CHAPTER 57 IVY The corners of my eyes crinkled with a radiant smile. I couldn't believe that the Queen herself appreciated my talents in this way. It was my first time meeting her, and she was so kind and encouraging. I couldn't wait to deliver her outfits. “Thank you, ma'am,” I said, a wide grin spreading across my lips. “I really appreciate that you took the time out of your busy schedule to grace my event.” She smiled warmly before the guards escorted her outside. I stood frozen in place, still starstruck that I had just met her. Despite being in her late eighties, she looked beautiful and strong, moving with agility and speaking with crystal clarity. Happiness washed over me like a gentle wave, soothing my worries and fears. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, weightless and free as a bird. Not caring that I was in public, I spun in circles, my arms outstretched to embrace the sheer joy of the moment. Suddenly, someone lightly tapped my shoulder, jolting me from my thought
CHAPTER 58 IVY. I hurried back up the stairs to the storeroom where I had asked my assistant to keep the Queen's fabric. I would be sending it to her quarters tomorrow morning, and then I planned to have some tea with her. I know I'm not supposed to be this excited, but I am. That’s a royal tea, if you ask me! I plan to make the most of this opportunity; I want to take a photo of her in the outfit and get a shout-out to post on social media. I’m sure that will be excellent for PR. A few minutes later, the elevator beeped, and I stepped out gracefully, heading straight for the storeroom. However, as I pushed the door open, I saw Leon inside. I was slightly confused and surprised to find him there, but I didn’t feel the need to say much—after all, it was his company, and he had the right to be anywhere he wanted. But honestly, just wandering around like that seemed a bit pathetic! I should feel some sympathy for him, but I swear I have none left. “Congratulations,” he mumbled lou
CHAPTER 59 CASPER She hesitated for a moment before nodding. “That sounds like an adventure. I’ve never done that before.” I smirked, squeezing her hand gently. We both stepped out of the car and headed straight into the room. It surprised me that she had never been drunk before. It seemed her last relationship hadn’t been all that great. I would have loved to ask her about it, but I didn’t want to put her in an uncomfortable position. Besides, it was his loss. I had her now, and that was all that mattered. She was adding some extra flair to my personal and political life. After her fashion launch debut, my name had skyrocketed back to the top of the polls. I hadn’t paid for that, but who was I to say no? She was doing such a fantastic job that sometimes I forgot she was just my surrogate and not my real wife. About twenty minutes later, we had both changed into casual outfits, and I had set the table with the best wines in town, waiting for her to join me. The launch had been a
CHAPTER 60 IVY Casper must have noticed the expression on my face when I finally realized I was drunk. Even in my inebriated state, one thing was clear: I wanted him. He looked at me and remarked, “Your makeup is smudged.” I blushed and tried to move again, but this time, I fell directly into his lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and for a moment, our eyes locked. The room fell silent, and I could barely breathe. All I could hear was our muffled breathing. Each time our skin brushed against each other, a cold chill ran down my spine, and my heart fluttered like it had found delicate wings. “You know,” he said, raising his hand to wipe away a bead of sweat forming on my forehead, “you look even better without makeup.” His words made me blush even more. “Do you observe every woman this way?” I asked suddenly, surprised by my own question. It must have been the liquor. Without answering, he leaned down and cupped my chin in his hand. He kissed me deeply, his tongue explorin
CHAPTER 61 IVY Minutes later, I was still on the bed, stylishly using the blanket to cover my half-naked body. I still couldn't believe we had sex and breached our contract last night. I felt both ashamed and nervous, not knowing exactly how to face him. I hate to admit it, but the sex with him was fantastic. Leon has never treated me this way or satisfied me in this way. I forced myself out of bed, yawning and stretching as I groggily walked into the bathroom. I didn't have a choice, knowing I would be seeing the queen in the next few minutes. I needed to dress elegantly and be on my best behavior. I was also relieved that Casper had left; if not, I wouldn't be this comfortable around him. But then again, I felt a pang of disappointment that he just left. I didn't want him to go just yet. I still yearned for more of his intimacy, to bask in the warmth of his presence, to feel his eyes on me and hear his voice whispering sweet words in my ear, just as he did last night. The shrill
CHAPTER 62 IVY Some minutes later, the queen made her way in with two guards right behind her. Once I saw her, I jumped to my feet in respect. She looked so beautiful, her head held high, full of confidence. She was dressed so simply that one wouldn't have imagined she was the ruling monarch of this city. And did I mention she looked so healthy and strong? I would have sworn she wasn't a day over fifty! As she approached me, she wore a warm smile. “Hey, Ivy?” she said in such a sweet voice. My lips slackened as I quickly walked closer to her to ease the distance. “Good morning, ma'am,” I said shyly and almost breathless. She had a strong posture, and her arms swung as she walked to the couch. She settled into it and quickly waved at the maid by the corner. “Get her a drink,” she said urgently, and the lady in question quickly exited, rushing out to get me a drink just as she mentioned. I couldn't stop staring at the queen. She indeed had such a great personality, but I was still
