Olivia’s POV

At that moment, not even Ethan could hold me back. He could see something was deeply wrong and that I was uncomfortable with the entire situation. Initially, he might have thought Alexander Vaughn was my ticket to success, but now he clearly realized that wasn’t the case.

I stared firmly at my ex-husband, who gazed back with a persistent smile. His eyes sparkled with a strange excitement, as if he were truly alive for the first time in years.

“Alright, let’s discuss the project,” Alexander said. “You can sit down, Olivia.”

I nodded and settled back into my chair, struggling to keep my emotions in check. Alexander’s gaze lingered on me as I grabbed my wine glass and took a sip to swallow the words caught in my throat.

How dare he reappear in my life and think he could offer me justice by buying this restaurant and handing it to me for revenge? Did he think his billionaire status gave him the right to meddle like this?

“Well,” Ethan began, trying to ease the tension, “you seem very generous in making amends for what happened to Olivia in the past, Mr. Vaughn. Employees are often treated unfairly by their bosses.”

Ethan assumed Alexander had bought the restaurant to atone for a random incident where the billionaire dined here and left a negative review about an employee—me—leading to my dismissal.

To Ethan, Alexander’s gesture of purchasing the establishment for a wronged former worker was extravagant, but billionaires could do whatever they wanted with their money. Little did he know the history between me and this former Charme employee—myself—was far more complicated.

“It’s an honor to meet you in person, Mr. Vaughn. Your generosity toward those less fortunate is inspiring,” Ethan continued, but Alexander’s icy glare silenced him.

I cleared my throat before speaking. “So, what are your thoughts on the advertising project? You’ve reviewed it, and we’re awaiting your feedback.”

“Honestly, I haven’t looked at the project,” Alexander admitted.

“What?” I asked, confused. How could he not have reviewed my project?

“I don’t need to see it to know you did an exceptional job,” he said, his tone sounding suspiciously like a flirtatious compliment.

I blinked, flustered and embarrassed. Why was my ex-husband acting this way? Why was he being so strange? Was he flirting with me, or was I imagining it? Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ethan shift uncomfortably in his seat. He’d picked up on Alexander’s behavior too.

“Well, for someone who never saw my potential, I’d say you’re finally catching up, Vaughn,” I shot back, leaving no room for his charm.

He gave a short laugh. “People change, darling. Time passes, and people evolve,” he replied. Was Alexander trying to convince me he’d changed? Did he really expect me to believe that? I sighed and crossed my legs.

“Since you didn’t bother to review the project demo, I’ll give you a quick overview,” I said, pulling an iPad from my bag. I swiped through our illustrative images and handed it to him.

“We’ve developed a new advertising system that not only enhances the quality of current marketing models but also makes them more engaging. Our team will handle everything from concept to launch. We have a roster of well-known actors and extras, though Elysium Designs can include their own brand ambassadors.”

Alexander scrolled through the images and videos as I explained, but he interrupted with a sigh, setting the iPad down and rubbing his temples as if irritated.

“Haha! No worries if you’re not ready to discuss the project now, Mr. Vaughn. We understand you’re a busy man with more pressing matters,” Ethan said with a lighthearted tone, trying to defuse the situation. After all, asking someone as influential as Alexander Vaughn to review a mere advertising campaign for next winter was like asking a president to pick out uniforms for his staff.

“No, Ethan. Let Mr. Vaughn share his opinion. That’s why he’s here, isn’t it?” I said, my words sharp and unyielding. I wanted nothing to do with Alexander Vaughn. If he had an ulterior motive to harm me, it was becoming painfully clear. Ethan probably thought I’d lost my mind.

“I don’t want to talk about the project,” Alexander said, exasperated. “It’s not that it’s unappealing, it’s just… Damn it, Olivia. It’s been five years. Won’t you even tell me if you’re okay? You’re being so cold. You used to care about me, but now you’re treating me like I’m nothing. Screw the project, screw everything—I just need to know you’re alright.”

“This is my final warning: if you keep bringing up personal matters, I’m leaving,” I said sternly.

“Why are you acting like this? I’d rather you curse me out than treat me so coldly,” he pressed. “Have you really forgotten me after everything we went through?” His tone was demanding, and my anger boiled over. I stood abruptly, grabbed my bag, and stormed out of the restaurant.

“Are you going to keep running from me, Olivia? How long will you run?” he called after me, but I ignored him and rushed out of the establishment.

“What the hell!” I shouted in frustration once I reached the parking lot. I couldn’t believe that man had come back to torment me. He was infuriating, unbearable. I hated him with every fiber of my being.

“Olivia! Olivia!” Ethan came running toward me. “What was that back there? Why did you treat him like that? Do you realize how important he is? My God, that was a disaster. Are you okay?” He grabbed my shoulders, steadying me as he saw I was on the verge of tears. My chest was tight, my emotions spiraling, and I was teetering on the edge of despair.

“He’s my ex… my ex-husband, Ethan,” I sobbed.

“What?” Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, then softened with understanding. “Holy…”

“Just get me out of here, please,” I pleaded, letting the overwhelming emotions take over.