BOUND TO THE RUTHLESS CEO

002

CHAPTER 2

Night of the party

The city glowed, with such a beautiful sight from the window of Ivy’s apartment, Ana stood quietly, watching the endless stream of lights below. Cars moved like rivers of gold and red, people flowed along sidewalks, laughter rising faintly even from that height. She pressed her fingers lightly against the glass, her reflection staring back at her tired eyes, soft face, a quiet sadness that still held beneath everything.

“Hey.” Ivy’s voice came from behind her.

Ana turned towards her.

“You’ve been standing there for ten minutes,” Ivy said, walking closer. “What are you thinking about?”

Ana hesitated. “Everything,” she admitted softly.

Ivy sighed, then smiled in that same determined way she always did. “Good. Because today, we’re going to replace those thoughts with better ones.”

Ana frowned slightly. “How?”

Ivy clapped once. “We’re going shopping.”

“Why,” Ana asked, picking her bag.

“You will know.” Ivy said lazily, as they both stepped out of her office.

The mall was overwhelming. It wasn’t just big, it was endless. Floors stacked on floors, glass railings, glowing signs, people everywhere, music blending from different stores into one chaotic rhythm.

Ana stayed close to Ivy, her eyes moving constantly.

“This place never gets quiet?” she asked.

“Nope,” Ivy grinned. “That’s the beauty of it.”

Ana wasn’t sure she agreed but she followed anyway. Inside the first boutique, everything changed. Soft lighting, elegant displays, dresses that looked like they belonged to another world.

Ana hesitated at the entrance. “Ivy, this is expensive.”

Ivy rolled her eyes. “Relax. I didn’t bring you here to window shop.”

“I can’t afford this.”

“You don’t need to,” Ivy replied simply. “I’ve got you.”

Ana’s chest tightened. “Ivy, I don’t want to—”

“You don’t want to do what?” Ivy interrupted. “Start again? Feel good? Look at yourself and not see pain for once?”

Ana fell silent as Ivy stepped closer.

“Let me help you,” she said gently.

Ana didn’t press further. Hours passed like minutes, dresses flowed around her. Soft fabrics brushed her skin. Mirrors reflected versions of her she had never seen before. At one point, she stepped out of the fitting room wearing a deep wine colored dress that hugged her gently, falling just above her knees.

Ivy froze. “Oh. My. God.”

Ana blinked. “What?”

“That’s it.”

“What is?”

“That’s your ‘new life’ dress.”

Ana looked at herself, she barely couldn't recognize the girl staring back, her posture was different and her expression had become stronger.

“Is this really me?” she whispered.

Ivy smiled. “It always was.”

By the time they left, Ana’s arms were filled with shopping bags and her mind was filled with different thoughts, whereas she was happy she had Ivy in her life.

Back at the apartment, Ivy wasted no time. “Take a quick shower and we get ready.”

Ana frowned. “Ready for what?”

Ivy turned slowly, a mischievous smile forming. “A party.”

Ana froze. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No, Ivy—”

“Yes, Ana.”

“I can’t go to a party!”

“Why not?”

“I don’t even know how to act there!”

“Perfect,” Ivy said. “Then you’ll learn.”

An hour later, Ana stood in front of the mirror. This time, she looked like someone else entirely. Her hair fell softly over her shoulders, styled in loose waves. Her makeup was subtle but enhanced her natural beauty. She had soft lips, defined eyes, and glowing skin.

The wine colored dress fits her like it was made for her.

“Ivy…” she said slowly. “This is too much.”

Ivy stepped behind her, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “This is just enough.”

Ana swallowed.

××××××

The club was already wild when they arrived. The bass of the music hit her chest before she even stepped inside. Lights flashed through the entrance, as laughter spilled out, and the energy was… overwhelming.

“Ivy, I don’t think—”

“Too late,” Ivy said, pulling her forward.

Inside was wild. Lights danced across bodies moving to the rhythm of the music. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and excitement. Drinks clinked. People laughed loudly. Some danced like nothing else mattered.

Ana stood still for a moment. “This is insane.” she whispered.

Ivy leaned close to her ear. “Welcome to the city's nightlife.”

Everywhere Ana looked, there were confident women dressed boldly, owning their space, their movements and presence. She felt out of place, but she was also curious how this amount of people spends their nights and time at the club.

“This place is getting crazier,” Ivy said into Ana’s ear, bringing her from her thoughts and raising her voice over the music.

Ana nodded slowly, her eyes scanning the room.

People moved without restraint. Women in daring outfits danced like they owned every inch of space they stepped on, confident, bold, unapologetic. Men stayed still because they watched, approached, retreated, laughed. Drinks spilled, glasses clinked, bodies brushed past each other with careless familiarity. This felt like a different world entirely.

Ana felt her breath catch slightly. “This is a lot,” she admitted.

Ivy grinned. “You’ll get used to it.”

But Ana wasn’t sure she wanted to, still, she didn’t look away. The deeper they moved into the club, the more intense it became.

The VIP section shimmered behind velvet ropes, guarded by large men with unreadable expressions. On the dance floor, people were closer, movements slower but charged with energy that didn’t need words.

A burst of flames shot up near the DJ booth. The crowd roared. Ana flinched slightly again, instinctively stepping closer to Ivy.

“Relax,” Ivy laughed. “It’s part of the show.”

But Ana could feel it, this place didn’t just entertain her it consumed her.

Then, everything shifted, like the air itself changed direction. The music didn’t stop, but the energy bent, people turned, whispers spread suddenly and just like that, he arrived.

The CEO of Obsidian Empire, Damon Sinclair.

He didn’t walk in like the other men. He entered like the space belonged to him, he was tall, imposing. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit that contrasted sharply with the chaos around him. His presence alone seemed to silence parts of the room without effort. Behind him were his bodyguards, all dressed in black suits and walking confidently like their boss.

Large, alert, scanning everything with trained precision.

Damon Sinclair holds several empires in the city, he took after his father who already retired and now enjoying his life peacefully.

This was not a man who smiled easily. This was not a man people approached carelessly. This was a man who decided and others obeyed.