Chapter 211

Ivy's heart raced as she stepped out of the car at the hotel where she was supposed to meet her anonymous date. Her dress clung to her figure, making her look every bit the part she needed to play, but inside, she was anxious.

The recorder taped to her inner dress was secure, and she had made sure to give Ryan and Luca the address earlier. Still, nothing could shake the sense of danger hovering over the night.

As she entered the hotel lobby, she scanned the room, searching for any signs of her contact. She spotted him leaning casually against the wall, a young bald man who looked neither familiar nor particularly friendly.

There was something about his body language that put Ivy on; perhaps it was the way he was scanning the crowd with too much intent or the sharpness in his eyes as they zeroed in on her.

"Ivy?" he asked, his voice low and rough as he walked up to her.

"Yes," she replied with a nod, keeping her tone neutral.

"You look... different from your pictures." His brow furro