Chapter 4 Work It Off at the Robinson Group
Olivia parted her lips but could only repeat in a weary voice, "I'm sorry."
"I know my mistake cost you greatly, Mr. Robinson. If you'll give me a little time, I swear I'll make it right."
Every asset she had was in Austin's hands. She didn't have the strength to go head-to-head with Brandon.
Brandon's expression grew more unreadable. "Miss Smith, are you overestimating your own credibility?"
"Two years ago, you vanished without warning, the project collapsed, and I lost three hundred million dollars. Now I finally catch up with you, and you ask me to wait? Do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"
Olivia's voice took on an urgent edge. "I didn't disappear on purpose — I was in a car accident."
"The accident took my sight completely. I handed everything over to my husband — the business, all of it — and that's why the project fell through. I've only just recovered…"
"Your husband?" Brandon cut her off, his gaze turning icy as it locked onto her.
A chill settled deep into Olivia's bones. She drew her cloak closer, pressed her lips together, and gave a single, quiet nod.
Brandon's face hardened instantly. After a long pause, he gave a short, cold laugh and looked away. "I see. Congratulations... though I suppose I missed the right moment."
Olivia thought of her broken marriage and couldn't help a bitter smile.
Brandon caught it immediately. He arched a brow, studying her with a thoughtful air. "Well, if you didn't walk away without cause, it's not my style to keep dragging it out."
Relief flickered in Olivia's chest, but before she could thank him, his tone shifted.
“Still, there’s a mark on your record. Here’s my proposal: come work for my company, the Robinson Group, until you’ve repaid every cent of the damages.”
Olivia stared at him in disbelief. "Me? Work for you? But you just said you lost three hundred million. I'd be working until I'm old and gray."
Brandon didn’t flinch. “You’re far too capable to be confined to a standard salary. You managed entire projects on your own back then—you can more than prove your worth now.”
He tilted his head as if calculating. "Let's say... a hundred thousand dollars a month. How does that sound?"
Her expression shifted to wary suspicion. But the truth was, she had no other choice. Austin was unreliable, reclaiming her assets was a long shot, and crossing Brandon now would be disastrous.
Better to keep him appeased. At that rate, she wouldn’t come out empty-handed—especially after spending two years in a hospital. If anything, she stood to gain.
She drew a steadying breath and met his gaze. "All right, Mr. Robinson, I'll do it. But... can I start in a couple of days? I have personal matters to take care of."
Brandon didn't look surprised. He gave a casual nod. "Of course. Planning to talk it over with your husband?"
Olivia shook her head. “My affairs don’t require his input. I’ve spent the past two years in the hospital. Now that I can see again, I have matters—and people—to set straight.”
Her tone was light, but her hands were clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Brandon’s gaze flicked to her hands, then returned to her face. “Very well. Allow me to be the first to welcome you aboard.”
When Olivia returned home, it was already five in the afternoon.
She stepped inside and immediately noticed two pairs of shoes by the entryway—a man’s leather shoes and a woman’s heels—placed close together, far too close.
She lowered her gaze, then lifted it again. The clarity in her eyes dulled to lifeless glass. Her movements became slow and deliberate as she felt along the wall and changed into her slippers.
"Olivia, where have you been? Why are you only getting back now?"
The sudden voice made the “blind” Olivia flinch. She turned toward the sound, eyes wide with feigned alarm, then eased when she recognized Austin.
"You scared me, Austin. Why didn't you say something? I thought I was alone."
Austin watched her closely, searching her face. His voice was warm, almost tender. "My fault. Come on, watch the step."
He guided her to the sofa. "“You’ve just been discharged—why aren’t you resting at home? It’s dangerous out there… If anything happened to you, do you have any idea how much that would hurt me?”
Olivia heard the probing in his tone and laughed inwardly, 'Hurt? More like you'd celebrate if I died out there—so your precious Lucia could take my place.'
She bit her tongue hard enough to sting, forcing a sweet smile onto her lips. “Don’t worry. I’m careful—I won’t let anything happen to me.”
Her smile softened. "Do you remember what day next month's fifteenth is?"
Austin blinked, then smiled. "Of course. Our wedding anniversary."
Olivia nodded. "Austin, I'm planning a surprise for you that day. So don't ask me where I'm going, all right?"
She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his and giving it a playful shake.
Austin chuckled and tapped her nose. “Fine, I won’t ask. If you’re going to put in that much effort, I’d better plan a surprise for you too.”
His voice was light, but his eyes held no warmth—only amusement and quiet scorn.
Olivia's nails dug deeper into her palm. She hugged him tighter, masking the bitterness in her gaze. "Thank you, Austin."
He patted her back. "By the way, Olivia, I've met a top eye specialist recently. Tomorrow I'll take you for a check-up. When you lost your sight because of me, I never said it, but I've carried that guilt ever since. This doctor is famous... let's try again, shall we?"
Olivia smiled. "All right. Whatever you say."
Seeing her calm acceptance, Austin relaxed slightly. He even chuckled at himself—five specialists had declared her blindness permanent, yet he’d been overworked and letting his imagination run wild.
He rubbed his temples, ready to head upstairs, when his eyes froze.
Lucia descended the staircase, clad in a thin, provocative slip. In the broad daylight, the sight carried a sharp edge of forbidden intimacy.
Austin’s throat tightened. He glanced at Olivia, gave Lucia a subtle shake of his head, and forced a casual tone. “Olivia, you must be tired after being out so long. Why not rest upstairs for a while?”
