Asher’s POVMy eyelids fluttered open, and I took a moment to adjust to the sharp lighting in the room. Sunlight streamed through the wide-open windows. I got up with a start, my head throbbing, a dull ache stubbornly lingering behind my temples. I massaged them as my eyes scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. I wasn’t at home, nor was I at Lucas’s place. Pulling off the blanket, I got out of bed. My gaze landed on a card in the pocket by the door.I grabbed it and peered at it - Diamond Crystal Hotel. Raking my fingers through my hair, I sighed exasperatedly. I knew this hotel; it was in my city, but I had no idea how I ended up here. My memory was foggy. I grabbed a bottle of water, suddenly feeling parched, and downed it in one gulp. I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying to soothe the ache in my head.Fragments of the previous night slowly came to me. I glanced down at myself. I was still wearing yesterday’s clothes: a black silk shirt, black trousers, belt, and shoes. It looked li
Asher’s POVI looked up at the doorway as Luca walked in with a smile on his face.“Who’s the lady out there?” he asked, gesturing with his hands.My brows furrowed in confusion until I saw the stupid smile on his face. “Are you referring to my secretary?” I asked. He popped a gum, tossed it in his mouth. “Yeah, the hot blonde sitting in the reception…” He pulled out a chair and plopped down on it. “Where did you find a hot secretary like that? Is there an app? I need one of those!” He declared. “What’s her name, hook me up?”“Eww, no,” I answered. “I don’t want what happened with Lucia to happen all over again.” Lucia was my old secretary at Sterling Industries, and the only reason she didn’t come here with me was that she was still nursing a terrible heartbreak from her affair with Luca. “I like Stacy…” I caught the funny look in his eyes. “She’s efficient. She’s…”“Does Ivy know you have a crush on your secretary?” he teased me with an amused look on his face.I rolled my eyes. “No
Ivy’s POVI was at the foot of the stairs when I heard the doorbell ring. Camila was rushing to get it, but I stopped her. “Don’t worry, Camila. I got it.”“Thank you, Miss Ivy.”I smiled at her. I got to the door after the third ring. I peeked through the peephole; there was a lady with her back to the door. I opened it. “Hello…”She turned around sharply, her long dark curly hair moving with her. Curious brown eyes openly checked me out as she bit into an apple in her hand. She had a lot of suitcases around her. She looked so familiar; the wheels in my head were still turning when she spoke up.“You look so much better in person... and that’s not to say you don’t look good in your pictures,” she rambled on. “You slay as well, but in person…” She kissed her fingers, making kissing noises. “Just perfect!”I broke into a wide smile. The dark hair and brown eyes should have been a giveaway; she looked like a female version of Asher. Their eyes were a darker shade of brown, like honey, u
Asher’s POVWhen I walked into the house, I spotted Ivy and Janine sitting on the high stools, deep in conversation. Ivy’s laugh caught my attention first - warm, light. She tossed her head back, pushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder, and I felt that familiar pull, the one that hadn’t faded since the day I met her. It had grown stronger with each passing day.Janine was the first to see me. It had been two years since I last saw her in person. Of course, she had sent pictures, but none did her justice. She looked different, more mature. I guess living alone on a different continent away from everyone in your family would do that to you. She smiled at me, “Hello, Ogre…”I chuckled, “You know, that doesn’t bother me anymore because we have the same face…”“Asher…”There was something about the way my name rolled off Ivy’s tongue that sent shivers all over my body. I didn’t know what captured me at that moment. Maybe it was the conversation I had just had with Luca, where I conf
Ivy’s POV“Ivy,” my manager called out sweetly as soon as I walked into the studio.“Good morning, Miss Chappell,” I responded and pulled off my headphones. (Please confirm that her manager doesn’t have a different name before.)“Good morning, love.” She grabbed my hand. “We need to talk,” she said in a small voice.I noticed the worried look on her face and how she wouldn’t even look me in the eye. Panic set in instantly. “Did something happen?” I asked.She tugged at my hand and pulled me aside. “Come with me.”I followed her quietly down the hallway until we made it to her office. She shut the door after me and peered at me.“What happened?” I asked again. My mind was already conjuring up different unpleasant scenarios.“I was going to call or leave you a text when I found out, but I figured it would be better for you to hear it in person, and from no other person but—”“Oh my God! Did someone die?” I cut in impatiently.She shook her head strongly. “God, no! No one did.”“Spill it
Taylor’s POVThe smell of smoke drifted around me as I took a long drag, the tip of my cigarette flaring red. Ivy. Even her name made my skin crawl. Just thinking about her prancing around like some kind of perfect princess made my blood boil.She didn’t deserve to be there, in my place, with the life that I deserved. I let the smoke roll over my tongue before I blew it out, letting it spiral into the air. And here I was, shuffling off to Max’s dumpy place. Maybe she was right after all. I coveted everything she had, even if it was her terrible ex-boyfriend.Max’s place was a far cry from what I was used to, with his stack of dirty dishes in the corner and the constant stale smell of alcohol that clung to the air. It looked like he hadn’t done a thing to clean since the last time I was here.Not that I’d complain. I had too much on my mind already. Max didn’t waste any time as he shut the door behind me, his eyes flickering over my face. He must’ve seen the rage practically radiating
