Chapter 6

"He even had the nerve to ask me to meet him at his penthouse to talk." Ivy mouthed.

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Really? "That's bold of him."

"I know," Ivy nodded. "But I don't know if I want to go. What could he possibly have to say to me that would make a difference?"

Chloe put a hand on Ivy's arm. "I think you should at least hear him out. You never know; he might have some kind of explanation or apology that could help you find closure."

Ivy shook her head. "I doubt it. He's made it clear that night was nothing to him, and I was just a one-night stand, I guess."

Just then, Ivy's phone rang. She dug into her bag to retrieve it and glanced at the caller ID. "It's Dario," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Chloe gave her a knowing look. "Maybe this is the universe's way of telling you to go and hear what he has to say."

She hesitated but decided to let the call go to voicemail. She placed her phone on the table with a sigh and made her way to the bathroom.

As she stepped into the shower, she couldn't shake the thought of Dario from her mind. She closed her eyes and let the warm water wash over her, but even that couldn't soothe her racing thoughts. She couldn't escape Dario, no matter how hard she tried.

The warm water ran down her skin when she heard a frantic knock on the bathroom door. She quickly turned off the water and wrapped a towel around herself.

"Ivy, you need to come out now," Chloe's voice called from the other side of the door.

Ivy opened the door, her hair still wet and her skin steaming from the shower. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Just come downstairs," Chloe replied, her tone urgent.

Ivy quickly dried off and threw on a towel, making her way down the stairs. She was shocked to see Dario standing in her living room; his eyes fixed on her. She couldn't believe it; how had he found her, how did he get her address?"

"Dario," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ivy," he replied, his voice equally shocked.

Chloe gave a knowing smile and turned to leave, leaving Ivy alone with Dario.

"What are you doing here?" Ivy asked, her voice shaking.

Dario took a step toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. "I followed you," he replied.

Ivy took a step back, her mind racing. How had he found her? And what did he want from her now?

Dario took a deep breath before speaking.

"Ivy, I never meant to hurt you. That night we shared meant something to me. It was special, and I will never forget it."

Ivy remained silent, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she spoke, her voice quiet and firm.

"I don't believe you, Dario. Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend? You led me on and made me think there was something between us."

Dario hung his head, the weight of his mistake bearing down on him. He didn't know what to say. "Let me make it up to you." He said, looking into her eyes. "I want to show you that I'm truly sorry for everything that's happened."

Ivy smiled, a hint of teasing in her voice. "And how do you propose to do that? By taking me back to your penthouse?"

Dario chuckled, relieved that she was in a playful mood. "No, not this time. I thought I could take you out to dinner. A proper dinner at a nice restaurant. I want to show you I'm serious about making things right between us."

Ivy smiled, her eyes shining. "I'd like that. But I don't want your girlfriend to come along and ruin things."

Dario grinned. "She won't be there. I promise. You're safe with me."

Ivy turned to head up the stairs, still smiling. "I'll go get ready," she said, then disappeared up the steps. As she reached her room, Chloe rushed in after her, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Ivy, he's so handsome! Wow."

Ivy laughed, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "I know, right?"

Chloe teased her, "Oh, he is. Trust me; you're in for a real treat."

Ivy stood in front of her wardrobe, feeling excited and nervous. She turned to Chloe, holding up a green dress for her opinion.

"What do you think of this one?" she asked, twirling around to show off the dress.

Chloe shook her head, a look of disapproval on her face. "No, that's not it. Try this one instead." She pulled out a red dress, holding it to Ivy's body. "This is sexy; it's perfect for a dinner date."

The dress had a plunging neckline, highlighting Ivy's curves and cleavage, and a daring slit that ran up the side of the dress, showcasing her toned legs.

Ivy blushed, feeling a little self-conscious. "But it's just a friendly dinner," she protested.

Chloe raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "That's what you think. I hope so, anyway."

Ivy laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible, Chloe."

Chloe grinned, handing the red dress to Ivy. "Just trust me, you'll look amazing in this. And who knows, maybe tonight will be more than just a nice dinner."

Ivy put on the dress, admiring herself in the mirror. She had to admit that Chloe was right. The red dress was sexy, making her feel confident and beautiful.

She took a deep breath as she stepped out of her room and descended the stairs. She felt nervous but also confident in the stunning red dress Chloe had picked out for her. As she descended the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Dario waiting for her in the living room. He was leaning against the wall; his arms crossed over his chest.

As soon as Dario saw Ivy, he stood straight, and his eyes widened in amazement. He was taken aback by her beauty, and for a moment, he was speechless. Ivy felt her heart race as she walked towards him, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Dario finally found his voice and complimented her, "You look beautiful, Ivy. I've never seen anything more stunning." His words were sincere, and Ivy could tell he was genuinely taken aback by her appearance.

He stammered as he continued to admire her, his eyes taking in every inch of her curves. Ivy felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and pleasure.