REIGN’S POV
I mumbled incoherent words as I snuggled more into the soft pillow I was clutching in my arms. It was the softest I had ever had, a huge contrast to the hard lump of complexity that my life had become. The realization had me pushing the pillow away and sitting up, looking around the beige themed room. I felt the same awe I had felt when I had stepped into it for the first time, when someone, a maid i presume, kindly helped me to my room. Something Ivan was not gentlemanly enough to do. I pushed the duvet away from my laps and stood up before stretching and humming in satisfaction at the ‘pop’ sound I received. I resisted the urge to grimace at the sight of my bed nest hair and the obvious drool on my cheek as I passed the mirror on my way to the bathroom. I did my business in a hurry, eager to get a headstart on the day. I had a job that determines my life or death. Twenty minutes later, I was out of my bedroom, dressed in jeans and a simple T-shirt, and jogged down the stairs, ignoring the claps of my cheeks, well the other cheeks. I wondered where the maid that helped me yesterday was. The house was silent, perhaps empty and it freaked me out. Imagine staying alone in such a big house, my mental health would go down another notch. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I had not paid any attention to it yet. I could never go on a diet, I swear. The kitchen, which I found easily, thank God, was just as exquisite as the rest of the house. White themed, modern appliances, stocked to the brim, which I found out when I checked the refrigerator and the cabinets, and clean, it was every chef's dream kitchen. I settled on making pancakes, eggs and some sausages. Easy to make without breaking a sweat. I had no idea whether I sucked at measurement or in my subconscious mind, there was someone else other than me that needed food as well, I ended up making enough for two people. I glanced at the stairs wondering if Ivan would appear magically. I was not even sure he was home. Deciding to just go with the flow, I plated for two and sat at the counter. However, before I could indulge myself, the man responsible for my predicament, showed up in the kitchen. He looked shocked to see me, as I was. My eyes raked greedily over his body as I took it in the sweaty mass of muscle in front of me. He obviously just finished working out. But that was not what grabbed my attention. Ivan had tattoos. I had only ever seen him in suits but now he was dressed in a grey tank top and shorts revealing the array of dark ink that was usually covered with his suit. He had a full sleeve on one hand and I was sure his back was not spared from the work of art. I wanted to get closer to him so I could make out the words and images on his skin. I wanted to lick him— Now, Reign, hold your horses. I mentally berated myself. “ Fat women are not my type. ” Ivan's smooth as silk voice reaches me, dousing cold water on the warmth that was starting to envelop me. “ What? ” I stupidly asked. “ You were looking at me like a fat kid looks at cake so I felt the need to clarify. You are not my type and I am not the least bit attracted to you so you can get rid of whatever fantasy that is in your head. ” He said casually, like he was not embarrassing the hell out of me. “ I wasn't…. ” I started to deny. “ I am not a fool. ” He said, moved to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. I clenched my fists and resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall or better still, my head because I put myself in this situation. “ What's that? ” He asked, interrupting my self loathing. I followed the trail of his eyes and gulped when I saw the uneaten plate beside mine. I had already embarrassed myself enough today. “ Food. ” I said, cringing after it escaped my lips. “ I am sure anyone can make out that it is, but why are there two plates? Are you planning to eat them both? Or…it's not for me, is it? ” He asked, his eyebrows curving in amusement or disdain, I was not sure. My silence was enough response. So he laughed. Not the kind that made you develop butterflies or wonder how someone's smile could be so beautiful. It was the kind that makes you regret your actions, the kind that makes you want to dig a hole in the ground, enter it and never show your face to humanity again. “ You must have so much time on your hands. ” He remarked, after he was done with his laughing fit. “ I think you are forgetting why you are here. Stop wasting your time on useless things such as this and invest in getting Mel back. You know there are consequences if you don't. ” He walked out after that, taking with him my dignity and respect. Then his head popped back in. “ You can eat both of them by the