IVY POV
We drove in silence for a while, the hum of the Mercedes the only sound. My hands gripped my bag in my lap, my mind spinning a million miles an hour.
Finally, the man broke the silence.
"I'm Walter… Butler, bodyguard to Ronan Hale," he said, giving me a small smile. "You can call me Walt."
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. "Okay… Walt."
"You seem tense," he said, his voice calm, almost gentle. "I understand. Thank you for doing this… it means a lot to Ron."
I nodded again, unsure what to say. My heart was still racing, half from the car ride, half from the thought of Ronan Hale waiting somewhere out there to torture me.
"You know," Walt continued, his eyes on the road, "he missed two years. He attended classes online, but he still struggles with some courses."
I bit my lip, my stomach twisting. Of course he is. It's Ronan Hale. Annoying,… and somehow still arrogantly failing.
"Yeah," I said softly, not trusting my voice to be steady.
"Thank you again, Miss Cross," he said, his smile warm.
I blinked. "It's… Ivy," I said quietly.
"What?"
"Miss Cross… it makes me feel like an old hag," I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I prefer Ivy."
"Ivy it is," he said with a short laugh, and I felt a tiny spark of comfort.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up in front of Luxe & Co.
My jaw dropped.
The famous Luxe & Co., known for its expensive couture handbags, watches, and jewelry, glittered under the streetlights. I felt a mix of awe and nerves… seriously, who shops here at 4 a.m.?
"Give me a minute while I head in. I'll be quick," Walt said, getting out and closing the door behind him.
I exhaled slowly, my hands tightening on my hoodie. My heart was pounding, my head spinning with questions. A gift. At this hour.
What the hell is going on?
I hugged my bag to myself, trying to steady my breathing.
In less than a minute, Walt was back, five shopping bags stacked neatly in the trunk. He placed them carefully, then got back in, and we drove off in silence again. My mind was still spinning, and my chest felt tight.
Five minutes later, we reached a massive gate that swung open like it had been waiting for us.
My jaw dropped.
Before me sprawled a mansion that looked more like a palace. Marble steps led up to enormous double doors, flanked by perfectly trimmed hedges and fountains that glittered even in the dim glow of the driveway lights. Lights spilled from every window, giving the place an almost unreal shine. Balconies wrapped around the upper floors, and I could see columns stretching skyward like they belonged in a museum, not someone's home.
I had heard rumors that Ronan stayed alone in one of his father's houses in L.A., but I had no idea it was this big.
My stomach twisted. This was insane.
Walt quickly packed the bags out of the trunk. Then he went around, opened the door for me..
As we approached the front door, I could hear noises… laughter, music, shouts. My brow furrowed.
Walt glanced at me, reading my expression perfectly. "Mr. Hale is throwing a party… for his girlfriend."
I blinked.
Oh.
Wow.
He's throwing a party. At 4 a.m. For his girlfriend. And somehow he's completely unbothered by the fact that he dragged me into this chaos in the middle of the night.
I exhaled slowly, my hands tightening around my hoodie. This was getting worse by the second.
"Come with me," Walt said, motioning for me to follow.
I took a deep breath and followed behind him, my heart hammering in my chest.
I followed Walt up the marble steps, my sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. My heart was still pounding, and my stomach twisted with nerves. Music and laughter spilled out from inside, louder the closer we got.
"This way," Walt said, leading me through the grand double doors. I tried not to stare at the giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling or the huge staircase that seemed to go on forever. Everything was so… big, so unreal.
As we moved further in, I could see people everywhere… laughing, dancing, holding drinks. Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of champagne. The place smelled of flowers, perfume, and wealth.
I hugged my bag closer, feeling completely out of place. What am I even doing here? I thought.
Walt stopped in front of a side room and set the gift down on a marble table. "Wait here," he said. "
I stood frozen at the spot Walter had told me to wait, my nerves twisting inside me like a storm. My hands were clammy, my chest tight, and my stomach doing somersaults.
Then I saw him.
Across the room, through the glass doors,
Ronan Hale.
He was taking the bags from Walter and handing them off to someone. My eyes followed, and then I saw her… blonde, striking, impossibly tall, radiating confidence.
My jaw practically hit the floor.
Vienna Montez.
The supermodel. His girlfriend.
I couldn't breathe for a second. My mind was screaming, Hale is dating Vienna? What the hell?.
And then… I felt it. His gaze. I could feel it piercing right through the glass, right through me. Every nerve in my body went tight.
He whispered something to Vienna, then to Walter, and before I could even process it… he was walking toward me. Smooth, powerful, every step controlled. My heart hammered so hard I was sure it could be heard over the music and laughter behind me.
The door opened.
And just like that, he was standing right in front of me.
"Welcome my home … tutor girl," he said, his voice low and smooth, the kind that made my chest tighten and my knees go weak.
I tried to breathe. I really did.
But the second I opened my mouth, my throat went dry, my stomach lurched, and the hiccups started.
Hic… hic… hic!
Of course. Just my luck.