Ethan turned his head and saw Olivia—the bodyguard of campus queen Donna.
Yeah, that Olivia.
His mortal enemy.
Considering Carewell Pharmacy was owned by Donna’s mom, Olivia showing up wasn’t exactly weird.
Maybe she’d come with Donna, or maybe she was just here to grab some meds.
Still, pushing a mop around and doing this kind of grunt work, being suddenly called out by Olivia like that made him a little embarrassed.
He kept his head down and just kept mopping.
“Gotta say, you’re not just doing your job—you’re doing it with style,” Olivia quipped, half-joking, half-serious.
She pulled out her phone.
“Looking this good while cleaning? Would be a crime not to snap a pic.”
She snapped a photo of Ethan, planning to show it to Donna later.
Then her phone buzzed.
It was Donna calling.
Olivia hurried off to a corner to answer, “Donna, need something?”
“Olivia, my shoulder’s killing me again,” Donna groaned.
“The AC blew right on it, and now it’s worse than yesterday. I tried getting a massage from one of the pharmacy’s staff, but it barely helped. Totally not as good as Ethan. Can you get him up here?”
Eyes widening, Olivia glanced at Ethan mopping away.
“Donna, you really can’t hold out anymore?”
“If I could, I wouldn’t be bringing up Ethan, okay?” Donna was lying on a small bed in the break room, frowning.
“Just hurry up. I’m seriously dying here!”
“Alright, we’ll be right there,” Olivia assured her.
“We?” Donna sounded surprised.
“Just like that?”
“Donna, you know how I roll—quick and clean. Sit tight!” Olivia cut the call and marched straight to Ethan.
“Ethan, drop it. You’re coming with me.”
She said it like she was ordering a subordinate.
“I’ve got work to do,” Ethan said while still mopping.
He’d heard the entire call loud and clear—his hearing could easily pick up a conversation from fifty meters away if he focused.
Olivia had poked fun at him just moments ago, and now she needed his help?
No way he was gonna make it that easy.
“What work? Nothing you’re doing is more important than Donna right now,” Olivia said, yanking the mop out of his hands.
“Did you not hear me? Move it.”
“And why should I go with you? Do I look like I belong to you?” Ethan shot her a glare.
Without missing a beat, Olivia tossed the mop aside, bent down, scooped him up in a fireman’s carry, and made for the stairs.
“Well guess what? You do now. Deal with it!”
Ethan stared at her in disbelief.
“Seriously, Olivia? You’re just gonna snatch me?”
“Yup,” she shot back, picking up speed.”Olivia, don’t push it!” Ethan faked a glare and started struggling.
The problem was, he was squished right up against Olivia’s chest.
He even bumped her with his head.
“You push me one more time, I swear I’ll knock myself out right here!”
Feeling the impact, Olivia tightened her hold and shot back, “Go right ahead. If you die, I’ll take full responsibility.”
Then she realized exactly where his head had landed.
Her eyes twitched, irritated.
This guy’s really pushing his luck!
At this rate, even a mountain would flatten into a runway!
Letting out an annoyed yell, she suddenly released him—only to swing him up like a sack of groceries, tossing him over her shoulder in a clean, fluid motion.
That’s what you get with a pro bodyguard—everything crisp, fast, and without breaking a sweat.
Ethan, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as composed.
Dizzy, squashed, and short of breath with his stomach crushed against Olivia’s shoulder, he croaked out, “Olivia, I’ve got a heart condition!”
“No problem!” Olivia hoisted him up again, flipped him over without missing a beat, and shifted him so he was lying across her shoulder like a limp bamboo mat.
It only got worse.
His back ached, feet kicked around mid-air, and he genuinely felt like he might fall any second.
“Olivia, I have lower back issues!”
She didn’t even acknowledge him.
Stomping up the stairs, completely unfazed.
Ethan had to admit it—Olivia was on another level.
He couldn’t fight back even if he tried.
For safety, he wrapped one arm around her neck.
“Let go!” Olivia snapped, suddenly short of breath with his arm cutting off airflow.
