All Chapters of Where the ice melts : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

68 Chapters

Beneath what’s shown

IVY POVI walked back to my office, my heels clicking against the marble floor, and sank into my chair. My inbox was already full, files stacked up, but I had work to do… preparing everything to hand over to the person who would take over my current cases.Kai popped his head in, looking curious. “Everything okay? You look… pissed.”I gave him a small smile, still buzzing with adrenaline. “Blake won this round, Kai. But it’s just a round. I won't let her win the war.”I pulled out my phone, fingers hovering over Max’s number. My thumb hovered for a second, then I typed quickly:“Hey… I’m coming to your city.”Sent.My heart skipped. Relief, somehow excited I get to see Max and Zoe, and a little nervousness mingled together. This was more than what I expected… this was my life, my next challenge, and maybe… just maybe, a chance to finally prove to Steve my he should make me managing partner.I set my phone down,

Too late

IVY POVMonday was already off to a disastrous start. I woke up to sunlight streaming through my blinds, groggy and disoriented… and then my phone lit up with notifications.12:00 PM.My stomach dropped. My flight was for 10:00 AM. Fuck!“No… no, no, no!” I scrambled out of bed, throwing the covers aside. My bag was still packed from the night before, at least that part was easy…but I had no time to breathe.I ripped off my pajamas, barely thinking, and hopped into the shower. The water was freezing, the clock ticking louder in my head with every second. I scrubbed quickly, trying to make it count, but the panic made my hands shake.Towel around my shoulders, I tore through my closet, grabbing the first statement outfit I could find. Suit jacket, pants, blouse… throw it on, Ivy, throw it on! My hair was still damp, so I grabbed the hairdryer, yanking at it as I ran around the apartment, my suitcase rolling behind me.I s

Silence

IVY POVAs the plane finally touched down, my heart raced.My bag slung over my shoulder, I navigated through the crowded airport, my mind buzzing with everything ahead… and one person I hadn’t seen in over a year.There he was. Max. Leaning against his car, casual as ever, but with that grin that could make my knees weaken even after all this time. My chest tightened. I hadn’t seen him since last year… work had kept me in Chicago, and I hadn’t been able to make the trip.“Hey, my little poison,” he said the moment I stepped outside. His voice was warm, teasing, but something in his eyes softened when he saw me.“Max,” I breathed, surprised by how fast the words caught in my throat. I couldn’t help it…I ran toward him, and before I realized it, I was hugging him like I hadn’t breathed in a year.“You really made me wait hours just to pick you up,” he chuckled, holding me at arm’s length to look at me. “God, it’s been too long.”

The real target

IVY POVAlright,” Max said, clapping his hands once. “You’ve stared at my penthouse long enough. You’ve drooled over my wealth. Now let me feed so you don't faint on me.”“Please,” I groaned, leaning back in my stool. “Finally. After everything today, I need some carbs.”He laughed and walked over to the kitchen island. I swung my legs on one of the bar stools, taking it all in. This kitchen alone was bigger than my whole Chicago apartment. Marble counters. Cabinets hiding God knows what. A wine fridge that probably cost more than my car.“So,” I said, watching him roll up his sleeves, “are you ordering something crazy expensive, or are you actually gonna cook?”He gave me a look. “Excuse you, grandma. Just in case you've forgotten, I can cook.”“I know you can cook. But when was the last time you actually used this kitchen?”“Two years ago. But I boil water every now and then,” he said, smirking.I laughed so h

Nowhere feels safe

IVY POVMorning came too fast.For a split second, I forgot where I was. The bed was softer. The room unfamiliar. Sunlight streamed through massive windows instead of my tiny Chicago blinds.Then it hit me.New York.First day.Kirkland & Ellis.…Manhattan branch.I shot upright.“Oh, my God.”I grabbed my phone from the nightstand—6:42 AM.Not late. Thank God cos are not repeating the mistake of yesterday.I slipped out of bed and walked toward the windows. The city was already awake… yellow cabs slicing through traffic, distant horns, the low hum of ambition in the air.Today wasn’t just about showing up.Today was about making a statement.If Steven thought I was a transfer inconvenience, fine.I'm about show them the sharpest inconvenience he’d ever met.I opened my suitcase and laid everything out on the bed.Black tailored trousers.Struc

