His Dangerous Love On Ice Chapter 108: Olive's Pov

I drove to the first empty parking lot I could find, some abandoned strip mall on the edge of town, and sat there with the engine running, staring at my phone.

Zane's name stared back at me from my contacts.

Less than five hours ago, I'd kicked him out. Told him to leave. Been so hurt by his words that I couldn't even look at him.

And now I was about to call him.

About to crawl back to the man who'd just broken my heart.

Because I needed him.

Because Hopkins Enterprise was under attack and he was the only one who might be able to help, unless he was involved in it.

But despite everything, despite the pain and the anger and the humiliation, some pathetic part of me still wanted to hear his voice.

I pressed call before I could talk myself out of it.

It rang once. Twice.

"Olive," he answered immediately, and I could hear the relief in his voice. "Thank god. I've been trying to reach you. Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm fine," I said, my voice flat. "I need to talk to you."

"Okay," he said carefully. "Talk."

"Not over the phone," I said. "I need to see you. At your house."

There was a pause.

"My house?" he repeated, and I could almost see his expression shifting through the phone.

"Yes," I confirmed. "Send a driver to pick me up. I'll text you my location. We need to discuss something important."

"Olive, what's going on?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice. "If it's about the argument, I'm... sorry about what I said—"

"Just send the driver," I interrupted. "Please."

Another pause, longer this time.

"Okay," he agreed finally. "I'll send Stephen. He'll be there in twenty minutes. But Olive—"

I hung up before he could finish.

Sent him my location and sat there waiting, my hands still shaking, tapping on the steering wheel incessantly.

I was doing this. Actually doing this.

Going to Zane's house. Asking for his help. Putting myself back in his orbit after I'd sworn I was done.

But what choice did I have?

Grayson's company was being destroyed. His reputation was being ruined. Everything he'd built from nothing was being taken away by the same man who'd destroyed him ten years ago.

And I couldn't just sit back and watch it happen.

Even if it meant swallowing my pride. Even if it meant facing Zane after this morning. Even if it meant using him the same way I'd been used my entire life.

A sleek black car pulled up exactly twenty minutes later.

The driver, Stephen, apparently, got out and opened the back door for me.

"Miss Monroe," he said with a slight bow. "Mr. Mercer is expecting you."

I grabbed my bag and got in, leaving my G-Wagon in the parking lot.

The drive to Zane's penthouse was silent. Stephen didn't try to make small talk, and I was grateful.

I needed the time to think. To prepare myself for what I was about to do.

By the time we pulled up to Zane's building, I had my game plan figured out.

I was going to use Zane Mercer.

Use his resources, his connections, and his power to save Hopkins Enterprise.

And I didn't care if it hurt him. Didn't care if he got caught in the crossfire of whatever war his father was waging.

Because he'd made it clear this morning that I was just a game to him.

So I'd play the game right back.

Stephen opened my door and I stepped out, looking up at the familiar building.

I'd been here before. The night he'd brought me to his penthouse. The night so many things had changed between us.

I walked through the lobby, took the private elevator up, my heart pounding harder with each floor.

When the doors opened, I stepped into his penthouse and took in the view of the living room.

More art had been added to his collection since I'd been here last. New paintings on the walls, sculptures I didn't recognize. He was constantly changing things, constantly acquiring new pieces like he was trying to fill some void that couldn't be filled.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps descending from the staircase, and when I looked up, I found Zane.

He stood there, still in the same jeans and t-shirt from my apartment, his hair still messy, his eyes locked on me like he wasn't sure I was real.

"Olive," he said quietly, his voice rough.

"Hi," I responded, my voice cold.

He remained quiet for a second, his jaw working like he was trying to find words, before he slowly descended from the staircase, each step measured and careful.

When he reached the bottom, we just stood there, staring at each other across the space between us.

"This way," Zane finally said, gesturing toward the living room.

I followed him, my heels clicking against the floor, and sat down on the couch when he gestured to it.

He didn't sit. Just stood there, arms crossed, watching me with an expression I couldn't read.

"Do you want something to drink?" he asked. "Water? Coffee? Something stronger?"

"I'm fine," I said. "This isn't a social visit."

His expression shifted, becoming more guarded. "Okay. Then what is it?"

"Someone's attacking Hopkins Enterprise," I said bluntly, going straight to the point. "Buying up shares. Sending emails to employees. Tanking the stock price. Systematically destroying everything Grayson has built."

Zane's jaw tightened, a muscle ticking near his temple. His hands clenched where they rested against his arms. "I know."

"You know," I repeated slowly, my eyebrows pulling together in disbelief. "You know and you didn't tell me?"

"I've been trying to figure out who's behind it," he said, his voice tight. "My men have been running down leads. I've had people investigating. But whoever it is, they're good at covering their tracks."

"It's your father," I said flatly.

Zane didn't look surprised. His face remained cold, expressionless, but I saw the slight flare of his nostrils, the way his shoulders tensed. "I suspected."

"You suspected," I said, my voice rising as I stood up, unable to sit still anymore. My hands were shaking so I clenched them into fists. "Your father is destroying my stepfather's company and you suspected but didn't think to mention it?"

"I didn't have proof," Zane said, taking a step toward me. "And I didn't want to accuse him without being sure. You have no idea what it's like dealing with my father, Olive. He's—"

"Well now I'm sure," I interrupted, my voice sharp. "Grayson told me everything. About how your father—Gary—was his best friend. About how they competed for the NHL VP position. About how your father framed him for embezzlement and destroyed his entire career."

Something dark crossed Zane's face before he quickly masked it, but I caught the flash of anger, maybe guilt, in his eyes. His jaw clenched so hard I thought he might crack a tooth.

"He told you that," Zane said, not a question.

"Yes," I confirmed, stepping closer to him, my chest heaving. "So now I know exactly who I'm dealing with. Your father is a vindictive bastard who ruins anyone who threatens him. And apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Olive—"

"I'm not done," I interrupted, my voice breaking slightly. "Your father is attacking Hopkins Enterprise as revenge. For something that happened ten years ago. And I need you to stop him. Because if anyone is going to have revenge, it's my stepfather, not yours."

Zane stared at me for a long moment, and then something shifted in his expression. A slight smug smile appeared on his face as he relaxed back against the wall, arms crossed against his chest, looking infuriatingly calm while I was falling apart.