Chapter 66

Olivia POV

Nineteen minutes later, I’d blow-dried my hair into submission, applied minimal makeup, and thrown on a pair of skinny jeans and a silky emerald top. The neckline dipped just low enough to be interesting without veering into office-inappropriate territory. Not that I was trying to impress anyone at O’Malley’s, but it felt good to wear something that wasn’t a power suit or one of Alexander’s carefully selected dresses.

I grabbed my purse, double-checked for keys and wallet, and headed out to catch a cab.

As we drove through downtown LA, the city hummed with its usual nighttime energy. Neon signs flickered, crowds spilled from restaurants onto sidewalks, and the ever-present traffic crawled along despite the late hour. I rested my head against the window, already regretting my decision to leave my apartment.

“First time at O’Malley’s?” the cab driver asked, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.

“No, I’ve been there before.”

“Good