Asher’s POVI looked into the mirror as Ivy adjusted my tie, her fingers brushing against my collar. She had this focused, gentle touch, and her lips were pulled into a serious pout. I could barely look at her—her perfume filled the air between us, making it hard to think.“You know,” she said, giving my tie a final pat, “you actually clean up really well.” She smiled at me, and I felt that familiar warmth building in my chest.“If dressing up like this is what it takes to get a compliment from you, I’ll do it every single day,” I declared.She stifled a blush. “It doesn’t have to take so much,” her voice was barely above a whisper.A smirk tugged at my lips. Was Ivy flirting with me? Was it just the magic of the night, or were her defenses slowly stripping away? I caressed her cheek and stared as she leaned into my touch, her eyelids fluttering shut. A small gasp escaped her lips.I slipped my hand around her waist. “You’re going to make it hard for me to let go of you, Ivy…” I glanc
Ivy’s POV.I giggled at something Asher said. My hand was resting on the crook of his elbow as we walked back to our hotel room. The energy between us felt different tonight, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol. I had purposely stayed off it; I didn’t want to be the desperate person I used to be when I was drunk and around him. It was embarrassing how much my body desired him when my senses got dulled.It wasn’t like I didn’t desire him. Even now, as I listened to him and stole glances at him, as our bodies slightly touched, I did - in a way that I hadn’t desired any man before. But I could control it and pretend I wasn’t feeling anything. I could ignore all the sparks that went off whenever we touched.“Janine was the worst of us, I tell you…” he was saying as he punched a couple of keys on the elevator panel. As we walked in, the guards that had followed us at a safe distance tried to enter, but he stopped them. He glanced at me and then back at them.“I need some time alone with m
Ivy’s POVThe wineglass hovered near my lips as I froze. Slowly, I turned to face him, my smirk faltering as my gaze locked onto the storm brewing in his eyes.“Can we talk?” His tone was calm, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.I arched an eyebrow, letting a flicker of defiance cross my face. “What do you want?” I kept my voice even, but my heart clenched in frustration at his audacity.Marsha glanced between us, visibly uncomfortable. “I’ll… give you two a moment,” she murmured before turning to leave. Miles followed her out.But then Asher stepped closer. Too close. His presence loomed over me, the space between us shrinking until I could feel the weight of his gaze. I swallowed. “I don’t know where to start from, Ivy,” he said, his voice low and firm. “I’m really sorry, about...”I tilted my head, taking a deliberate sip of my wine, savoring the burn as it slid down my throat. Setting the glass down on the counter, I met his gaze head-on. “What part are you actually sorry fo
Author's POVA week later…The dining room was quiet except for the soft clinking of silverware. Asher sat at the head of the table, his dark brown eyes flickering toward Ivy, who was seated opposite him. She refused to meet his gaze, her posture stiff, her focus entirely on the untouched plate before her. Marsha and Miles, their assistants, sat between them, and the silence was deafening.Marsha dramatically cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "I'm glad you guys finally agreed to sit down and talk. We need to get ahead of this mess."Ivy scoffed softly, her arms crossing as she leaned back in her chair. Asher's gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, taking in the defiance etched into her features, those beautiful blue eyes that wouldn't meet his, the slight tremble of her lower lip.Was she holding back tears? His chest tightened at the thought. He had hurt her so much, and there was nothing he could do to take away the pain.Miles leaned forward, his hands clasped togethe
Marcus’s POVHe rolled his eyes and shook his head as soon as he opened the bedroom door. “What are you doing here, Marcus? Don’t tell me Luca put you up to this. I already told him I was fine and there was nothing to worry about.” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe he told you to come to my house...”I gave my brother a long look. He looked so downcast - a shadow of his former self. All that aura and charm he carried around like he was born with was gone. I couldn’t even bring myself to put him down. I dramatically cleared my throat. “No one put me up to this. I don’t even speak to your obnoxious friend. I stopped by the Winery...”“Don’t you have better things to do?” he interjected, still standing at the doorway, blocking the entrance. “Really, Marcus? Don’t you have better things to do?”“Aside from being the heir of the Sterling fortune and the CEO of Sterling Industries?” I asked, my tone mocking.He massaged his temples. “What do you want, Marcus? Really? What do you wan
