LOVE IN PARIS: Married To My Brother-in-law-Chapter 60: Took You Long Enough

By the time Knox woke up early in the morning on the bed, the penthouse was shrouded with a heavy , eerie mist of silence that made his heart race.

Then the memories of the previous night came flooding in and his eyes flew open instantly and gone was the groggy expression.

He reached for the other side of the bed which was long cold and empty. The grey sheets was cool to the touch but was now adorned with the stains of a beet red pool of blood and a surge of regret wash over him in heavy waves as he sat up immediately checking the surroundings and calling out her name as he grabbed his clothes.

He checked the bedroom, kitchen, walk-in closet, bathroom and even the balcony but she was nowhere, probably even out of the house but he was bent on finding her.

"Olivia". Knox called his voice echoing in the quiet penthouse as he checked every room, hoping she’ll appear with that beautiful smile of her’s saying he’d simply overslept and was worried for nothing but it was all just a figment of his imagination.

But when he reached the living room, all he found was a small slip of paper on the coffee table.

The note was simple and short, yet it hit him like a wave and he slumped on the couch nearby , regretful.

"All that happened last night wasn’t supposed to. And it’s best we forget it and not let it hold us back. I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry or blame yourself."

A bitter taste crept into his mouth as he read the words again, trying to understand why she would say such a thing.

He grabbed his phone and dialed her number, feeling a gnawing worry when she didn’t pick up.

He dressed quickly, barely focusing on his usual routine, and headed straight to her office at the news agency, hoping to find her there.

At the reception, he asked for her and the receptionist smiled.

"She sure is around. She even arrived earlier today, it’s a first". The receptionist smiled. "How about this, let me call her office to see if she isn’t busy?".

"Sure. Go ahead". Knox smiled as he adjusted his tie, feeling a little bit relieved at least she was in the office.

He watched as the receptionist pick up the phone and then notice the receptionist’s face falter as she spoke into the phone.

After a brief, hushed conversation, she put down the receiver and said.

"She’s... she isn’t available right now."

The nervous and awkward look on her face made it clear that Olivia didn’t want to see him, she’d just probably told the receptionist to send him away, but he just nodded, murmuring his thanks before leaving.

The days dragged on, each one more miserable than the last. Even Zeke and Knox’s other colleagues noticed his distraction at work, his usually efficient work ethic was suddenly replaced by the disheartened silence he wore like a shroud. It was surprising.

Even Zeke remarked on it, and Knox only responded with half-hearted assurances apparently not wanting to talk about what was bothering him so Zeke respected his decision but still hoping he gladly confide in him as they always did.

Days passed by eventfully but still there was no response from Olivia’s side . She didn’t want to see him and he respected that , though still worried.

After returning from a business trip with Zeke a week later, he dropped Zeke at home and was invited inside by the observant Yvette for a cup of tea.

"Knox, what’s wrong? You’ve looked like a ghost all week,". Yvette casually remarked as Zeke went to take a shower, her gaze probing but warm.

He sighed, hesitating before explaining. "Hmm. . Have you seen Olivia in the past few weeks?".

"Sure, I did". Yvette nodded.

"And how’s she?. Is she okay?". He asked worriedly.

"Better than ever".

"Then do you know where she stays how, I realized she’s not at her apartment any longer?". He asked awkwardly , not wanting to sound so desperate.

"I do". Yvette replied. "And I’ll like to ask, what’s it between you two?".

"Actually . . . On the night of the winter solstice . . Something happened between us and she left . . I think I might’ve made a mistake, but I need to talk to her, to make things right."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why? What are you hoping to accomplish?".

"Nothing". He scratched his forehead. "I just think. . ."

"Is it because you think she blames you?". Yvette took her seat opposite him , her eyes glinting with a mischevious grin that the worried Knox didn’t notice. "Well, I’ll tell you. She doesn’t blames you, it all happened because she forced you and you lost control, it absolutely normal. It’s okay and there’s no need to apologize".

"But I want to see her". Knox remained adamant.

"Why?". Yvette grinned mischeviously, eagerly waiting for his next sentence.

"Because... I don’t feel right about leaving things as they are". He admitted, feeling a knot in his chest.

"Duh. There’s no way to make up for a low EQ. You could have just confessed what you feel for her". Yvette sighed inwardly and gave him a knowing smile hoping she could ask if he was uncomfortable because he was in love with her but she didn’t want to make him feel awkward so she just gave him the address of her previous apartment where Olivia was living at for the meantime or apparently hiding from him.

After getting the address, Knox left excitedly for the address without even waiting for the tea.

When he reached the apartment, he rang the doorbell, his heart pounding in his chest.

The door opened just a crack, and there was Olivia , her face a mix of surprise and something akin to anger.

"Knox? What are you doing here?" She demanded, her voice low and firm as she tried to conceal her surprise and inwardly cursed Yvette for letting the cat out of the bag.

"I needed to see you". He replied, holding her gaze. "To apologize. To explain. Olivia, we need to talk. We can’t escape this".

She shook her head, closing the door a little more. "You don’t need to. Please just... leave, Knox."

"Ollie, please". He pleaded, his voice wavering. "I’ll wait here if I have to. I’ll do anything you want me to but please just don’t ignore me, you can hit me even if you want". He knocked the door as he ranted his frustrations out.

For a long time, there was only silence from the other side of the door. Eventually, Knox realized she wasn’t going to open it again, but he remained standing there, determined to wait as long as it took. He just needed to talk to her. This was her punishment and he was willing to accept it.

Early the next morning, Olivia opened her door to take out the trash, only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw Knox still there, slumped but awake. Her eyes widened in surprise as she immediately opened the door wide to accommodate him.

"You... you stayed all night?" She asked, her voice soft with disbelief.

He nodded, standing and dusting himself off like it was nothing, like he did nothing. "I wasn’t going to leave without making things right."

She stared at him for a moment before sighing and stepping back, gesturing him inside. Once they were seated, he looked at her with raw honesty.

"I want to apologize for what happened that night . ."

"I already told you there was no need apologizing. If you can’t, then you just probably think of it as a reckless one night stand". She smiled dismissively but underneath it she was hurt and hoping he’ll realize what she wanted him to.

"I don’t want to . ."

"But why . ."

"Olivia, I’m sorry. I should have realized sooner that I... I love you."

A small smile curved her lips, gentle and filled with warmth but she frowned, tears gathering in her eyes . "It took you long enough to come to that conclusion, didn’t it?"

Knox chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, totally relieved to see her excited, at least she wasn’t tearing him down for having such feelings for her but instead she seems like she was waiting for him to just say the words. "Yeah... I suppose I’ve always been slow in matters like this."

Olivia didn’t even wait for him to finish his sentence before she pulled him closer to her, taking his lips in her’s.

For the past few days, he had been so consumed with worry and regret that he hadn’t even considered the possibility of him loving her. But after leaving Yvette’s place and noticing her expression , his mind wandered off and now, as he thought about it, he felt a surge of determination.

Yes, he did love her. He couldn’t deny it any longer.

The two sat in each other’s embrace, unaware of the faint noise from the door.

Yvette was just about to ring the doorbell but upon seeing them together through the small glass pane, she smirked and turned away, chuckling to herself.

On her way back home, Yvette suddenly decided to take the subway she hadn’t in days then she noticed an elegantly dressed elderly woman struggling by the edge of the platform.