Chapter 31 Sleep, Ivy
His breath stilled. His grip on the phone tightened. His pulse hammered against his ribs. ‘Ivy loves me again?’
His throat worked, the words settling deep inside him, heavy, almost unbearable. His breathing turned rough, his chest rising and falling with an unfamiliar weight—something raw, something he hadn’t dared to hope for. Before he could process those words, the bathroom door clicked open.
In a swift move, Christian set the phone down in its place and shut his eyes, feigning sleep. Ivy stepped out, her presence immediately pulling him in. His ears picked up the rustle of fabric, the quiet sound of his shirt slipping off her shoulders as she moved toward the bed.
Before she could settle in, his arm shot out.
In one fluid motion, he pulled her against him, his grip firm, unyielding. His lips found her face, then her neck, pressing slow, burning kisses into her warm skin. His mouth lingered at the base of her throat, his tongue flicking against her pulse before trailing up to her jaw.
Ivy barely had time to react before his hold on her tightened, his palm sliding up her back, claiming her, possessing her. His fingers tangled into her hair as he buried his face against her, breathing her in like he’d been starving for this moment.
“Ivy…” His voice was low, strained. His lips brushed against her ear, his breath hot. "I need you."
Her hands slid up his chest, fingers curling into his shirt as his mouth captured hers in a desperate kiss. His tongue teased hers, coaxing her to open up for him as his hands gripped her waist and pulled her flush against him. Ivy gasped into his mouth as his fingers around her waist, brushing against the bare skin of her lower back.
Christian’s lips moved hungrily over hers—biting, tasting, exploring. His hand slid down to her thigh, lifting it around his waist as he pushed her back against the wall. Ivy’s breath hitched as his mouth trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her skin before soothing the spot with his tongue.
His hands were everywhere—sliding up her bare back, cupping her breasts, his thumb circling the sensitive peak until she was trembling beneath his touch. Ivy’s head fell back against the bed as Christian’s mouth moved lower, pressing open-mouthed kisses down her chest, his tongue flicking across her skin, drawing out a shaky moan.
Her nails raked down his chest as he hovered above her. His eyes darkened, his gaze hot and possessive as he leaned down, his lips brushing hers.
"I’m not letting you go tonight," he whispered.
And then his mouth was on hers again, and Ivy melted beneath him, her body arching into his as his hands roamed her skin. Kisses were showered in hurried desperation, gasps and moans filling the room as Christian’s hands and mouth left no part of her untouched.
Hours later, tangled beneath the sheets, Ivy lay curled against him, her cheek resting on his chest. Christian’s arm tightened around her, his fingers stroking lazily down her back as his breathing slowed. She smiled sleepily, feeling the ache in her limbs and the lingering heat on her skin.
Christian’s lips brushed her forehead as he whispered, “Sleep, Ivy.”
And as sleep pulled her under, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.
***
"Come here," Christian said as Ivy stepped out of the room.
She wore a beautiful green dress that fit her perfectly, looking both elegant and a bit daring. The backless design made it even more captivating.
Christian stood waiting in a black tuxedo—ravishing and effortlessly handsome. His hair was sleeked back, freshly cut, and his clean-shaven jaw highlighted the sharp perfection of his features. His eyes burned with intensity as he took her in.
Ivy stepped toward him, and the moment she was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her, leaning in to whisper against her ear.
"My sweet Ivy, how do you expect me to let you walk out of this room when you look this ravishing?"
A smile played on Ivy’s lips. Tilting her head up, she rose on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips—a brief peck.
Christian chased after her to deepen the kiss, but she cupped his face in her hands, stopping him. "No," she murmured. "Makeup took way too long."
He frowned, his lips twisting in dissatisfaction. But he didn’t argue. After a moment, she felt something cool slip onto her wrist.
Ivy glanced down and found a diamond bracelet. Rubies embedded into it sparkled under the light.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes sparkled at the sight, making Christian smile. Lifting her wrist, he carefully clasped the bracelet in place, locking it. Then, he brought her wrist to his lips, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to the underside of her wrist.
