Ivy stirred, a dull throbbing radiating from the back of her skull. Her eyelids felt like they were weighted with lead, and every small movement sent fresh waves of pain ricocheting through her head. A groan escaped her lips as she blinked slowly. The metallic tang of the air hit her nose, mingled with the scent of oil and mildew. Her fingers twitched, brushing against cold concrete. She tried to sit up, but a searing pain shot down her spine. What the hell happened? She winced, cradling her head as the events leading up to this moment started to piece themselves together—her argument with the taxi driver, the cloth against her face, and then… darkness.Ivy’s heart jolted in her chest. She pushed herself upright, her vision clearing to reveal a nightmarish sight.The room was cavernous, its high ceiling lost in the shadows. Surrounding her were men—six or seven of them—dressed in black, their faces cold and unyielding. Some leaned casually against rusted beams, their hands gripping c
Ivy sat in the back seat of the taxi, her attention fixed on her phone as she scrolled through messages. Even Savannah's was amongst the endless streak of messages. Every few moments, a new notification popped up, drawing her fingers to tap and swipe with habitual ease. She wasn't going to respond to either of them and even if she wanted to, it was only Bentley's own that she was going to respond to but she waited endlessly for any message from him or the people she owed notifying her that her bills had been cleared.She glanced up briefly and a frown settled on her face. The driver had taken a turn—a different one from the usual route to Maple Street.“Hey,” Ivy called out, her tone sharp enough to draw attention but laced with curiosity. “Where are you going? This isn’t the usual way to Maple Street.”The man behind the wheel, a burly figure with a weathered cap shadowing most of his face, tilted his head slightly to the side. His voice was calm, almost too casual, as he answered,
The door to Bentley's office burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud. Chloe stormed in, her fiery gaze sweeping the room. Her dark hair was disheveled, and her steps were as if every stride was fueled by barely contained fury.Right now, every manner of respect she had for Bentley had flown out the window and all she had now was pure irritation and contempt.Bentley, who had been in the middle of a discussion with Franco and Austin, barely looked up from the document he was reviewing. The interruption wasn’t surprising—Nova must have told her everything and Chloe wasn’t exactly known for harsh entrances—but the thunderous expression on her face made both Franco and Austin sit straighter in their chairs.“Bentley,” Chloe snapped, her voice echoing in the spacious office.Franco rose immediately, his hand outstretched as if to calm her. “Babe, what’s wrong? Let’s talk about this outside—”“Don’t ‘Babe’ me, Franco!” she cut him off, brushing past him without even sparing h
Savannah reclined in her high-backed chair, a satisfied smile gracing her lips as Ivy entered her office. The sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft lines across the polished desk where a glass of sparkling water sat untouched."Ivy," Savannah began warmly, gesturing to the seat opposite her, "you’re right on time. I was just about to—""I’m resigning," Ivy interrupted, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves.Savannah blinked, the words hanging in the air like an unresolved note. It was like she didn't hear correctly. "I beg your pardon?" she asked, leaning forward, her expression shifting from surprise to mild disbelief.Ivy stood frozen in place, the brown envelope in her trembling hands. Her gaze darted around the room, unable to meet Savannah’s piercing eyes. She swallowed hard, her grip on the letter tightening as if it were her lifeline.Savannah leaned back, folding her arms across her chest. "Is this some kind of joke? Because, Ivy, I don’t find it fu
The car slowed to a stop in front of Nova’s house. Castiel shifted into park, the engine settling into a low sound. Without a word, he pushed the door open and stepped out, his polished shoes crunching faintly against the pavement. His hands slid into his pockets, and he leaned casually against the car, his eyes on Nova as she unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.Nova stepped out, clutching her bag close to her chest as the cool night air brushed against her skin. Castiel maintained a respectful distance, his posture relaxed but watchful. She paused, feeling his gaze on her, and turned to him.“Thank you for… for tonight,” she said, her voice quieter than she intended. Her eyes darted away from his face, unsure of how much sincerity to show or if to meet his gaze at all.He inclined his head slightly, the streetlights casting a faint glow on his sharp features. “It’s nothing,” he replied evenly. “Just wanted to make sure you got home safe.”She shifted uncomfortabl
The engine hummed quietly as Castiel drove down the nearly empty expressway, the city lights blurring into streaks outside Nova’s window. She sat silently in the passenger seat, her body angled away from him, arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if that might keep the fragments of her heart from scattering any further. She kept her gaze fixed on the road outside, her reflection faintly visible in the glass, but her mind was far behind them, back in Bentley’s house, back with the memory of him and Ivy locked together in romance.The pain pressed hard against her chest, almost as if someone were squeezing the life from her. Did she, perhaps, still love him? She bit down on her lip, the thought sending another sharp stab through her. But why? She’d already broken things off. It shouldn’t have mattered. And yet, the sight of him with someone else had ripped something open inside her. As if she hadn’t been ready to really let go after all.A tear slipped down her cheek before she could