way. I am sure you have enough space to fit all that in. ” His smirk was the last thing I saw before he finally left. I grabbed my hair and screamed, not caring if anyone heard. I have never hated anyone as much as I hated him. I have never had any good feelings while in his presence. How could someone be so cruel and mean? And I thought he was attractive? I guess I was as blind as a bat. I glared at the plates of food that was now cold and wondered what to do with them. I eventually sat down to eat my portion. I was not going to let a jerk that needed to touch grass have me starving for the rest of the day, especially when I still had no idea what the day had in store for me. I was meeting Melanie after my breakfast. I still had no plan at all. The only thing I could come up with from my tossing and turning last night was following the woman to at least know something about her. After I was done eating, I glanced at the plate I made for Ivan and wondered what to do with it. My head came up blank so I just covered and left it there. Deciding my outfit for the day was good enough to be out, I just grabbed my bag and stepped out of the house. I squealed in joy when I noticed my car in the driveway, a stark contrast to the exuberance of the surroundings. I ran to it and placed my cheek on the hood. I got into my baby and sped, or at least tried to, out of the intimidating gates. According to the schedule that Ivan had kindly sent to email, Melanie should be at Platinum Palace at the moment. I had bad memories about the place so I parked a bit away from the entrance. I did not have to wait too long. The tall and curvy figure of Melanie Anderson was one I would recognize anywhere. She had on sunglasses and a scarf, perhaps to hide herself from the attack of the paparazzi who wanted to know how she felt about the news of her fiancée cheating, which he did not. I grimaced once again at my mistake. She entered a car that was already waiting at the exit and I gripped my steering wheel in anticipation. This was it. My mission starts now. So I did not hesitate to follow the car as it sped down the busy streets of New York.REIGN'S POVMelanie’s first stop for the day was at a spa, which looked more like a mall to be honest. I parked a few feet away from them and gaped at the building. How was I supposed to enter this place? I watched with a heavy heart as Mel got down from her car, nodded at the valet and disappeared into the building. I immediately got into action, I can't afford to lose her. I got down and walked towards the building but was stopped by a man dressed in a black suit.“ Ma'am, your key. ” He demanded, without any emotion.My key? Oh, the valet.I handed him the key and watched as his eyes widened when he saw the car the key belonged to. I smiled sheepishly when he turned back to look at me. Of course, my beat down car would look like a sore thumb anywhere.Realizing that I had wasted too much time, I jogged into the building, stopping only for a few minutes to admire my surroundings. Wealthy people live in another world entirely. I spotted Mel again talking to someone in the lobby and
REIGN'S POV What should I do? Should I laugh and just run away? No, she would just run after me and catch me easily? Should I say I was a fan? That was more feasible. Or should I just say the truth? That Ivan had me do this? Ivan never told me if I was allowed to do that though.I groaned. What a rollercoaster my life has become!“ I…I was just…you know….” I stammered, looking around the mall like a way out was going to suddenly appear.“ I don't know anything. All I know is a creepy woman has been following me in a beat up car all day. ” Mel said, venom coating her face and her voice. My poor car. I am sorry you are taking the brunt of my actions.“ The thing is…” I started, ready to throw Ivan under the bus to redeem the image of my car.“ Oh, it's you. ” Melanie suddenly exclaimed, startling me. What was going on? Have we met before? “ Do you know me? ” I asked, reluctantly.“ Of course. Aren't you the reporter who posted the first article about Ivan's affair? ” She asked, the i
IVAN’S POVI enjoyed the startled look on her face. Far too much than I would like to admit. That was what she gets for keeping me waiting. Nothing no one has ever done or can afford to do. Yet this woman, with lips that were too pink for her own good and was currently staring at me with fear in her eyes, dared to do so. It was rather unsettling.“ Pretending to be a statue won't make me forget your actions. ” I said, when she still didn't move after all.“ Really? It was worth a try though. ” She sassed before walking towards the seat next to mine and sitting down.She smelt of vanilla and coconuts. While I noticed it was beyond me but as she passed by me, I unconsciously inhaled her scent and let it fill me.What the hell was I doing?“ I was late because your dare fiancée kept me busy. ” She muttered, almost in an accusatory tone. “ She's pretty persuasive. ”“ Those shopping bags–” I started.“....are her handworks. ” Reign completed for me. “ She just wouldn't stop and before I k