A soft, ticklish sensation coursed through her, making her shiver.
"Come," he murmured, wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her out of the house.
The car ride was smooth, and after about an hour, they arrived at a grand hotel. The chauffeur opened Ivy’s door, but before she could step out, Christian was already there, offering his hand.
She took it, stepping gracefully onto the pavement as all eyes turned toward them.
As they ascended the stairs to the entrance, whispers trailed after them.
"Isn’t that Mr. Evans? I’ve never seen him at an event with a woman before."
"It is! Oh my God, you’re right. Who is she?"
"She’s stunning. Must be some heiress. Christian Evans wouldn’t be seen publicly with just anyone."
"Look at that dress. Isn’t that Hannah Raymond’s work? But she only releases one design per year… this one has never been seen before."
"Wait. Does that mean Hannah made a second custom design just for this woman?"
"Who is this woman?"
The murmurs followed them into the party, every gaze fixated on them.
Christian and Ivy stepped into the lavish ballroom, the attention of the entire room locked onto the captivating couple.
The hotel gleamed with gold accents, the air filled with the scent of expensive perfume and champagne. Luxury dripped from every corner—elegant gowns, tailored suits, and flawless makeup gracing the attendees. Everything was pristine, every detail meticulously curated for the evening.
This was no ordinary gathering; it was a business party hosted by one of the most influential men in the world of riches—Adrian Vaughn.
He was the owner of a vast automotive empire, commanding several prestigious luxury car brands. But what made him even more legendary was his exclusive luxury car store in Manhattan, the only one of its kind in the world, catering solely to the wealthiest elite. His wealth was staggering, his influence unmatched, and his empire only continued to expand.
Adrian Vaughn wasn’t just one of the richest men in the country—he was also a bachelor. And that alone was enough to turn the party into a battlefield of ambition. The room was teeming with women, each one vying for a moment of his attention, eager for a chance to be the one who caught his eye.
Christian and Ivy walked into the place, the buzz of the party enveloping them. Cars were displayed everywhere, a shining exhibition of luxury, with multiple screens showcasing the latest high-end collections for all to admire. The room was filled with the richest of the rich, but only a select few could afford the million-dollar cars on display—an exclusive experience meant to celebrate Adrian’s success.
Larry spotted them from a distance and rushed over with a grin plastered on his face. "Everybody's talking about Christian Evans’s date!" he exclaimed, handing a drink to Ivy as his eyes flicked toward Christian. "More than the cars, people are talking about Ivy tonight."
Christian smirked, sliding his arm around Ivy’s waist and planting a kiss on her forehead, lingering for a long moment. "Good," he murmured.
Ivy’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt the eyes of the crowd on them. ‘He did that on purpose,’ she thought, her eyes darting around. People were staring at them, their gazes sharp with curiosity. After Christian’s open display of affection, the attention on Ivy grew more intense.
"Man, come here." Larry pulled him to the side, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. His expression was dead serious as he spoke. "Are you trying to make me feel single on purpose? Don’t you know kissing isn’t allowed at business parties? Keep that cold, dead face of yours so people stay scared of you. We get the best deals without even trying. If you start getting all mushy, people are going to think you’re an easy target to fool, and you’ll get poor deals."
Christian pushed Larry away, returning immediately to Ivy’s side, giving him a pointed frown and an indifferent turn of his head. Larry’s mouth dropped open in shock.
"You forgot your brother as soon as you got a wife? Traitor! Absolute fucking traitor!" Larry snapped.
“Stop acting like a wounded ex,” Christian muttered, a sigh escaping his lips. "I'm getting more annoyed the longer I look at you." He rolled his eyes, turning his head away dismissively.
Larry gritted his teeth, grabbed a drink, and shoved it into Christian’s hand with both hands. "Fine, fine! Call me a wounded woman all you want. That’s why I’m your best friend. I’ll take the badmouthing in exchange for the killer money I get out of you."
Ivy snickered immediately, stifled a laugh, but Christian noticed and smiled down at her, his gaze softening.
