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Oliver woke up to the sound of the hotel door slamming shut. He was alerted by the stinging sensation on his hand. Raising it to eye level, Oliver realised just how much he fucked up the night before after spotting the tacky black stripe tattooed around his ring finger.
He checked his phone for the time only to find nearly forty missed calls from various family members. He groaned when he saw the missed calls from his father. He still had to tell him he got married and, knowing his father, Ed Scott was not going to be happy. He called him back and, to his surprise, Ed answered immediately.
"Hel-"
"DID YOU GET MARRIED, OLIVER?!"
"Huh?"
"It's all over the tabloids. Everyone knows that you eloped in a trashy chapel with a rock band in tow."
"Shit." Oliver scrambled to sit up. "I- I didn't think the tabloids would care."
"They care when you have a celebrity like Vampy with you."
Shit. He should have known Sienna's presence would attract attention.
"Dad, I-I didn't know-"
"Our stock values are plummeting because our next CFOÂ was out drinking in town and getting married! What's wrong with you, Oliver?! I didn't even know you and Nora were back together!"
"I fucked up. I know. But I love her and I don't regret marrying her."
"Let's see about that when you come in for a meeting with the senior partners. I want you in the conference room in an hour."
His father hung up on him, leaving him feeling anxious and angry. He made a quick call to his chauffeur. He looked and smelled like death. He needed to freshen up before he met with his father.
He wondered if his mother knew. Would she be angry? Would she even care? It wasn't like she ever called him or asked about him so probably not. Mai would though. She was going to be very pissed off. She was currently studying at the Milan Fashion Institute but Oliver had no doubt that she would call him very soon and rant. At least she cared about him.
Nora stormed into the room, her mood mirroring his. Oliver hadn't even noticed she wasn't in bed with him. He had assumed she was sleeping beside him. Nora remained quiet as he explained his father's phone call.
"I called the chauffeur. I have to get to the office but then Jacques can drop you back home."
Nora nodded and Oliver immediately stood up, brushing himself off. As he made his way to the bathroom, his foot accidentally squished Sienna's hand, instantly knocking her out of her sleep.
"OUCH!"
Oliver ignored her and went into the bathroom, locking it behind her. He had forgotten she was even still there. He locked the door behind him before immediately going to stand in front of the mirror. He splashed his face with cold water and leaned on the edge of the sink.
His mind had never been so chaotic. Nora had seemed way too quiet and unhappy for someone who had just gotten married. His father was angry and an angry Ed Scott was not a force to be reckoned with. His entire family was probably pissed including his mother and step-sister. The entire world now knew about his drunk wedding. Charlie probably saw the photos. He already knew about the wedding because of Sienna but this was going to be salt in the wound for him. He felt an urge to apologise.
No. Oliver didn't need to apologise. He shouldn't have had to feel bad for marrying the love of his life. Nora meant everything to him. They were going to have such a good life together. He could already imagine it. He would come home after a long day of work and find Nora at home with the baby. They would lie together after their home cooked meal and fall asleep in each other's arms. They were a power couple. Every magazine would write articles about how great they were (except Wild Magazine, for obvious reasons).
Oliver sighed and changed into the suit he was going to wear to Madeline's wedding. It was probably too formal but Oliver had no other option. He slicked back his hair with his fingers and quickly brushed his teeth. He still looked terrible but at least he was somewhat presentable.
He began typing a message for Chad. He needed to know what the mood was like in the office. When he left the bathroom he noticed Sienna and her entourage were gone.
"Where's Sienna?" He muttered while typing the same message but this time to Carly, the secretary.
Nora walked out of the room without a reply. What was her problem? Oliver really wasn't in the mood to deal with her theatrics.
'First of all, congrats on the wedding broski!' Chad replied. 'Second of all, you are in so much trouble lol'
Oliver groaned and finally looked away from his phone. He scanned the room, looking for anything important left behind. Apart from a few worthless items of clothing and jewellery, there was nothing left worth taking. Except for the line of cocaine left on the table from the night before. Oliver effortlessly snorted it before leaving the room. It was left in terrible condition but that was what the hotel cleaners were for.
He ran passed the paps and jumped into the car, quickly slamming the door behind him. He held down the microphone button under the partition.
"Jacques, can you bring us home?"
"Oh, yes, of course Mr Scott."
Oliver took out his phone as it buzzed, revealing a reply from Carly.
'Everyone is talking about your wedding. Kinda angry I wasn't invited lol'
He didn't even know what he was going to say. He opened his 'notes' app and began writing a draft of the apology he was going to say to the senior partners, including as many sycophantic phrases as he could.
