The Affection Multiplier - Chapter 216: A very necessary talk with Olivia. (Patreon)

“…Are they gone?” Megan asks in a barely audible yet shaky voice, her naked body cuddling tightly against you. She’s trembling a bit.

“Yeah, I think so.”

Her, Sophia and Mia let out sighs of relief, but their worried expressions return immediately as they turn to you.

“She knows about us.” Mia states, grimacing and biting her lip.

“Yeah.” You mirror her expression. “Probably has for a long time, judging by her tone.”

“Why do you think she let it slip?” Sophia asks, and you can almost hear the gears in her head turning.

“I don’t know. Didn’t sound like an accident. It was deliberate.”

“Do you think she wants to blackmail you?” Megan asks, glancing at you and Mia.

You ponder that for a few seconds before you answer. “I don’t know, but I doubt it.”

“I thought we were being so careful…” Mia sighs. “Where did we slip?”

“…I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” You say, and doing so earns you three worried glances. “Hey, don’t worry. I’m not the guy I used to be. I can handle her now, no matter what she throws at me.” You say with a confident smile and a light chuckle.

“Well, regardless… I don’t think we should continue this little meeting.” Mia says. “It’s too dangerous now.”

“I agree.” You say. And although the three girls clearly don’t like it, they quickly start putting their clothes back on.

After a quick apology kiss, they leave your tent one by one.

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You get up early again and go through your usual routine before you start getting breakfast ready. But as you’re getting all the tools and ingredients ready, you catch Olivia coming out of her tent already in her track suit. She looks around until she notices you. She looks away instinctively, but after hardening her expression, she walks up to you.

“…Can we talk?” She asks in an uncharacteristically soft and meek voice.

“Yes.” You nod and point towards your tent and Olivia wordlessly follows you behind the big rock.

“…”

You stand there next to each other, leaning against the rock without either of you saying a word. She said she wanted to talk, but she’s not saying anything. After taking a deep breath, you’re the one who makes the first move.

“Thank you for last night.” You say. “We might have gotten in trouble if you hadn’t warned us those girls were coming.”

“…” Olivia turns to you, her eyes wide with shock and mouth hanging open. “…What? Are you fucking serious!?” She says, her voice getting louder with every word. “THAT’S the first thing you say to me after last night? Are you fucking stupid!?”

“I guess.” You chuckle and just shrug off her insults. Somehow, they don’t feel like they have any weight to them. “I figured I might as well get that out of the way. Regardless of what you said after, I really am I thankful.”

Her face starts to redden, and it’s like she wants to say more and lash out but she bites her lip to stop the words from coming out. You let her be without saying anything else until you see her calming down after several deep breaths.

“Whatever. You’re welcome.” She says, looking away from you. “I just happened to overhear them. I figured it would’ve been bad if you happened to be with…” She stops herself and swallows the name.

“There’s no point denying it. She was here last night. It really would’ve been the worst-case scenario, which is why I’m thankful.” You admit. Your heart is beating wildly in your chest. Even if the AMA tells you your score with Olivia is high, it still feels like a mistake to tell her. But you need to sort this out. There’s too many things you need to know.

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Of course the first thing he does is thank her. This idiot simply defies common sense. He should be mad at her, or scared that she’ll reveal his secret to everyone. She could. It would be easy. He no doubt knows this. But…

He used to be so easy to manipulate. A little shake of her chest was enough to lead his eyes. A few sultry whispers enough to lower his guard. Reading him was easy. The way his eyes shifted when he was nervous, his downcast look when he was scared of her let her know exactly what to say and what to do to get him to do whatever she wanted.

Yet now, he’s standing with a straight back. The small smile on his lips is confident. His shoulders are relaxed, and his hands are in his pockets. Even though she’s still a few centimeters taller than him, it feels like he’s grown much more.

“Can I ask how you found out?” He asks, making her flinch when he catches her staring at him.

“…My dad told me.” Olivia reveals, making David give her a stunned expression. “My family owns a chain of hotels. You two went to a hotel next to a winery a few months ago, right?”

“…” He blinks at her a few times, processing her words. It may not be appropriate to think he looks cute like that right now, but he just does. “…How!?”

“She gave her name for the reservations. My dad recognized it, asked me if she was… one of my teachers and told me he saw her with a guy who matched your description.” She says in whispers. “I didn’t even try to find out. He just told me one day as an anecdote.”

He looks stunned for a few moments before he sighs and breaks into laughter. “So you’ve known since then? Goddammit.”

Is he broken? Why is he laughing and looking so relaxed?

“So, you know what’s probably my biggest secret. What are you gonna do now?” He asks casually.

“Nothing.” She answers quickly.

“Why let me know, then?”

“…” That’s harder to answer. Because she wanted him to know she was doing something good for him. Because she wants him to see she’s changing. But the fact that she let him know is proof that she isn’t, and that she’s still somehow trying to manipulate him, even if for entirely opposite ends than before.

“Well, if you’re not going to tell anyone, I feel better knowing there’s one less person I have to hide this from. Although I assume Lilian and Jessica know this, too, right?” He says with another light chuckle.

