CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77

Olivia’s POV

After we finished eating, Kira and I headed back home.

I felt so drained and exhausted that all I wanted to do was take a shower and rest.

Immediately we got home, I headed straight for the bathroom, desperate to wash away my sins and become whole again. And damn, my sins were a lot.

Under the hot water shower, I let my natural hair fall around my shoulders, finally able to breathe properly. That gas I’d inhaled in Maxwell’s room had messed up with my head for real.

Thank God for hot water.

When I emerged from my bedroom, wearing a free and comfortable pajamas, Kira was waiting on the couch with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

"Hey," she said, dropping her phone. "Are you still planning to go to Alex’s engagement party tomorrow?"

The question caught me off guard. I’d completely forgotten about the party in all the drama of today. I sank onto the couch beside her, pulling a throw pillow into my lap.

"I’m not sure anymore," I admitted, embarrassment washing over me. "Considering what happened today... what if everyone in the office already heard about the cat thief incident? It would be so embarrassing."

Kira frowned. "Do you think Maxwell told everyone?"

I laughed bitterly. "It’s possible. I wouldn’t put it past him, honestly. The way he looked at me in his bedroom today... like I was some kind of criminal or something." I buried my face in the pillow. "God, Kira, what if he’s already spreading it around? What if everyone knows that Oliver got accused of theft?"

"Hey," Kira reached over and rubbed my shoulder. "You didn’t do anything wrong. And even if Maxwell did say something, it wouldn’t be that bad."

I peeked at her over the pillow. "You really think so?"

"Yes." She gave me a reassuring smile. "It was just a harmless revenge. You were still going to return the cat back. Right?"

I averted my gaze immediately, because I knew if she’d looked in my eyes, she would’ve seen the truth.

I wouldn’t have returned that lovely cat.

I sighed instead. "Maybe. We’ll see how tomorrow goes."

Kira nodded, then she turned fully towards me, looking both excited and nervous.

"Speaking of tomorrow and the future... Liv, I’ve had some news to share with you for a while now, but we’ve never had time to really talk about it."

I straightened up, grateful that we were discussing something else. I was already tired of my own problems. "What is it? You look really excited."

Her face lit up with a grin. "I finally found a job that’ll pay big money!"

"Kira, that’s amazing!" I bounced on the couch, embracing her in happiness. This was really great news. God knew we both needed this news. "What’s the job? Where is it?"

"It’s..." she hesitated for just a moment, then squared her shoulders. "It’s a bodyguard position."

I stilled, my smile faltering, as I pulled back to look at her. "What do you mean by that?"

"I got hired as a bodyguard," she repeated. "For a wealthy businessman who needs round-the-clock protection."

Before I could fully process this information, Kira reached up and did something that made me almost swoon. With one swift motion, she removed what I’d assumed was her natural hair.

The wig came off. And underneath was a perfectly styled short haircut that looked masculine - cropped close on the sides, slightly longer on top, expertly cut to emphasize strong jawlines and minimize feminine features.

I gasped, jumping up from my seat so quickly that I almost fell. "KIRA! WHAT THE HELL?"

The transformation was startling. Without the frame of her long hair, with Kira’s naturally sharp cheekbones and tall, lean build, she looked like a completely different person. She looked like a man.

"Why did you cut your hair?" My voice cracked as I stared at my best friend, who suddenly seemed like a stranger. "When did you... How long have you..."

"Calm down, Liv," Kira stood up, still holding the wig in her hands. "It’s because the agency only employs male bodyguards."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt my knees go weak as the reality of what she was saying crashed over me in waves.

"You’re disguising as a man," I whispered, slumping back into my chair. "For a job."

"Just like you are," she said gently.

I stared at my roommate - my best friend, my confidante, the one person in the world who knew about Oliver, asides Julian of course - and I felt like I was looking at a mirror. Here I was, exhausting myself every day pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and now Kira was doing the exact same thing.

"I can’t believe this," I muttered, running my hands through my still-damp hair. "My life is already so complicated, and now you want to join this insane ride?"

Kira sat down beside me, the wig forgotten on the table "Liv, listen to me. I won’t do this job for long. Just enough to save up some real money, enough to give us both some security."

I looked up at her, taking in the short hair that actually suited her so well. "How did you even get the job in the first place? I mean, no offense, but you don’t exactly have the body of a typical bodyguard."

She laughed. "Trust me, I thought the same thing. When I showed up to the interview, disguised as ’Kyle,’ I took one look at the other candidates and almost walked right back out."

She stood up and gestured to herself. "I mean, these guys looked like they could bench press a car. Massive, intimidating, covered in tattoos - the works. I felt like a toothpick in a forest of oak trees."

"So what happened?"

"I don’t know," she shrugged, but her eyes sparkled with pride. "Maybe it was because I was the only one who was very bold, or maybe the client wanted someone who looked less... obvious? But whatever the reason, he picked me and two others. We’ll be working in shifts - eight hours each, rotating coverage."

I studied my friend’s face, seeing the determination there that I recognized from my own mirror. "And you’re sure about this? Really sure?"

"The pay is incredible, Liv. More than I’ve ever made in my life. And it’s not forever - just a few months to build up our savings." She reached over and grabbed my hands. "Besides, if anyone understands what it’s like to pretend to be someone else for work, it’s you."

I sighed deeply, "Just promise me you’ll be careful. Even more careful than I am. Bodyguard work is dangerous, and if they find out you’re not who you say you are..."

"I promise," she squeezed my hands. "We’ll look out for each other, okay? Two women conquering the corporate world, one disguise at a time."

I found myself smiling.

"But there’s one issue though." Kira said with a nervous smile.

"What is it?"

"The man I’ll be protecting is Damien Wellington, and I’ll be on duty tomorrow night."