"What have I done?" Nora exclaimed suddenly.
"Hm?"
"Am I insane?"
'Yes' He wanted to say but he wasn't sure if Nora would appreciate the joke.
"What are you talking about?" He asked instead.
"I can't do this," She suddenly declared.
Oliver stopped typing and looked up from his phone, expecting Nora to be laughing and saying she was joking.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I love you but you... you suck. I can't believe I married you."
There it was. There was the joke.
"Good one."
"No, Ol, I'm serious. In our first year together you cheated on me with my best friend and til this day have not taken any blame. Maddie went through hell yet I was a fool and forgave you instantly because I was in love with the man I thought you would become."
Why was she bringing up such an old fight? They had gotten over Oliver's cheating. He was a different person then. They had moved on.
He laughed again. "You're right, Nor. You are insane. Why are you bringing up such old fights. I thought we were over the whole Madeline thing."
"You mean the whole 'Oliver and Madeline thing'. You played me. And I forgave you. Frankly, I don't even care about that anymore. But you keep falling off the wagon, indulging in your alcoholism, binging and taking every pill in this world-"
"Yes but you make me want to be better-"
"That's not enough! You may have wanted to but you never took any initiative to actually become better. I stood beside you like a weak and quiet fool. Late to dinners, late to our dates, late returns home. I missed my college exams for you. I can't sleep when you're out because I'm always waiting for the cops to come knocking on the door and tell me you've been arrested or worse, found dead-"
"Well, that's just dramatic don't you think?"
"No..." Nora shook her head madly."You're narcissistic and ruin my life a little bit more everyday..."
Nothing she was saying made sense. It was nonsense. He loved her. Nora continued to rant in the background aimlessly like a child throwing a tantrum.
"....You made me feel worthless, pathetic and weak when in reality I am way too good for you!"
She knew he loved her so how could he ever make her feel 'worthless, pathetic and weak'.
Oliver shook his head in disbelief. His hand immediately shot out to hold Nora's which she yanked out of his grip.
"Stop talking, Nora," He scolded. "What you're saying is nonsense. We love each other! Forever!"
"I used to think unconditional love was what everyone should aim for. But it's unconditional love that got me into this mess. I loved you too much and made too many excuses for you when in reality the truth was right in front of me. Oliver Scott, you are a narcissistic ass who needs to grown up."
He needed her to stop talking. She was saying things she would regret. Nora was fickle. She didn't mean any of it. It was all just theatrics.
But he realised just how serious she was being when she pulled her bag over her shoulder like she was getting ready to leave. His hand started shaking as he combed it through his hair.
No...no....no....
"You're being selfish, Nor. I will die without you. I will end up killing myself from all the drugs and alcohol if you aren't with me."
"Remember to dial nine-one-one then because I definitely won't be by your side."
This wasn't happening. It had to be a prank. Nora would never leave him like that. She was his. She couldn't leave.
"Nora, I need you. I can't live without you. You keep me safe and grounded. You protect me-"
"I'm not your mother! It's not my job to protect you."
Nora banged on the partition and it rolled down, slightly. "Jacques, you can stop here."
Nora began to smile in a maniac way that made Oliver nervous.
"That's not fair! Nora, I need you-"
"And I need a divorce. I'll send you the papers soon. Sorry but I'm out."
Oliver clambered to hold her as she got out of the car but she quickly escaped his grip and slammed the door shut behind her.
What just happened?
Oliver tried to open the door but it had automatically locked.
"Jacques! Open the doors!"
Jacques couldn't hear him without the microphone on and by the time Oliver had realised it was off, he had already sped off. Thinking quickly, Oliver dialled Nora's number and called her. The first few times she hung up but by the seventh time she had completely switched off her phone.
No. It was a joke. Nora didn't just leave him again. It was a shitty joke. It had to be.
In the past they had broken up twice and both times didn't feel as permanent as this time. Oliver's hands were shaking uncontrollably. No. No. No. No.
She was going to change her mind. She always did. It was Nora. She couldn't stay away from him even if she tried. He just had to distract himself until she came to her senses. Knowing her, she'd be back by the next day.
For some reason, he knew exactly where he had to go. Something was drawing him there. It was like a rope was wrapped around his heart and tugging him in a certain direction. Maybe it was the need to rant or the need to apologise or the need to just see him again.
He actually remembered to press on the microphone button this time. "Jacques....take me to Charlie's place."
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Points for anyone who can tell me what the chapter's title means!
Next chapter coming soon! And, remember, this chapter is available from Nora's POV in the final chapter of Gilded Butterflies.
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