wants to punish because I bear the sa na as his first love?"

Julian paused in the middle of sipping his tea and stared at like I’d just suggested the moon was made of mayonnaise.

"Baby girl, are you even thinking at all?" he said, setting down his cup. "Maxwell knows you as Oliver, not Olivia. How exactly would he be punishing you for having a na he’s never heard you use?"

"Yes, I know," I said, fidgeting with my napkin. I hadn’t told him about Maxwell’s double life, and I didn’t know if I could trust him well enough to spill that particular information. Should I tell him? He obviously ans no harm.

Julian’s eyebrows drew together as he studied my face suspiciously. "Hold up. There’s sothing else you’re not telling , isn’t there? I can practically see the words trying to crawl out of your mouth."

I glanced around the cafe nervously, then leaned even closer. "If I tell you this, you have to promise - swear to - that you won’t breathe a word of it to another soul."

Julian’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Honey, you’ve got my complete and undivided attention. I swear on my mother’s life, my grandmother’s grave, and my uncle’s expensive horses that whatever you’re about to spill will stay locked in this vault." He tapped his temple dramatically.

I took a deep breath. "The first ti I crossed paths with Maxwell wasn’t in the company."

"Where was it then?"

"A love doctor’s office."

Julian literally froze. "I’m sorry, what? Maxwell Wellington was in a love doctor’s office? Was his relationship with Sabrina that rocky? Why would he need the help of a love doctor?"

"No, no," I said quickly, waving my hands. "He wasn’t there as a client. He was the love doctor."

The teacup that Julian had picked up slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the saucer. "Co again?"

"Maxwell Wellington owns a love coaching business. He goes by Dr. Heart, and he gives relationship advice to people."

Julian stared at in complete silence for what felt like an eternity. Then he started laughing.

"You’re telling that the human ice sculpture upstairs - gives people advice about love?" He shook his head vigorously. "Absolutely not. I refuse to believe this."

"Julian, I swear on everything holy, I’m telling the truth."

"But where would he even find the ti? The man practically lives at the office. I’ve seen him here at midnight reviewing case files. When exactly is he playing Dr. Love?"

I leaned back in my chair. "When I first started at the company as an attorney, Maxwell wasn’t there. Everyone said he was in Europe on a business trip."

Julian nodded slowly. "Yeah, he was gone for like three weeks..."

"That’s when I t him at his love doctor office. He was probably running his side business while pretending to be overseas."

"My head is about to explode," Julian muttered, pressing his palms against his temples. "Hold on, let process this. You’re telling that our resident sociopath has been moonlighting as a romance guru? The sa man who looks like love is very far from him?"

"That’s exactly what I’m telling you. And Julian, when I first t him as Dr. Heart, he was completely different. Sweet, charming, even a little flirtatious. But the mont I started talking about Alex, he turned cruel and dismissive."

"Wait, wait, wait." Julian held up both hands. "You went to see a love doctor about Alex? Oh honey, the plot thickens."

"That’s not the point right now," I said, though my cheeks flushed with embarrassnt. "The point is that Maxwell had two completely different personalities. Dr. Heart was almost... nice. But when I ntioned wanting advice about Alex Gregory, he beca vicious."

Julian was quiet for a mont, his fingers drumming against the table as he processed this information. "So why are you telling this detail anyway? What does his double life have to do with your current situation?"

"Because the tiline adds up perfectly," I said urgently. "The mont Maxwell returned from his ’business trip’ and resud his role at the company, he demoted from attorney to assistant. He’s been cruel to ever since."

"So?" Julian shrugged.

"So I think he knows I’m Olivia, and he’s just pretending not to know."

Julian let out another loud laughter. "Honey, that man is not the type to encourage fraud. If Maxwell Wellington discovered that one of his employees was living a lie, he would have fired them imdiately and probably called security to escort them out. He doesn’t play gas - he destroys people."

"I was sure he didn’t recognize either," I admitted, "but Sabrina’s confession about his first love being nad Olivia opened my eyes. What if Maxwell does know exactly who I am, and he’s simply punishing for lying to him and committing fraud?"

Julian went quiet again, his expression growing more serious as he considered my words. "You know what? That actually makes a twisted kind of sense. The story does add up in a sick, psychological way."

"You think so?"

"Think about it - Maxwell is a complete psychopath when it cos to his cases. He’s famous in courtrooms for the way he destroys opposing counsel. He doesn’t just win; he obliterates people. And you’re telling he recognized you from day one and has been psychologically torturing you ever since?" Julian nodded slowly. "Yeah, that sounds exactly like sothing he would do."

My stomach dropped. "So what should I do?"

Julian stirred his tea thoughtfully. "Before we jump to conclusions about Maxwell knowing your real identity, we need to test him. We need to find out for sure if he truly knows who you are."

I sat up straighter, suddenly curious. "How?"

"I’m going to think of sothing deliciously devious," Julian said with a wicked smile. "Give until tomorrow’s lunch. I’ll have a plan by then."

I glanced at my watch and nearly choked. "Shit! I’m five minutes late!"

"Damn! That man is going to roast you. You better run along."

I bolted from the cafe, my heart racing as I realized I’d just offended Maxwell for the hundredth ti this week.