After a couple of minutes, Damian pulled up to one of the fanciest restaurants on the outskirts of the city. He drove into the parking lot and parked the car. Once he alighted, the staff around him quickly greeted him, their heads bowed respectfully."Why are they bowing that way?" Ivy questioned. "Are you their boss?"Damian's lips parted into a deep smile. "No, I'm not their boss. Let's just say I'm one of their VIP customers in their hotel suites.""Oh!" she hummed. "You come here with different…" She suddenly paused, realizing she was saying too much already. Meanwhile, Damian flashed her a smile, gesturing for her to lead the way as they walked inside.As Ivy stepped into the restaurant, she was enveloped in opulence. Crystal chandeliers refracted light, casting a warm glow on the polished marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and freshly baked pastries.Soft music floated through the space, punctuated by the gentle clinking of fine china and hushed con
"Good day, ma'am! Welcome to Kleist Boutiques!" the receptionist chimed, her warm smile accentuating her perfectly contoured cheeks. "We're delighted to have you here. How may I assist you today? What kind of wear are you looking for? I promise you, we have all the top brands, and you'll love it."Ivy's eyes scanned the lavish lobby, taking in the sleek marble floors and crystal chandeliers."Wow, this place is stunning," she breathed. "Thank you, ma'am. I don't think I want anything for now."Damian chuckled. "No, you need all the top brands, Ivy." He turned to the receptionist and said, "Give her all the top brands and best clothing. I will be back to pick her up!"The receptionist nodded. "We pride ourselves on exceptional service and quality. Thank you, sir. We will give her the best."Ivy's gaze returned to Damian. Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean? Where are you going?""Don't worry, Ivy. I will be back. Pick all that you want… Your husband is a billionaire!" He smirked befo
Ivy's face flushed with embarrassment. She forced a smile and responded, “Yes, ma'am, I saw the price tag before checking for it.”Madam Dorothy snapped, “You did see it, and you still decided to go for it? This must be a joke or something.” She walked up to Ivy and said, “Do you think you can afford it? Give it up immediately!” She added rudely.Ivy felt a surge of annoyance. "I don't think so," she said calmly, her grip on the shoe tightening. She wasn't about to let her aunt take the shoes from her. She saw it first, and from the whole multitude of shoes in there, she was only interested in that particular one.But then her aunt's behavior wasn't all that surprising to her; after all, she was used to taking anything that Ivy liked and handing it over to her own daughter.Madam Dorothy held the shoe up in the air this time, admiring the beautiful design. “This would fit Hailey so well. I'm sure she would love how classy it is.”The receptionist intervened, her smile faltering for a
“Just wait! You'll lose your job when she gets here!” Dorothy threatened, exuding her air of pride as she spoke.The next minute, the young lady who appeared to be in her early twenties was a stunning beauty. She had long, curly brown hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall.Her bright eyes sparkled with confidence and poise, and her flawless skin radiated a warm, golden glow. She stood tall, with a graceful posture that commanded attention, and her slender yet curvy figure was accentuated by a fitted white dress that hugged her body in all the right places as she strolled down the stairs.As she approached, Dorothy's expression turned smug, and she nodded in the lady's direction. “Ah, here comes her,” she said. “How have you been doing?”The young lady, whose name tag read “Sophia,” smiled warmly as she approached Madam Dorothy and the receptionist. “Hi there,” she said, her voice friendly and welcoming. “I'm Sophia, the manager. How can I assist you today, Mrs. Dorothy?”“
“What do you mean it is a minor situation?” he questioned, fixing his eyes on her.Sophia felt a chill run down her spine at Damian's question. In truth, he was her boss and the true owner of the boutique, but he preferred to keep it a secret from his family.Seeing him walk into the boutique in the middle of such a situation wasn’t something she had expected, so she decided to lie.“Oh, sir, I mean it’s a minor situation that shouldn’t need your attention,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “It’s just some women arguing over some shoes.”Damian looked around and found Ivy's grip tightening on the shoes while the security stepped back. That told him all he needed to know.He turned back to Sophia. “Why is security here if it’s just some women’s business?”Sophia shuddered; she didn’t know the right reply to give to her boss. Knowing him well enough to always uphold justice, she realized he was going to ask for the CCTV footage and judge the situation accordingly.“Sir?” she starte
Weeks later………As Damian walked into the living room, Ivy looked up from her book and smiled, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Hey, dear," she said, her voice husky."Hey, dear," he smiled as he walked up to her. He leaned in and stole a kiss from her. "How was your night?""What can I say? A billionaire tucked me in to sleep last night."Damian's face lit up with a radiant smile as he approached her. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle caress. The kiss deepened, their lips moving in perfect sync.Ivy's hands instinctively went to Damian's tie, her fingers deftly knotting it as they continued to kiss. Their lips parted for a moment, and Damian's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with desire."Your night was fantastic, huh?" Damian whispered, his voice low and husky. "I'm glad to hear that."Ivy's cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, it's not every night that a billionaire tucks me into bed," she teased, her voice playful.Damian chuckled,
Ivy's eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping open when she saw an aged woman standing in front of the door. At first glance, she could tell that the woman was elegant and wealthy; her outfit and jewelry made it obvious.The woman stood at the door, her brows furrowed, creating deep lines on her forehead. "Where is my grandson?" she asked again.Ivy stood there dumbfounded. Damian had never told her that his grandmother was coming over today; in fact, he hadn't even mentioned her or any of his family to her, except during his last paranoid episodes.Ivy's shock deepened as she took in the woman's imposing presence. The woman's elegant outfit and sparkling jewelry screamed wealth and sophistication."Where is my grandson?" the woman demanded, her brows furrowed in displeasure.Ivy's mind raced. Damian had never mentioned his grandmother, let alone her visiting. Did he know she was coming and decide not to inform her?"Go, go, go, good morning, ma'am," she stammered, trying to articulat
Ivy heaved a deep sigh of relief when she saw Lucas approaching them.Once Lucas walked in and set his eyes on Madam Victoria, his breath caught in his throat. His whole body tensed, muscles rigid with fear. He had grown up with her and knew what they were in for if she stayed any longer.He quickly forced a small smile as he walked up to her. “Good morning, ma'am,” Lucas managed to say in a strained voice. “You didn't say you were coming over for the weekend.”Madam Victoria's expression remained icy. "Lucas, darling," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're still as charming as ever but still unable to get yourself a woman.”Lucas forced a smile, but his eyes betrayed his unease. "I... I wasn't aware you were coming over, Grandmother," he stammered.Madam Victoria's smile grew wider. "Surprise, dear," she said, her voice laced with malice. "I've decided to stay for a while. Go get me your boss.”Lucas's eyes darted to Ivy, seeking reassurance. "I... I see," he replie