Olivia silently nods.

“We’ll keep quiet. But on one condition.” Don’t do it, girl.

She knows intellectually how this is a bad idea, but the words are simply coming out.

“What’s the condition?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.

“…Kiss me?”

HOLY SHIT. SHUT THE FUCK UP, WOMAN!

Her face starts burning like never before. It’s probably red as a tomato right now. She looks at David with panicked eyes, but he simply looks at her with slightly raised eyebrows.

“I take it back! I take it back!” She quickly says, flailing her hands in front of her face. God, she must look the stupidest she’s ever have. “There’s no condition! I’ll keep quiet! I promise! Just…! Just…! Just…”

It’s like her heart is caught in her throat. She’s lightheaded and her face is on fire. When was the last time she felt this clumsy? With this lack of control over herself? Her composure is broken, and she just keeps saying stupidity after stupidity.

Getting guys to fall for her was so easy. So why is it so hard when it’s HIM!?

She hears David sigh and sees him smile wryly as he massages the back of his neck.

“…I’ll be honest. There’s a lot of things I like about you, Olivia.”

Her heart skips a beat. She looks at him, stunned beyond words. She wants to hear that again.

“That you’re… extremely beautiful goes without saying. But I also like the confidence with which you carry yourself and I think that the way you’re able to swallow your pride when Lilian and Jessica are involved is admirable.”

Oh god. She takes it back. She doesn’t want to hear this anymore. Her eyes are starting to water.

“But even if I forgave you for all the things you did, it’s still too difficult to put it completely behind me.”

Oh.

Somehow, hearing that is a relief to Olivia. Finally she hears some common sense from him.

“Besides, I’m not the only one that had problems with you.”

“…Katherine, right?” Olivia says, her voice way too weak for her comfort. She feels too fragile. Too vulnerable.

“Most prominently, yes.” He nods. “But she’s moving forward. So am I. And I’m not blind. I know you, Lilian and Jessica are, too.” He smiles at her.

Olivia swallows. He really has been watching them.

“...It pisses me off that it took me so long to realize what a great guy you are.” She groans. “I could’ve been the first and now…”

“I don’t think I’m that great.” He says with a nervous laugh.

“I don’t care what you think. You are to me.” Slowly, Olivia’s confidence starts to build up again in her chest. Hearing him admit there’s things about her that he likes might have been just the thing she needed.

She flashes him a cocky smile.

“I want you, David. And I’ll have you. I don’t care how many women I have to share you with. I don’t care how many people I have to please. I’m going to make you fall madly in love with me. Just wait.”

His own smile only widens. “Already halfway there.”

Then, he quickly leans in and his lips catch hers. Her breathing stops. Her body is paralyzed. Her legs are losing strength, but he holds her by the waist and deepens the sweet, wonderful kiss.

She can’t help herself. She wraps her arms around his neck and opens her mouth. After months of daydreaming, his tongue finally meets hers. And it feels otherworldly. She can hear her own heart thundering in her ears, the world around her stops. All that matter is that his arms are holding her firmly and his tongue is rolling around hers in a passionate kiss that’s all she’s ever wanted. She can feel a fire lighting up inside her, making her want even more.

When his mouth pulls away, she’s left gasping for air. She’s never had a kiss like that. But then again, she’s never actually kissed a man she loved.

His arms release her, and she immediately misses his strong hold. She misses everything, really. He smiles embarrassedly, now looking very self-conscious of what he just did.

“…Your fault for saying those things?” He half says, half asks.

And Olivia can’t help but laugh. An honest, good natured laugh like she hasn’t had in a good while. It’s a reminder that, despite how much he’s changed, he’s still that shy nerd deep inside.

“Well, if I ever need a reminded of why I’m putting in the effort, I’ll just think of this moment.” Olivia says, smiling contently. A huge weight is off her shoulders. Fears and uncertainties have been completely blown away.

David likes her. He really, really does. She just needs to keep working to show him she’s worth the risk. That she won’t do something to betray his trust, ever. That she’ll always be on his side. And she hopes that her efforts will earn her the same from him.

“Oh, and…” He starts, coughing once to clear his throat. “If you really are going to keep that matter a secret… Maybe I should just tell you that… she’s not the only one.”

“…Ah?”

Ms. Owens is not… the only one? Then…

“Ms. Campbell?” Olivia asks, whispering.

“…And Ms. Miller.” He nods, but can’t meet her eyes as he innocently looks away.

“…Urgh, you slut.” Olivia shakes her head. “That’s more people whose favor I have to earn. You don’t make it easy, do you?” She says, scowling at him.

“You don’t need to do it if you don’t want to.” He shrugs.

“You’re not getting rid of me so easily. I already told you. I’m gonna make you fall madly in love with me. Just like I’m madly in love with you.” She crosses her arms and put her foot down.

She’s done being a nervous mess. Because when Olivia Hughes wants something, she gets it. And she’s never wanted something more in her entire life.

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-Hughes, Olivia-
Affection Score: 81 (+11)
Love Score: 70 (+25)
Lust Score: 66 (+20)

Available points: 540 Friendship points / 350 Love points / 500 Lust points