6. His Words of Affirmation

The atmosphere between Olivia and Axel suddenly became awkward. After the family meeting was over, Axel drove Olivia. Accompanied by Jonathan, the manager, using Axel's car. Axel's father's last words, when he asked the two of them to get married, rang out between Olivia and Axel. Olivia really didn't expect that this day would happen. She doesn't know how to react at that moment. On the one side, Olivia couldn't help but feel happy to be close to Axel. But on the other hand, Olivia felt inappropriate. Axel's family was very strict in choosing a son-in-law for them. In fact, wait, Axel was being set up as a mate! "Olivia," Axel spoke up, "I apologize for what happened today. I asked you not to divulge anything." Olivia looked at Axel for a while. Seeing the look in Axel's eyes that implied guilt made her unable to bear it. Moreover, the sincerity on Axel's face did not show any malicious intent. "Who am I going to leak to?" Olivia tried to be calm, flashing a casual smile. "I'm not like that." Axel chuckled. His laugh sounded crisp and soothed Olivia's heart. "Your work also intersects with the entertainment world. Who knew you were close to a media person?" Axel joked, deliberately making a mocking face. Olivia shook her head and chuckled too. "In that case, how much will I be paid and how much compensation will I have to pay?" "Depends on the kindness of the agency," Axel replied. Arching a smile as she leaned her head against the back of the bench, Olivia sighed heavily. "You're a big star, definitely the agency's favorite. There can be no forgiveness," Olivia retorted, intending to return Axel's jibe. Jonathan, who had been listening to their conversation, chuckled. "Hey, Olivia, he's the agency's favorite, but do you know something?" Axel immediately turned his alarmed eyes to Jonathan. In contrast to Axel, Olivia looked enthusiastic and curious to hear what Jonathan had to say. "Mr. Jonathan, what do you want to say?" Axel asked, his tone commemorating. "Don't say anything to him." Olivia's eyebrows rose instantly, looking at Axel and Jonathan in turn. Jonathan actually laughed at Axel's panicked reaction. "You know what?" Olivia asked. "She's the opposite of what she was on screen and what she is in front of you now. You don't know how he really acts, do you?" "The real one?" Olivia asked confused. She was even more panicked when Jonathan, the manager, flashed her a purposeful smile. Axel immediately strode forward, holding tight to both the driver's seat and the driver's side passenger. "Mr. Jonathan, don't fuck with me," Axel said, looking at Jonathan warningly. "You're going to do something to me, huh?" For some reason, Olivia found Jonathan and Axel's behavior ridiculous. Olivia had just realized that the two of them were so close. It wasn't like they were a manager and an undercover model anymore. "No need to tell me that it makes Axel uncomfortable," Olivia said between Axel's pleading looks. "Oh, actually, you saw one of Axel's true attitudes just now." Olivia raised both eyebrows again, but couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. Already resigned to Jonathan's nosiness, Axel sighed heavily. "You're really... really inhuman," said Axel, who immediately buried his face in one hand. "Well," Jonathan snapped his fingers, "you see, Olivia, if you guys were really going to get married-" "No, don't," Axel cut Jonathan off. The situation between the three of them was instantly silent. The amused smile on Olivia's face slowly faded. Olivia looked confused at Axel, who had quickly raised his face, and now Axel looked pale. "I mean, I'm taking her to my family just for tonight," Axel said, immediately correcting his attitude. "I don't want anything to happen to Olivia. If my fans find out about this, I'm afraid many of them won't accept it. And then later attack Olivia." Jonathan frowned, his face momentarily dumbfounded. He still didn't expect Axel's reaction to reject him so quickly. Also, Jonathan was a bit worried that Axel's reaction would offend Olivia. Like what had already happened. One of the fans was offended when Axel accidentally blurted out that he didn't want to take a photo. Even though Axel was exhausted because of the very busy schedule of fashion week events. As well as photo shoots for a number of brands that contract Axel. Not to mention, filming advertisements from within the country and abroad. "Ah, right... your fan." Olivia laughed awkwardly. She actually felt flustered, thinking that Axel was like that because he didn't feel on the same level. Of course, the status of fan and idol between them showed a very different social strata, right? "Your fans would disapprove if they knew we were in a relationship even if it was just pretend," Olivia continued. "Because I'm also just your fan. It would be unfair to other fans. Fans and idols..." Olivia made a weighing motion using her right and left palms. But both were lame. The right palm was higher. "Very one-sided," Olivia continued, with a small laugh at the end of her sentence. Axel dropped his gaze so long and intensely on Olivia's pair of beady eyes that for some reason he felt bad seeing the glint of sadness in Olivia's eyes. "I didn't mean to say that you're not on my level," Axel corrected, looking at Olivia with a guilty look in his eyes. "It's okay. I don't think that way," Olivia retorted with a casual wave of her hand. "But the look in your eyes suggests otherwise." Axel blatantly focused his gaze on Olivia, making Olivia feel awkward. "Besides, you seem to be different from the other fans." Olivia frowned. "What do you mean?" In the driver's seat, Jonathan shook his head and gave a lopsided smile. Jonathan had expected Axel's sudden departure, which turned out to be to see Olivia. It would be weird if there was nothing in it for Axel, right? "No, it's just that... I find you interesting," Axel replied, getting to the point. "You're good at your job. You know, someone who's good at their job always has more value in my eyes. And... you don't even yell hysterically or scream-or even go so far as to pull me close to you. You have a sense of respect for other people's comfort, Olivia." Olivia was dumbfounded as Axel said that. There was a part of her that denied Axel's words. But seeing the sincerity in Axel's eyes made Olivia hesitate. "You're... not kidding?" Olivia asked. "Why would you say a joke like that?" Axel laughed calmly. "That sounds like a joke? I just realized that even a serious sentence sounds like a joke?" Wait, wait, wait. What's going on here? Olivia's heart skipped a beat that very second, instantly nervous. Her whole body was stiff and unable to move. She needed time to digest Axel's words that managed to invite a tickle in her chest. Olivia really didn't know what to do. Why does Axel look even more charming when looking at her in the shade like now?!