CHAPTER 63. IVY. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw that asshole walk into the room where I was sitting. For a moment, I wanted to ask him what he was doing there, but I quickly stopped myself, reminding myself that he is part of the royal family. Rolling my eyes, I sighed in disgust. "You won't talk to me anymore?" He sat beside me. "Is it a guilty conscience about what you did?" I scoffed, tucking my hair behind my ear. For the last few minutes I had been here, I had been riding high on positive energy and on my best behavior. And here comes the devil trying to force me to break character. Did he just say "guilty conscience"? I almost burst out laughing at the thought that I gave two fucks about him. I hadn't done a thing, and he thought I'd feel guilty for his self-centered ass. Besides, there was not one lie told—he was an abusive man who used to beat me to a pulp back in the day. I was just doing other women a service by creating awareness about how much of a mons
Leon’s eyes swept over her beautiful dress, and his lips curved into a deep smile. “You look stunning!” he admitted. “That dress really looks good on you, Ivy!” he admired, not trying to hide how much he adored her in that dress. Ivy rolled her eyes and responded, “Thank you, but that doesn't answer my question: what the hell were you doing at my door? You're supposed to be at your company already. You're the CEO!” He sighed. “I was waiting for you. I tried calling you, but your phone wasn’t reachable. Then my aunt told me that you jogged out with Damian.” “And why would you be waiting for me instead of going over to put things in order?” "I was waiting for you because I wanted to make sure you were okay after your jog," Leon said, his eyes still admiring her dress. "And I have to say, you look absolutely breathtaking. How can I concentrate on work without you being there?” Ivy raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "You were worried about me? That's sweet, but I think you
IVYMinutes later, I was still on the bed, stylishly using the blanket to cover my half-naked body. I still couldn't believe we had sex and breached our contract last night. I felt both ashamed and nervous, not knowing exactly how to face him. I hate to admit it, but the sex with him was fantastic. Leon has never treated me this way or satisfied me in this way.I forced myself out of bed, yawning and stretching as I groggily walked into the bathroom. I didn't have a choice, knowing I would be seeing the queen in the next few minutes. I needed to dress elegantly and be on my best behavior. I was also relieved that Casper had left; if not, I wouldn't be this comfortable around him. But then again, I felt a pang of disappointment that he just left. I didn't want him to go just yet. I still yearned for more of his intimacy, to bask in the warmth of his presence, to feel his eyes on me and hear his voice whispering sweet words in my ear, just as he did last night.The shrill ring of the al
The following day, as soon as it was 7 AM, I was already dressed and almost ready for my visit to F&K Financials. My eyes widened with anticipation as I looked at my reflection in the mirror; my pulse quickened. Nothing else mattered right now. I couldn’t stop smiling—my whole face radiated excitement.When Casper woke up, I could swear he rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated by how early I was up. Well, I wouldn’t blame him. He was born with a silver spoon and could never imagine what it meant to grow up in New York, struggling on the streets of Seattle without parents. Just when I thought things were looking up, I met a boyfriend who turned out to be a serial cheater and abusive jerk. I doubted he ever knew the feeling of fulfilling a long-held dream.“Didn’t you check your email yesterday? I sent you your schedule for the week,” he grumbled as he climbed out of bed.“Of course I did.” I didn’t bother to look his way.“Your first stop is F&K. You’re their major shareholder, overseein
“I don't know; it's all over the news outlets in Monaco. You're the trending topic right now, and it's that bad,” Leon continued.Casper's eyes widened in horror as he rushed outside with Leon. From his reaction, I could tell it was serious, but my mind couldn't help but wonder who had leaked those photos to the press. Casper had boldly claimed that there was no access to phones in that part of the palace. It had always been a sanctuary, keeping the royal family away from media scrutiny. But clearly, that was no longer the case—someone was trying to sabotage him.If only he had let me speak first, he would have heard the bad news from me. I wasn’t trying to be the bearer of bad news, but I had intended to tell him before that jerk snatched the opportunity away.I let out a disappointed sigh. I knew I had been cold toward him these past few days, but I didn’t want him to endure the media's scrutiny in such a negative light. I picked up the file he had meant to show me before Leon inte
