Olivia should have known the media would eat this up.
By the time she got back to her apartment that night, her phone was already buzzing
non-stop. Social media was on fire.
#Liam'sNewGirl
#AssistantOrLover?
#SerenaVsOlivia
She groaned, tossing her phone onto the couch. "Unbelievable."
Less than twenty-four hours ago, she had been Liam Hayes' personal assistant.
Now?
She was his alleged new girlfriend, thanks to Serena's little stunt at the charity event.
And Liam? The man wasn't even fazed.
Meanwhile, Olivia's inbox was full of reporters, her DMs flooded with random strangers asking if she was sleeping with Liam, and worst of all, her mother had texted her.
Mom: Is there something you want to tell me, sweetheart?
She groaned again. "Kill me now."
The universe didn't grant her wish. Instead, her phone rang.
Liam.
Of course.
She debated ignoring it, but knowing him, he'd probably show up at her apartment just to be annoying.
With a sigh, she answered. "If you're calling to laugh at my misery, don't bother."
Liam chuckled. "Wow, that bad?"
"Oh, you mean the part where my name is being dragged into a tabloid circus because your ex decided to turn me into her personal enemy?"
"Yeah," he said lazily. "That part."
Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Liam, this isn't funny. People actually believe we're
together."
"Yeah?" He sounded amused. "And what's so bad about that?"
Her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"Hey, relax. It's just publicity."
"Just publicity?" she echoed. "Do you even understand what this means? My name is being attached to yours in the worst way possible. People are calling me a social climber. Some are even saying I was planted by your team to keep your image clean!"
Liam paused. "Well… that last one isn't entirely false."
She gasped. "Liam!"
He laughed. "Relax, sweetheart. It's not like this is the worst thing that could happen."
Olivia groaned. "Easy for you to say. You're used to this insanity. Me? I just wanted a normal
job."
Liam hummed. "First mistake...working for me."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't remind me."
There was a small pause before he spoke again, voice slightly more serious now.
"Look, don't let it get to you. The media loves a scandal, but they'll move on to something
else soon enough."
Olivia sighed. "I hope you're right."
"Of course I'm right. I'm always right."
She scoffed. "Liam, you thought Paris was in Italy."
"One mistake."
She shook her head. "Whatever. Just promise me you won't make this worse?"
"Define worse."
"Liam."
"Fine, fine." She could hear the grin in his voice. "I'll be a good boy."
She highly doubted that.
**************************
The Fallout Begins
The next morning, Olivia walked into the studio expecting chaos.
She wasn't disappointed.
The entire production team was buzzing. Cameras were being adjusted, stylists were
running around, and Liam was already in the middle of another high-profile photoshoot.
She was trying to slip in unnoticed when someone called her name.
"Olivia!"
She turned to see Ethan, Liam's manager, striding toward her with a look that screamed damage control mode activated.
"Morning," she greeted hesitantly.
Ethan didn't bother with pleasantries. "We have a problem."
"No kidding."
Ethan ran a hand down his face. "I had to spend the last five hours shutting down some of
the rumors, but...."
"But?" she prompted, dreading his answer.
He sighed. "Liam may have added fuel to the fire."
Olivia closed her eyes. "Of course he did."
Ethan handed her a tablet. "See for yourself."
She took one glance at the screen and nearly screamed.
Liam had tweeted.
Liam Hayes (@LiamHayesOfficial): Not confirming. Not denying. But I do enjoy keeping
people guessing.
And if that wasn't bad enough, there was a photo, one of Liam from last night, looking smug
as ever, captioned: Trouble never looked this good.
Olivia wanted to throw the tablet.
Ethan sighed. "He really doesn't make my job easy."
She groaned. "He doesn't make anyone's job easy."
***********************
Confronting the Menace
The moment Liam stepped off set, Olivia marched toward him.
He saw her coming, smirked, and held up his hands. "Before you say anything, I….."
"You tweeted."
He grinned. "Oh, you saw that?"
"Of course I saw that!" she hissed. "Do you have any idea how much worse you just made this?"
Liam shrugged. "People were already talking. Might as well have some fun with it."
"Fun?" she repeated. "Liam, I am not your entertainment."
His grin faltered slightly. "I know that."
She threw her hands up. "Then why make things worse?"
He studied her for a moment. "Are you embarrassed?"
"What?"
"By people thinking you're with me?"
She blinked. "Liam, that's not the point."
"Isn't it?" His voice dropped slightly. "You sound more upset about the idea of us being
together than the actual rumors."
She stared at him. Was he seriously making this about that?
"Liam," she said carefully. "This isn't about my personal feelings. This is about your career and my reputation."
He tilted his head. "And if I told you I didn't mind?"
Her breath hitched. "You..."
"I mean," he leaned in slightly, smirking again, "if we're already stuck in a scandal, might as well make it interesting, right?"
Her heart skipped. Was he flirting? Or just messing with her?
She glared. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you haven't quit."
"Not yet," she muttered.
Liam chuckled. "That's my girl."
She pointed at him. "Don't call me that."
He just grinned.
She sighed. This was going to be a long day.