His Dangerous Love On Ice Chapter 36: Olive's Pov

"Hit send and it's yours," he said, watching me carefully. "But first, I need to know something."

Of course. There was always a catch.

"What," I said, not taking my eyes off the screen.

"How did you do it?"

I looked up. "What?"

"How did you get him?" Ryan leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Zane doesn't do this. He doesn't date. He doesn't kiss girls in front of crowds. He doesn't even bring women to team events. So what the hell did you do to make him break every rule he's ever had?"

I sat back, crossing my arms. "Maybe I'm just that good."

"Bullshit." His eyes narrowed. "You're hiding something. I can see it all over your face."

"You don't know me well enough to see anything."

"I know you well enough to know when you're lying." He tilted his head, studying me like I was some puzzle he couldn't solve. "So what is it? Did you blackmail him? Threaten to expose something? Or did you just get really, really lucky?"

"Does it matter?" I shot back. "You lost. I won. Now send the damn money."

For a second, I thought he'd refuse. Thought he'd pull the phone back and laugh in my face. But instead, he hit send.

My phone buzzed a moment later. Notification from my bank. Deposit received.

Holy shit. He actually paid me.

"There," Ryan said, leaning back with that infuriating grin. "Happy now?"

I should've left. Should've grabbed my bag and walked out without another word. But something in his expression made me pause.

"Why are you even in Seattle? The previous night you looked like shit." I asked.

He shrugged. "This is where things are happening now, plus I’ve moved on. One of my personal traits."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting." He took a sip of his drink, eyes still locked on mine. "You know, you should enjoy this while it lasts."

"Enjoy what?"

"Zane." He said the name like it was a punchline. "He's going to dump you. Probably sooner than you think. And when he does, when you need a shoulder to cry on..." He leaned forward again, voice dropping. "I'm available."

My stomach turned. "I'd rather drown."

"Suit yourself." He stood up, grabbing his jacket. "Oh, one more thing."

I looked up.

"Cole's proposing to Sophia in one week. Some charity gala thing. Thought you should know."

The words hit me like a slap.

"What?"

"Yeah." Ryan's grin widened. "Guess he's really moving on. Can't say I blame him—Sophia's hot, connected, and she actually puts out without all the emotional baggage."

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Cole was proposing. To Sophia. Zane's sister.

"That's... that's so soon," I managed.

"You jealous?" Ryan's voice was mocking now, sharp.

"Jealous?" I forced a laugh, even though something in my chest was twisting. "Please. I landed a better hockey player."

Ryan snorted. "Sure you did. Keep telling yourself that."

He started to walk away, then paused, turning back one last time.

"Oh, and Zane's in Seattle, by the way. I guess I will have to dump everything on you. His father called him for some emergency meeting or something. Figured you'd want to know, since you two are so in love and all."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"Yeah. Flew in this morning, I think. Anyway, enjoy your money, Olive. You earned it…and Welcome to the family."

He left.

I sat there, frozen, my brain trying to process what he'd just said.

Zane was here. In Seattle. Right now.

And I had no idea.

And fuck Cole was about to propose to Sophia.

That was a whole lot to take.

My hands were shaking when I grabbed my phone, staring at the screen like it might give me answers. He hadn't called. Hadn't texted. Hadn't said a word since I'd snuck out of his mansion like a coward.

Maybe he didn't care. Maybe I was just another girl to him, another name he'd forget by next week.

Or maybe—

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number. Seattle area code.

I stared at it, my thumb hovering over the answer button, my pulse hammering in my ears.

It buzzed again.

I answered.

"Hello?"

Silence. Then—

"We need to talk."

The voice was low, rough, unmistakable.

Zane.

My breath caught, the café suddenly started spinning around me.

"Hello Muffin. Where are you?" he asked.

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

"Olive." His voice was sharper now. "Where. Are. You."

"I—" My voice cracked. "Pine Street. The café on—"

"Stay there."

The line went dead.

I sat there staring at my phone, my heart trying to claw its way out of my chest.

He was coming.