The Roles Were Reversed

Olivia looked the Martenses up and down. Her eyes were full of contempt. Every second, she remembered the mistreatment she had endured and felt an overwhelming desire to send them away. But life had handed her the perfect opportunity to make them pay—or so she thought.

"Yes, we’re back," Emma began, "but I want to make something very clear to you, Olivia. Just because we’re going to accept your terms doesn’t mean we’re going to tolerate your humiliations. So don’t get confused."

Olivia raised her eyebrows in surprise and walked over to her desk. She took out four folders and placed them on the table.

"Here are the contracts. If you sign, you’ll be working in these beautiful facilities starting tomorrow."

Megan immediately stepped forward in excitement. Harrison tried to hold her back by the arm, but she ignored him and stared directly at Olivia.

"Where do I sign?" the girl asked enthusiastically. "It’s a pleasure for me to be able to work with you."

Olivia opened Megan’s folder and handed her the contract. The naïve girl signed it without even reading the fine print—it was going to be her first job. Following her lead, Emma and Joshua approached the desk and signed as well, albeit with far less enthusiasm. Still, they had no other choice.

Harrison stayed where he was, reluctant to work for Olivia—unless it was for the position she had offered him.

"Harrison," Olivia said, looking at the rest of the family, "could you please give us a moment alone?"

"What?" he asked sharply. "Why?"

"Because I want to talk to you about your working conditions, Harrison."

"Of course!" Emma exclaimed eagerly. "Let’s go, they need to talk privately."

Harrison and Olivia were finally alone, but neither spoke. She kept her eyes fixed on him. Memories flooded her mind—especially those of when they first began, swearing to love each other forever. She still didn’t understand her ex-husband’s cruel behavior.

"What did I do to deserve all that pain?" she asked herself again and again.

"Well, Olivia, tell me—what’s so special about my contract?"

Olivia was flustered by his question. In truth, there was nothing special about it. She just wanted him alone with her, to observe him, and most of all, to speak to him about the wounds of the past.

"Olivia?" Harrison’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Well, your role is very important to the company. If you don’t secure new contracts with the farmers, I’m likely to fire you."

Harrison rolled his eyes and gave a wry smile.

"Ha! I don’t care if you fire me, Olivia. I only accepted because my family and I need the money. I don’t like working by your side."

"Oh, no?" she snapped. "If you’re not going to do your job properly, you’d better look elsewhere. It’s not worth taking a job if you’re doing it just for a basic salary. Now I understand why your company went to hell—because you’re mediocre."

Olivia turned her back on him. Harrison felt his blood boil at her words and grabbed her arm, forcing her to face him again.

"What’s wrong with you, Olivia? Why are you acting like this?"

Olivia pulled away from his grip and pressed her lips together. Inside, her nerves were killing her and the emptiness in her stomach was burning, but she wouldn’t give her cruel ex-husband the satisfaction.

"I’ll speak to you however I want. A person like you deserves nothing more."

"If I don’t deserve anything, then why are you helping me and my family? What are your dark intentions?"

"Don’t think you’re important, Harrison!" she spat. "You came to me, begging for mercy—and that’s exactly what I’m giving you. Mercy. Something you never had for me."

Harrison wanted to scream in her face how much he hated being in that position, but his body betrayed him. He couldn’t deny how much he still liked Olivia’s sharp curves, her commanding presence, her majestic face. It stunned him.

"You’ve changed too much, Olivia. You’re not the woman I once married. You’ve become cruel."

Olivia turned and looked at him with disdain.

"Cruel? Me?" She scoffed. "How ironic, isn’t it? The most heartless man talking about cruelty. Excuse the redundancy," she added sarcastically.

"Yeah, maybe you’re right. But what’s the point in continuing this war?"

It would make perfect sense... if you paid for all the pain I went through, she thought.

"No point," Olivia lied. "I don’t want you in my office anymore. Are you going to sign the contract or not?"

Driven by a sudden desire, Harrison stepped closer to her and brushed his nose against her neck.

"Are you sure you want me to leave your office?"

Olivia parted her lips, trying to stifle a moan. But her treacherous body responded with raw desire. She was in complete shock. She turned to him, breathing heavily, eyes filled with hunger—just like his. Her gaze challenged him.

"I can assure you that I don’t!" she snapped. "So take your hands off me before I call security."

She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her with both hands and pulled her against him.

"Call them!" he growled. "Because if you don’t, I’m going to kiss you and touch every inch of your body."

Even though Olivia resisted, a warm, involuntary fluid between her legs betrayed her, making her tremble at his feet.

"Don’t challenge me, Harrison!" she cried angrily, still clinging to him.

Harrison lunged for her mouth and kissed her passionately. Olivia opened to him, letting his tongue possess her, wreaking havoc inside. Her legs began to tremble as she returned his kisses with equal passion.

For a fleeting second, she surrendered without hesitation. Her hands moved to his hips and gripped him tightly. Harrison moaned at her touch, but Olivia suddenly realized she was making a mistake. She tore herself away from him abruptly, eyes blazing, and slapped him hard across the face—a slap that barely made his ears ring.

"You bastard! Who told you that you could kiss me?"

Harrison rubbed his jaw and smiled in amusement.

"You still like me, don’t you? Admit it. You were my wife—I know every inch of that body. I know how to handle your mouth perfectly."

"Of course I didn’t like it!" Olivia lied, even though it was clear she had. "Now, if you’re not going to sign the contract, get out of my office."

Harrison clenched his mouth, hesitating. But finally, he walked over to the desk and signed. He was now officially an employee of his billionaire ex-wife.