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[assassinrue]

Phillip tried not to have a heart attack when he heard her voice. "Where?" he said gruffly even though most of him wanted to beg and plead with her, scream to hear her happy.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Your house, if you want," Olivia said, trying to keep her voice calm. "We can't meet in a public place, though, so my apartment is our only other option."

[assassinrue]

"Wherever's better for you." Phillip grumbled, standing, he had to shower if he was going to see her

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia really didn't want to go back to his house right now, but her place was a little small for hosting a squad of Guard soldiers. "Your house would be best, I think."

[assassinrue]

"See you." Phillip mumbled. He hung up the phone and raced for his shower.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia called the Guardian she'd spoken to earlier and told him to join her at Phil's house. Then she ran a brush through her hair and applied some light makeup before grabbing her purse and keys and heading out the door. The drive over was almost painful. She gripped the wheel tightly enough that her fingers started hurting, and she felt lightheaded by the time she pulled up in front of his house.

[assassinrue]

Phillip emerged from the bathroom in his towel, quickly preparing tea, as was customary for someone of power to do for their guests and startled when there was a knock at the door. "Yes?" He called.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia cleared her throat. "It's me." She was glad she'd gotten there before the Guardians. If they were going to have a fight, better they do it before the others got there.

[assassinrue]

Phillip let out a sigh of relief, to be caught in his towel by a Guardian would be something else. "Come in." He said quietly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia opened the door and froze when she caught sight of him standing there in the towel. Goddamn it, did he do that on purpose? Seeing him half-naked was not going to help her composure, and the only thing more embarrassing than him being caught in a towel would be the Guard finding them both naked.

[assassinrue]

Phillip noticed her reaction and resisted smiling. "I'll go get dressed." But he took a detour, sliding past Olivia, his hand brushing across her cheek.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia managed to keep it together until he got past her. After that, she shuddered and had to lean against the wall for support, trying her best to remember how to breathe. He seemed so innocent and gentlemanly most of the time, but she knew he could be cunningly seductive too.

[assassinrue]

Phillip dressed with a grin on his face. Why in the world did he love that irritating woman so much? How could she hate him so and still be affected the way that she was?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia pulled herself together while she waited for him. They had business to conduct, and thinking about his body and the way it felt pressed against hers was not relevant to the matter at hand. Get your mind out of the gutter, she told herself fiercely. What was wrong with her?

[assassinrue]

Phillip emerged fully dressed, a cashmere turtle neck hugging his throat and dark colored jeans with hide boots to match

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia stared at him for a second, but then a knock at the door broke the spell. She glanced toward the entrance way and then back at him. "You should answer that."

[assassinrue]

Phillip's eyes did not move from her. "Yes. I suppose I should." Slowly he walked towards the door and eventually he peeled his eyes away from her face. "Hello, sir." He was greeted the moment he opened the door.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The guardian gave him a small nod. None of the three men on the door step wore their uniforms, but their leader did wear a black band around his arm with the Heavenly Guard's symbol--a winged sword--and one golden star that signified his rank as a captain. "Phillip Orville, I presume?" he said.

[assassinrue]

"Of course. Do come in gentlemen." Phillip made a sweeping motion with his arm. All composure and dignity. Right now he was not the man helplessly in love with a woman who could never love him, no he was almighty, a powerful man in a powerful world.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Thank you," the captain said. The man--his name was Kaleb Midson--stepped past him and the other two soldiers followed him inside. At the same time, Olivia moved forward to hover in the entry way.