Chapter 10 Mine
Not only had he barged into her office, but he had also interfered with her job, her boss, and twisted the situation to make it look like their relationship was far more intimate than it was. Now, Bobby was probably thinking all kinds of things.
She turned her sharp gaze on him, her fury clear. "When are you going to stop interfering in my business? I told you—we have nothing to do with each other."
Christian’s eyes remained on her, watching the anger on her face, the way her brows knitted, and her lips pressed into a thin line of displeasure. Without a word, he suddenly leaned in to kiss her.
Ivy pulled back instantly, glaring at him. "Are you even listening to me?"
Before she could react further, his hands moved. One slid behind her neck, the other under her legs. In the very next second, she was lifted off her seat and into his lap.
"Stop it!" she gritted out, struggling against his grip.
Instead of letting go, he tightened his arms around her, holding her in place. His eyes remained locked on her face. One hand secured her against his chest while the other reached up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
He leaned in again. Before she could take a breath, his lips claimed hers.
She squirmed, her hands pushing against his chest, but the damn man didn’t budge. His lips moved over hers, his tongue sliding in, licking and kissing her deeply. One of his hands slid to the back of her head, fingers gripping gently, holding her still as he continued his slow, unrelenting licks.
Her stiff body gradually weakened, her resistance fading.
Sensing her surrender, Christian’s touch softened, his lips moving more gently, coaxing her. She breathed against him, her body melting into his embrace. A small smile played at his lips as he deepened the kiss, his fingers traced delicate strokes behind her ear, and she shuddered in his arms. He kept her enclosed in his lap as if she were a precious treasure.
The kiss continued the whole car ride, his lips licking hers, his tongue stroking. The car gradually came to a stop after a while.
"Sir, we’ve arrived," the driver announced before stepping out.
Christian finally pulled back, his face mere inches from hers. His breath brushed against her lips as his hand caressed her cheek with gentle strokes. His gaze, warm and unreadable, lingered on her face.
Then, without a word, he reached for her purse, unlocking it and pulling out her lipstick.
Removing the cap, he lifted it toward her lips, but she reached out to snatch it away.
He pulled his hand back, his eyes narrowing. "If you want to walk in with swollen lips, or spend the entire night in this car with me, go ahead—try that again."
Ivy’s fingers clenched into fists before dropping into her lap.
Christian lifted the lipstick once more. His thumb wiped away the dampness at the corners of her mouth left by his tongue before he traced the color onto her lips with delicate, even strokes. He smoothed it out with his finger, ensuring it was perfect. His touch was gentle, every motion filled with careful attention.
Once satisfied, he leaned in to kiss her again, but she turned her face away, pushing against his chest as she tried to get off his lap.
"You have no right to interfere with my job," she hissed. "That was such an asshole move! Why did you make it look like I know you and then invite yourself to dinner?"
He didn’t release her. His voice was calm but firm. "Ivy, don’t go around having dinner alone with men. It’s not safe."
"I can take care of myself," she snapped. "I have everything under control. Bobby is my boss. You shouldn’t interfere in my work anymore."
Christian’s brows knitted, tension thickening in the air. "He’s not a good man. You shouldn’t be alone with him."
Ivy shoved his hands away and climbed off his lap, settling back into her seat with a glare. “And you? Are you the best man in the whole world while everyone else is trash?” she shot back. “Have you even looked at yourself? Are you a good person, Mr. Evans?”
She didn’t wait for a response. She flung the car door open and stormed toward the hotel.
Christian’s fingers curled into fists, his jaw tightening as his eyes followed her retreating figure. Frustration and something dangerously close to desperation flickered in his gaze.
Then, after a moment, he also stepped out and followed her inside.
As they entered the private dining room, Ivy’s mind reeled back to their conversation in the car—her words, her anger, and the way she had snapped at him.
"Was I too harsh back there?" Ivy wondered, guilt creeping into her chest. ‘His heart is in the right place, and on top of that, he’s already sick.’ She stole a glance at him as he walked beside her, his expression calm and unreadable. Biting her lip, regret settled like a shard in her heart. ‘Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh.’
Half an hour later, the room buzzed with conversation as Ivy’s colleagues filled the space. A long rectangular table stretched across the center, seating around twenty people. Ivy sat across from Christian, a few seats away, while Bobby took the chair beside her, directly opposite Christian.
As dishes were served and people began eating, Christian’s gaze remained fixed on Ivy, though she appeared oblivious, engaged in conversation with a woman next to her.
Bobby, noticing Christian’s unwavering attention, abruptly stood up and patted Ivy’s shoulder. "Ivy, you’re the star of tonight’s dinner! Why are you sitting here?" he laughed, nudging her playfully. "Go sit next to Mr. Evans. Get up."
The chatter around them died down slightly as curious eyes turned toward Ivy. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but before she could protest, Bobby gave her a light push, guiding her toward the empty seat beside Christian. With a nonchalant chuckle, he pressed her shoulders down, making her sit.
"Don’t be shy. You sealed the deal with Mr. Evans today. You should thank him properly."
Under Bobby’s insistence and the penetrating gazes of her colleagues, Ivy had no choice but to comply. She stole a quick glance at Christian, but he remained silent as Bobby returned to his seat, and the dinner resumed.
