Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Ivy’s POV

I woke up that morning and let out an exasperated groan. I remembered the shoot I had planned for the day and sighed in frustration. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to confront Taylor, not yet, at least. I sorted through my morning routine quickly and headed downstairs in a robe.

I walked up to a table laden with all kinds of foods and drinks, with Asher sitting there, legs crossed. He smiled warmly at me as soon as I walked in.

“I would have brought breakfast in bed, but I didn’t know how to manage,” he said, gesturing towards the breakfast buffet laid out on the table.

My mouth watered instantly, and I smiled appreciatively at him.

“You really didn’t have to,” I told him.

“You were down yesterday. I was only trying to make you feel better,” he replied.

I clutched tightly to my robe as I sat across from him. His watchful eyes followed my every move. I watched him lift a large glass to his lips. How did he make drinking look so erotic? Who was I kidding? Everything about this man was erotic.

I averted my gaze and began fidgeting with my belt. I glanced at him, seeing the smile on his lips.

“Are you teasing me, Ivy?” He looked at me with amusement. “If you are, I want to tell you, it’s working.”

“What?”

His gaze wandered to the belt of my robe, fastened securely around my waist.

“I can tell you’re naked underneath it.”

I was taken aback, not because he was lying, but because he was telling the truth. Yet I was so appalled that he could say it so blatantly, without batting an eyelid. I quickly closed my legs.

He chuckled, “I can’t see your thighs, Ivy, but I can see your pointy nipples.”

My hands shot up to cover my chest, my checks burning with embarrassment as I saw the smirk on his lips. Maybe I should have just worn nightwear, but nothing felt decent enough. It all seemed too intimate around Asher. It would take time to get used to the fact that we were a couple living in one house. Everything felt sensual with him, even a robe.

“Eat your food, Ivy. I couldn’t decide what you liked, so I got everything I could find,” he explained. “Of course, courtesy of the chef,”

Looking over the table, I was shocked by how much food was available. There was a pile of waffles, avocado toast, scrambled eggs, a piping cup of coffee, and lots of other food items I couldn’t recognize at first glance.

I felt his gaze on me the entire time. I tried to ignore him, looking everywhere but at him.

“Don’t you have work today? Somewhere else to be other than here?” I asked. It was unnerving having him sit and watch me.

“Yeah, but I’m choosing to spend it with you at your shoot.”

I looked up at him.

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3:24 pm D

Chapter 12

“Asher, I don’t…”

20

“If you don’t go, then she would have won. Maybe this was the reaction she planned. She wanted you to cancel. This is a big break in your career. You cannot lose this opportunity…”

“How do you know that?” I asked, curious.

“It’s a shoot for Elegante magazine. It’s huge,” he responded.

I bit down on the inner corner of my mouth, gripping the spoon a little too tightly as I tried to fight back the emotions I felt. I had never had anyone care about me and my interests before. It was basic, but Heavens knew, I had wanted that for so long and never got it.

He stood to his feet and kissed the top of my hair.

“Hurry, love. We have a shoot to attend.”

I turned to look at him.

“We really don’t have to do this…” Truly, we didn’t. I was only here because he had asked.

“No, we don’t. But you do,” he answered. We were parked outside the complex. “I’d be more than happy to come with you,” he offered.

I squinted my eyes at him. “Really?”

He shrugged. “If my wife needs company, sure, why not?”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re really going to leave work to accompany me to my shoot?”

He held my gaze. “You’re my priority. Remember that?”

There it was again- that darned possessiveness in his voice, the seriousness in his eyes. I could never tell whether he was joking or not.

“Nothing else matters. So, come on…” He opened the car door and crooked his elbow. I slipped my hand into it and let him lead me. My heart was racing as soon as we got into the building, but I couldn’t deny it felt so much better having him close. He was like a physical and emotional pillar.

“Ivy,” my manager called out to me sweetly. She was the first person we met. She eyed Asher curiously.

“Asher Sterling?”

Asher flashed her his signature smile and extended a hand to her.

“I’m here to support my wife…”

I lightly stomped his feet to shut him up and smiled widely at her.

“Pay no attention to him.”

“It’s hard not to,” she muttered under her breath. “Anyway, you’re here, Ivy. You’re kind of running late.” She put her hand around my waist and led me in.

I glanced behind me, and he was staring right at me.

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8:24 pm DD XX.

Chapter 12

“I’m here, babe!” he yelled.

My cheeks turned crimson.

“What’s that about?” my manager whispered excitedly.

I exhaled. If only I knew the answer.

“It’s a long story.”

“You’ll fill me in over coffee,” she said, leading me to the dressing area. As I walked into the room, I spotted her from across the space. She held my gaze for a moment, but I looked away immediately. I murmured my greetings to the other girls and sat still in the chair. I waited with bated breath as the hairstylist and makeup artist began working.

The thing with Taylor was, I didn’t know what to expect. Neither did I have the heart to confront her, because what would I say? Up until that night, we were great friends. I even considered her a sister. I had known her all my life, since kindergarten. I loved her with all my heart, and I always thought she felt the same. I believed she felt the same. So what could I say to her? What would I ask her? Why? Why did she hurt me? What answer would be good enough?

I stole another glance at her, and just as I expected, she was staring at me. Those sharp blue eyes glared right at me. I averted my gaze and began to play with my fingers nervously. Yes, I was scared. I was scared, and that’s why I had asked Asher to follow me. I was scared to hear what she had to say. I was scared she would tell me her reason why, and it would break my

heart further…

“Ivy…”

I looked up at my reflection in the mirror, confusion etched on my features.

“What is it?”

“Taylor was asking if your looks are similar enough,” the stylist informed me.

I turned my attention to Taylor.

“Do we look similar?” she asked with a smile on her face.

I gave her a long look. She had her usual dark hair dyed to match mine, even though the director of the shoot had said it was fine for us to have different hair colors. As I stared at her in that moment, it hit me hard just how much she looked like me, how much she tried to look like me. It was jealousy–it was clear as day. I glanced around to see a few people staring at us curiously. They knew we were best friends, and they would suspect something was up if I remained silent.

“Yes, I think the stylists have done their best.” I looked away. I noticed she kept looking in my direction, trying to rope me into the conversation, but I couldn’t have made it any clearer that I wasn’t interested in talking to her.

8:24 pm

Chapter 13