REIGN'S POV I hummed as I successfully got the board and myself through the front door. I locked eyes with Ivan as I shrugged off my coat. I swear this man appears and disappears. He was nowhere to be found when I had left home earlier.Home? Did I just refer to this prison as a home? I must be hungry, very hungry.“ Where are you coming from? ” Ivan demanded, glancing down at whatever he was doing. I realized he was working on his laptop when I moved closer and there was a plus….he was wearing glasses! It was crazy how attractive Ivan looked and it was crazier how attracted I was to him despite how rude and mean he was to me. My taste in men was questionable. Ivan looked up again when I took so long in replying. I cleared my throat and looked away before he realized that I had been staring. I would hate for a repeat of what happened in the kitchen yesterday.“ Does living here mean my movements are monitored too? ” I scowled, resting half of my weight on the board.“ Well you are n
Chapter 11REIGN'S POV Satisfied with what I have come up with, I placed the board in the corner of my room so I don't collide with it and so it is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. It would make me get up fast and get me started on my day.To completely get started on my plan, I needed to learn everything I can from Ivan about Melanie. Even if they were not close, I am sure he would know a few important pieces of information about her. It would also be an opportunity for me to test just how on the surface their relationship was. If he could give me substantial information, then there was hope but if I got nothing, then my work was really cut out for me.I grabbed my phone from the bed and trudged out of the room. I whistled happily as I walked down the stairs, excited that everything was going according to plan. Hopefully Ivan was still in the kitchen. I would hate to have to go to his room. I was not even sure which of the rooms belonged to him. We have never bum
REIGN'S POV The address Mel gave me was a cozy looking cafe. Just looking at it alone made me feel good. There was almost a skip in my steps as I entered the cafe. The chime of the bell signalling my entrance. The cafe was not too big so spotting Mel was not an issue.As usual, she was dressed impeccably. I wondered how she managed to look good and still not go over the top. I plastered a smile on my face and walked towards her. The click of my heels had her looking up. My chest warmed as her lips widened into a smile when she spotted me.No one had ever been that excited to see me.“ Hi. ” I said shyly, and took the seat opposite her. I was nervous, way more nervous than I had been in front of my first crush. She unnerved me in a way.“ Hello. ” She replied enthusiastically, almost shooting out of her seat. She grabbed her head at the extreme movement, massaging her scalp gently.“ Are you okay? ” I asked, wondering what was going on.“ Yeah, I'm good. I just had a really crazy nigh
IVAN'S POV I wiped the towel down my face as I shut the gym door and made my way back to the sitting room. I wondered if Reign was in the kitchen whipping up something. I almost could not see the kitchen without her in it anymore.I placed the towel on my shoulder ready to go to the kitchen to see Reign when the woman in question suddenly appeared in front of me, startling me. Thankfully, I didn't have a reaction too big. I had already embarrassed myself enough with what happened yesterday.“ Are you cosplaying a ghost today too? ” My eyebrows raised in question.“ Pull off your shirt. ”“ What? ”“ Pull off your shirt, ” She repeated.She was serious? Was she okay? “ Don't you think I need some sort of explanation as to why I need to pull off my shirt? ” I folded my arms.“ I need to confirm something. ” She replied, folding her arms as well.Wrong move.I can't believe I let my guard down yesterday and got caught ogling her boobs. She was doing the same thing again. Raising them u
