Chapter 3 Tattoo

• LEX’S POV
• Three months after Olivia left, guilt gnawed at me. Victoria’s disloyalty and coldness only made me see how badly I’d treated Olivia.
• I was sitting at my desk, going through some papers. There was a knock. Amanda, my assistant, looked in. "Mr. Kingston, Isabelle's assistant is here to see you."
• I straightened. "Send her in."
• A timid-looking woman came in and glanced around nervously. "Mr. Kingston, I have to talk to you. About Olivia Chen. I think she was set up."
• I looked up quickly. "What do you mean?"
• She took a breath. "I saw Isabelle and Victoria acting strange back then—whispering and arguing. Isabelle even asked me to look at the security footage from the night of the supposed incident, saying it was for some sort of project. Later, that footage was deleted.
• I leaned forward. "Are there any backups?"
• "I guess so. IT likes to keep logs."
• As soon as she went out, I called IT, and after what felt like a long time, they brought up the video. I gazed at the grainy video, my heart thumping. The person had sunglasses on, as well as a hat, so most of their face I could not see—until I saw a tattoo on their wrist. Olivia didn't have a tattoo.
• Relief and guilt washed over me. It wasn't Olivia.
• I called Victoria in. She entered with her usual smug expression.
• "Victoria, I need to ask you something," I began, working to keep my voice even.
• She raised an eyebrow. "Of course, Lex. What is it?"
• "I've been going over the tape from that night," I said, staring at her. "The girl on it has a tattoo on her wrist. That isn't Olivia. Care to explain?"
• Her expression slipped briefly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lex.”
• "Don't play dumb, Victoria. I know you're involved. Tell me the truth."
• She hesitated, then smirked. “Fine. But you’re not going to like it.”
• I folded my arms. "Try me."
• She shrugged. "Isabelle and I were worried. You were going to marry Olivia. She's not right for you, Lex. Not good enough for a Kingston."
• I clenched my fists but remained still. "So, you set her up?"
• Victoria nodded in agreement. "We needed a reason for you to let her go. We hired a woman to act her out, dressed her up, and gave her the same haircut. We deleted the video after."
• Her expression turned somber. "You, Lex. I've always wanted you, but you never looked at me like that. You were too busy being blind to Olivia."
• I realized I’d been blind to her feelings. “Go on.”
• Her voice rose to a shrill. "I told Isabelle, and she said she would help. We both knew Olivia was not good for Kingston Enterprise. She was just an intern, Lex. And you—so in love, wanting to make her the face of the company.".
• The pieces fell into place. Isabelle's wavering, her doubts about Olivia—it all made sense.
• "So, you and Isabelle tricked me into believing Olivia was a traitor and a gold digger," I said, starting to get very mad.
• Victoria nodded, looking proud. "Yes. It worked, didn't it? You believed the video and pushed Olivia away. But now, I'm surprised you still miss her, and I feel empty.".
• "These days we're not having fun as we should or are you mad at me" she said trying to seduce me to forget about Olivia.
• Disgust swept over me. "You and Isabelle ruined my fiancée's life to satisfy your selfish desires."
• "Not mine, Lex. The company's. Olivia was a distraction."
• I looked at her without feeling. “You’re fired.”
• Her smile dropped. "Lex, what! Are you sure of what you're saying? —"
• "I mean it. And Isabelle will be next. Now leave."
• Victoria stormed out, leaving me with my thoughts.
• I picked up the phone, my heart pounding. It was time to make things right. Whatever it took, I was ready to do.
• After many months, I called her for the first time. Her phone was not working. I went to her apartment, hoping she would forgive me, but the door was locked. I still had a spare key, so I used that to let myself in and then just waited for her to come back.
• The apartment was empty, dull, and cold. On the kitchen counter was a letter waiting for me in her handwriting.
• My hands were shaking as I read it—her words cut me deep: blame, hurt, and betrayal. All my mistakes looked back at me.
• I crumpled the letter and felt sad about losing her. I had gotten rid of the only person who was important to me. The only thing that was running in my mind was just to search for her everywhere. I hope I find her.
• What Victoria had just told me was shocking, but I knew one thing: I needed to find Olivia and make things right.
• I went in search of her first at the café where Emily, a friend of Olivia's, tends to hang out. And just as I was leaving, there she was.
• "Emily!" I exclaimed, relieved. "I've been looking all over for you."
• She looked wary. "Lex, what do you want?"
• "I have to find Olivia. Do you know where she is?"
• Emily crossed her arms. "We haven't talked since… everything happened."
• "Anything you know can help," I insisted.
• She stopped, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lex. I don't know."
• I thanked her and continued on my way toward the family home of Olivia. Her father, Charles Chen, answered the door. He looked older and tired from life.
• "Lex?" His voice was surprised and cautious. "What are you doing here?"
• "I need to see Olivia," I said straight out. "I need to apologize to her."
• He sighed, looking away. "She's gone, Lex. Left town a few months ago."
• I was sort of disappointed but carried on. "Do you know why she left? "
• He rubbed his temples. "That's my fault. I owe a lot of money to Marcus Thompson. He… forced me into an arrangement I didn’t want, but I had no choice."
• "An arrangement?" I asked.
• Charles nodded grimly. "I have to marry her to Regan, Thompson’s son, as part of the deal to cover the debts."
• My jaw tightened. I’d heard rumors of Thompson’s shady dealings, and anger filled me.
• "Don't worry. I will take care of the debt," I said strongly. "You won't need to marry her off, Mr. Chen. I will stop Thompson if I must."
• He stared at me, a small hope shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Lex."
• We shook hands, and I walked out of there with a new purpose. First, to pay off the Chen family's debts. Then, to find Olivia, no matter what the cost.