They both froze.
Damian's eyes snapped to the door, already stepping in front of her protectively.
A voice outside the door.Tess.
"Ivy," she said, out of breath. "You need to see this."
Damian swore under his breath, the moment shattered.
But his eyes stayed locked on Ivy's—like whatever had just happened between them wasn't over.It was just beginning.
He quickly rushed outside to check the noise.
Tess then immediately came in ..
Ivy didn't think she would see her for a long time to come. The night Tess turned her back and watched her leave with nothing.
And of all the places she met her again it had to be Damian's house.'How had she gotten in',Ivy wondered
"Ivy," Tess whispered as she nervously looked around.
"There is something you need to know".
Ivy's heart raced. "What do you want."
"It was my mistake," Tess said quickly. "I thought if I had kept my distance you would be saved . But I was wrong. I found something."
"You left me," Ivy said, cold and sharp.
"I know you most likely don't want to listen to me right now but you have to see this."
Tess pulled out a small flash drive and placed it in Ivy's palm. "I stole this from someone who works for Damian. You need to see it. Before it's too late."
Still skeptical, Ivy led her inside and plugged the drive into the laptop. Tess hovered behind her as the files opened.
Photos. Documents. Surveillance stills.
And then—Liam.
Standing beside Damian.
Ivy could feel her heart beat pounding in her ear.
"No," she breathed. "It must be a mistake."
Tess touched her shoulder. "You think he's helping you… but maybe he's not. Maybe he never was."
Ivy's breath hitched. Her head swam.
She turned, dazed. "Why would you bring me this now?"
"Because I still care about you," Tess said. "And because whatever's going on… you're in deeper than you know."
Before Ivy could respond ,Tess said "I have to go before anyone finds out I sneaked in here. But Ivy—be careful. Don't trust him."
And just like that Tess left.
She had to think deep about this.
She spun—
Straight into Damian.
"How touching," he said coolly. "The prodigal friend returns."
Ivy swallowed. "How long were you listening?"
"Long enough."
Her hands curled into fists. "Is it true?"
He said nothing.
"You were with Liam. You knew where he was. You used me."
"I saved you," he said, pushing off the wall and walking toward her. "Over and over again."
"Don't twist this, Damian."
"I don't have to twist anything. You're twisting yourself in knots, trying to believe anyone but me."
She shoved him hard. "You think I'm stupid?"
"No. I think you're scared of what I could do to you"
He grabbed her wrists and held them together with his left hand.
"And I think you have the wrong idea about me."
His voice was low. Hot. Dangerous.
Ivy's chest rose and fell fast. Her she could feel a vibration throughout her body.
"I don't love you," she whispered.
"Liar."
His hands dropped—but he didn't back away.
"I won't be your slave anymore " she said, breathless. "You won't control me anymore ."
He stepped in close.
"I see," he murmured. "So why are you still standing there, breathing like that? Looking like you are down for it?"
Her face flushed.
He moved slowly towards her till her back was very close to the the wall, slow and deliberate, his body barely touching hers.
Still—no kiss.
But his hands moved. One to her waist. The other tracing the edge of her jaw.
"I'm not the man you think I am," he said roughly. "But if I were… I'd ruin you."
"You don't scare me," she lied.
"Then tell me to stop."
He moved close to her, his mouthvery nearly on her neck but never quite touching. Her breathing increased rapidly . She felt his fingers move downwards.
Still, she didn't stop him.
Still, he didn't kiss her.
And then—
The phone on the desk buzzed.
The sound shattered the moment.
Damian stiffened. Ivy blinked, heart racing as she grabbed the phone.
Liam.
A name she hadn't seen in weeks.
She looked at Damian. He was already reading her face.
Everything stopped.
Liams's name glowed on the screen like a threat.
Incoming Call: Liam.
Ivy froze.
"Hand it over" he said, voice low and flat.
She gripped it tighter. "No."
His tone turned sharp. "Ivy—"
"I said no."
The phone rang until it didn't. Missed call. Silence. But it wasn't over.
Nothing ever was.
Ivy's hands trembled. She stepped back, needing space. Needing time to think. Her eyes drifted toward the desk. A frame, face-down.
She picked it up without thinking.
Four men.
Damian. Liam. Two others.
One of them—
Her chest seized.
Grey.
She thought she had said it in her mind.
"Who did you just call?"
She swallowed. "Nothing."
His eyes flicked to the photo. He snatched it from her hand and turned it over, dropping it back onto the desk with a heavy clack.
"What do you know about Grey?" he asked tightly.
Ivy looked away, heart thudding.
"I remember… his voice."
She didn't want to say how it came back. How the memory slipped in when she least expected it, like he was still close. Still watching.
"I remember his gaze,when he looked at me." she whispered.
"Don't,Don't say his name like that."Damian said
"Why? Because it bothers you?"
"Because it confuses you."
"I'm allowed to be confused," she snapped. "You lie for a living. I don't even know what's real anymore."
"I'm real."
He backed her up so she leaned against the wall. His body closeto hers the tension could be felt all over the room.
"And you feel that," he added darkly. "Don't pretend you don't."
Her breath hitched. She hated how he affected her.
"I hate you," she said, just to wound him.
"Liar."
His hand brushed her jaw. He didn't kiss her — but his mouth came close. Too close.
"You have no idea of what you want," he murmured.
"Neither do you."
"I do. I want this."
Her heart pounded.
"I want you, Ivy. And I'm tired of pretending otherwise."
Still — no kiss. Just his body trapping hers. Just his breath ghosting across her cheek. Just heat.
She looked at him. And in that split-second, she saw something unguarded in his eyes. Something raw.
So she did the only thing she could to remind herself he could still hurt her.
She opened the message from Liam.
Then deleted it.
Right in front of Damian.
He saw.
His expression didn't move.
But She could feel the change in his attitude.
"You didn't have to do that ," he said quietly.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know what to do.I can either take you to the bedroom or I can take you right here and now ."
"There is nothing confusing in it," she whispered.
He grabbed her wrist. Not cruel — but possessive. Firm.
"Damian"
His voice was gravel. A warning. A confession. A threat. All in one.
"Oh god" he said, his lips barely brushing her skin,"say my name again ."
She looked up at him, trembling. Breathless. Angry. Wanting.
But she didn't say a word.
He leaned in closer.
But still—no kiss.
Only fire. Only tension. Only her name falling from his mouth like it meant something real this time.
"Ivy".