He looked back at Larry. "Go on, continue. I won’t stop you anymore.”
Larry’s face turned crimson, as though Christian had physically punched him. "Do you think I'm a joker for your wife?" he snapped. "Jesus Christ, Christian Evans, you have no respect for me!"
With that, Larry huffed loudly, shoving his empty glass into Christian’s hand before stomping off, making Ivy laugh even harder. Christian was right—Larry did look like a betrayed ex.
Christian sighed and dropped the glass on the nearest table before turning back to Ivy. “Don’t worry about him. It’s his everyday tantrum.”
"Ivy?" a familiar voice called her name, drawing her attention. Turning, she saw Ellie standing before her, dressed in a stunning brown dress with her hair tied neatly into a bun, a few curls framing her youthful face. She looked both sexy and adorable at the same time, a lethal combination of gorgeousness.
Ivy rushed over to hug Ellie. "Hi! I didn’t expect to see you here!"
"Hi, Christian," Ellie smiled at him.
Christian nodded in return, offering a quiet greeting. "Hi."
Ellie continued, her smile not faltering. "Sawyer’s just around. He said he needed to talk to you. Can you find him whenever you have some time tonight?"
Sawyer and Ellie had recently married after a long courtship. Their childhood love story had become somewhat of a legend among their friends. Ivy had heard it countless times when she worked at Licious, the café was the hotspot for their circle. However she had never come across Sawyer, perhaps because he was too busy during that period and also because she only worked there for a few weeks.
Christian leaned down, whispering in Ivy's ear, “I’m going to handle some work things. You can hang out with Ellie in the meantime. I’ll be back soon. If you need me or feel alone, just call. I’ll come find you.”
Ivy met his gaze, nodding with a reassuring smile. “Of course. Don’t worry, go.”
Christian turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ivy to enjoy the evening with Ellie.
Christian walked through the crowd, spotting Larry. He approached him, pulling a few business cards from his pocket and handing them to Larry. "I want you to meet these people tonight," Christian instructed. "They’re working on an important project with our company. If you can manage to get them onboard as investors for the next construction projects, that’d be great."
As they were discussing the details, a man in his late twenties appeared beside them. His eyes were fixed on Christian with an almost arrogant intensity. Without hesitation, he sneered and spoke in a loud voice.
"You’re still alive? How are you, Evans? Are you able to walk straight yet?" he taunted, his words dripping with malice.
Christian and Larry ignored him as if he were an annoying, buzzing fly, continuing their conversation.
The man, Ryan Walker, was the son of one of their competitors, someone who had never achieved the same level of success as Christian. With his blonde hair, dirty smirk, and mismatched goatee, Ryan tried to project an air of dominance, but it only made him appear desperate and pathetic.
"Is your brain straightened yet? What about your crippled body? I’m surprised to see you standing. Not long ago, you couldn’t even lift your head," Ryan mocked, his laughter harsh.
Ryan had always been bitter about his inability to achieve as much as Christian, despite coming from similar backgrounds. His jealousy and hatred ran deep, especially now that Christian's success only served to humiliate him more. His mocking words reflected the years of frustration he had bottled up.
Larry’s patience finally snapped. "Fuck off, Ryan," he growled, shooting the man a glare.
Ryan smirked, looking at Larry with disdain. "Oh, look, you brought your dog to the party too. Are you going to take him to bed? I saw the chick you brought tonight. Does she do a good job? Does this dog get to crawl into your bed too, or—"
Before he could finish, Christian’s fist collided with Ryan’s face with brutal force. The blow landed so fast that Ryan crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. Christian didn’t stop there—Ryan was on the ground within seconds, Christian relentlessly pounding his face until he was gasping for air. The crowd around them shuffled back, startled by the violence.
Christian stood up, his expression deathly serious as he kicked Ryan in the stomach with a powerful blow.
"Don’t you ever insult my wife again, fucker," Christian growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You won’t see the sun tomorrow if you ever try that again. Fucking try me."