Chapter 7 Knight In Shining Armour

Olivia pov I eyed her as she stood there, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure you can handle these documents?" I asked, my tone laced with skepticism. She nodded confidently. "Absolutely, Olivia. I've got this," she replied, a hint of determination in her voice. I sighed, handing her the stack of documents along with a set of additional instructions. "Make sure you follow these guidelines carefully," I warned. As she retreated to her workstation, now farther away from mine thanks to Damien's recent rearrangement, I couldn't shake the nagging thought of how long she would last before Damien attempted to replace her. Would she endure for two years, like me, or succumb within mere months? Internally scoffing, I rolled my eyes and forced myself to focus on other pressing tasks. A short while later, she returned with the completed files. I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Done already?" I inquired, taking the documents from her hands. She mumbled a hesitant "yes," and I began to skim through the files. Rookie mistakes littered the pages, irritating me to no end. Unable to contain my frustration, I snapped, "Did you even read the instructions? These errors are basic!" Damien emerged from his office, having witnessed our interaction. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone suggesting concern. I shot a pointed look at the newcomer, choosing silence as my response. The air hung with tension as Damien pressed, "Olivia, something's clearly bothering you. Care to share?" I took a deep breath, deciding to articulate my frustrations. "She claims she can handle these documents, but the mistakes are glaringly obvious. It's like she didn't even bother to read the instructions I provided." Damien turned his attention to Serena, his expression neutral. "Is that true?" he questioned, his gaze piercing. She fidgeted nervously, responding, "I thought I understood, but maybe I missed something. I can fix it, Olivia. Just give me another chance." He sighed, contemplating the situation. "Fine. Double-check your work and make sure it's up to standard this time," he instructed, handing the files back to her. "And pay closer attention to the guidelines." As she hurried back to her workstation, Damien lingered, addressing me with a more measured tone. "Olivia, we're a team here. We need to support each other, not tear each other down." I shot him a skeptical look. "Support? I've been here for two years, Damien. I've seen people come and go. If she's not up to par, it's better to know sooner rather than later." “You're so bent on letting her go. When you were new here, you were much worse Olivia, but I gave you the benefit of doubt. Try to guide her rather than berate her. It's better for the team morale." I grunted in acknowledgement, reluctantly accepting his demands, he said it with finality and obviously wasn't asking for my input. Some moments later I turned to face Harper, a rumble in my stomach signaling it was time for lunch break. "Harper, how about we check out that new food truck down the street? I've heard the food is great," I suggested. Harper's eyes lit up. "Oh, definitely! I'm up for some good food. Let's do it!" As we were about to head out, Serena appeared, holding a tray of muffins. Irritation bubbled within me as I eyed her. "Hey, Olivia, I brought muffins," Serena chirped, offering a bright smile. I hesitated but decided to take the high road. "Oh, thanks. That's sweet of you." Harper wasted no time and snatched one, taking a sizable bite. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste. "These muffins are amazing!" I shot another glance at Serena, my skepticism lingering, but curiosity got the better of me. I grabbed one, taking a cautious bite. "Not bad. Thanks, Serena." She cleared her throat, her eyes showing remorse. "I'm sorry if I didn't execute my task well." I assured her, "It's fine, really. No big deal." Serena smiled gratefully and turned to leave. Just as she spun around, a sudden sensation hit me. My throat tightened, my skin grew hot, and my tongue swelled. "Wait! Does this have pineapple in it?!" I practically screamed, panic setting in as heads turned to face me Serena turned around, confusion etched across her face. "Uh, yes. Why?" My frustration boiled over. "I'm allergic!" "Oh no, I had no idea! I'm so sorry," Serena stammered. Harper, still munching on her muffin, looked concerned. "Olivia, are you okay?" Anger fueled my response. "No, I'm not okay! Serena, you should have mentioned the ingredients before handing these out!" Serena fumbled for words. "I didn't think..." I cut her off, frustration evident in my voice. "Well, now you know. I could have had a serious reaction!" Harper intervened, trying to ease the tension. "Let's get Olivia some water. It'll be okay." My eyes narrowed at the glass of water Harper handed me. “No it's not okay. She did this intentionally! She wants to hurt me!” “Thanks, Harper," I mumbled, lifting the glass to my lips. The water went down, but instead of relief, my allergic reaction intensified. Panic set in as my throat constricted, and I gasped for breath. Damien appeared, annoyance etched across his face. "What's happening again now?" he demanded, eyeing me with impatience. I pointed an accusing finger at Serena. "She did this! She tried to poison me!" My voice trembled with a mix of fear and anger. Damien's gaze shifted to Serena, a questioning look in his eyes. "Serena would never do that," he stated calmly, defending her. I shrieked in frustration, feeling the walls closing in. "You always take her side, Damien! Always supporting her!" Serena's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—" Her crocodile tears couldn't sway me. I cut her off, my voice sharp. "Save it, Serena." I pushed the glass away, my allergies gradually subsiding. I stormed out of the room, needing distance. **** I entered the apartment irritation bubbling within me. Damien nonchalantly strolled in, shrugging off his blazer and flinging it onto the bed. His eyes met mine. "Olivia, we need to talk," he sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I spoke to Serena. It was an honest mistake." I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Of course, she'll say it's a mistake. Do you thinks she'll confess to disliking me?” He shook his head, a tired expression on his face. "It really was. She didn't know. Just a mix-up." I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my emotions. "Out of all the muffins, why did she pick one with pineapple as the main ingredient? It's like she's doing it on purpose." Damien sighed again, a hint of irritation in his voice. "Serena didn't do it on purpose, alright? She genuinely didn't realize." He turned toward the bathroom, abruptly ending the conversation. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I absentmindedly played with the pendant around my neck, memories of his disapproving mother flooding my mind. "Look at you, you're a nobody, you just want to social climb," Damien's mother's voice echoed in my head. "You're not good enough for Damien." A bitter smile played on my lips as I replayed those words. It was one of the many roadblocks that kept our relationship from progressing into something more serious. "But I can bet he'd defend Serena before his mother," I muttered to myself. The bathroom door creaked open, Damien emerging with a towel draped around his shoulders. He avoided eye contact, focusing on drying his hair. "I don't get why you defend her so much," I said, unable to keep the resentment out of my voice. "More than you've ever defended me." Damien let out a frustrated sigh, tossing the towel onto the bathroom counter. "You're blowing this out of proportion." I shot him a sharp look. "Am I? Your mother practically rejected me, and you never stood up for us. But now, you're playing a knight in shining armor for Serena and her poison pineapple muffins?" He ran a hand through his damp hair. "It's not about the muffins, Olivia. It's about being understanding, forgiving. Maybe you should try it."