Chapter 9 Stalker
“Wow, those people are such assholes!” Stella growled over the phone, her voice laced with anger. “It’s a good thing you quit. That place is just not safe for women. I can’t even imagine what would have happened if it were you in Jenna’s place. It’s such a horrible thing to do.”
"Yeah," Ivy muttered. "I’ve joined a different company." She adjusted her bag and continued, "I gave an interview a few days ago, and they hired me immediately. I’m heading there right now. It’s my first day."
“That’s nice. I hope this one is better.” Stella sighed in relief. “Let me know if you need help with anything, alright? And come by Licious. We all miss seeing you.”
Ivy smiled at the mention of the café. It had always felt warm and welcoming, the people even more so. Despite not working there for long, they had never treated her like an outsider, even though she wasn’t the most talkative. It felt like a second home.
"I’ll come by soon," Ivy promised. "I’ve been so busy with this new job that I haven’t had a chance to drop by."
“I’ll be waiting.” Stella beamed. “Just give me a call, and I’ll invite Ellie and the others too. We can all hang out together.”
“Sure,” Ivy murmured, coming to a stop in front of a towering glass building. Her gaze lifted to the impressive structure, and she exhaled softly. “I’m at the office now. I’ll talk to you later. Bye, Stella.”
“Bye! Good luck!” Stella said just as the call ended.
Ivy stepped inside the building, making her way to the fifteenth floor. The office was grand, though not significantly bigger than her previous one. However, the company held a prestigious name in the industry, so she didn’t mind.
As she walked toward the office she had been assigned, she could feel eyes on her. People whispered as she passed, their hushed voices barely concealing their curiosity.
“Is she the one who got a personal office immediately after joining?” someone whispered.
"Yeah, I heard she demanded it as a condition for joining. She’s got guts!"
“Wow… isn’t she too young to be in such a high position? Is it really her skills, or does her pretty face have something to do with it?”
Ivy ignored the gossip, her expression remaining indifferent as she entered her office. A neat stack of files awaited her on the desk, with one marked as ‘most important’ on top. She picked it up and noticed a handwritten note from her new boss.
“Please go to this firm today and do your best to secure a deal for managing their business. They are a big client.”
Her eyes swept over the details. The meeting time was soon, and the location wasn’t far. Without wasting a moment, she grabbed the file and left. It didn’t take long for her to reach the location.
Just as she was climbing the stairs of the firm’s building, she collided with someone. She stumbled back, but before she could fall, a strong arm shot out, catching her.
Startled, she looked up—only to find Christian standing right in front of her.
Her body tensed immediately. She pulled away, adjusting her bag and frowning. “What are you doing here?”
Christian smiled lazily, his sharp gaze drinking her in. “You’re looking beautiful today. Did you come here for work?”
She ignored him and stepped aside, intending to walk past him, but he blocked her path. His hand wrapped gently around her arm, stopping her.
"Did you have breakfast?" He leaned in slightly, his sharp eyes scanning her face with concern. "Come, eat something with me first. What do you want? I’ll buy it for you."
Ivy shot a quick glance at her watch, impatience flashing in her eyes. Pushing his hand off her arm, she muttered, “I don’t have time for this right now. Please get out of my way.”
Without waiting for an answer, she sidestepped him and walked away.
Inside the office, she met an older man in his fifties named Jerry. The meeting went smoothly, and as it neared its conclusion, Jerry looked at her with a satisfied nod.
“Ms. Watson, you would be a perfect business consultant for us, but I need to confirm a few things with our CEO first. Please give me a moment, and I’ll be right back.”
Ivy nodded and began gathering the documents on the table, neatly placing them back into her folder.
Meanwhile, Jerry entered the CEO’s office, knocking once before stepping inside. “Mr. Evans?”
Christian turned in his chair, lifting his gaze from his phone to meet Jerry’s. "How did it go?"
“Everything is fine, sir. Ms. Watson is ready to sign the agreement. I just came to get final confirmation from you before proceeding.”
Christian nodded. "Before signing the contract, ask her why she left her last company."
"Understood, sir."
Christian’s brows furrowed slightly, and after a beat, he added, “It doesn’t matter what answer she gives—or even if she refuses to answer. Just make sure she signs the contract.”
Jerry smiled. "Got it, sir."
Returning to Ivy, Jerry resumed his seat. She looked up as he did.
“Ms. Watson, we have just one more question before finalizing the deal,” Jerry said, offering her a reassuring smile. “Your previous company was one of the top firms in the city. May I ask why you left?” He hesitated before adding, “Please don’t take it the wrong way. Our firm is looking for a long-term consultant. We just want to be sure you won’t leave your current company anytime soon, especially since we agreed to this deal specifically to have you on this project.”
Ivy answered calmly, “I understand. I left my last job because they had a different perspective on certain issues, and I couldn’t settle for that. But rest assured, I will be working here, and I’ll make sure this contract is fulfilled.”
Jerry nodded in satisfaction and slid the contract toward her. "Great to hear that. Please sign."
The contract was finalized, and Ivy stood to leave. But just as she stepped out of the office, Christian emerged from the CEO’s office.
Ivy froze.
Her shocked gaze flickered from him to the nameplate on the wall behind him. Her breath caught.
Christian Evans – CEO.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You… don’t you just own Evans Holdings? A construction firm? Why is your name here?”
