Chapter 6

Otalia A/U FanFic, Rated: G - NC-17

Olivia knew she should be spending the newly awarded free time rehearsing her presentations, but really, she was more than prepared. She was one of those 'check it twice, then check it again', 'no stone unturned' kind of people. She looked around the room, trying desperately to find something to amuse herself with besides the thoughts of her earlier phone conversation. While in the shower, she had wondered if the fact that the younger hotelier's gracious attempt to alert her of the change of plans was, indeed, just a formality.   Or perhaps it meant that she had forgiven her for being, well, herself and was trying to say it was all in the past. When she was choosing her outfit for the day, she pondered that this may not be the case, however, as Natalia had clearly refused to meet with her this morning. She definitely has no interest in burying the hatching, I guess.

And now as she sat on her bed looking around the room, trying – yes – desperately to keep her mind away from the thoughts of her earlier phone conversation... there it was again.

What was with that little offer of a rousing game of 'Cat and Mouse' at the end? Surely that had to mean something.

"Fucking hell, Spencer. Get a grip!" she yelled into the room and began mindlessly shifting papers around on the bed beside her.

You don't care if she hates you; you just need her to hate you AWAY from her father!

Resolved that she was NOT going to give in and go chasing down a woman who wanted nothing more than to toss her into the streets, Olivia grabbed her purse and headed out of the room to go eat breakfast.

Alone.

She stopped at a cafe on the first floor and pulled out her wallet to pay for a latte and a cranberry muffin. As she opened her wallet, her mouth turned up into a smile as it always did whenever she opened her wallet. Seeing that the cashier had just caught her with a goofy grin on her face, she quickly stuffed her wallet back into her purse and walked out of the cafe. She walked around the side of the hotel a ways and rounded the corner to find a large grassy park nestled behind the entire expanse of the hotel. It was beautiful. Small fountains and lovely gardens beside cobblestone walkways. Picnic areas where children were playing and catching frisbees. Large shade trees dispersed throughout to give the passers-by much needed relief from the hot sun. She decided to take her breakfast over to a tree near the end of the park and enjoy the solitude of the morning.

As she was walking, she felt a comforting relief wash over her along with the rays of the sun. She was glad that her mind was temporarily still and free from its incessant over-analysis of one Ms. Natalia Rivera.

And as if that one quick thought had within it the powers of manifestation.... there she was.

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Natalia lay on her back and let small spots of sun warm her skin from behind the leaves far above her. This was her spot. Her place for inward reflection. It was located in the far left-hand side of a large park that her father had insisted be built in the entire area behind the hotel. Her mother had loved nature. He had built this for her. And it was here that Natalia could shut out the world if she so chose or just keep her eyes open and watch it as it revolved around everything else but her.

Today she closed her eyes and willed herself to relax. Her mind felt cramped. It kept jumping back and forth from all the different reasons she felt she should be angry and all the ones for why she was hurting. She was angry because she knew her time here was drawing to an end – an end that she never imagined would ever come. And the list of people she was angry at for this was varied and included her father, her brother, Ms. Spencer, the Bellerives, the Monteros... etc. etc. The economy.

Fuck the economy and fuck whoever is responsible for that. Her brain hurt slightly now.

She was used to being frustrated. She managed four, billion-dollar properties with very minimal help from her philandering younger brother. And she wasn't a stranger to the tribulations of 'The Changing Times', and the 'Necessary Evils' that her father always spoke about. But she was acting out now, and she knew it. She had been parading her emotions of loss and confusion like a stubborn child who has been denied a candy bar in the grocery store.

I want my home! I wannit I wannit I wannit!

Her mind kept racing.

I hate these 'Corporates'... I hate Ms. Spencer. I hate the Bellrieves. I hate everyone!

She pulled a clump of grass up in her fist and let it slowly fall from her fingers to get caught in the breeze that was flowing around her. She watched as a mother and child played off in the distance with a big, yellow rubber ball, the child squealing whenever it came near him. Her eyes softened and her lips displayed a very brief smile.

I don't hate Ms. Spencer.

She acknowledged that, despite Olivia's initial rude behavior, the older woman had certainly tried to redeem herself for her actions. She herself had been acting ridiculous in her treatment of the visitor. But she had also surmised that Ms. Spencer would be a force to be reckoned with for anyone, regardless of whether she was trying to steal their company or not.

She's the kind that can just get under your skin, she pondered. And NOBODY unnerves me... EVER!

She closed her eyes once more.

Still... I don't have to treat her like sh...

"So what's a 24.5% Shareholder of a Billion-Dollar Franchise like you doin' in a place like this?"

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The voice came from above Natalia. She opened her eyes and squinted against the sun to see Olivia's upside down face smiling down at her.

"How do you know it’s 24.5%?"

