The next phase

I couldn’t remember the last time I cried. I had grown strong over the years, and very little could hurt me. I had already been hurt enough throughout the years, and there was nothing I hadn’t seen.

But I was going to have to summon some waterworks for the next phase of my plan. I couldn’t deny that seeing Nikolai had thrown me off my game. But I wouldn’t allow seeing him again to mess me up.

I couldn’t lose my cool and my composure when I had come so far.

It was true that Seth couldn’t take his eyes off of me, so I made sure to look as distressed as I could. I made a face every single time I looked at my phone and then smiled at every guest who came to speak to me.

I had already made a name for myself in the inner circle of rich people. Everyone who was beloved by the public knew my name, and every person who had a bad reputation wanted me to represent them.

But I was already as busy as one could get, and I wasn’t ready to take on a new clientele. The only reason I took on Seth was because I was ready to punish him and his powerful friends for what they had done to my family.

“You should come to my birthday party next week, Ivy,” an elderly lady said as she hugged me.

“Oh, I would love to, Mrs. Voss, but I’m afraid I am too busy for that. I’ll have my assistant send you a gift that I will personally pick out.” I replied.

She understood I was married to my job, and she was happy that I was just picking out a gift. She was a rich billionaire with lots of wealth and no children. Her entire family was after her wealth, and I had helped her multiple times to prevent them from taking her for all she was worth.

She wanted to donate all of it to charity as she had written in her will. She would rather have that than have all her wealth in the hands of her vampire family members. I also had gotten her a candidate to take over her company so she wouldn’t lose her legacy.

“I do hope you find the time,” she said. “That young man has been looking at you all night. I have to say, he’s much more handsome than that boyfriend of yours.”

I knew she was referring to Seth.

“Mrs. Voss, come on,” I said as I swatted her arm. For a seventy-three-year-old woman, she was very inappropriate.

“You know how much I hate Miles for you. He’s too sweet to handle a strong woman like you. He will soon get tired of you.”

“He won’t. Do I have to get you someone for the night? You’re awfully invested in my sex life.”

She laughed me off and got distracted by another guest. She was right. Miles was starting to get tired of me. He had been by my side since I was little. We had grown up together. When he suggested we start to date, it seemed logical.

I didn’t believe I could fall in love with anyone. My heart had long been frozen. I wouldn’t be able to love Miles, and he knew that. But he was okay with it. I didn’t know how much longer he could tolerate me.

I hoped it was long enough to help me exact my revenge plot. I needed all the help and connections that I could get.

“I didn’t have faith in you. I thought you wanted Seth to yourself, but you didn’t. You have people waiting to work with me and brands blowing up my phone.” Celeste said as she approached me.

I turned to her and smiled.

“I’m professional. Besides, I have a fiancé. I told you, Celeste, I will make people remember your name for life. Not as Mrs. Ashford but as Celeste Armitage first.”

“I like you,” she said as he reached into her purse and removed a red envelope. She handed it to me. “This is for you. You’re invited to my birthday party. I can already tell you and I will be friends.”

She walked away without waiting for my response. I fought the urge to tear the envelope in my hands, but I had to attend. I was getting closer to getting into her and Seth’s inner circle. Just because she and Seth were not in love didn’t mean they didn’t roll in the same crowd.

When she was gone, I made sure to take out my phone again and look sad. I didn’t know if Seth was still looking at me, but I had to remain committed to the cause. It was the only way I would be successful.

I called over May when people started leaving, and there were only a few people left.

“I need you to do something for me,” I told her, and she nodded. There were many people who would take a bullet for me, and she was one of them. I whispered some instructions in her ear so no one else would hear

She didn’t ask any questions. She walked away and got ready to execute my plan. As I was leaving the exhibition, one of the artists in the exhibition, Dean, came to me.

“Your painting sold for ten million dollars. It is the most expensive painting in this Gallery’s history. I should have sold it ages ago.”

“Do I get a commission?” I asked jokingly.

“Maybe if you pose for another one…”

I scoffed and walked past him to go outside. Dean wanted to sleep with me like we did when I was in college. Those days were over, and it wasn’t the proudest moment of my life.

I went outside and called Miles, but he wasn’t picking up. I didn’t bring a jacket and I regretted it a lot. It was difficult to find an Uber at such a high-profile event.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Celeste and Seth arguing before he slammed the door in her face, and the car she was in drove off. I turned away from them completely and called Miles for the millionth time.

“Is there a problem?” Seth asked. He was smoking a cigarette with one hand in his pocket.

“It’s not a problem of yours,” I told him dismissively as I attempted to walk away from him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

He was impossibly close to me, and it made me uncomfortable. Not because he made me uncomfortable, but because of how much my body reacted to his touch.

He leaned in, whispering and blowing smoke in my face, “What if I like taking on problems that aren’t mine?”