REIGN'S POV The life of a jobless broke woman was really monotonous. My routine now consisted of waking up, eating, and seeing Mel. I wondered how I was going to live after this whole thing was over. It was more than glaring that I had lost my job at Everlight publications. The thought of Bethany getting the position I had worked hard for made my stomach clench in sadness and something else akin to anger.“ Are you okay? ”“ Uh, what? ” I said, remembering my surroundings. I was in a mall with Mel. She had suddenly invited me out for breakfast that morning. She was exactly the person I wanted to see so I didn't waste time in going to see her after that weird moment with Ivan.“ Is everything fine? You have been staring at your cup for over five minutes. ” Mel said, twirling her latte with a straw.“ Yeah, everything is fine. I just feel a bit nostalgic. “ I smiled.“ Oh, I understand that feeling. Missing moments that are long gone and wishing they would happen again. I know it all t
REIGN'S POV The life of a jobless broke woman was really monotonous. My routine now consisted of waking up, eating, and seeing Mel. I wondered how I was going to live after this whole thing was over. It was more than glaring that I had lost my job at Everlight publications. The thought of Bethany getting the position I had worked hard for made my stomach clench in sadness and something else akin to anger.“ Are you okay? ”“ Uh, what? ” I said, remembering my surroundings. I was in a mall with Mel. She had suddenly invited me out for breakfast that morning. She was exactly the person I wanted to see so I didn't waste time in going to see her after that weird moment with Ivan.“ Is everything fine? You have been staring at your cup for over five minutes. ” Mel said, twirling her latte with a straw.“ Yeah, everything is fine. I just feel a bit nostalgic. “ I smiled.“ Oh, I understand that feeling. Missing moments that are long gone and wishing they would happen again. I know it all t
IVAN'S POV I wiped the towel down my face as I shut the gym door and made my way back to the sitting room. I wondered if Reign was in the kitchen whipping up something. I almost could not see the kitchen without her in it anymore.I placed the towel on my shoulder ready to go to the kitchen to see Reign when the woman in question suddenly appeared in front of me, startling me. Thankfully, I didn't have a reaction too big. I had already embarrassed myself enough with what happened yesterday.“ Are you cosplaying a ghost today too? ” My eyebrows raised in question.“ Pull off your shirt. ”“ What? ”“ Pull off your shirt, ” She repeated.She was serious? Was she okay? “ Don't you think I need some sort of explanation as to why I need to pull off my shirt? ” I folded my arms.“ I need to confirm something. ” She replied, folding her arms as well.Wrong move.I can't believe I let my guard down yesterday and got caught ogling her boobs. She was doing the same thing again. Raising them u
REIGN'S POV The address Mel gave me was a cozy looking cafe. Just looking at it alone made me feel good. There was almost a skip in my steps as I entered the cafe. The chime of the bell signalling my entrance. The cafe was not too big so spotting Mel was not an issue.As usual, she was dressed impeccably. I wondered how she managed to look good and still not go over the top. I plastered a smile on my face and walked towards her. The click of my heels had her looking up. My chest warmed as her lips widened into a smile when she spotted me.No one had ever been that excited to see me.“ Hi. ” I said shyly, and took the seat opposite her. I was nervous, way more nervous than I had been in front of my first crush. She unnerved me in a way.“ Hello. ” She replied enthusiastically, almost shooting out of her seat. She grabbed her head at the extreme movement, massaging her scalp gently.“ Are you okay? ” I asked, wondering what was going on.“ Yeah, I'm good. I just had a really crazy nigh
Chapter 11REIGN'S POV Satisfied with what I have come up with, I placed the board in the corner of my room so I don't collide with it and so it is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. It would make me get up fast and get me started on my day.To completely get started on my plan, I needed to learn everything I can from Ivan about Melanie. Even if they were not close, I am sure he would know a few important pieces of information about her. It would also be an opportunity for me to test just how on the surface their relationship was. If he could give me substantial information, then there was hope but if I got nothing, then my work was really cut out for me.I grabbed my phone from the bed and trudged out of the room. I whistled happily as I walked down the stairs, excited that everything was going according to plan. Hopefully Ivan was still in the kitchen. I would hate to have to go to his room. I was not even sure which of the rooms belonged to him. We have never bum
