Ivanna's PoV
I didn't do much all day. I just went shopping, visited some new places, and was only with Jax, someone else—not a friend or lover. And that was very strange to me. I've never been anywhere random, especially without my best friends—Bri and Tatiana—cause, as Jax once said, no one didn't know me. Some people crowded around this afternoon to ask for a photo session with me. Luckily, Jax was there to protect me and remove me from the crowd, which wasn't just one or a few people but dozens of people. "Jax, what are you doing? They want to take a picture with me!" I snapped as Jax led me away, wrapping his sturdy arms around me after covering my head with his jacket. I felt like a criminal who had to run and sneak away from people. What's wrong with taking a quick picture anyway? "Didn't you see? They weren't just one or two people, Miss. Ten or maybe more. Are you sure you can fulfill their wish of taking a photo, and then that's it? One is done, and another will come. You're not an actress who just came out yesterday afternoon. No one doesn't know you," he replied, sounding overprotective. Well, I can understand his concern if that's how he feels. Or it could just be formality and professionalism because that's his job. But at least give one or two people a chance. "Besides, this isn't a meet and greet event. Today is your day off. And don't you see some reporters—" "Enough, Jax. You're neither my assistant nor manager, so please know your limits." "I'm sorry, Miss." And he was silent. Okay, I know that he is indeed running errands. However, could he not cross the boundary between his work and mine? If he has to protect, do it while I do my work. And when I got home, I didn't talk to Jax at all—because we had no interest in it. And I just wanted to find Bri to vent my frustration on. When I walked into my office, Bri looked at the sheet before her and then focused on the iPad. "Hey, how was the trip? What did you shop for?" Bri asked without taking her eyes off the object in her hands. I flopped down on the sofa and rested my feet on the table. I closed my eyes for a moment before finally answering Bri's question. "I don't know what happened. Damon never allowed me to come with him and Tatiana and the weird Jax, then... there's another one, Bri!" I got up and hurriedly pulled out a chair to sit near my best friend. "This sounds like an interesting story. Spill it!" Bri said, then pushed aside the object before her to listen to me. This is what I love about Bri. She was always there whenever I needed her. I won't complain if she's not available when immersed in her busy schedule at the studio; that's what she likes the most. At least when I want her presence, she still tries to be there. I tried to remember the events of last night that made me feel like an insane person the following day. "Before I ask, do you feel anything strange about Damon? I mean, maybe his gestures or his behavior. I know you weren't always here, but you must have had some one-on-one conversations with him. Don't you think he looks different?" I asked. Honestly, I didn't know where to start. I didn't want to come across as accusing randomly or looking like a possessive girlfriend. I just wanted to know what was going on. And Brianna just shook her head. "I haven't noticed anything strange except for his being busy lately. What's the matter? Do you sense something going on with him?" "I don't know, Bri. I just—maybe it was just a nightmare, but somehow it felt so real. I witnessed Damon having sex with someone." Bri looked wide-eyed when she heard my explanation. She then shifted her chair to get closer and started listening. I could see the serious look on her face. Of course, she should have been surprised; for all she knew, Damon and I had never had any problems. Not even about my jealousy of Tatiana—something I've been feeling recently. Or maybe she already knew; she just chose to keep quiet and pretend she didn't know. I don't know. "Are you sure? I mean, Vans... you've been having a bad time the last while; it would be possible if you were more sensitive because you could be having—you know what I mean." "No, I don't. I don't know what you mean," I snappishly replied. Maybe Bri was right. But still, I wouldn't like it if everyone I told about what I was going through then assumed it had something to do with the lousy incident I'd just had. Another thing is that Bri's statement just now made it sound like the problem came from me, not Damon and Tatiana. What if it was? Should I go to psychiatry for my problems? "Vans, I hope you don't get angry just yet. Many people who work in the entertainment industry suffer from pressure, stress, and even depression. Other mental problems as well. Especially you who had been through something terrible. I want to point out that it's okay if you do. I'm here, and I care about you, Vans. I love you, so if you have it, let's work it out." I shrugged at Bri's long-winded words. