Chapter 44
Ivy marched into her room and bolted the door carefully behind her. She threw her bag on the bed, and the Cartier wristwatch and diamond necklace slipped out and fell on the floor.
What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she just control her emotions? And why the hell was Silas nonchalant about hugging Aaliyah Salvatore?
Ivy didn’t have answers, but she was dying for them. She moved to the contents on the floor and picked them. She then placed them on the table.
She was taking off her shoes when there was a knock at the door.
“Yes?” she called, moving closer.
“It’s Monica. Mr. Stone wants to see you in his room. He says it’s urgent,” Monica said from the other side.
“Alright, I’m coming,” she replied, and waited until she heard Monica shuffle away.
What was Silas up to now? She didn’t know, but she was curious. She wore her furry slippers and made her way to his room.
J
She was about to knock when Silas called. “Come in.”
She stepped inside and her breath caught. Silas was shirtless, bent over his table. His muscles glistened, golden, hard and defined. When he turned to face her, she found herself licking her lips, admiring him.
“Sorry to call you like that. I know you’re tired,” he said, unaware of the tension in her heart and the heat between her legs. “But something important came up.”
Despite the seriousness in his tone and the frown creased on his forehead, Ivy couldn’t stop herself from blushing.
“Yes… uh…” she stuttered, unable to compose herself.
Silas left the table and walked to his bed. “Mason Hunter is suing you.”
The statement hit her like a ton of bricks. “What?… Why?” she stuttered again, this time out of shock.
Silas peeled off his shoes one after the other. “He claims you assaulted his mother. He’s suing for twenty million dollars.”
Ivy gasped. “That bastard!”
“I know,” Silas said calmly. “That’s why I wanted to tell you before you found it on the news.”
Ivy could feel the anger stir in her chest. “That bastard,” she repeated. “He won’t pay my money, yet he’s suing me for the exact amount?”
Silas tilted his head. “I didn’t know he was that bold.”
“He’s insane!” she snapped, and began to pace back and forth.
“Hey,” Silas walked up to her, gently holding her in place. “I don’t want you to worry. I have it under control.”
Ivy shivered at his touch, but avoided his eyes. “What’s the plan?”
Silas dropped his hand and stepped back. “You have an interview scheduled for tomorrow initially, I think we’ll just address it all together.”
Ivy pressed her lips together, trying to contain her frustration. She touched her forehead. “I can’t believe Mason would do this.”
“And he’s wrong.” Silas said assuringly, returning to his bed.
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Mason’s claim is false. He says you hurt his mother, but we both know Monica did,” he explained.
Relief ran through Ivy temporarily, but it was quickly replaced by worry. “What would happen to Monica? What would he do to her?”
1/3
11:54 AM
Chapter 44
“Hey, hey,” Silas said softly, approaching her again. “Monica is safe. Mason is not after her.” His voice was soothing, and when he held her arms, Ivy calmed down.
She stared in his hazel eyes and watched as they glimmered with something that both intrigued and terrified her. Silas pulled her closer, and when her stomach touched the bulge in his trousers, she flinched out of his embrace.
“Thank… thank you for looking out,” she said, trying to regain control of the situation.
Silas didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped forward, his eyes burning with desire. “Dear Ivy,” he called softly.
His seductive tone made her cheeks burn.
For a moment, she let him hold her. For a moment, she let his lips brush her forehead. For a moment, she rested her head on his bare chest, tracing his muscles with the tip of her finger.
God, it was tempting to pretend that this was something–he was tempting!
But Ivy knew better than to be carried away by wishful thinking and hopeless desires.
She slipped out of his clasp, watching as the light in his eyes faded off. “Uhmm, we have a long day ahead tomorrow.”
Silas paused, then he nodded. “Yes, yes.” His tone carried an unconcealed disappointment.
Ivy felt pity at his expression, but before she gave into it, she turned towards the door. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight,” he muttered sadly.
Ivy sighed once she was in the hallway. Her heart tugged with desire, yet common sense cautioned her. She knew what Silas wanted, but right now, it was diluted with several other things–and people.
She remembered the way he’d touched Aaliyah and that was enough to propel her to her room. She bolted the door, took a quick bath, and settled in bed.
She waited hours for sleep, her mind filled with images of Aaliyah nestled in Silas’s arms and then Silas–hot, shirtless and tempting.
Next thing she knew, it was morning and she didn’t remember sleeping. Though when she woke up, she realized she’d slept well. It was when she dressed up and went downstairs did she know it was late morning.
Silas was seated in the living room, his eyes fixed on the laptop in front of him. He glanced up as she entered.
“Hey,” he greeted. “How are you?”
“Good,” she replied. “What time is it?”
Silas squinted at his screen. “Ten minutes past twelve.”
“I had no idea it was this late,” she said.
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” he confessed. “Figured you needed the rest after yesterday.”
The way he said ‘yesterday‘ made her cheeks heat. She nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he smiled. “Go meet Bethany for breakfast–brunch, then we’ll get ready, Cool?”
She nodded again. “Cool.”
Ivy made her way to the kitchen as directed by a maid. She found Bethany who served her a quick bowl of smoothie. Ivy devoured her plate and got fully dressed.
Silas was waiting for her at the base of the stairs when she descended. “Looking beautiful as always,” he teased.
She blushed. “Thank you.”
“Ready?” he asked, helping her down.
The car was ready when they got outside, and the ride to the venue was silent and quick. When Victor entered the gated premise, Silas turned to face her.
2/3
11:54 AM
Chapter 44
“My team would prepare you for the interview, so you have nothing to worry about,” he told her.
“Alright,” Ivy nodded her understanding.
Then his expression turned serious. “Aaliyah is still in charge of your outfit for today,” he said. Before she could protest, he added. “There’s nothing going on between us. She needs this job. I hope you can understand that.”
Ivy’s argument died on her lips as she nodded slowly. There was something in his tone when he spoke about Aaliyah, something protective, and it made her jealous.
“You’ve got this,” he smiled at her as he pushed the door open.
Ivy stepped out, a lump formed in her throat as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Why was Aaliyah here again? Why was Silas so protective of her?
The lack of answers stung, and as she made her way into the building, she was determined to find answers.
3/3