He panicked and pulled back… only to fumble around with his hand trying to find something to hold.
His palm landed on something suspiciously soft.
He froze, then shouted, “Whoa, what the heck? Olivia, is this your butt?! Since when is it on your stomach?!”
She nearly dropped him right there and then, furious.
But thinking of Donna, she bit it back.
“Just grab my neck, will you?”
Charging to the second floor, she slammed his head against the door to push it open.
“My head!” Ethan clutched his scalp in pain.
Olivia, smug, marched into a more private room inside.
Donna was lounging on a bed, half-sitting up, clearly expecting them.
When she saw Ethan hanging off Olivia’s shoulder, she blinked, then grinned.
Classic Olivia—rough but effective.
No wonder she’s my top enforcer.
“Olivia, what’s going on?”
“Donna, Ethan was working at our Carewell Pharmacy, mopping the floors. I spotted him and figured, perfect timing, brought him right over! Where should I drop him?”
Donna chuckled again.
“Just put him down by the bed.”
With a quick nudge and a twist of the hips, Olivia tossed Ethan down beside the bed—gently enough, considering he was still needed for Donna’s treatment.
Otherwise, she might’ve chucked him like a sack of potatoes.Ethan was feeling dizzy, barely managing to steady himself.
He cast a moody glance at Donna, as if silently asking, “Was this your idea?”
Donna struggled not to laugh when she caught his expression.
“Ethan, Olivia only dragged you here for my sake. If it felt abrupt, I hope you don’t take it personally.”
The campus goddess herself was apologizing—how could Ethan not go along?
He shrugged lightly, “No biggie. Get faster updates on g.com. One call from you and I’m here. Even if it’s in the middle of the night, I’ll jump out of bed to help.”
“What?” Donna blinked in surprise.
Olivia’s eyes instantly narrowed.
“Wait—don’t get me wrong,” Ethan raised both hands quickly.
“I meant I’ll come no matter the time or weather—spring, summer, rain, or snow. Just give me a call and I’ll be at your side, ready to help.”
Donna shot him a look.
Honestly, wasn’t that the same thing?
But remembering she needed his help, she just sighed, “Ethan, I was in the pharmacy earlier, and the AC hit my shoulder hard. Now it’s aching like crazy. Can you take a look?”
“Sure thing.” Ethan stepped over to the side of the bed, observing her shoulder.
The moment he looked, he froze.
Donna was wearing a soft pink off-shoulder dress today, and as she reclined slightly on the bed, her exposed shoulder looked flawless—smooth and delicately curved.
The way it flowed into the lines below was… well, it sparked all kinds of imagination.
“Ahem!” Donna cleared her throat sharply.
“Dr. Fox, we’re here for a check-up, not a stare-off.”
“Right—doctor mode, not fanboy mode,” Olivia added coldly, walking over to the side and smacking a baseball bat lightly against her palm.
Ethan glanced at the bat and felt his scalp tighten.
He quickly turned back to Donna, nodding.
“Looks like your shoulder caught a chill. You’ve already got some inflammation going on, and the cold just made it worse.”
“Will I need meds or a shot?” Donna asked.
Ethan shook his head.
“Nope. Just need a bit of my soul-relieving massage.”
“What?” Donna and Olivia said in unison, both wide-eyed.
“It’s just a massage technique,” Ethan explained hurriedly.
Donna nodded.
“Alright, you can start.”
“Not so fast,” Olivia interrupted.
“Ethan, you were mopping the floor earlier. Did you wash your hands?”
“Nope.”
“Then go wash them!” she snapped.
Ethan gave her a long look.
“Olivia, you’re the one who ‘invited’ me over. Could you maybe soften that tone?”
She set the bat down.
“Want me to give you another princess carry and personally escort you to the bathroom?”
Ethan winced and quickly headed off.
“No need. If I was still on your shoulder, I’d be too nervous to even pee—unless you want me to do it on you.”
Olivia clenched her teeth, fists tightening as she glared at his back.