Free The Proverbial Mr. Universe by Maria La Serra Page A

almost certain. He’s always kidding around like this. Seriously, ask him.”



 
     
    A fter Olivia had dropped off her sister, she headed back to her place to find Dario’s car still parked outside their apartment. Refusing to spend another minute with him, she decided to turn at the next light and headed east. Olivia never worked on Saturdays, unless it’s a few weeks before a buyer’s meeting. Her boss, Jack, had given her a set of keys to the office, hoping she would put in the extra hours when needed. Today would benefit them both. It gave Olivia a place to be and her boss a jump start for the next season. She didn’t make it very far. Once her computer was turned on, she decided to Google her father’s name.
    In bold, blue letters:
     
    James Montiano arrested on the allegation of tax evasion.
    Montreal construction magnate, James Montiano, denies mob links.
     
    Then she Googled Alzheimer’s.
     
    What is Alzheimer’s?
     
    Olivia clicked on the heading and continued to scroll down. The information was pretty much what the doctors had already told her family over a month ago, but she couldn’t stop searching the internet for something new, some vital information that she might have missed. She was just searching for hope.
    After surfing the web for an hour, she came across a home video of a woman filming her mother living with Alzheimer’s. The woman asked her mother several questions about herself. Some she got, some she told her daughter she didn’t remember. Then she was asked if she had any children.
    “Sure, I have children …”
    “How many children do you have?” the daughter asked.
    After a short moment, she responded, “I don’t remember.”
    “Do you know who I am?”
    “No,” the woman replied.
    “I’m your daughter. Do you remember my name?”
    “I don’t remember.”
    Olivia had enough. She shut her laptop then rubbed her eyes. She wondered about her father’s future. Sick with worry, she’s wasn’t sure how she was even breathing.
     

     
    I t was dark outside when Olivia peered out of her large office window. It had been snowing all day, but by two o’clock it turned to rain, causing the snowy ground to become a thick sheet of ice. She glanced down at her wrist; it was already ten past five. The watch was a gift from Dario on her birthday last year. It was one of those overly-expensive, high-tech wristwatches—too many gadgets to even know what to do with it. It wasn’t even her style, just another reminder of how Dario never got her. How does one spend so much time with a person and not know them at all? She wondered. Perhaps it was time for Olivia to gather all the unappreciated gifts he gave her over the years and send them back. She slid on her coat and shut off the lights. Walking past the glass door, she headed toward the elevators. When Olivia stepped onto the street, which during the day had been a hustle of people and cars but now was completely transformed into to a remote and quite place. Before Olivia reached her car, she decided to go to the corner store and finally succumb to her urges. She gave the guy behind the counter a twenty and waited for her change when the sound of a familiar voice called out her name.
    She looked up and smiled. “Hey, stranger, where have you been? I didn’t see you all week.”
    “Oh, did you miss me?” Nick’s eyes fixed on her.
    Olivia took her change from the guy behind the counter. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
    “Sure, but it’s going to cost you,” Nick said cheerfully.
    “Do you live around here?”
    Nick reached for a pack of Trident peppermint gum from behind her.
    “You think I’m stalking you?” He smirked.
    “Well, one never knows.” Olivia smiled at him.
    “I live up the street.” He took his change from the clerk.
    Olivia glanced back up at him while he wasn’t looking. He was obviously in good spirits and appeared somewhat different, more handsome even. Thankfully that sad-looking hat was