REIGN'S POV I hummed as I successfully got the board and myself through the front door. I locked eyes with Ivan as I shrugged off my coat. I swear this man appears and disappears. He was nowhere to be found when I had left home earlier.Home? Did I just refer to this prison as a home? I must be hungry, very hungry.“ Where are you coming from? ” Ivan demanded, glancing down at whatever he was doing. I realized he was working on his laptop when I moved closer and there was a plus….he was wearing glasses! It was crazy how attractive Ivan looked and it was crazier how attracted I was to him despite how rude and mean he was to me. My taste in men was questionable. Ivan looked up again when I took so long in replying. I cleared my throat and looked away before he realized that I had been staring. I would hate for a repeat of what happened in the kitchen yesterday.“ Does living here mean my movements are monitored too? ” I scowled, resting half of my weight on the board.“ Well you are n
IVAN’S POVI enjoyed the startled look on her face. Far too much than I would like to admit. That was what she gets for keeping me waiting. Nothing no one has ever done or can afford to do. Yet this woman, with lips that were too pink for her own good and was currently staring at me with fear in her eyes, dared to do so. It was rather unsettling.“ Pretending to be a statue won't make me forget your actions. ” I said, when she still didn't move after all.“ Really? It was worth a try though. ” She sassed before walking towards the seat next to mine and sitting down.She smelt of vanilla and coconuts. While I noticed it was beyond me but as she passed by me, I unconsciously inhaled her scent and let it fill me.What the hell was I doing?“ I was late because your dare fiancée kept me busy. ” She muttered, almost in an accusatory tone. “ She's pretty persuasive. ”“ Those shopping bags–” I started.“....are her handworks. ” Reign completed for me. “ She just wouldn't stop and before I k
REIGN'S POV What should I do? Should I laugh and just run away? No, she would just run after me and catch me easily? Should I say I was a fan? That was more feasible. Or should I just say the truth? That Ivan had me do this? Ivan never told me if I was allowed to do that though.I groaned. What a rollercoaster my life has become!“ I…I was just…you know….” I stammered, looking around the mall like a way out was going to suddenly appear.“ I don't know anything. All I know is a creepy woman has been following me in a beat up car all day. ” Mel said, venom coating her face and her voice. My poor car. I am sorry you are taking the brunt of my actions.“ The thing is…” I started, ready to throw Ivan under the bus to redeem the image of my car.“ Oh, it's you. ” Melanie suddenly exclaimed, startling me. What was going on? Have we met before? “ Do you know me? ” I asked, reluctantly.“ Of course. Aren't you the reporter who posted the first article about Ivan's affair? ” She asked, the i
REIGN'S POVMelanie’s first stop for the day was at a spa, which looked more like a mall to be honest. I parked a few feet away from them and gaped at the building. How was I supposed to enter this place? I watched with a heavy heart as Mel got down from her car, nodded at the valet and disappeared into the building. I immediately got into action, I can't afford to lose her. I got down and walked towards the building but was stopped by a man dressed in a black suit.“ Ma'am, your key. ” He demanded, without any emotion.My key? Oh, the valet.I handed him the key and watched as his eyes widened when he saw the car the key belonged to. I smiled sheepishly when he turned back to look at me. Of course, my beat down car would look like a sore thumb anywhere.Realizing that I had wasted too much time, I jogged into the building, stopping only for a few minutes to admire my surroundings. Wealthy people live in another world entirely. I spotted Mel again talking to someone in the lobby and
REIGN’S POVI mumbled incoherent words as I snuggled more into the soft pillow I was clutching in my arms. It was the softest I had ever had, a huge contrast to the hard lump of complexity that my life had become. The realization had me pushing the pillow away and sitting up, looking around the beige themed room. I felt the same awe I had felt when I had stepped into it for the first time, when someone, a maid i presume, kindly helped me to my room. Something Ivan was not gentlemanly enough to do.I pushed the duvet away from my laps and stood up before stretching and humming in satisfaction at the ‘pop’ sound I received. I resisted the urge to grimace at the sight of my bed nest hair and the obvious drool on my cheek as I passed the mirror on my way to the bathroom. I did my business in a hurry, eager to get a headstart on the day. I had a job that determines my life or death. Twenty minutes later, I was out of my bedroom, dressed in jeans and a simple T-shirt, and jogged down the s