Chapter 24
Silas felt Ivy stiffen in his arms as she faced the newcomers. Throughout dinner and their walk out of Whitney’s, she had been smiling. happy. Now, in the presence of these strangers, her smile had vanished.
“I can’t believe it, the woman said, moving closer. Her eyes scanned Ivy with open disdain. “When Paige told us about your new job, I doubted her. But seeing you here, dressed like this…” She shook her head. “You look like a slut.”
Silas’s brow arched. What was she talking about?
Ivy moved out of his embrace, her shoulders squared as she faced the woman. “Be careful with your next words,” she said with a low
voice.
“Oh, Ivy.” The man stepped forward, pushing the woman behind him. “Since when did you grow wings? What gives you the audacity to speak to my wife like that?”
Silas had no idea who they were, but he wasn’t going to stand there and do nothing. He moved forward, his hand locked onto Ivy’s.
“If I were you,” Silas said coldly, “I’d leave while you can.”
The man’s eyes fluttered with recognition, quickly followed by fear. He took a step back. The woman, however, surged forward, her mouth twisting into an ugly sneer.
“Mr. Stone, don’t believe a word she tells you. She’s nothing but a lying, good–for–nothing-”
“That’s enough.” Silas’s tone was sharp. “I wouldn’t have you speak to my-“But before he could say more, Ivy turned to him, her green eyes shimmering with emotion.
“Let’s get out of here,” she murmured, interrupting him.
He hesitated, anger simmering inside him, but Ivy tugged on his hand insistently,
“Let’s go.” Ivy said, pulling him towards the car.
The man shouted after them. “You’re a disgrace, Ivy! You’ve gone from being a reputable woman to a cheap slut. I’ve rescinded my offer. If you’re going to tarnish my name and hoe around, I’ll have nothing to do with you.”
Silas’s brow furrowed in thought as he pieced the situation together. His lips tightened, his expression hardening. “Is that… Mason
Hunter?”
Ivy ignored his question, tugging him towards the car. “Forget it. They’re not worth it.”
Anger surged in Silas’s chest, and he made a move to leave the car, but Ivy stopped him with her small hand.
“Let’s just go home. You don’t want to make a scene–you have reporters around,” she cautioned, looking suddenly exhausted.
Silas clenched his fists, leaning into the Bentley seat. He badly wanted to confront Mason Hunter, to make him pay for humiliating Ivy- and for Thomas. But he remembered Ivy’s statement about the press and eased up.
“I guess that’s Cheryl with him?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
Ivy nodded, looking outside the window.
He was pissed. He had worked to create a perfect evening for her, and now it was all in shambles.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed Rachel.
“I want whoever was in charge of our privacy tonight fired,” he said sharply.
“Sir… I don’t understand, Rachel stammered, clearly startled.
“You heard me! I want that person gone. And if you can’t do your job, kiss yours bye too,” he snapped before ending the call.
Ivy turned to him, her eyes wide with surprise. “Why? What was that for?”
“They didn’t do their job,” he replied softly, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
10 16 AM
Chapter 24
“I think you’re overreacting,” she murmured, her tone soft but firm.
“I am not,” he countered, though he didn’t shout. “I asked for utter privacy, complete emptiness of Whitney’s–why wasn’t it provided? First, it was Dylan, then Mason and Cheryl. If we’d stayed longer, who else would have shown up?”
He caught the acceptance in her eyes and looked away. He exhaled, the tension in his chest refusing to ease. He knew his anger had more to do with Dylan’s presence than the others.
What was Dylan doing back in town after months of absence?
Another form of his anger came from the way Dylan had looked at Ivy–that look made him want to punch the man straight in the face Beneath the anger was an emotion Silas wasn’t ready to admit. insecurity.
He was insecure about Ivy. Seeing Dylan look at her brought back memories of Kim, and for a fleeting moment, he imagined Ivy in Kim’s place.
“Are you okay? You’re clenching your list,” Ivy’s concerned voice broke through his thoughts.
Silas turned to her, managing a small smile. “I’m good.”
Sorry about dinner,” she said, looking away. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
He could tell Mason and Cheryl’s appearance still unsettled her.
“It’s okay,” he smiled. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding too quickly before forcing a smile.
His phone chimed. He pulled it out and read the message: Oliver has been fired, sir. He was responsible for ensuring Whitney’s Restaurant was secured. I apologize for the inconvenience.
It was from Rachel.
“Is everything okay?” Ivy asked.
“Yes,” he said, squeezing her hand, surprised she was suddenly concerned about him. “It is now.”
She nodded, her gaze shifting as Victor pulled into the driveway. Silas helped her out of the car and led her inside.
“Thank you for dinner and the.. necklaces,” she said, her cheeks pink.
“You’re welcome.” He gave a curt nod.
“Alright…” she said, heading toward the stairs, her movements graceful yet hesitant.
n would never
er touch her-
As she walked away, a wave of possessiveness gripped him. She was his–at least for the next six months. Dylan
not now, not ever.
When she batted her lashes, glancing at him before climbing the stairs, he knew he couldn’t let her go just yet–not with the memory of his fingers inside her.
“Would you like a tour of the house?” he blurted out. When he saw her hesitate, he added, “I can also introduce you to the staff.”
She paused, glancing back at him with a hint of surprise. She bit her lip. “Sure.”
Before she could change her mind, he walked to an intercom and dialed Monica’s number. “Gather everyone. I’m introducing Ms. Stone to the stall.”
“Yes, sir,” Monica replied, and he hung up.
He turned to Ivy, extending his hand. “Shall we?”
She hesitated briefly before taking his hand.
“Maybe I should begin with my bedroom,” he teased, grinning at her startled reaction
“Not funny, Silas,” she said, though her tone was more amused than annoyed.
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Chapter 24
He chuckled as they walked into the hallway. “There are 60 rooms in this house, with 40 staff members,” he said, pride in his tone. He’d come a long way to make this his reality.
“That’s a lot,” Ivy remarked. “Why do you need so many rooms?”
He chuckled. “Why not?”
When she fell silent, he squeezed her hand. “This is my private office,” he said, gesturing toward the large door. “That’s where I think. And my bedroom–well, you know where that is.”
Her narrowed green eyes made him chuckle again.
“Take me to the fields, she said, changing the subject.
“The gardens,” he corrected, guiding her outside. “This is—”
His phone chimed, interrupting him. “Excuse me,” he said, reaching for it.
The message was from an unknown number: Who was that young woman? How much does she charge? I’d love a night with her.
It was from Dylan.
Silas’s chest tightened, anger boiling inside him.
AD
