Chapter 3

Voss

I didn’t need five years to know Dante wouldn’t know when he had something priceless right before him. All I needed was a second.

The second I saw her five years ago, working for Ashcombe and personally with Dante, I knew a day like this would come, and I hate to admit that I was patiently waiting for it, and it finally arrived.

“What? What are you looking for here?” She asked, looking fazed by my sudden appearance.

I couldn’t possibly tell her that I knew why she left the hall, or that I came to console her about the news, which obviously tore her apart.

“You don’t just walk around a place like this without a chauffeur, young lady.” I said steadily, as I watched her reaction to what I just said.

First she was confused, then annoyed.

“Chauffeur? I am a full-grown woman! And I can protect myself. I don’t need anyone, and most definitely not you, Voss,” she said in her bossy tone that tickled my fancy.

Even though I knew she was serious, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“I still won’t let you wander off without someone, so there you have it.” I teased again.

I had known Ivy for five years, and in those five years we had very brief meetings, mostly in Spain whenever she followed Dante back home for our annual celebration back at the estate.

In all those times she wouldn’t leave his side. She was more like his shadow, and it amused me.

Our first encounter was just like this, stuck in the bathroom at the same time, and little Miss Smart Mouth ordered me out of my own room.

“Now look, mister, I know why you are here, and I want to tell you that Dante won this season fair and square. You don’t have to brood about his win, you hear me!” She said with her finger pointed at me like she was giving me a sound warning, and it amused me a little too much.

Even though he had obviously just broken her heart, she was still defending him.

“How much does he pay you? I never got to ask you.” I said.

Her brows crinkled in confusion as she stepped back.

“What?”

“Or better still, how much does Ashcombe pay you to help them cover their media status and manage the team members? I want to know.” I said.

Her rosy lips parted, then closed back as she fought for the right words.

I couldn’t help but stare at them. So many nights had passed where her lips were the focus of my dreams.

Then I stared back at her brown eyes and dark hair, carefully packed up in a bun. She looked perfect.

“You are a joke, Voss, a complete joke if you think flaunting your endless riches in my face would be enough to buy me. Well, news flash, I am not for sale!” She fired back before tossing a paper towel at me.

I caught it immediately, then set it aside.

“Ten thousand? Twenty? Thirty? A hundred? I could offer you that monthly.” I said.

I might have flipped a switch because she rolled her eyes and walked past me. Quickly, I stepped in her path.

My body easily towered over her, stopping her from moving forward. Her little body fumed with anger.

I loved getting on her nerves. It did things to me.

She was close to me, too close for me to resist, so I pulled her chin and lifted her face until her gaze met mine, and in that moment it felt like everything else stopped but my palpitating heart.

My heart thundered against my chest. Suddenly I felt nervous, or rather anxious, lost even.

My thumb brushed over her lips, and I felt a pull toward her, an undying urge to kiss her, and for a moment I could swear she felt it too.

“Voss... I.”

“Shhh.” I hushed her. I wanted to savor this moment a little bit longer. My thumb brushed over her lips, and I could see her face slowly resting against my palm.

My entire body felt the heat of this moment. I didn’t want to lose it.

“Two hundred thousand dollars monthly.” I said.

“I could send you a million upfront, if you want.” I added desperately, but to my greatest disappointment the mood between us shattered, and her glassy eyes were replaced by irritation.

“I would never work for you, Voss Solano, not even if your life was on the fucking line!” With that, she shoved me.

“Get the hell out of my way.”

She pushed past me, then proceeded to walk out of the restroom.

For the first time in forever, I felt a sudden pang of disappointment hit me. It hurt so much that I placed my hand on my chest trying to steady myself, even though I knew it would barely do anything.

Ivy Hart wasn’t just like every other girl I knew. That was why she was the only person who could make my heart beat like it was going to tear out of my rib cage, and what hurt the most was that she was in love with the wrong brother.

Dante would never know her worth like I did.

Hell, he doesn’t even know her like I do, and I wasn’t going to stand around hoping that one day he does.

No.

I am Voss Solano. I don’t sit around waiting. I go out there and I get what I want, and now was the perfect time to win her over, the golden opportunity presented to me on a platter, and I would be a fool to let it go.

Ivy Hart might be stubborn and awfully persistent, but I don’t lose.

So, game on.