The One And Only Ivan Novel Study Novels & Stories

"Harder than the corridor." "Different from the corridor. In the corridor I had a weapon. I had a choice about whether to use it. This requires me to stand in a room while you do something that looks like the worst possible version of what I have been afraid of for weeks. I have to hold the trust that it is not." "Yes. That is exactly what it requires." Ivan was at the window. He had been there since I showed them both the draft. He turned when I said that. "I want to know the full final layer. Not the summary. Every piece."

Sparks raced through her body when his fingers touched her knuckle. “You never told me what you were doing here,” he reminded her as he traced his finger along her knuckle. Gazing into his mesmerizing eyes, she was about to let the truth spill from her lips, but she grabbed another bit of the tomato-laden bread instead. What was it about Ivan that made her want to trust him? Was it simply because he’d been a childhood friend? So much time had passed, she didn’t know who he was anymore.

Ivan sat at his study desk in his expansive, opulent room, being busy with some company work since it was the weekend. The room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop, the only subdued noise in the background was the sound of the ruffling file papers he reviewed through. All day, since he woke up and had berry and ricotta pancakes for breakfast, he had been working instead of his initial plan to go and see the ongoing volleyball tournament that was going on in HAVAN sports center. He just felt languid towards everything.

“Chalk that up to some curious witches. I guess I’m a bit of a legend in some circles, and they came to see if I was real or not. I was able to draw them in and keep them here. I got them to reach out to you, become your subconscious. I just didn’t anticipate that first one falling for me and wanting me for herself. That was unfortunate.” My mind is reeling, and I can’t get a handle on any one thing. I need to rest….I need to let everything sink in. “I….I need to be alone. I have more to ask, but please, leave me alone.” Ivan stares at me for a minute before rising out of the chair. He makes his way to the door, looking back at me before he crosses the threshold. I turn over in the bed and c

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the door opens wide, admitting a sliver of dim light into the room. I hold my breath, willing myself to remain perfectly still and undetected. I strain my ears for the familiar tap of footsteps that quickly follow towards the bed. I feel Ivan’s gaze boring into me, dissecting my every movement, searching for any sign of deception. I just know it. But then he retreats, or at least, it seems like he did when the footsteps move around the bed and towards the other side. I hear Ivan shutting the door, before he moves towards the bed again.

“But I like things in white and black, basically I hate confusing situations. I'm just telling you as it is so you know and understand the meaning behind my actions.” I faltered at that. I had never seen someone so certain about something before, so certain about me. Ivan was not like that. Actually, Ivan was the most confusing man I had ever met. One day, he was cool and smiling with me and the next day, he's cold and detached. It was almost like he was scared of me, of getting too close to me. I had no idea why I was comparing them. I think I was a very confused person myself. “I'd tone down my affection though if it makes you uncomfortable.” He said and I nodded.

he said simply. I accepted with a gracious nod, even though he knew in the past I hated the burn of it. I preferred wine, subtle and slow. But appearances mattered. “Thank you.” For a moment, silence stretched between us. Nolan shifted in his chair, already restless. I could feel the storm brewing in him, but I looked him in the eyes, willing him to be calm. “So,” Ivan said at last, swirling his glass. “What does my dear brother want from me this time? A share of the company? A hand in decisions he has no patience to understand?”

Lexi’s POV His red eyes crept under my skin and gave me unexplainable chills as goosebumps filled me. I wanted to slam the door at his face and run back into the comfort of the big, warm duvet but I dared not move an inch. My feet also seemed to have been glued to the ground as I kept eye contact with Ivan for the first time and I swear I wanted to look away because his silence was killing me but I still couldn’t. Without saying or doing anything which was unusual, Ivan walked directly to his study and I let out a breath that I had no idea I was holding.

The kind people use when they’re pretending not to notice the air has shifted. Ivan’s hand slipped away from my lap immediately, like it had never been there at all,thank God for the blanket that was covering our legs.The space he left behind felt colder than it should have. I sat up too fast, heat crawling up my neck, my pulse loud in my ears. “Yeah,” Ivan muttered. “I know.” Olivia handed him the cup and waited until he swallowed. Her gaze flicked once. Just once. From his face to mine, then away again. It wasn’t accusing. It wasn’t angry.

*** Ivan sat outside watching the beautiful morning sun rise, he had always been an early riser. He had found it extremely hard to sleep in the house because he had never really had a home to call his. Every night was an adventure with him, from sleeping in taverns, stables and underneath the open skies, one could never get used to a house. He itched to go back to the life he knew and loved. Unfortunately, he was stuck with a certain old man and his annoying but beautiful daughter. Beautiful, he thought to himself. It made no sense to him why he would compliment her. After all she was the reason he could barely move on his own let alone be out in the woods…