Chapter 3 — The Ice King's

POV: Beatrix

Nikolai Ashcombe stared down at me. The hallway was so quiet I could hear my own rapid heartbeat.

He looked at my cheap, wrinkled black dress, my flat shoes, my messy hair and my red, tear-stained face and didn't look impressed. If anything he looked completely annoyed and highly dangerous.

"Ivy," Nikolai called. His voice was incredibly deep. It commanded instant obedience and sent a cold shiver down my spine. "Let go of this woman right now."

"No!" Ivy yelled back loudly. She was probably the only person who dared do that. She stubbornly pressed her face into my hip and pointed a small finger right at me. "I want this one, Daddy. She is nice and is going to be your new girlfriend."

Nikolai’s jaw clenched tightly. "Ivy, I will not say it again."

"Ivy, please let go." I begged quietly. My whole body was shaking, completely terrified of this massive billionaire standing over me.

Nikolai reached down. His massive, strong hands gently but firmly grabbed Ivy by the waist and tried to pull her away from me.

"No!" Ivy shrieked loudly, kicking her shoes against the floor.

*FLASH.*

A bright white light suddenly blinded me. Then another. And another.

*FLASH. FLASH. FLASH.*

The crowd of reporters suddenly snapped out of their shock and went absolutely crazy. Dozens of cameras started flashing right in my face. The sports journalists pushed forward, shoving past the security guards, and started shouting questions loudly.

"Mr. Ashcombe! Is this your new partner?"

"Nikolai, look over here! Who is the woman?"

"Is she going to be Ivy's stepmother?"

Panic completely took over my brain and I couldn't breathe. I was just humiliated by Julian in front of his new rich girlfriend. My mother just screamed at me and called me fat and ugly. And now, my ruined, crying face was being photographed with the most famous, terrifying billionaire in the entire city.

Nikolai glared at the reporters, his eyes looking murderous. He stepped sideways, putting his massive, broad body in front of me to block the flashing cameras.

I used the sudden distraction, grabbed Ivy and gently peeled her tight fingers off my dress.

"I am so sorry," I stammered. My voice was shaking violently. I looked up at Nikolai's terrifying face one last time. He looked back at me, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "I am so sorry."

I didn't wait for him to speak. I turned around and ran.

***

I didn't sleep at all.

I spent the entire night curled into a tight ball on my lumpy couch, staring at the peeling wallpaper on my ceiling and crying until I had absolutely no tears left.

When the sun finally rose, my phone started buzzing on the coffee table.

It vibrated continuously, sliding across the wood.

I sat up slowly. My whole body ached. Picking up the phone, I unlocked the cracked screen.

There were hundreds of notifications. I opened my internet browser, and my heart completely dropped into my stomach. I was trending everywhere.

“The Ice King’s Secret Girlfriend?” one huge headline screamed.

“From the VIP Bathroom to the Billionaire’s Arms—Who is the Mysterious Curvy Woman?” read another.

There were dozens of high-quality photos of me from the night before. I looked absolutely miserable in all of them. My eyes were red and swollen, my hair was a messy disaster, and my cheap dress looked terrible next to Nikolai’s custom suit.

My phone buzzed again in my hand and a text message popped up. It was from Julian.

“You pathetic, attention-seeking cow,” the message read. “I saw the news. Using a billionaire’s child for a PR stunt because you are jealous? You are lucky I didn't call the police. Turn on Channel 4. You are finished.”

I stared at the message, a cold feeling suddenly settling in my chest.

Grabbing my TV remote, I turned on my television, switching to Channel 4. It was a popular morning entertainment news show and Julian was on the screen.

He was sitting in a comfortable studio chair, wearing his expensive blue suit. He looked handsome, calm, and completely professional. The news anchor was leaning forward, looking very sympathetic.

"Julian, you own the sports marketing agency that hosted the party last night," the anchor said. "Can you tell us who the woman in the viral video is?"

Julian sighed sadly. He looked directly into the camera, looking like a pitiful man who was dealing with a terrible problem.

"Her name is Beatrix and she is a former employee of mine. Unfortunately, I had to let her go recently since she's been struggling with some very severe mental health issues."

My mouth dropped open in pure shock.. "Fucking liar!"

"She has become very unstable," Julian continued, shaking his head. "She developed a very unhealthy obsession with me and my new partner, Evelyn Thorne. Last night, Beatrix snuck into our private VIP party uninvited. When we asked her to leave, she threw a massive tantrum in the hallway."

The news anchor gasped. "So she doesn't know Nikolai Ashcombe?"

"Not at all. She used Mr. Ashcombe's sweet little daughter for a desperate PR stunt. She just wanted attention because she's deeply jealous of my success. Beatrix is a dangerous stalker. I just want to warn the public, and Mr. Ashcombe, to stay far away from her."

I dropped the TV remote onto the floor.

He was destroying me. He used me to build his entire company then threw me away, once he was done while making sure I could never get a marketing job in this city ever again.

I felt completely helpless. I had negative forty-five dollars in my bank account. No lawyer and no power. Julian was going to ruin my life, and I couldn't stop him.

Suddenly, a loud noise shook my apartment.

*Boom. Boom. Boom.*

A knock came on my front door, rattling the wood in its frame.

I froze. Julian said I was a stalker. Did he actually call the police on me?

I walked slowly toward the door. My legs were shaking so hard I could barely stand. I reached out, held my breath, and looked through the small peephole.

My blood instantly froze.