Luca’s POVThe housekeeper was waiting for me at the door as soon as I stepped into the house. The worry in her eyes sent a wave of panic through me. “Where is he? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”“He asked me to tell everyone who called that he was out of town,” she explained, her voice trembling.I followed closely as she led me toward Asher’s room.“I really thought it wasn’t anything serious. The lady of the house was away, and I assumed he just needed some time to himself. That’s why I left him alone.” She let out a heavy sigh. “But with each passing day, I grew more worried. He wouldn’t eat his meals...”We reached his bedroom door, and I grabbed the handle before she could stop me. It was locked.“He hasn’t come out of that room in days,” she said, fishing through the large keyring hooked on her waist. “And lately, it’s been suspiciously quiet. No sounds from inside…” she trailed off, shaking her head.The unspoken implication terrified me.I let out an exasperated sigh, m
Ivy’s POV“Hello, I’m Ivy,” I said nervously, tucking my hair behind my ear. My eyes searched those chocolate-brown eyes staring at me.He smiled - a beautiful smile, showing pearly white teeth. Clearing his throat, he lowered his gaze. “Hi, I’m Dexter. Nice to make your acquaintance.” He extended a hand toward me.I looked at him hesitantly before taking his hand. His handshake was firm. Glancing behind him at Janine, he said, “Your friend, well, she’s persuasive, isn’t she?”I nodded and chuckled.He burst into laughter, and I joined in. We laughed for a while. “Yes, she is.” Janine caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up. I smiled at her, grateful for her. Grateful that I was far away from Asher - all because of her. I needed the break.Dexter gave me a long, curious stare. “You look really familiar. Trust me, this isn’t one of those corny lines guys always use with the ladies. You actually have a familiar face, and I think I may have seen you somewhere...”I let out an exasperated s
Ivy’s POVThe moment I saw the pictures, it felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. There he was - Asher, my husband - his arms around Taylor, my ex-best friend.The woman I once trusted like a sister. The woman who had already betrayed me once before. And now, she had struck again.My chest tightened, and a cold, sharp pain stabbed through me. It felt like my heart had been ripped out, tossed to the ground, and stomped on repeatedly.My breath caught in my throat, and my vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. Betrayal crushed down on me, a weight so heavy I thought I might collapse. My hands trembled as I clutched my phone, my fingers turning white.Why wasn’t I enough? That thought screamed through my mind, louder than anything else. Anxiety crept up inside me, twisting into unbearable knots. Had I ever been enough for anyone?My ex didn’t love me. And now Asher didn’t either. The lie I had clung to— that Asher could change, that he was different— unraveled be
Asher’s POVMy heart leapt the moment Ivy sauntered into my room, wrapped in a pale pink robe. Though we were still officially sleeping apart - her decision, not mine - I had asked her countless times to move in.Something was holding her back, but that didn’t stop us from spending nearly every other night together. I always looked forward to those evenings. I rushed home early every day, eager for our routine: a movie before bed or simply talking until we fell asleep.Tonight was no different.She beamed as she entered; her smile lighting up the room. Slowly, she slipped off her robe, revealing the flimsy nightdress underneath.“I had quite the day…” she began, climbing into bed.My gaze locked onto hers. “Tell me all about it,” I encouraged, my voice low and eager.She tucked her hair behind her ear, leaning closer. “It was Taylor,” she said, her tone exasperated.I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. “What did that bitch do this time?” I muttered under my breath.Ivy laid back, resti
Taylor’s POVI had a grin on my face as I walked into the dressing area. It had been there since the moment I woke up that morning. My mind danced back to the week’s events.It wasn’t every day that I pulled off something as spectacular as blackmailing Asher Sterling. Of course, it had taken a whole week of careful planning and luck.Luck had been on my side that evening at the formal dinner. Walking up to Marcus Sterling had been a gamble, but it paid off. Luck was what made him listen to me. Not that I had to say much.The dick fucker was sold the moment I told him I was a friend of Ivy’s. Odd, wasn’t it? Did he like his brother’s wife?I shook my head. None of that mattered now, though it had been my golden ticket to the Sterling event. Sure, it meant enduring Marcus’s endless chatter, but it was a small price to pay for the look on Asher’s face when he saw me on his brother’s arm.I could still see it - his pale expression, his eyes desperately trying to piece me together and figu
Asher’s POVI sat absentmindedly at the table, the faint sounds of silverware clicking and the low hum of conversation filling the grand dining room. I forced a polite smile, nodding at something one of the guests said, though I wasn’t paying attention.I wasn’t even sure if I was expected to respond. Thankfully, the man who had spoken to me turned back to his plate.Across the table, Taylor was smiling, her expression tinged with amusement. She was clearly enjoying this - watching me struggle to focus on anything.Then I felt it— a nudge against my foot. Subtle at first, then firmer.I stiffened, glancing up. Taylor was looking directly at me, her expression as innocent as ever. When no one else was watching, she winked, her lips curling into a smug grin.I pulled my foot back, forcing myself to focus as Marcus, seated next to me, leaned in.“Asher,” Marcus said, his tone light but probing, “what’s the progress on Sterling Winery? Any new wines in the works?”I blinked, realizing I h