chapter eleven (Ivy's pov)

“That witch!” She screamed as she threw her tablet across the room.

“Calm down, ivy.” Aiden said, holding up his arms in a bid to soothe her.

“Don't you dare tell me to calm down.” She snapped. “Can't you see? She's back and she's going to ruin everything!”

“I know that she's back but freaking out is exactly what she wants you to do and it won't solve anything.” Aiden said calmly.

“Look, Aiden.” She took a step towards him. “I know how hard I worked to get to where I am, I know the people I had to get rid of and how I got rid of them. Elara was one of those people and now that she's back, I know that she has something up her sleeve.”

It was like her worst nightmare had come to haunt her in broad daylight. Something she had never imagined. She always had a plan and loved when things went as planned but this, she had never dreamt of it. It wasn't a slight hitch that she could overcome, it was a full blown stim gathering in the distance and she needed to think fast before it got to her and rained down on her.

Pacing, she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “She cannot find out about anything. If there's one thing I know about that woman it's the fact that she's resilient and will dig to the corners of the earth to find anything. We need a plan and we need a diversion. We need to act fast.”

“We will.” Adrian said from his position on the couch where he was casually sipping on a glass of water.

This made Ivy pause, eyes narrowing at him. “Why are you acting so nonchalant?”

Suspicion was beginning to bubble inside her.

“Don't give me that look.” He replied. “Was I initially shocked by her return? Yes, but will I let her have the effect she wants? No.”

The suspicion was still there. “So what do you want to do? Just sit here and do nothing?”

“Yes.” He took another sip of his water. “I spent three years of my life with that woman, I know her in and out. Elara is a weak woman and she will always be so no matter how much of a strong front she tries to put off. She won't get far before she crumbles and gives up so I'm not bothered about her. Killian Hayes on the other hand… that's the real threat.”

Ivy stiffened at the mention of his name. Their history was a messy one and it was her fault. She went into his life with a mission and succeeded but somewhere deep inside her there was a longing feeling she had tried so hard to bury.

“Yes, he is.” She said softly.

“The question right now is, why is he working with her? Does he age a vendetta against us? Did we do something?” Adrian wondered out loud. “As far as I know, we have barely interacted with him. In fact, whenever we try to have business with him he shuts us down like the egotistical man that he is.”

Ivy remained silent as she took a seat opposite from him. Adrian noticed the slight change in her demeanor.

“Wait… did you do something? Is there something I'm not aware of?” He leaned forward to look her in her eyes.

Just like that, a switch flipped inside her and she was back to her usual self in an instant. “That's none of your concern.” She snapped. “But if you must know, it's nothing but business that he's probably still not over.”

“Business…hmm.” Adrian said, clearly not believing her.

“Do you dare question me?” one of her perfectly shaped brow arches upward. “Do not forget your boundaries, Adrian.”

The suspicious look on his face vanished instantly. Of course not, darling.” He let out a laugh then got up and joined her on the couch she was seated on. “I would never doubt you. I was just a little too curious for my own good, that's all.”

He planted a kiss on her cheek which against her own will, calmed her down. She may not be deeply in love with him because she's just using him but she couldn't deny the fact that there were some feelings towards him.

She turned and planted a kiss on his lips. “I know, love. Let's focus on our next course of action, okay?”

Adrian smirked against her lips, his fingers sliding up her arm in a slow, teasing manner. “Of course, Ivy,” he murmured. “We’ll handle this, just like we always do.”

But as much as he played the loving, devoted partner, Ivy knew better than to fully trust him. Adrian was a snake, just like her. The only difference was, she was better at hiding her fangs.

She pulled away and locked eyes with him. “Then stop being so damn relaxed about this. Even if Elara is weak, she wouldn't have come back without a plan. I'd be damned if I let her undo everything I've built “

Adrian tilted his head and stared at her with an unreadable expression. “What exactly did you build, Ivy?”

She heard the way he laid emphasis on “you” but ignored it. “Everything.”

An amused look took over his face as he chuckled, throwing his head back as he draped his arm over the back of the couch. “Then tell me, darling… what’s the plan?”

Ivy exhaled, straightening her spine. “First, we find out why Elara’s back and why she’s suddenly in bed— literally or otherwise—with Killian Hayes.”

Adrian lifted his brows. “And if it’s not just business?”

Ivy’s jaw clenched. “Then we make sure their little alliance falls apart before it even starts.”

Adrian hummed and it was filled with amusement as he ran a hand through his hair. “You’re so ruthless when you’re threatened. It’s intoxicating.”

She rolled her eyes and stood. “Spare me the flattery. I need results, Adrian. We need a distraction—something big enough to pull attention away from whatever Elara is planning.”

He leaned back, watching her with calculated amusement. “And do you have something in mind?”

A slow, dangerous smile curled on her lips. “I always do.”

She grabbed her phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, a voice answered.

“Ms. Beckett.” the voice on the other end greeted smoothly.

“I have a job for you,” Ivy said coolly. “And I need it done fast.”

A pause. Then, “What are we dealing with?”

Ivy’s eyes gleamed with malice as she spoke. “A ghost from the past that needs to be buried—permanently.”

Adrian’s smirk widened. “Now this is getting interesting.”

Ivy ignored him, her mind already racing as a plan began to form. Elara thought she could waltz back into this world and take what she wanted?

She was about to learn the hard way that Ivy Beckett never lost.