chapter 8

Ivy finally pulled away from Dario, taking a step back as she looked at him. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as she adjusted her dress. Without a word, she turned and left the restroom, making her way back to the restaurant.

She picked up her purse and walked towards the door, calling for a cab outside. Her mind raced with thoughts as she waited for the taxi to arrive. She knew Dario felt something for her, but he also had a girlfriend. She was sure he didn't love his girlfriend, but he was still with her.

The cab finally arrived, and Ivy got in, her thoughts still swirling as she settled into the back seat. She loved Dario, but she wasn't ready to become a mistress to anyone. She didn't want to be the other woman, the one he only saw when his girlfriend wasn't around.

As the cab drove through the city, Ivy's thoughts continued to race. She didn't know what to do, but she knew that she couldn't continue like this. She loved Dario but couldn't be with him if he was still with someone else. She needed to make a fast decision before her feelings for him became more substantial.

She arrived at her apartment, feeling a mixture of emotions after leaving the restaurant and Dario behind. She fumbled through her bag for her keys as she took off her heels at the doorstep.

With relief, she finally found them and unlocked the door. She turned on the light and, as always, made her way to the kitchen to grab a bottle of chilled water.

Feeling a little tired, Ivy climbed the stairs to her room and collapsed onto her bed. Her mind was still racing with thoughts of her and Dario in the restroom. She quickly stripped off her clothes and went to the shower, hoping the warm water would help clear her mind and ease her racing thoughts.

*****

The sound of Ivy's alarm clock jolted her awake as the beautiful sun streamed into her room through the window. She rubbed her eyes and groaned as she sat in bed, feeling the weight of another day at work pressing down on her.

"Another awkward day at work," she muttered as she stood up and made her way to her wardrobe. She selected a corporate gown with sexiness, hoping to boost her confidence for the day ahead.

In a rush, she rushed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for work. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves, and then headed out the door and on her way to the office. As she walked, she steeled herself for whatever the day might bring.

Ivy entered the busy office, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Sarah approached her with a teasing smile, "you're early today," pointing out that she was early.

Ivy laughed nervously, not sure how to respond.

She made her way to her office space, just in front of Dario's office, and started arranging her table. Just then, Max approached her, smiling warmly. "Good to see you at work," he said. "And you look great today."

Ivy smiled as she responded, "Thank you," feeling a rush of confidence.

But that confidence was short-lived as she saw Dario walking past her. He looked at her with jealousy, and Ivy felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. She looked down, feeling uneasy.

"I'll see you later." Max turned to ivy as he walked into Dario's office behind him.

As Max entered the office with Dario, he noticed that Dario was visibly upset and sat down on his chair with a thud. Max walked over to Dario and asked, "Hey man, is everything okay?"

Dario looked up at Max and sighed. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just had a rough morning, that's all."

Max nodded but still had his concerns. He then asked, "What's going on with you and Ivy? I saw you two at the restaurant last night, and you seemed a little tense."

Dario's expression changed, and he looked uncomfortable. "Uh, nothing's going on between us. We were just discussing some work stuff. That's all."

Max crossed his arms and said, "I hope you two are keeping it professional. You have a reputation to uphold with Kim, and I don't want any scandals affecting the company, especially now that she will be one of our biggest investors."

Dario nodded in agreement. "Of course, Max. I understand. And for the record, nothing is going on between Ivy and me. She's just my secretary."

Max nodded and said, "You know, Kim loves you. And she's even investing a large amount of money in our latest project. That's a big commitment."

Dario's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? She's investing that much?"

Max nodded. "Yes, she believes in you and the project. Have you seen the plan for the new project yet?"

Dario shook his head. "No, I haven't had a chance to review it yet. Why?"

Max smiled. "No worries, I have a copy of it in my office. I'll grab it for you. I think you'll be impressed with the details."

Dario nodded as Max turned and headed towards his office. A few minutes after Max left, Ivy walked into Dario's office.

Ivy entered Dario's office and leaned against the door, looking up at him as she greeted him. "Hi."

Dario looked up and returned her greeting. "Hi, you left the restaurant yesterday without a single word."

Ivy felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had meant to explain herself but had yet to get sidetracked. She quickly changed the subject. "I've got some documents for you to sign. They're important."

As she walked over to his desk and handed him the documents, she could feel her heart beating faster. Dario had a way of making her feel special, even without a touch from him.

She was about to give him the documents when the office door opened, and Max walked in. "Oh, I hope I didn't disturb you," he said as he entered the room.

Ivy and Dario answered in unison, "No, you didn't." But both of them looked a little uncomfortable. "I just brought him some documents to sign; I'll come back later for them."

As she passed by Max on her way out, she felt an uncomfortable twinge in the pit of her stomach. Max had given her a strange look, one she couldn't reasonably interpret. Was he suspicious of her work? Did he think she was hiding something? The thoughts raced through Ivy's mind as she tried to keep a calm exterior.