There had been no time nor awareness of mind that allowed Ivory to think for just a second. She was inside of Raiden's office before she could form the thought or mentally command her limbs to do the same. She found herself behind her desk, her mind racing. Since she heard of Braylen's relationship she hadn't shed a single tear but now she could feel the familiar sting in her eyes accompanied by the blurry vision.  "Ivory?" Raiden was by her side now, ignoring the sound of his office phone ringing. He noticed the way in which she re-entered, hastily, and absentminded. He instantly worried about whether she was advantaged by Emery.  She lowered her head further, raising a hand to block her from his view. "Is there anything you need, Mr. De Ville?" her voice came of muffled and shaky. On instinct he reached over and pulled her face within his view, she resisted but he had abandoned any sense of propriety.  Her eyes were red, avoiding his direct

Sleep had dulled the senses and momentarily erased the previous night's memories. Ivory forced her eyes to pry open, her entire body aching. Her eyes widened, her body instantly shutting down at the sight of a male body sprawled on her bed next to her, his arm resting along her stomach. She blinked numerous times until recollection swarmed over her.  She attempted to raise his arm slightly so that she could give herself some space between her, her bed, and the man in it. Ivory slid her body from under him, stumbling to the floor in the process, as a result of her legs getting tangled in the sheets."Damn it!" she mouthed, grasping her shin until the pain subsided and praying the thud wasn't enough to wake Raiden. She stumbled to her feet and limped the rest of the way to the shower.  She finally felt herself breathe as the water cascaded over her body.  She had no experience with 'just sex' relationships and while she could never regret the night she had with R

"You're telling me Zoey, my Zoey, wanted me to give you her contact information?" Ivory questioned again. This had to be a hoax. Her friend wasn't the type to accept dates with complete strangers. It was very uncharacteristic. "Why would I lie?" Felix was growing impatient, his tone bordering on whiny."I am not saying that you're lying, I just find it hard to believe. Also, if it isn't true she'd kill me for giving out her number." Ivory turned contemplative, could Zoey really find Felix attractive? This question plagued her. Felix was handsome, quick-witted, funny, and overall a catch, but she was worried about Zoey's temperament.  Could her outwardly cold distant friend be finally ready for a romantic entanglement? Deciding to throw caution to the wind on account of her love for the two people in question and hoping that their characters complement each other, Ivory scribbled Zoey's contact details on a loose piece of paper and handed it to Felix. 

Ivory couldn't bring herself to sit. She stood awkwardly amidst her mother and Raiden her mind wondering how to break this situation apart."Oh for heaven's sake, sit down Ivory. It's very rude to be standing about in that manner while you have company." Her mother chastised. Ivory gazed at Raiden who gave her a small smile and patted the seat next to him. She hesitated, surrendering as the weight of their stares forced her to sink down into a seat. "So who exactly are you?" her mother directed the question at Raiden. He parted his lips to respond but Ivory beat him to it. "He just told you, mother," she responded defensively. Her heart rate increasing.Her mother rolled her eyes at Ivory. "Let me rephrase, how do you know my daughter?" Ivory was ready to respond, but Raiden placed a hand on hers and squeezed gently, reminding her that she didn't have to worry with him around. She knew however that her mother noticed

Ivory gazed at the photo on her desk, her mouth as dry as the desert. She didn't know how to react or even if she should. She couldn't help but feel something, something she didn't want to explore. It was Raiden, on the cover of a tabloid, clearly having dinner with Naomi Bradford and his mother. This news stirred up numerous controversies, setting Raiden in an unfavorable light, especially since Naomi Bradford was recently widowed. Ivory inhaled, she had been staring at the picture for ten minutes and while her rational mind urged her to dispose of it, her eyes were glued. Her mind was so transfixed by the photo that she hadn't noticed Felix storming into the office. He immediately grabbed the paper from her sight, crumbling the material in his hands."Don't look at that." he urged, suddenly serious. Ivory plastered on a smile as if she hadn't the slightest idea what he was referring to."Why not?" she questioned, her cheeks hurting."You'll just u