The door swung open, and my attorney stepped inside, a stack of files in hand. “Hello, Mr. Casper,” he greeted.I sat up straight. “Are you finished?” I asked eagerly. He nodded and placed the files on my table.I picked them up for a quick glance. “So now all she needs to do is sign, and the incoming fashion line from Sky Investments will belong solely to her, right?”“Yes, sir,” he confirmed. “Every ounce of revenue will go to her, and she will oversee everything while Sky Investments funds her debut.”A proud smile spread across my face. “That’s great. Thank you!”Once my attorney left, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I began reading through the files, knowing Ivy would be thrilled. At the very least, this could serve as a small incentive for not being completely honest with her. She hadn’t spoken to me in two days.She was avoiding me as if I had a plague.I missed holding her hand and our late-night conversations. It was unusual for me to try so hard to impress someone, but I co
For a moment, I felt lost. I stood in absolute silence, too stunned to speak. How was she able to recognize me? And what was the big deal about meeting me in a random boutique? Before I could utter a word, the young lady quickly whipped out her iPhone and snapped a quick selfie with me. “I’m sorry for disturbing you,” she politely apologized. “You can go on with your shopping.” In the next moment, she was out of my sight—actually, out of the boutique. She looked so excited and happy. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a thing in Monaco. “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.” I scanned the lavish lobby, taking in the sleek marble floors and crystal chandeliers as I entered the private VIP section. “Wow, this place is s
For a moment, I felt lost. I stood in absolute silence, too stunned to speak. How was she able to recognize me? And what was the big deal about meeting me in a random boutique? Before I could utter a word, the young lady quickly whipped out her iPhone and snapped a quick selfie with me. “I’m sorry for disturbing you,” she politely apologized. “You can go on with your shopping.” In the next moment, she was out of my sight—actually, out of the boutique. She looked so excited and happy. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a thing in Monaco. “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.” I scanned the lavish lobby, taking in the sleek marble floors and crystal chandeliers as I entered the private VIP section. “Wow, this place is s
IVYI followed the directions to the office they had arranged for me. It wasn’t large, but it was cosy—well-furnished and equipped with everything I might need during my stay to oversee operations. Despite their efforts, I wasn’t impressed. I doubted anything associated with Leon could ever win my approval.My lack of enthusiasm stemmed from the fact that this office was provided by Leon and Hailey. I scrutinised the room for a moment before scoffing, “They can put in their best effort, but it will never be enough for me.”Meanwhile, I sensed Leon and Hailey waiting outside, anxious for my reaction. Hailey nudged Leon, who seemed lost in thought, preoccupied with his ex-girlfriend. “What’s going on, Leon?” she asked in a low voice, her frustration evident.“Hey, keep your voice down,” Leon cautioned. “We need to maintain the act until she leaves.”Hailey scoffed. “What do you mean? I can’t work with that woman! You know I can’t stand her!”Leon took her hand, fixing his gaze on her.
IVY.The following day, as soon as it was 7 AM, I was already dressed and almost ready for my visit to F&K Financials. My eyes widened with anticipation as I looked at my reflection in the mirror; my pulse quickened. Nothing else mattered right now. I couldn’t stop smiling—my whole face radiated excitement.When Casper woke up, I could swear he rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated by how early I was up. Well, I wouldn’t blame him. He was born with a silver spoon and could never imagine what it meant to grow up in New York, struggling on the streets of Seattle without parents. Just when I thought things were looking up, I met a boyfriend who turned out to be a serial cheater and abusive jerk. I doubted he ever knew the feeling of fulfilling a long-held dream.“Didn’t you check your email yesterday? I sent you your schedule for the week,” he grumbled as he climbed out of bed.“Of course I did.” I didn’t bother to look his way.“Your first stop is F&K. You’re their major shareholder, over
IVYI smiled, savoring the way I was getting on his last nerves. “Just get me wine,” I said, watching Leon scramble away. He was desperate to catch Hailey before she did something reckless. Well I didn't care if he caught up with her,I just need him to get me my wine. When I heard the door swing open , I knew I was in for some entertainment. I took a sip of my drink, feeling confident. I could only imagine the chaos I was stirring between them.Soon, the door opened, and one of the staff members brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted politely. I accepted the drink, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction as I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the queen of the office. Well I was…I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Leon and Hailey were having. Manipulating their emotions was almost too easy, and it thrilled me to think of the discord I had sown but if only they knew this is just the beginning of whatever I was planning. When they