ARE YOU WILLING OR NOT?

∆IVORY∆

"Is this how we always meet eachother?" He whispered in my ear, I stood frozen, as I'm still unable to come out of the shock.

"How come…?" I finally managed to mutter, of all people to show up here, why is this man?

The same man I had kissed in a drunken state at that bar weeks ago, and now he was standing in front of me, smirking like he owned the world, I totally forgot about that embarrassing incident thanks to my family, and my efforts to find a job.

Noticing my silence, he leaned closer, "Don’t tell me you’re pretending not to recognize me, Ms. Ivory."

Heat flooded my cheeks as I instinctively took a step back, keeping the distance in between us, but his teasing smirk only deepened looking at my embarrassed state.

Before I could respond, Jessica’s friend sneered, "Shameless woman, always ready to seduce men, someone like you deserves to be taught a lesson."

She grabbed a glass of drink from the table and raised it toward me.

I almost expected the drink to be spoiled on me.

But he stepped in front of me, his broad frame shielding me entirely. The drink spilled on him instead, dripping down his costly suit. His expression darkened as he glared at the group of bullies.

"How dare you bully her like this?" He roared with extreme anger.

Jessica crossed her arms, trying to argue with him back, "Who the hell are you to protect her and shout at us? Do you even know who I am?"

This man, who is he for real? I never saw him till now, and how come he showed up in this party and messing with everyone's favourite Jessica!

I tugged at his sleeve, trying to pull him back, "please don't,"

But he ignored me, his eyes locking onto Jacob, who was making his way toward us.

"You don't know me," he said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "But, he does," He pointed toward Jacob. "Why don’t you tell her who I am?"

The color drained from Jacob’s face, as if he witnessed a ghost, he stepped back slightly as Jessica clung to his arm, with a pout.

"Jacob," she whimpered with the same dramatic tears. "I just wanted to talk to my sister, but she brought this… this devilish man to bully me! You have to teach him a lesson for me."

The man standing beside me chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Devilish man? Teaching a lesson to me? Very interesting!" He turned to Jacob. "Is this how you're introducing me to others? Well, how are you going to teach me a lesson, Jacob?"

Jacob’s panic was quite evident on his face, "No! No, Uncle, she’s mistaken." He turned to Jessica, with a sharp tone. "Jessie, what exactly are you doing? Apologize to my uncle right now!"

"Uncle?" I whispered lowly, as my jaw dropped, when the realization hit me like a ton of bricks, so the man beside me is, Alexander Kingston, wasn’t just anyone, he was Jacob’s uncle.

Alexander Kingston, the ruthless business tycoon who dominated the corporate world. The same man I had drunkenly kissed.

Oh no, I had officially dug my own grave, I should confirm a berth for myself in the graveyard for messing with a man who drinks blood as a smoothie.

Jessica, now realizing her mistake, switched gears, her eyes filling with fake tears. "Ivory… you knew who he was, didn’t you? You wanted to embarrass me in front of Jacob’s family. Why do you hate me so much?" She turned to Alexander, clasping her hands in mock desperation. "Uncle, please don’t misunderstand my sister, she has always been..."

"Enough," Alexander cut her off sharply. “You’re the one who insulted me and brought people to bully your sister, yet you stand here pretending to be innocent? How pathetic!"

"Uncle, you’re misunderstanding," Jacob tried to intervene, being supportive to Jessica. "Jessie isn’t like that, she ..."

Alexander’s icy gaze shifted to him, "Aren't you ashamed? Defending another woman in front of your fiancee? What a man you're, Jacob?"

Jacob flinched, his mouth snapping shut, this is the first time I've seen Jacob like this, Jessica is already shaking in fear and hiding behind Jacob, while all her minions are almost on the verge of life and death with nervousness.

Alexander turned to me, with a slightly softened expression, "Ms. Ivory, are you done here, or would you like to continue entertaining their drama?"

I quickly shook my head. "I’m done."

"Good." He extended his arm toward the exit, "I’ll drop you off."

Jacob held my hand stopping me from leaving, "Ivory," I brushed his hand away from mine, as I'm disgusted to be touched by him, without even sparing a glance back, I walked along with Alexander.

I hesitated but got into his car, as I had something to talk with him, the car ride was silent at first, the tension thick in the air. I kept my eyes down, fidgeting with my hands as the weight of the situation made me frightened.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, I turned to him, joining my hands together as I bowed. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Kingston, I offended you that night at the bar, I was heartbroken and drunk, out of that drunken state, I messed with you, please forgive me."

"So, you remember that incident?" He said, with a teasing tone, "For a moment there, I thought you forgot me and that incident in between us."

I felt my cheeks heat up again, how could I possibly forget something so embarrassing?

Alexander chuckled softly, his gaze shifting to the other side of the road, "Relax, I’m not angry with you, in fact, I knew exactly who you were the moment I saw you that night."

I froze instantly. "You… knew?"

He nodded with a cheeky smile, "I know you very well, Ms. Ivory, I know what they did to you, and I know what you’ve been through too, which is why I’m here to make you an offer."

"An offer?" I repeated with a confused look on my face.

He glanced at me briefly before focusing back on the road, "Yes, the biggest revenge you can take on them is by proving your true worth."

"True worth?" My voice came out higher than I intended.

He nodded again, as calm as ever, "Yes, what do you think of working with me?"

I blinked hard, trying to understand his words, working with him? What kind of work is that?

My thoughts raced one by one, the questions piling up, but I couldn’t find the courage to ask.

Alexander must have noticed my hesitation because he turned to me slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Well? Are you willing or not?"