"When you didn't tell me where you would be, I had no choice but to hire a Private Investigator from the FBI." She deadpanned. "Learn a lot that way."

"Resourceful," Natalia stated and patted the ground next to her in an open invitation for Olivia to be seated.

Olivia looked at the ground for a moment and then back to Natalia. "There's grass down there."

"Good Lord, how did that get there!" The brunette mocked her.

"This is a $445 skirt."

"Well, now you're just showing off," came the retort. Natalia sighed and reached beside her to grab a blanket that was resting underneath the book she'd had every good intention of trying to read. She tossed it at Olivia's feet.

Once the blanket was spread, Olivia maneuvered herself down unto it, reclining herself up with her straightened arms propped behind her. Natalia lay on her side and cradled her head on her right hand.

"Would you look at that!" Natalia feigned shock. "The Big Corporate Hotel Eater, sittin' on the ground in a crowded park."

Olivia snorted. "You should feel special," she laughed. "The only other female who could have me literally stoop so low is my daughter." Her eyes smiled.

Natalia blinked a few times and stared up at the woman above her.

"You have a daughter." Not really a question but more so a quiet contemplation.

"Yes," was the answer regardless. "Does that surprise you?"

"It does, yes," came the reply. "No offense intended."

"None taken."

Olivia lowered herself completely onto the blanket and peered through the same leaves as Natalia had previously.

"I miss her."

Natalia watched closely as Olivia's expression changed from troubled, to a smile, then to a sort of apathetic acceptance of her reality as she continued.

"All part of the job, I guess."

There was a pause.

"What's her name?"

"Emma."

"Emma," Natalia repeated involuntarily in a whisper. She returned to a position on her back.

"I apologize," the younger woman said softly.

"Why are you apologizing?" Olivia was totally confused for a moment. "Oh, you mean because she has me for a mother?" She laughed. "Well, I am a bit sorry for the poor girl myself..."

"Every time I am near you I remember that your are here to take away everything that I have worked so hard for, and I find myself wanting to strangle you with my bare hands."

Okaaay, this has gone well... Olivia closed her eyes tightly. "You know what?" Her voice clearly annoyed, she raised herself up and began to roll away from Natalia, "As much fun as this has been..."

A hand grabbed onto hers and she looked back at Natalia who was back on her side, pulling lightly on her hand to guide her back down to the blanket and around to face her. Olivia could see that the other woman's face was serious but her expression was not of anger. She slowly mimicked Natalia's position and placed her head on her left hand.

Natalia began to speak.

"You are that arrogant, self-righteous bitch from outside the limousine in one part of my brain."

"Uh-huh?" Go on...

"And the heartless businesswoman, here to pull the proverbial rug out from under me, in another part."

A pause.

"Well now I know why my dance card is always empty," She joked without even a hint of a smile. "So I am a Monster...… anything else?"

"A Monster's eyes couldn't possibly radiate the level of joy and fulfillment that yours just did when you said your daughter's name." She looked directly at Olivia. "I am apologizing because I realize that my prejudgment of you meant that you never even stood a chance long before we met."

Olivia's emerald eyes locked onto Natalia's. Two pairs of eyes that were searching for something and yet trying to say things to one another all at once.

Both women broke the staring competition simultaneously, so at least, in this case, neither woman won. Natalia went back to staring at the specks of light dancing through the leaves, and there was a brief respite in the tension between them.

"Do you ever get the feeling that you and I... I dunno..." Natalia seemed stuck.

"Knew each other in a past life?" Olivia continued for her.

"Yeah."

"Yes, I do feel that, strange as it may sound."

"Me too." Natalia was contemplative for a moment. "I think we disliked one another back then also."

They both laughed. "I think you may be right," Olivia smirked.

Natalia's smile faded and she slowly raised herself up and off the ground and indicated to Olivia that she was going to need her blanket. "I have to go. A bunch of reports are waiting for my signature." She accepted the blanket from Olivia, who was now standing also and adjusting her skirt.

"Ms. Spencer, I feel that it's only fair to warn you that I have decided I am not ready to let go of this hotel..."

Olivia straightened up even taller.

"...and I am going to use every ounce of my substantial power in this company to see to it that what is mine as such."

Olivia breathed deeply and squared herself directly at Natalia.

"While I appreciate the honesty, may I return the favor?" Her voice was void of malice.

Natalia nodded.

"I want this hotel, Ms. Rivera, and I always get what I want." Olivia was careful not to let any emotion seep through her gaze. "I will stop at nothing and will not leave here until everything that was yours is mine."

No yelling. No frenzied gestures. Just two 'matters-of-fact' that had stood between them finally being brought out into the open.

Natalia nodded once and Olivia returned the gesture. Both women turned in different directions, feeling a little bit heavier as they walked away.