Olivia, Striking Back - Danielle Norman Page 0,3

moved on to begin new lives with their partners. Interesting. Do you have a special someone in your life, too?”

Olivia understood what he was getting at. Despite his condescending tone, she forced herself to stick to character and stared down at her knees with a frown. “No, but I’m happy they all found love. I’m not jealous or anything.”

“Well, I’m not suggesting that if it is jealousy, it will eat away at you, it will keep you up at night. Rather, perhaps what is truly bothering you is that you want to feel loved, too.”

It wasn’t a question. He jumped through quite a few hoops to reach that end, but Olivia expected it. She learned from his wife that Drake was a traditional man. Plus, given the way their interaction a decade ago went, it seemed apparent that the man still hadn’t given up his belief that women were weak, pathetic creatures in need of a man to guide them through life.

Feigning nervousness, Olivia avoided his gaze and scanned the room. There were no photos of his wife, but there were several photos of him volunteering at soup kitchens and planting trees in the local park. Along the wall behind his desk, his diplomas, as well as several certificates and awards, were on display.

“I don’t know,” she mumbled, biting her lip. “I don’t know if that’s it.”

“It’s okay, Olivia,” he crooned, leaning forward and beckoning her gaze in his direction. “A beautiful woman like yourself is bound to feel abandoned when all of her friends are finding love without her. You want someone to remind you that you are desirable, and that is totally understandable. It’s human. It’s nothing to feel ashamed of.”

Dr. Bannon was toeing the line of inappropriate, but it was just barely subtle enough that she couldn’t call him out on it. He wasn’t blatantly coming onto her, but he was doing a very good job of framing the conversation so that he came across as a big, strong man consoling a sad, lonely girl.

Olivia wanted to smack him in the jaw, but that wouldn’t serve the case.

“I guess,” was all she muttered.

“I want you to think about that over the next few days,” he said.

“Oh, okay…” That was it? Ten or fifteen minutes?

Drake turned to his desk and opened a datebook.

“I think that you and I will work together nicely,” he said and then turned to wink at her. Olivia fought the urge to cringe. “I would like to get you on a regular schedule, so how about Tuesdays and Thursdays? Today was more of an introductory session, but your following sessions will go for an hour. Also, I recommend that you don’t wear jeans or other constricting clothes. Wear something looser.”

“What? Why?” Olivia asked.

“So you can be more relaxed, silly.” He chuckled, offering her a patronizing grin. “It’s very important to me that you are comfortable here.”

“Oh, right. Of course,” Olivia replied. This man was fluent in bullshit. “So, same time on Thursday?”

“Yes, it’s all set,” Drake confirmed. He stood and held out a hand to help Olivia up from the chaise. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Olivia nodded and quickly slipped out of his office. She smiled politely at his secretary as she hurried past, wondering if the kind-faced woman knew that she was working for the sleaziest man in the city.

Outside in the parking lot, Adeline was waiting for her in her car. Adeline let out a long sigh when Olivia slid into the passenger seat.

“That was quick,” Adeline said, brows raised in confusion. “Did he heal all of your mental ailments that efficiently?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “No, it was apparently just a preliminary session to determine if he can help me or not. Or rather, if he can manipulate and use me.”

“I see…so, he’s just as gross as Lila’s complaints suggested?”

Lila was his wife’s name.

“Oh, yeah.” Olivia laughed as Adeline pulled out of the parking lot. “But if I’d known who he really was beforehand, I could’ve already drawn that conclusion without even needing to speak to him.”

“What do you mean?” Adeline asked.

Olivia grabbed her phone and dialed the downtown office that the Iron Ladies used as their headquarters. She connected the call to the vehicle’s Bluetooth system so that Adeline could participate.

“What’s up, Liv?” answered Melanie after the first ring.

“Where’s Sunday? Can you put me on speaker?”

“Sure thing, boss,” replied Melanie with a snort on the other end of the line.

“I’m here,” Sunday said.

“Okay, girls, do you remember when I