One Night Mystery Affair

A Love Triangle in Flames

In a dimly lit dressing room, Ivy stood before an ornate mirror, adjusting her hair with a practiced touch. She studied her reflection, a smirk playing on her lips. I could use a friend in Mr. Wyatt's inner circle, she mused. But to her, friends were never truly friends-just pieces on a chessboard, molded and positioned as needed. As she admired herself, the sudden ring of her phone broke the silence. It was Jay. "I'm not coming this year, Jay. I'm busy," she said coolly, already prepared to dismiss the conversation. But Jay's response made her pause. Whatever he said over the phone shifted something in her mind. Her smirk returned, sharper this time. "Actually, I'll be there," she corrected herself before hanging up. Turning back to the mirror, she whispered to her reflection, "I'll use this dinner to show Riley who's boss." Meanwhile, miles away in Houston, Texas, Riley and Jay were already seated at the restaurant, waiting. Jay leaned back in his chair, glancing at his phone before looking up at Riley. "Ivy is coming," he announced. Riley scoffed, shaking her head. "Seriously? I can't even get her to return my calls." She let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know what's wrong with her. She lands this big job, and then she just disappears." Jay shrugged. "She says she's been busy." "Busy?" Riley echoed. "We used to talk all the time. Now, suddenly, she's making $220K a year, and she barely speaks to me? Doesn't that seem weird to you?" She studied Jay's face, searching for agreement. Jay exhaled. "You know Ivy-she loves the drama." Riley frowned. "I barely even recognize her anymore." Before Jay could respond, his eyes shifted toward the entrance. His expression changed as he muttered under his breath, "Damn." Ivy had just walked in. As Ivy approached the table, Riley was the first to speak. "Ivy, you look so different!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning her friend from head to toe. Ivy barely acknowledged the comment. Instead, she wrinkled her nose and glanced around the restaurant. "I can't believe you guys still come to this place," she said dismissively. "The food here is so... pedestrian." Riley raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to the remark. Instead, her gaze shifted to the handbag hanging from Ivy's arm. "That bag... It's really expensive," Riley pointed out, her curiosity piqued. "Where did you get it?" A slow smile spread across Ivy's face. "My boyfriend got it for me," she said casually. Jay, who had been silently observing, sat up straighter. "Boyfriend?" he repeated, his surprise evident. "Since when?" Ivy crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. "So what if I have a boyfriend and moved in with him? What's the problem?" she asked, her tone defensive. Riley let out a frustrated sigh. "The problem is that you don't tell us anything anymore, Ivy. You just disappeared," she said, her voice laced with disappointment. Ivy rolled her eyes, but Riley wasn't finished. "You sound different... You are different." Ivy's expression hardened, but she didn't respond. Riley crossed her arms, concern evident in her expression. "I'm worried about you, Ivy. Who is this boyfriend? You said you moved in with him-that's moving really fast," she said cautiously. Ivy smirked, flipping her hair back. "He's richer and hotter than any guy you could ever get," she said smugly. Riley narrowed her eyes. "Does that mean you were lying about getting a job?" "Yeah," Ivy admitted without hesitation. "Riley," you're smart. You could get scholarships, work your way up, climb the corporate ladder, You can work yourself to death, chase success all you want, but no man is ever going to love you. At the end of the day, you're just a lonely, bitter old bitch." Riley's breath caught in her throat, stunned by Ivy's cruel words. Riley's expression hardened. "At least I'm not acting like a w***e," she shot back. The words had barely left her mouth before Ivy's hand struck her cheek with a sharp slap, drawing the attention of everyone around them. Riley touched her face, her eyes burning with anger and disbelief. "If I'm so horrible, why do you even want me in your life?" she demanded. Ivy's expression was cold. "I don't. I never want to see you again," she said before pushing back her chair and storming out. Riley immediately stood to follow, and Jay hurried after her. As they stepped outside, they scanned the street, but Ivy was already far down the road. "How did she become like this?" Riley muttered, shaking her head. Jay hesitated. "Should we go after her?" he asked. Before Riley could answer, her phone rang. Riley's phone buzzed, and she sighed before answering. "I need you here now," Wyatt's sharp voice came through the line. "The data for the project is all wrong. I need you to fix it. Come." Riley opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. "No, now," he insisted. "Text me your address, and I'll have my driver pick you up and bring you to my house." Before she could protest, the call ended. Riley exhaled in frustration. "God, for someone so hot, he is so annoying," she muttered as she turned to head back home. Meanwhile, in his car, Wyatt sat beside his driver. The man hesitated before speaking. "Sir, do you really need her to redo the project?" Wyatt's expression remained unreadable as he replied, "Mind your business." Wyatt arrived home to find Ivy waiting for him in the sitting room. "Happy Valentine's Day, darling," Ivy cooed. "Don't call me that. I don't do Valentine's Day," Wyatt replied flatly. Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you buy me that expensive handbag?" she challenged. Wyatt barely glanced at her. "I have a present for you in my room," Ivy said. Later, his tone dismissive. Then he turned to the housekeeper. "Is Riley here yet?" "No, sir," the housekeeper responded. Ivy crossed her arms, her irritation growing. "Riley? He's spending Valentine's Day with her?" she scoffed, her voice rising. Frustrated, she turned and stormed upstairs to her room. At that moment, Riley arrived, stepping inside just as Ivy disappeared upstairs. However, Riley hadn't seen her face. Riley only caught a glimpse of Ivy's back as she disappeared upstairs. Turning to the driver, she asked, "Is that Mr. Wyatt's girlfriend?" The driver nodded. "Oh yeah, that's his girlfriend. She must not be feeling well," he added, glancing in Ivy's direction. Riley smirked and raised her voice just enough for Ivy to hear. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Wyatt's girlfriend!" she called out. Riley sat patiently, waiting for Mr. Wyatt to bring the project. Just as Riley was beginning to wonder if he would ever show up, Mr. Wyatt appeared. "Redo it," he said, settling himself comfortably on the sofa. "It's good, but it can be better," he added. With a sigh, Riley began reworking the project while Mr. Wyatt casually flipped through a magazine. After a moment, he smirked and muttered, "Your date must have been pretty lame if you ended up here on Valentine's Day. "It's not like I could help it," Riley said. Wyatt hesitated before speaking. "Listen... about the other night, when you drove me home... did I-" He paused, uncertain. Riley's mind drifted back to the incident, recalling the moment vividly. She remembered what had happened and reassured herself, It's fine. He was probably just thinking and confused. "So, you thought I was someone else," Riley said, breaking the silence. Wyatt exhaled. "Right... I thought you were someone else," he admitted. "It was a silly mistake." Riley nodded. "A silly mistake," she echoed. Wyatt's gaze locked onto hers. "Do you think it was a silly mistake?" he asked, his voice quieter now. Before she could respond, he leaned forward, his lips inching closer to hers. Just as he was about to kiss her, the housekeeper suddenly interrupted. "Sir, Miss Ivy is sick and asking for you." Wyatt stood up and left, leaving Riley in a stunned and confused state. Meanwhile, he stayed with Ivy after the housekeeper informed him of her illness. As he sat by her side, she looked at him with a weak smile. "Thank you for taking care of me," Ivy said softly. "The doctor said your stomach will be fine with some medicine and rest," Wyatt replied bluntly. "Good night." Just as he was about to leave, Ivy called out, "Wait, Wyatt." He turned back, and she hesitated before speaking. "I've been in foster care my entire life, and no one has really taken care of me before. You're the first person who has ever treated me with kindness. I owe you." Wyatt sighed. "Cool. Get some rest." "Could you..." Ivy hesitated again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Could you just stay with me until I fall asleep?" "That's not appropriate," Wyatt replied firmly. "Why not?" Ivy shot back. "You liked holding me that night at the hotel. You slept with me. You asked me to give up my entire life to come here-and now you don't want me?" Her voice wavered, but her words were laced with deception. Wyatt's expression hardened. "Look, this is a three-month contract. If you don't want to be here, then get the hell out." Without waiting for her response, he turned and stormed downstairs to the sitting room. There, he found Elizabeth, the housekeeper. "Elizabeth, where's Riley?" he asked, his tone sharp. "She left, sir," Elizabeth replied calmly. Wyatt's jaw clenched as frustration boiled inside him. Angrily, he slammed his hand down on the sofa. Back in Ivy's room, she was spiraling, unable to contain her frustration. "There's no way I'm letting that happen," she muttered, pacing restlessly. Her thoughts consumed her, fueling her anger. "No way I'm letting that b***h have him!" she screamed, hurling pillows off the bed in a fit of rage. Her breaths came in sharp gasps as she struggled to regain control, but the fire inside her only burned hotter.