Urban God of Rebate: Infinite Returns Of Women And Powers

”I’m blaming you,” Olivia said.

”I’ll gladly take the blame,” Sean replied.

Her smile lingered as her eyes wandered over him.

The tailored black suit fit him perfectly. The burgundy shirt complemented it without trying too hard, and the watch on his wrist caught the light whenever he moved.

He looked handsome.

Not because of the clothes.

Not because of the watch.

But because he’d clearly dressed up for her.

That thought sent a warmth spreading through her chest.

”Thank you,” Olivia whispered.

Sean looked at her with a small smile.

”You don’t have to thank me.”

She shook her head.

”I do.”

Her eyes drifted briefly toward the stage behind her before returning to his.

”Knowing you were out there...” she said softly. ”It meant more than you realize.”

Sean’s expression softened.

”Then I’m glad I came.”

His words made her chest tighten.

Before she realized what she was doing, she stepped closer.

There was barely any space between them now.

She reached up and smoothed the front of his lapel, pretending to straighten a wrinkle that wasn’t there. Her fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary.

”You clean up really well,” she murmured.

Sean chuckled.

”So do you,” he said.

She rolled her eyes with a smile.

”I’ve been wearing makeup for three hours,” Olivia said.

Sean looked at her without hesitation.

”And you’re still the most beautiful person in the room.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

”...You’re unfair,” she muttered.

Sean smiled.

”I’ve heard that before.”

They looked at each other again.

Around them, staff hurried across the stage, dancers chatted excitedly, and guests slowly filtered toward the exits.

Neither of them noticed.

Olivia smiled to herself before rising onto her toes. Holding lightly onto his lapel, she pulled him the last few inches closer and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.

It was gentle.

Brief.

Just enough to say everything neither of them could find the words for.

When she pulled away, they were still close enough that she could see the smile growing on Sean’s face.

”Hi,” Olivia whispered.

Sean smiled back.

”Hi.”

She laughed quietly.

”I’m going to get changed,” Olivia said.

”I’ll be right here,” Sean replied.

She pointed at him with a playful smile.

”You’d better.”

Sean grinned.

”I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

”I know,” Olivia said softly.

Her smile widened.

”I’ll be quick.”

Reluctantly, she let go of his lapel and headed backstage.

Sean watched her disappear behind the curtain, unable to stop smiling.

For the first time in days, everything felt exactly as it should.

===========

Kwon reappeared twenty-five minutes later with the specific energy of someone who had just had a conversation that went well and was not going to discuss it until he had processed it privately first. He looked at Sean, then at the spot where Olivia had disappeared backstage, and then at Sean again.

”She went backstage to get changed,” Sean said.

”The representatives want a follow-up meeting,” said Kwon. Not triumphant. Just factual, the way a person stated a fact they’d spent twenty years working toward. ”Next Thursday.”

”Good,” said Sean.

”Yes,” said Kwon. A pause. ”Thank you. For what you said about the man with the phone.”

”You would have read the room anyway,” said Sean.

”Eventually,” said Kwon. ”You saved me five minutes.”

”That’s enormous praise from you,” said Sean.

”Don’t push it,” said Kwon.

Olivia came back through the backstage door in a simple dark dress, her stage makeup removed, her red hair down, looking completely herself in the way that was better than any of the costumed version, at least to Sean’s particular view of things.

She looked between Kwon and Sean with the expression of someone who understood immediately that these two had been talking and wasn’t entirely sure what that meant for her evening.

”Kwon,” she said carefully.

”The representatives want Thursday,” said Kwon. He looked at her for a moment, something in his expression that was buried very deep but was unquestionably there, something like pride in its most professionally armored form. ”You were exceptional tonight.”

Olivia blinked. ”You never say that.”

”I say it when it’s true,” said Kwon. He straightened his jacket one final time and turned to Sean. ”Dinner. Don’t keep her out past midnight.”

”It’s already nine,” said Sean.

”Then be efficient,” said Kwon, and walked away.

Sean looked at Olivia. Olivia looked at Sean.

”He likes you,” she said.

”He said I saved him five minutes,” said Sean.

”He once told a Grammy-winning producer that he wasted three minutes of his time,” said Olivia. ”Five minutes is a declaration of friendship.”

Sean almost laughed. ”Ready?”

She took his arm. ”Ready.”

James was waiting outside the venue, the Rolls Royce at the curb, and when they came through the door he was standing beside it with a small package under his arm that he’d been carrying, Sean knew, since at least eight o’clock.

”Miss,” said James, nodding to Olivia, who beamed at him immediately because that was what Olivia did with people who were warm to her.

He turned to Sean and handed over the box. Dark velvet, no brand marking, the kind of packaging that announced its contents by what it didn’t say rather than what it did.

Olivia looked at it. Then at Sean.

”What is that,” she said.

”Something I ordered three days ago,” said Sean. He opened the box.

The diamond necklace caught the streetlight immediately, the way things cut to that particular quality of precision did, the central stone surrounded by smaller ones in a setting that managed somehow to be both extravagant and understated, a million dollars of craft that looked like it had been made for exactly one person’s neck specifically.

Olivia’s hand went to her mouth.

”Sean,” she said, muffled behind her fingers.

”Turn around,” he said.

”Sean, that’s—”

”Turn around, Olivia.”

She turned, slowly, and he lifted the necklace and draped it around her neck, his fingers working the clasp with more care than such a simple mechanism required, because the moment seemed to warrant it.

--

Author Notes

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