It Should Have Been Like This (The Revised Version)

Chapter 83: A Delicious Detente

"You can forget about the date and just come with me. My friends and I are going anyway—"

"Lavender, I know your husband is rich, but you can't just get me in like that. You might have a membership or a sponsor card, or whatever, but it doesn't extend to… wait, does it?" Her eyes suddenly glazed over as she processed the information, clearly trying to recall Rominic's connections. Then realization dawned on her, and I could see the spark in her eyes as she remembered who Phineas was.

"Oh! You have a direct connection with…!" Giovanna's voice trailed off, her eyes growing wide with astonishment. "Whoa! But will your friends be okay with it?"

I lifted my gaze to the ceiling, pondering her question. Considering Suzanne's high-profile identity and Anna's cold demeanor towards strangers, there was a chance they might not be on board. The real issue, though solved, was Rylee; she wasn't coming along. It was unusual for her to pass up a chance for fun, especially when she had mentioned wanting to steer clear of alcohol for a while.

As long as Rylee wasn't with us and Tyra was spending the day with Link, there was still hope. I was eager for my friends to meet Giovanna. "Alright, just go on your date, just in case. I'll call you if I don't succeed," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Giovanna shrugged, a bright smile still illuminating her face. This was why I felt so comfortable around her—she was effortlessly easygoing and chatty, never taking things too seriously and completely unconcerned with social hierarchies. With a wave, she bid me goodbye and dashed into the other elevator just as mine opened.

Suddenly, Stacy's voice cut through my thoughts. "I don't like that woman." I turned to see her standing in the elevator, arms crossed and a scowl etched across her face. It was clear that Stacy harbored a strong dislike for Giovanna, just as Giovanna did against her. There was no love lost between them, and there was almost always tension when they were in the same space.

"Yes, you've said that a thousand times," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"She's a suspicious kiss-ass," Stacy persisted, stepping out of the elevator as I entered. "I'm telling you, Lavender, that woman reeks of bad luck. Something terrible is bound to happen to you if you spend too much time with her."

"Mm-hm," I hummed, forcing a smile as the elevator doors slid shut. We were all too familiar with her disdain for Giovanna, and I knew it stemmed from more than just the 'bad luck' she claimed to sense. It had everything to do with a past make-out session with August. I had to admit, while Giovanna had a good heart, her reputation was less than stellar. I often wondered why August hadn't taken things further with her.

Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I stepped into Nic's office, my hands clasped behind my back. The bag of food I had picked up thudded softly against the back of my knees as I moved. I stood before his desk, swaying gently from side to side, waiting for him to notice my presence. The office felt charged with anticipation, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with nerves.

Nic huffed after a few minutes, his pen scratching angrily across the page, making it clear he was choosing to ignore me. I had no idea what had set him off, but Cadmus had given me a heads-up. I suspected one of the reasons for his temper was his incessant frenemy, Apollo. Even I found that man insufferable.

"Would it make you less angry if I told you I bought you food?" I ventured, my voice breaking through the heavy silence. No response. "It's from Mrs. Dave?" Still nothing.

Sighing, I dropped the bag onto his desk with a soft thud and walked around to face him. "Beau," I said, but he remained silent, focused on his scribbles. I had almost forgotten how talented he was at ignoring people. It stung deeply, reminding me of the months I had spent ignoring him. After just a few minutes of his silence, my heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds. I couldn't imagine enduring that kind of treatment for months on end.

I positioned myself at his left, hands on my hips, and shot him a cold glare. "Beau, just in case you've forgotten, whatever you're upset about isn't my fault. So please, don't irritate me. Two can play at the ghost game," I warned, my tone serious.

"Can't I be angry in peace?" he murmured to himself, and my heart skipped with joy and hope. As long as he was speaking, there was a chance for us to bridge this gap.

"I haven't eaten all day, Beau. I couldn't bring myself to eat because I kept worrying about how angry you were and how it's not my fault. Did I mention that it's not my fault? I'm sorry," I said, my voice dripping with accusation and sarcasm.

He paused, quietly dropping his pen and straightening up, turning to look at me with a hint of guilt in his eyes. I smirked inwardly but kept my expression cold. "Let's forget about what happened and eat together. Then you can have me for dessert," I suggested playfully.

He regarded me with a disapproving frown. "Are you trying to guilt-trip me into letting go of my anger and then bribe me with office sex?"

"Yes," I replied, raising an eyebrow teasingly. "Are you going to reject my peace offering?"

"You're offering yourself on a silver platter. How could I possibly turn that down?" His usual charming smile broke through, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight. I couldn't contain my excitement and squealed with joy.

Without wasting another moment, I climbed onto his lap, beaming with happiness. The tension between us began to dissolve, replaced by a warmth that filled the air around us.