Christian slid his hands into his pockets, leaning lazily against the doorframe, a smirk curling his lips. “I own a lot of things, my sweet Ivy. Why do you think I’m so rich?”
Her jaw clenched. "You arranged all this? The deal? My position?"
“Of course.” His smile deepened.
Ivy clenched her teeth, her blood boiling. “Stalker!” she snapped before storming out of the office.
Christian merely watched her retreating figure, amusement flickering in his gaze.
The day passed in a blur. By evening, Ivy walked out of the office alongside her new boss, Bobby. The man, in his late thirties, already had streaks of gray in his hair.
“Thank you for finalizing that deal today, Ivy. I’m surprised you got it signed in just one meeting. The CEO there is difficult to deal with—we’ve been trying for over a year just to get an appointment. And you got the contract signed in one try.”
Ivy offered a small smile. “I’m just happy to do my job.”
Bobby nodded. “Let’s celebrate, then. Since you did such a great job, I want to treat you to dinner.”
“That’s not necessary, really,” Ivy said politely. “It’s fine.”
Bobby frowned as they exited the building. “I don’t accept rejection. You have to accept this as a thank-you from me. I won’t be able to sleep tonight unless I properly reward you for today’s success.”
Seeing his insistence, Ivy sighed. It would be rude to refuse again. “Sure,” she murmured. “Thanks.”
She turned her head—only for her steps to falter.
Leaning casually against a sleek car, arms crossed, and eyes locked on her, stood Christian.
Ivy turned her face away, sighing in disbelief. ‘What is he doing here? I didn’t invite him, nor did he get a call from anyone at the office as far as I know.’ she thought.
She quickly pivoted on her feet, ready to take another direction. She didn't want to make it look like she knew him. But before she could walk away, she was startled when Bobby suddenly increased his pace to reach Christian. Now, she had no other choice but to follow her boss.
As Bobby got closer, his eyes focused on Christian, widening in surprise.
"Mr. Evans?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise. "I’m shocked to see you here. Did you have something important to discuss with us? You could have just called me, I’d have come to you myself." His tone instantly turned polite, eager to please.
Christian gave a small nod but directed his attention to Ivy instead. "I came to pick you up. Are you going somewhere? Is it work-related?"
Bobby’s eyes darted to Ivy, widening further. He immediately slipped into a more eager tone. "Ivy, you know Mr. Evans? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? That’s such great news!"
Ivy knowing Christian Evans—and having him personally come to pick her up—was a big deal. The man was one of the richest in the country, yet he had come here just to see a mere employee? Bobby's mind raced with questions about the kind of relationship they shared.
Ivy forced a small smile, her posture straightening. "I know Mr. Evans briefly—just a small interaction during my internship at his company. We met a few times, that's all."
Christian’s expression darkened instantly. He clearly didn’t like her answer. Ivy, however, didn’t care and continued, "We should leave now. It'll be late before we get there, and I need to leave early."
Bobby grinned, completely oblivious to the shift in tension. "It’s great to meet you, Mr. Evans! Please, feel free to visit anytime. And of course, Ivy will always be available to meet you whenever you please."
Although Ivy didn’t notice, Bobby’s tone was suggestive as he locked eyes with Christian. The implication behind his words made Christian’s face grow even grimmer.
"Where are you going?" Christian questioned Ivy.
"Just for dinner," she answered curtly before turning back to Bobby. "Let’s go."
Bobby quickly explained, "It's to thank her for securing the deal with your company, Mr. Evans. It’s a huge achievement, and we’re very happy to have you on board. I just wanted to treat her to dinner as a token of appreciation."
"Do you mind if I join you?" Christian asked casually.
Ivy frowned, about to refuse, but Bobby nodded eagerly. "Of course! Please, you’re most welcome."
He couldn’t believe his luck. The opportunity to dine with Christian Evans was rarer than gold—a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"Mr. Evans, you must be busy. You don’t have to come with us," Ivy said politely, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.
Christian ignored her words. Instead, he reached out, grabbed Ivy’s wrist, and pulled her toward him.
"Thanks for the invitation," he told Bobby before adding, "Mr. Bobby, are you married?"
Bobby faltered for a moment, glancing at Ivy before nodding. "Yes, I am."
"Kids?" Christian continued.
"Two," Bobby answered hesitantly.
Christian nodded again, then muttered, "Then going out alone with a female colleague for dinner at this hour doesn’t seem appropriate. I’m sure Ivy wasn’t the only one who worked on this project."
Bobby looked caught off guard, like a deer in headlights. He quickly laughed, trying to brush it off. "Of course, Mr. Evans! It’s just that Ivy was the one who finalized the deal, and I didn’t want it to seem like I was taking her hard work for granted. That’s why I invited her. It’s just a good gesture."
"Sure," Christian muttered dismissively. "Since this is a celebratory dinner, why not invite the whole team? Instead of just Ivy, call everyone and have them join us at The Grand Atelier?"
"Of course!" Bobby nodded enthusiastically, unwilling to let go of such a valuable opportunity.
"Good," Christian said, pulling Ivy toward his car and opening the door for her. "Ivy and I will head there first. We’ll meet you at the restaurant."
Without waiting for Bobby’s response, Christian got in, shutting the door in Bobby’s face.
"Drive," he instructed the driver.
Ivy, on the other hand, was fuming.