Page 46 of No Mane, No Gain
Olive felt her cheeks flush. “You’re pretty amazing too, Mr. Tech Tycoon.”
After lunch, Chaos surprised her with a trip to the hotel’s spa. “Go, relax,” he insisted, gently pushing her toward the ornate doors. “I have a few calls to make, and then I’ll see you back at the suite. Wear that dress I told you to pack.”
The massage was heavenly, working out knots Olive didn’t even know she had. As she lay there, the scent of lavender filling her senses, she found her mind drifting to Chaos. The way his eyes lit up when he smiled, the sound of his laugh, the feeling of his strong arms around her...
“Stop this nonsense, Olive,” she muttered to herself as she headed back to the suite. “You’re acting worse than you did as a teenager.”
But as she slipped into the long black formal dress she’d packed at Chaos’s request, Olive couldn’t deny the butterflies in her stomach. Whatever he had planned for tonight, she knew it would be special.
Chaos was waiting for her in the living room of the suite, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored black tux. His eyes widened as she entered, raking over her form appreciatively.
“You look... stunning,” he breathed, crossing the room to take her hand.
Olive smiled, drinking in the sight of him. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Amato. So, are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?”
His answering grin was both excited and a little nervous. “How would you feel about attending a movie premiere?”
Olive’s jaw dropped. “A premiere? Seriously? What movie?”
Chaos’s grin widened. “Oh, just a little film adaptation of a book calledStarlight Serenade. I believe you mentioned it was one of your favorites?”
For a moment, Olive couldn’t speak.Starlight Serenadewasn’t just one of her favorites - it was the book that had inspired her to start vlogging about romance novels in the first place. She’d raved about it countless times on her channel, dreaming of the day it might be turned into a film.
“Chaos,” she finally managed, her voice thick with emotion. “How did you... I mean, this is... I can’t believe...”
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing across her cheek. “I pay attention when you talk,bella. And I might have pulled a few strings to get us on the guest list.”
Olive surged forward, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. Chaos responded immediately, his arms wrapping around her waist to pull her closer. When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Olive rested her forehead against his.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “This is... it’s perfect.”
The premiere was everything Olive had ever dreamed of and more. The red carpet, the flashing cameras, the stars of the film - it was like stepping into another world. And through it all, Chaos was by her side, his hand a comforting presence on her lower back.
As they watched the film, Olive found herself tearing up at all her favorite scenes brought to life on the big screen. Chaos wordlessly handed her a handkerchief, and she squeezed his hand in silent thanks.
After the movie, as they made their way out of the theater, Olive was practically floating on cloud nine. “That was amazing,” she gushed, her eyes shining with excitement. “I can’t wait to tell my followers all about it. They’re going to freak out!”
Chaos laughed, steering her toward their waiting car. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. But the night’s not over yet.”
Olive raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What else could you possibly have planned?”
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of a familiar yellow and red sign. Olive let out a delighted squeal. “In-N-Out Burger? Are you serious?”
Chaos grinned, looking quite pleased with himself. “You mentioned once that you’d always wanted to try it. I figured after all that fancy premiere food, you might be in the mood for something a little more... substantial.”
They must have been quite a sight - Olive in her designer gown, Chaos in his tuxedo, sitting in a booth at In-N-Out after midnight. But as they dug into their burgers and animal-style fries, laughing and talking like they’d known each other for years, Olive couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so happy.
“You know,” she said, wiping a spot of ketchup from the corner of Chaos’s mouth with her thumb, “for a tech genius billionaire, you’re pretty good at this romance stuff.”
Chaos caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “I have excellent inspiration.”
The next morning, Olive woke to the sound of waves crashing against the shore. For a moment, she was disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings throwing her off. Then the events of the previous day came flooding back, and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face.
After their late-night burger run, they’d headed back to the airport where Chaos had revealed the next leg of their journey - a private villa in Cabo San Lucas. They’d arrived in the early hours of the morning, barely awake enough to appreciate their surroundings before collapsing into bed.
TWENTY-THREE
Now, as Olive padded out onto the terrace, she gasped at the breathtaking view before her. Crystal-clear waters stretched as far as the eye could see, the beach a pristine strip of white sand. The villa itself was a marvel of modern architecture, all clean lines and open spaces designed to make the most of the stunning location.