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture. So I got up and intended to leave her to get back to work. "And let's finish this conversation. Get back to work because I'll need the details of my schedule soon and your latest design," I said and hurried away before Bri started talking again. To hell with her opinion! *** I didn't realize I was ranting to my room. Nor did I understand who was following me to my private room. And it was when I slammed the door, I realized Jax was there. Oh, God! That must have hurt a lot. "Oh, my God, Jax! Oh, I'm sorry. Are you hurt?" I asked, immediately checking his nose, which looked slightly blue among his pale white skin. Why didn't I care when I was about to slam the door, and what was he doing there? "It's alright, Miss. I'm fine," he replied calmly. I knew it must have hurt. However, it was strange that Jax's nasal bone was slightly gray and almost bluish instead of being reddish. "Are you sick? I just realized that you're very pale." My hand unintentionally reached out and caressed his face with a look of confusion and disbelief at what I was seeing. Also, what I was feeling right now made me unable to think logically. Because Jax's body felt so cold, even as if frozen. I withdrew my hand and looked at him, who flinched and only returned my gaze with an expression I couldn't read. "Sorry, I just wanted to see if you had a fever. If you're sick, you can get a rest. There's an empty room on the first floor; you can rest and use it. Sorry, I just realized I haven't been paying attention to you these past few days." "No problem, Miss. I've always gone home when my duty is done." I nodded in understanding, though I couldn't believe he had gone home and rested. And his icy body was probably the result of him never taking the time to relax. I guess that's why he always had to inject something like what I saw that night. "You can use that room from now on. I insist. Anyway, it looks like you'll have to stand guard more often. Don't refuse it; you deserve it." The man nodded, then looked back at me. "What's going on? Do you have something to say?" "I just wanted to ask if something is bothering you. You've been looking so upset since yesterday." I bit my lip, considering whether it would be okay to ask him about Damon. I had blacked out and didn't remember anything. Maybe Jax knew about Damon and the woman he had sex with. "Jax, that night I woke up and didn't find you anywhere. I'm not sure, but I think when I fainted, you were the one who helped me first. Is that right?" The man nodded. And at that moment, I felt like I could ask him about Damon. He must have also witnessed what was in front of my eyes—in front of our eyes. "Did you witness it, too? I mean, I saw Damon there, and he was fucking a woman. Did you see the same thing?" The man audibly sighed but didn't respond to my question in the way I expected. "Jax, please say something. You know, Damon and I aren't just lovers. We're engaged. If he betrayed me, then I had to make the right decision. That's why I have to have evidence and witnesses. Did you see what I saw?" Jax nodded. His face looked as if he was resigned to whatever my question was. "Who was that woman, Jax?" I asked. My chest was already rumbling, my stomach churning as I worried about the answer I would hear from this man. However, I had to prepare myself to hear Jax's answer. "That woman is you, Ms. Sanchez. It was you who had sex with Mr. Alejandro that night. And I'm sure of it."Ivanna's PoV Should I believe Jax? He said that I was the one who had sex with Damon, which was I was there and witnessed what they had done. I didn't even feel a sexual thing, and Jax also admitted that I passed out, and he saved me. Then, what was the point of telling all those lies? Is it true that Jax and Damon conspired to commit a crime against me? If so, what was their motive for doing that? I was still sleeping alone in my room. Damon, once again, had gone somewhere, and I was like a mistress who would only see him at night, lie next to him for a few hours, and when I woke up in the morning, he was gone. Please, don't even ask me how the sexual activity between Damon and me was. It was so bad. That's why I couldn't believe it when Jax told me I was the one Damon was fucking so passionately that night. I couldn't say how Damon's expression was then, but I'm sure he enjoyed the play. Damon was never like that with me, in my opinion. Or I don't know if it was just me, bec
Ivanna's Pov I was still stunned, like an insane. The scene in front of me was not a dream. Was Jax going to say that I was looking at it wrong? Obviously, the few people in front of me were not ordinary humans. And Jax, who suddenly appeared—why could he communicate with those vampires to let me go? Is Jax also a ...? Anyway, let's consider it a favor to have saved me from becoming the meal of that pale, bloodsucking creature at the bar earlier. "This is for you. Drink first, Miss," said the man who had only been my bodyguard for a week but already had many mysterious things he did and happened in my life. I accepted the cup of drink he offered without breaking his gaze. Then, I quickly checked the drink in my hand. Just a cup of my favorite camomile tea. No! I didn't want to think badly about this or wonder why he knew my favorite—anyone can have a supply of camomile tea at home, just like me. I sipped the drink in my hand, feeling a relaxed sensation for a moment after my