Hidden hand

IVY POVThe first file was worse than I expected.Sports compliance case. High-profile athlete. Alleged contract breach, endorsement fallout, media vultures already circling. If this went wrong, it wouldn’t just be a courtroom loss... it would be front-page humiliation.“Cute,” I muttered under my breath.Harrington hadn’t given me busy work.He’d given me something explosive.I flipped open the second file.Intellectual property dispute between two tech companies. Billions at stake. Aggressive opposing counsel. Multiple jurisdictions are involved.He didn’t want to see if I could survive.He wanted to see if I could dominate… crashFine.I kicked off my heels under the desk, tucked my legs beneath me, and started mapping timelines on a legal pad. Dates. Clauses. Breach points. Weaknesses.Thirty minutes in, I forgot to be nervous.An hour in, I forgot I was new.

Refusal to break

RONAN POVMondays and Tuesdays were the worst.Every week came with endless obligations… interviews, photo ops, talk shows I’d rather sleep through. If I could, I’d hide in the locker room or stay home and sleep my way through the day and let the world spin without me I would But I couldn’t. Being the center for the New York Rangers meant I had responsibilities whether I liked them or not.This morning … I wasn't in the mood.I sat back in Dylan’s office chair, sipping my coffee, eyes half-lidded, waiting for him to finish a phone call. Dylan had been my agent for six years… annoying as hell, goofy as a cartoon character, but somehow, through all the chaos, he had my back.Yeah… no, no, I get it,” Dylan said, pacing. “But trust me, this sponsorship deal is golden. We just have to push the timing right. I’ve been telling them…this is exactly what the team wants.”I frowned, taking another sip of coffee. “And you think they’ll go f

The calm before collapse

IVY POVMy hand froze on the handle.No. No way.It can’t be him.But there he was… Ronan Hale. Broad shoulders, that impossible posture, those piercing eyes I hadn’t been able to erase from my memory. My chest tightened, my breath catching in a way it hadn’t in years.“Cross,” he said, voice low, familiar… like we were friendsI swallowed hard.Ivy, focus. Remember why you’re here.I reminded myself of the files, the strategy, the memo I’d just crafted. But my brain refused to cooperate. All I could see was him. The memory of the last time I’d seen him, the betrayal, the heartbreak… it all crashed back. And yet, underneath that old ache, something else stirred.A strange pull I thought I’d buried forever.I swallowed again, forcing myself to steady the folder in my hands. “H… hello, Mr…?” I stammered, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be. Pretending not to know his name as his eyes never le

Eyes that never left

IVY POV The moment the conference room door shut behind me, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My hands were shaking. Unbelievable. Of all the clients in New York… it had to be him. I walked down the glass hallway slowly, heels clicking against the floor, forcing my face to stay neutral in case anyone looked up. I would not be the dramatic new girl who couldn’t handle a client. I would not let Hale unravel me in my first week here. I reached my office, closed the door softly, and leaned against it. Six years. Six years since he walked away, as if what we had meant nothing. Six years since I cried myself to sleep wondering what I did wrong. Six years since I promised myself I would never let a man hurt or make me feel that small again. And now he was sitting across from me like fate had a twisted sense of humor.

The truth draws closer

IVY POVThe taxi crawled through Manhattan like it was dragging its own exhaustion behind it. Rain glossed the streets, turning headlights into smeared streaks of gold and red. I watched it all through the window, my reflection faint against the glass .. composed, polished, controlled.Not the girl I used to be.But every time the lights flickered, I saw him in my head instead.Roman.Leaning against that black car like he owned the world. That arrogant half-smile. Those eyes that had followed me into my dreams for six long years.I tightened my grip on the edge of the seat.Focus, Ivy.You’re not that fragile girl anymore. You’re a lawyer—a senior associate in one of the most ruthless firms in New York. You argue with billionaires for breakfast. You don’t spiral because of one man and a memory.My phone buzzed again.And again.I didn’t need to look to know who it was.But I

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