As the dinner progressed, Christian’s attention never strayed from Ivy. He watched her closely, ensuring she ate properly. Every now and then, he would pick up a dish and place food on her plate.
"You love this. Have more," he murmured, setting a serving of gravy in front of her.
Ivy’s gaze burned into her plate, her cheeks heating. She could feel the weight of her colleagues’ eyes on her, most likely in shock at Christian’s open attentiveness. Yet, Christian seemed utterly unconcerned with their stares, his entire focus on her. When her water glass emptied, he filled it without a second thought, his every action deliberate, as if her comfort was his only priority.
As the meal neared its end, Ivy reached for a bowl of rice on the table. Just as she was about to take it, another colleague, too engrossed in conversation, unknowingly took the bowl before she could, serving himself.
Christian’s gaze flickered toward the waiter. "Bring all the dishes again," he ordered.
The waiter hesitated. "All of them, sir?" he asked, clearly surprised.
The hotel was high-end, and the dishes were exorbitantly priced. Even one full round of refills would cost hundreds of thousands. But Christian didn’t so much as blink.
The waiter nodded and hurried off. The murmurs in the room grew as more people took notice of Christian’s actions, their gazes darting between him and Ivy.
When the dishes arrived, Christian immediately took the rice bowl from the waiter’s hands, serving Ivy himself. "Here," he said. "Tell me if you want anything else."
Ivy swallowed, her fingers tightening around her spoon. When she lifted her gaze, she found every pair of eyes on her. Heat crawled up her neck, making her shift uncomfortably.
Lowering her voice, she pushed the bowl back toward him. "Mr. Evans, you're our client, and this dinner is meant for you. Please don’t worry about me."
But Christian didn’t respond to her words. He continued tending to her as if no one else existed on that table.
His actions did not go unnoticed. It was becoming increasingly obvious to everyone that Ivy wasn’t just another employee in Christian’s eyes—there was something much deeper between them. It wasn’t just a simple work dinner. It wasn’t just professionalism. Christian’s attention was singularly focused on Ivy, and he hadn’t spared a single glance at any other woman at the table.
As the dinner wrapped up and drinks were being passed around, the conversations grew livelier. Laughter echoed across the room, and the once-curious gazes on Christian and Ivy faded as people got lost in their own chatter.
Bobby reappeared, grinning as he filled Ivy’s wine glass to the brim. "Here, drink more, Ivy. Don’t worry about anything tonight. You should enjoy yourself!"
He shot Christian a sneaky, almost triumphant glance.
Christian’s jaw twitched in annoyance.
Ivy, knowing she couldn’t reject her boss outright, lifted the glass with a polite smile and brought it to her lips.
But before she could take a sip, Christian reached over, taking the glass from her hand and setting it down. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her up from her seat, leading her out of the room.
A few people noticed, but the majority remained too engrossed in their conversations to realize they had left.
The moment they stepped into the silent gallery, Christian pinned Ivy against the wall, trapping her between his body and the cold surface. His piercing gaze locked onto her flushed face.
"I told you," he said, his voice low and edged with fury. "Your boss isn’t a good fucking man, Ivy."
Ivy exhaled sharply, looking away. "And I told you—it’s none of your business. Don’t interfere."
Christian’s hand came up, cupping her face gently despite the tension in his grip. "Ivy, you don’t understand men," he murmured. "You don’t get what they’re capable of. You’re too fucking innocent. You’ve never dated anyone before. You haven’t come across any bad men yet."
Her temper flared at his words. ‘Does he really think I stayed single all this time just for him? That only he could be my so-called savior?’ Her grip tightened, nails digging into her palms as anger surged through her veins. ‘Doesn’t he basically mean I’m stupid when it comes to people? He really thinks I’m the same gullible young girl from five years ago. This arrogant bastard!’
Her expression hardened. "Who said I’ve never dated anyone before?" she snapped, her voice laced with defiance. "I have dated. My ex was a really good man. I never had to worry about bad people with him next to me."
The moment the words left her mouth, Christian’s entire body went rigid. His body tensed, his expression darkening. Jealousy coiled through him like wildfire, burning fast and deep. Ivy felt the shift in his presence—his affection vanishing, replaced by something possessive, something dangerous.
His fingers tightened against her cheek, and he leaned in. "You’re still in contact with that ex of yours?" His voice was edged with steel. "You still meet him? See him?"
Ivy said nothing, avoiding his gaze.
He turned her face back to him, forcing her eyes to meet his. "Answer me. What’s his name? Who is he?"
Ivy grabbed his wrist, trying to pry it off her, but he was relentless. Instead, he slid his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His breath was hot against her skin as he snarled,
"Ivy Watson," he gritted out. "I gave you all the space you needed. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and watch you walk away with another fucking man."
His voice was wild, raw, burning. His grip on her waist tightened, his other hand sliding to cradle the back of her head.
"I can give you everything you want, Ivy," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. Any fucking thing you need. Just say the word, and it’s yours."
His face hovered dangerously close, his voice dropping to a possessive murmur. "Am I not enough? I’m a man, Ivy. Don’t you see? I can give you everything you crave. I can fulfil all your desires. I can please you in every fucking way that exists in this world and more." His fingers grazed her cheek, his touch both rough and commanding. "Just say you’re mine."