Chapter 17
When Ivy stepped out of Chester Hotel, she let out a sigh. Her face was dampened with sweat, and because of her anger she was breathing heavily.
“Fuck!” she muttered as she made her way down the street, uncomfortabile in her heels.
She couldn’t shake the anger at Silas’s accusations. Silas still didn’t believe her, after everything she said or did.
And why the hell had he brought her back to Chester Hotel–the very place where they’d first slept together. What was he thinking? That they’d just do it again?
She was lost in thoughts and didn’t notice the obstacle in her path. She tripped and stumbled right into a group of women, knocking down all their bags.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Ivy exclaimed, reaching down to help pick up their belongings.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going next time?” the red–haired lady amongst them snapped.
Ivy felt her cheeks flush. “I’m really sorry,” she murmured, straightening and pulling up the golden gown to cover her cleavage.
“Ivy?” One of the women called, and Ivy leaned forward to see her properly.
Ivy swallowed as she recognized the voice. The last person she wanted to see was a relative of Mason.
“Paige!” Ivy forced a smile. “How are you doing?”
Paige’s sharp eyes scanned Ivy from head to toe. “What are you doing out here dressed like a slut?”
“I’m… I was just taking a walk,” Ivy stammered.
“Looking like this?” The red hair said.
“I was just coming from Chester Hotel. I had a. a date.” Ivy gestured awkwardly toward the hotel.
Something glimmered in Paige’s eyes–a glint of judgment or maybe mischief. “A date at Chester Hotel? How.. interesting.”
Ivy didn’t like Paige’s tone or the looks her friends were giving her. “Anyway, it was nice running into you, but I really have to go.
“Isn’t she Mason’s wife?” one of Paige’s friends asked,
“Well, ex–wife,” Paige replied with a smirk. “They’re divorced now,”
“Well,” the redhead scoffed, “your brother might’ve been right. She really is a slut.
Ivy’s face burned, “Excuse me,” she muttered, quickening her pace as she brushed past them.
“Get a real jobs and stop selling your body!” the redhead shouted after her, and the rest laughed as Ivy went down t
the road.
Once Ivy was out of earshot, she heaved a sigh of relief, pulling her gown up to cover her cleavage as she took off the uncomfortable heels. The altercation felt weird because Paige had never spoken to her like that before. But Ivy knew Paige would definitely tell her mother or Mason himself.
Not that it mattered. Ivy didn’t want anything to do with the Hunters.
She paused in her tracks and groaned. She didn’t know why she’d left the hotel in the first place. Now she had no idea where she was headed. Her anger had clouded her thoughts, keeping her from appreciating the fact that Silas was already making plans for her photography business.
The guili crept into her chest and she sighed. She turned towards the hotel, barefooted with her heels in her hand.
She was almost close to the hotel when Silas alighted from his car. The worry on his face deepened her guilt.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he said, his eyes scanning her, lingering on the heels in her hand.
“I went for a walk,” Ivy answered softly.
10:16 AM
Chapter 17
Silas nodded. “Okay. Do you want to go back in, or should we-
Ivy shoulders slumped. She’d messed it up. It was supposed to be their first dinner together but she had ruined it with her anger. “Let’s just go home.
Silas nodded again and opened the car door for her. Soon, Victor drove them back home.
The journey home was silent–awkwardly silent. Ivy didn’t know how to break the ice, so she just endured it. When they arrived, she headed straight for her bedroom.
She was halfway up the stairs when Silas called after her.
“I’d like to have a conversation with you,” he said.
Ivy stopped, gripping the railing. She knew what he wanted to say–or at least had an idea. “Is this still about Mason! Look, Silas, I’m sorry your brother got dropped from another project, and I’m sorry it went to Mason, but I had no idea that happened. I have nothing. to do with it.”
Silas didn’t say anything at first and when he did, his hazel eyes were emotionless. “Here.” He held out a blue file. “The new contract, with all your conditions added.”
Barefoot, Ivy descended the stairs and took the file. “Thank you,” she muttered.
“Check it, sign it, and send it back tonight,” Silas said, his tone frosty.
“Alright,” she replied.
“We have our first photoshoot together tomorrow, followed by lunch or dinner,” he added, this time he looked at her.
Ivy knew what his eyes were saying: tonight was the only opportunity to have a private dinner date, with no reporters and she had messed it up. Heat rose to her cheeks as she slowly nodded. “Alright.”
“Good,” Silas said, his voice resonating in the room, as he turned to leave. But he stopped abruptly and looked back.
“As your husband,” he began, something shifted in his eyes. “I’ve decided that you have no permission to speak to Mason anymore.”
Ivy was stunned by his tone. “I—”
“Those are my new rules, he interrupted. His voice was calm, yet it sent a chill down her spine. “If for any reason you need to talk to him, I must know what it’s about first. If he contacts you, you tell me immediately. I don’t want Bud telling me your business before you
- do.
The sheer audacity of his tone annoyed her. “It’s not my fault Mason showed-
“If you don’t comply, I’ll terminate our contract and sue you for breach,” he cut in his voice colder. “And trust me, you’ll only make me richer. Have a lovely night,” he said and walked away.
Ivy grunted as she watched him leave. She could feel her anger boiling, and she just wanted to march up to him and slap the smirk out of his face, instead she made her way to her room.
Throwing her heels aside, she climbed onto the bed and opened the file. Before she could start reading, her phone rang. She quickly reached for her bag and then frowned when she saw it was Cole.
“Hey,” she said, annoyance luring her tone when she remembered their last conversation in Lily & Styles
“Is it true? Are you getting married to Silas Stone?” Cole asked, sounding like he didn’t remember their last alterations.
“I’m already married to him. I don’t know why this is such a big deal.”
“You can’t get married to him” Cole insisted, his tone a little desperate.
Ivy rolled her eyes even though Cole couldn’t see it. “I’m tired of the games, Cole. Dad said the same thing. If you’re not going to give me a good reason, then stop bringing this up” She didn’t shout but she badly wanted to
She was tired of them all making her feel like she couldn’t make her own decisions. She was twenty–six years old for God’s sake!
Cole sighed heavily before he spoke. “Well, if you must know. Thomas Stone was responsible for Mum’s death.”
Chapter 17
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