CHAPTER 10: COFFEE TREAT
1100 Words
She thought this was just coffee.
She had no idea,+ he was falling for her.
A sweet gentleman. But her past came, watching behind dark glasses like an angry hawk.
Jason ushered her into his bedroom but resisted the urge to touch her, even though it was a hard task for him to keep his hands in check.
Ivy lay on the bed and drifted off to sleep effortlessly without speaking to Jason.
The sun warmed into Jason’s bedroom, shining so bright across Ivy’s face. She slowly turned and opened her eyes. Her face was puffed like someone who had just woken up on the wrong side of the bed. She went into the bathroom, splashed water on her face, adjusted her dress, straightened her hair, and was set to leave when Jason strolled into the room.
A puzzled look crossed his face as he stared at Ivy. “Don't tell me you're leaving already.”
Ivy irately responded, “Being here was a mistake.”
Jason smirked. “Really? Don't leave. Let's talk.”
She looked Jason squarely in the eyes. “Talk about what, Jason? How you fooled me the first time, and still stylishly want to do it again? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
Ivy stomped out of his penthouse, furious with herself. It was bad enough that my life was in shambles for ten whole years, and after getting a hold of it, he suddenly reappeared, wanting to mess it up again. That would be a cold day in hell.
“If, because of Jason, I won't be able to sleep peacefully in my home, so be it then. I won't allow my heart to dictate how I should react again. Never,” she fumed at herself.
She got to her penthouse, took her bath, got dressed, and headed out to her studio. But a thought crossed her mind. She needed to stop at the bookstore to grab a few books before heading to the studio. She detoured immediately.
It was a local mini-bookstore situated across the road. It was always busy each time she passed by, but today was oddly calm.
“Thank goodness,” she whispered.
As she was about to enter the bookstore, she accidentally hit her right foot against the door, causing her to lose balance. Before she could grab the door handle to steady herself, she fell flat on the hard chest of a man.
He held her firmly, preventing her from falling to the floor before releasing his grip on her.
Ivy stood, her face was red, and her head was down, avoiding eye contact with the strange man she bumped into.
He reached out his hand and touched her chin, slowly lifting her head. He smiled broadly at her.
There was something strange and familiar in the way he smiled at her.
She was about to speak, but he beat her to it.
“We meet again, Miss Ivy.”
She frowned, startled, eyes searching his.
“Ethan,” he said with a chuckle. “Mr. J’s friend. Remember me?”
Like a bat out of hell, it hit her. “Oh! That was you.”
Ethan nodded, still smiling.
“Please, I’m so sorry about bumping into you. It wasn’t intentional.”
"It’s fine. So what book did you come to get?"
“Uh!” At that moment, it dawned on her that she had no specific book in mind to purchase.
Ethan, sensing her confusion, smiled and mumbled, “Not to worry. I can help you out with some good recommendations.”
Ivy heaved out a breath of relief. “I would appreciate it.”
"Okay, let’s move around."
He lent his hand to Ivy. She hesitated, passed a glance at him before enclosing her palm with his. They moved from one bookshelf to another, grabbing a book from each shelf.
At the counter, Ivy reached for her purse, but Ethan stopped her.
“Please, allow me,” he insisted, grinning.
Ivy smiled and nodded. He is such a gentleman.
They made payment and were walking out of the bookstore when Ethan threw her an invitation. “Please, don't take this the wrong way. There's a coffee shop down the road. I would appreciate it if you could join me for a coffee treat.”
“Sure. Why not?”
The café smelled of roasted hazelnuts and cinnamon.
The air was engulfed in this warm and comforting scent. Ivy sat by the window, her hand enclosing a cappuccino cup. Her laughter spilled out like blue, so soothing to the ears.
Ethan leaned back in his seat, grinning, his warm charm a welcome contrast to the chaos that had become her life.
Ethan nudged her right foot playfully under the table. “If I had known you were this friendly, I would have invited you for a coffee treat on the first day we met.”
Ivy smiled sheepishly but genuinely. “If I had known you were this cool and gentlemanly, maybe I would have accepted.”
His eyebrows were tinted. “So you do admit, I'm an irresistible gentleman.”
“Irresistible? I don't know about that,” she laughed heartily.
He scoffed richly. “Understandable. It’s okay not to tell.”
Ivy smirked her lip, but deep down, she felt it—this undeniable calmness in her soul.
Ethan wasn't complicated. He wasn't dominating. He was different. Her being alone with him, she was so much herself; she wasn't doing too much. No tension, no pressure. She bonded easily with this fine gentleman.
Across the street, behind the tinted glass of a black SUV, Jason Lockwood sat stone-cold. His jaw was tightened, his eyes narrowed, and his fist clenched, watching the scene unfold through a telelens.
The glow on Ivy's face triggered him more. The way she laughed when Ethan spoke made his blood boil. Jason zoomed in on them and saw Ivy reach for Ethan’s hand on the table, just a slight brush of fingers.
Then Ethan leaned closer and whispered with sincerity, “I think I'm falling for you, Ivy.”
Ivy blinked, and her jaw dropped slightly. She wasn't prepared for what Ethan had just said. She didn't know how to react.
So she smiled and nodded, confused.
Jason’s hand tightened around the camera, his eyes glaring intensely at them.
Then, his phone buzzed. A message popped up:
“Something is cooking underground, boss.”
Jason’s eyes flicked back to the café window. Just like smoke in the wind, Ethan and Ivy were gone.
- Writer