Jax's PoV Ivanna Sanchez is not some teenage girl who falls for a guy and becomes a fool. She knew and had sniffed out what Damon was doing behind her back. And now, she is catching Damon in the act, and rushing to teach him a lesson is not a good idea. She must be wondering why Damon would hurt a perfect woman like her. I want to ask the same thing, if I may. Unfortunately, Damon was not a man of Ivanna's intelligence. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't affected by that man's hide-and-seek game. I've been watching him since I first entered this mansion. However, I have to be careful because Ivanna seems suspicious of me. "I'm sorry, Miss. Sometimes, you have to keep quiet even if you know something. It's for your safety," I said, trying to calm her inner rumblings that almost flared up and burned everything. After all, doing what she had in mind would be hazardous. "You should be careful what you say, Jax! How dare you set me up for everything! If you tell me to shut up
Ivanna's PoV Jax was trying to find whoever or whatever I believed was in my room. I couldn't see it clearly due to the dim lights, other than a clear sound resembling a wolf's growl. I was on the balcony when I heard that strange sound. It sounded exactly like Damon making love to a woman I didn't know—this one I wasn't too sure about, so I'd check back later that night to see if it was Damon—if he came back to this house. Damon hadn't returned since last night, so since I was already scared, I intended to seek help without going into the room and meeting that thing. Unfortunately, I'd consumed so much alcohol that my body was staggering, and I almost lost my life. Thanks to Jax, who was quick to help me, even though I felt awkward when he helped me. There was no way I was wrong. But, unfortunately, I didn't have any evidence to point at the man who had saved my life and helped me look for a creature whose growl was similar to that of a coyote or maybe a wolf; I don't know. "
Jax's PoV I can't believe what this girl is doing. Does she realize that what she's doing is very dangerous? Apart from violating the professional code of ethics, it's also inappropriate for Ivanna to do this because she is engaged; there will be an uproar if Damon finds out about this incident. I have to maintain my presence in this place because there is one business that I haven't finished yet. Two things, one of which is to protect Ivanna. And that is very important, considering that one and the other are interrelated. I can't go into details because I'm trying to find out and prove my suspicions. The desire inside me that had been stirring, as well as the pain I was feeling, magically faded away along with the warm kiss Ivanna gave me. It wasn't the first time for me, but I knew I would remember this better than any other experience I had ever had. For a while, I had been trying to restrain myself from remaining professional even though the scent of Ivanna's body and her be
Ivanna's PoV I did do something stupid by kissing Jax's lips at that time. I was following the impulse that somehow led me to do that. And now, I was suffering from prolonged shame. I just paced the room for a while and couldn't keep my eyes closed. For some reason, one day seemed to fly by, and I appeared hopeless to deal with all of this. The wedding between Damon and me, which I had imagined would be a sacred and happy moment, seemed impossible to continue. There was no way I could plunge myself into a pit where I would eventually drown, and if that happened, Damon wouldn't necessarily save me. Again, this would be Jax's job. Then, when I was a little calmer and about to lie down, the door to the room opened. I reluctantly turned my head because I knew who was coming from the sound of footsteps alone. There was no way Jax would dare to enter my room just like that. "I saw your bodyguard leave here a few minutes ago," he said suddenly, without care. "So?" "What was he do
Ivanna's PoV We—more precisely me, Damon and Tatiana, had arrived at H Hotel, one of the ten most luxurious hotels in The Emirates. Everything was beyond my expectations. It's bad enough to say it went well if I put it this way. Maybe it went well for Damon and Tatiana, who had a business need, but it was not for me. On the first day, we arrived at the hotel when the sun was high, and Damon rented a suite with amenities in it that had two bedrooms. I wouldn't say I liked the idea of this one, as it meant we had no privacy, and again, Tatiana had to be in the same place as us. I didn't understand what had happened to me to be so full of suspicion and negative thoughts towards them, especially when Damon and Tatiana dressed up while I was just in my pajamas—having decided to rest for a bit. "Where are you going? We've just arrived," I said, unable to understand this man's thought. If Damon calls himself a workaholic, this is too much of a workaholic. Moreover, when I followed Dam
Ivanna's PoV I knew what I was doing. I left the room and ignored Jax, who was trying to prevent the decision I was about to make this time. I don't want to be this man's victim anymore; I will end it now. Damon and Tatiana are still enjoying their hot play, filling each other up. Damon seems so intoxicated, as if what Tatiana gives him is so extraordinary compared to what I've ever given him. My chest is burning and throbbing with pain. My blood rushes as if I can no longer contain my anger; even Jax won't be able to stop it. I pat Damon's back, who suddenly realizes he isn't alone in this place. Maybe he had planned not to invite me before, but he was forced to take me with him to cover up his already too-deep lies. "Vans ... what are you doing here?" asked Damon, a pained look on his face. I could see it even in the dim light. They had opened the curtains covering the large glass window in the living room so that the moonlight could enter and shine on them while they fucked