"Can you believe the nerve of that jerk?" I spew. "He actually threw an

entire pan of cookies at MY face!"

Charlotte can't stop giggling and I can't stop glaring ferociously at her. I can't believe that she thinks what Eli did was so hilarious!

"It took me an hour to wash the icing out of my hair!" I shout. "Do you think that's funny? Huh? Do you?"

"Oh. My. God, Livvy! That sounded so funny! I wish I'd been there." Charlotte wipes her eyes. She was laughing so hard that she ended up crying.

I huff off to the kitchen for a few minutes. Charlotte comes after me, where I'm pacing back and forth in front of the sink.

"Olivia, you're blowing this whole thing out of proportion. I'm sure that Eli didn't mean to act that way."

"Didn't he?"

"Hey, you technically started it, by mashing a cupcake into his face AND causing him to fall backwards on to the table, where he landed right in a pile of hamburgers and mashed potatoes."

I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You also told practically EVERYONE in the neighborhood that he was a hardened criminal, which turned out to be a lie."

"I..know. That was wrong of me. It was childish and immature."

My eyes start welling up with tears. Oh, man. What the hell is wrong with me? How could I have done such a nasty and vicious thing to someone I barely knew?

Charlotte comes and wraps her arms around me and I sob on her shoulder. I stop after a few minutes. I wipe my eyes and nose.

"I'm going to go find Eli and apologize. Maybe he won't accept my apology right away, but at least I can try."

Charlotte gives me a squeeze and I squeeze her back. She's right. Eli does seem like a decent guy. I didn't give him a chance.

"I think you're doing the right thing. Go get him, tiger."

>>>>>>

I walk into Eli's bakery. It's nice. Maybe not as cozy and homey as mine, but still nice.

His friend is out front and his eyes widen at my sudden appearance.

"Oh, Eli! The ice queen is here!" I glare at him. The ice queen? What the hell? I wasn't THAT bad.

Eli emerges from the back, looking pissed. I don't blame him. I was totally unfair to him.

"Look, before you throw me out on my ass, I just came to apologize. I know I acted irrationally and treated you unfairly. So I'm sorry."

Eli's expression doesn't change. He still looks pissed off. Well, I had it coming.

"Fine. You apologized. As if that's going to get me any business after the crap you pulled earlier! Why did you feel the need to tell everyone that I was a damn criminal?"

"Because I'm a petty bitch." Eli blinks in surprise. ( Ha! I bet he thought I'd never say that.) Score one for Olivia.

"That's an understatement, lady," his friend pipes up. "You tarnished my friend's reputation. And for what?"

"I told you WHY, buster! And I wasn't talking to YOU. I was talking to Eli."

"Yeah, but he's got a point," Eli says. "Why did you need to kick me when I'm already down? Is that it that damn important to you to be top dog around here?"

"Yes," I reply. "It is. I've worked from the bottom up. It wasn't easy." I stop.

"Then you come along and act like you're gonna just take off in a heartbeat, without even having to break a sweat."

"I never thought that!" Eli snaps. "I'm just trying to make a good life for myself. Is that so awful?"

"No. But think about it. If the roles were reversed. How would that make you feel?"

"I'll admit it, I wouldn't have totally loved the idea. But I sure as hell wouldn't have went around, spreading lies to everyone just to make myself look better."

Ouch. Eli really knew how it hit where it hurt.

"I promise to make things right." Eli stares stonily at me. Those beautiful brown eyes look pretty damn cold right now.

"It's too late for that, Miss Kingsley. If you wanted a war, that's exactly what you're going to get." Eli turns away.

"I'd appreciate it you'd leave. And not come back here ever again."

My temper flares up, red hot. I'd tried to make things right. But apparently this idiot isn't interested in playing nice.

"Fine!" I snap. "If you want to play war, Mason, we'll play war! And may the best person win!"

>>>>>>

"You pushed him too hard. Now, you're going to have to pay the price." Charlotte wasn't the least bit sympathetic after I told her how things went down when I TRIED to apologize to that mule headed ass.

"I admit, I didn't think. I was upset. But I can make this right. If only he wasn't so damn stubborn!"

"You know what the real problem is?" Charlotte asks.

"That I'm petty, cold hearted bitch?"

"Yes," Charlotte agrees. I glare at her.

"But that's not the whole problem. The problem is, you're both strong willed people who think that you're the best and neither is willing to back down."

"Ooh, wow," I say sarcastically. "How long did it take you to come up with that conclusion?"

"Don't be a bitch. I'm only trying to be helpful."

"With friends like you, who needs enemies?" Charlotte scowls at me and marches over to tightly grasp my shoulders with her hands. I try to twist away, but she won't let me.

"I mean it, Olivia. If you really want to make things right, then do it. Actions speak louder than words. Show Eli Mason that you're NOT the ice queen he thinks you are."

"And then?"

"Then maybe you can start over with him and MAYBE learn to be friends."

>>>>>>>

I don't sleep much that night. My brain is concocting a scheme. Except this time, it's something good.

I'm going to show that stubborn bastard that I can be a warm hearted person AND that maybe we can coexist not only as rival bakers.

But as friends.

>>>>>

I start my Make Eli Mason Believe I'm Not An Ice Queen campaign the very next morning.

I tell everyone who comes in that I was a petty bitch and that I made a serious mistake and then, I send them in Eli's direction.

I try not to mind TOO much that he's getting all this extra business. But I know, deep down, I'm doing the right thing.

That is, until Eli comes storming into my bakery, firing on all cylinders.

"What hell kind of game are you playing?" He demands. Crap. He looks so hot today.

He's dressed in jeans and this loose fitting white cotton shirt that's unbuttoned just enough that I can get a good look at his chest. I'm temporarily distracted by his dark chest hair.

"Huh?" I'm gazing at the bare skin, peeking out of his shirt. Oh. My.

"I said, what the hell are you trying to do? Send all your loyal customers over to me so you can soothe your guilty conscience?"

"What? No! I'm trying to be nice and get you some damn business. I THOUGHT that's what you wanted."

"I don't need your damn charity, okay? I can make it without your damn help!"

"Seriously?" I frown. I screwed up and now, all I'm trying to do is be the bigger person and look where it gets me. Nowhere.

"It's not charity, asshole! I'm TRYING to make up for my crappy behavior and set things right!"

"Yeah, sure you are, sweetheart. You're just trying to make YOURSELF look good!"

"Well, if you don't want the business, then I'll stop. Does that make you happy?"

"Yeah, it does! So just knock your goody two shoes act off."

With that being said, Eli storms out of my bakery. I sigh. Oh brother.

And here I thought I was the dramatic one.

Chapter 5-Olivia

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