Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Ivy’s POV

Asher had been the sweetest. It was hard to reconcile him with the same guy who teased me all the time in the past. I was too chicken to face Taylor, but on his insistence, I had gone to the shoot. Having him around made me feel a lot better. I didn’t have the crippling dread inside me as I walked into the studio. His corny remarks made me focus on something other than the anger I felt for Taylor.

I wanted to go on a long rant. I wanted to charge at her and scream down the studio. It was hard enough dealing with my heartbreak alone, having no one around to talk to. The last thing I needed was my heartbreak becoming the next trendy news in the media. I couldn’t even tell my parents–I didn’t need strangers dissecting my life and picking me apart. That was why I stayed quiet, why I avoided Taylor all day, and why I pretended not to hear her call out to me several times.

He made it even easier. I loved the way his eyes searched for me at every point, like we were old lovers. The boyish smile on his face when he spotted me. I loved all his compliments, even the borderline naughty ones. I loved how excited he was throughout the whole shoot, like he genuinely enjoyed it, like he genuinely enjoyed being with me. I didn’t miss the whispers and giggles from the other girls. They were swooning, and I couldn’t blame them. I had a similar reaction when I first saw him. I loved how he held me in his arms, possessively…

For a moment, it felt like ours wasn’t a contract marriage but a marriage of love. When I held his gaze, it felt like he loved me. It was a crazy thought, but I really felt it.

So when I walked in and saw him and Taylor talking and giggling, it felt like a million daggers plunging into my chest at the same spot. Like someone had ripped out my already broken heart and crushed it under their foot.

I was no fool. I knew the kind of man Asher was. He had a long line of women up his arms, and the media had given up trying to trace his partner. My daydreaming of us being this cute couple was only temporary. I wasn’t expecting his fidelity. But I had thought he was my friend at least, with all that had happened between us in the last week. I thought he would at the very least show me respect. It could be anybody–but not Taylor.

I noticed every move she made: the way she tucked her hair away, her soft laughter, the smile on her face. She had been the same way with Max every time we met, and I had brushed it off as nothing. And look where it got me.

Asher was saying something to her when he spotted me. He called out to me softly, but the anger I felt was brewing.

I walked past them toward the exit without a glance in their direction, fighting back tears.

Taylor grabbed my arm to stop me. “Ivy, there’s no need to overreact…”

That set all the sparks flying off in my head. My body shook hard. “Stay the heck away from me!” I said through clenched teeth. It was frustrating because all I wanted to do was scream at her, at everyone. But I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I didn’t want everyone to pity me.

Asher chased me down. I walked as fast as I could, but he caught up with me just before the elevator shut.

“Ivy…” his voice was calm.

“I don’t want to hear it, Asher,” I cut him off quickly.

“I don’t know what you think you saw, but you’re mistaken…” he responded. “It was nothing, I would never-”

“Max had the same excuse,” I replied in a cutting tone.

“I am not him,” I noticed his tone was controlled, like he was fighting hard to keep his anger restrained.

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8:25 pm DDXX.

Chapter 14

“Quite frankly, it looks like there isn’t that much difference between the two of you…”

“Ivy!” He yelled.

The elevator opened, and I wanted to exit, but he leaned forward and punched a couple of keys. The doors shut just before I could get to them. I turned to him sharply, feeling my anger rise to the surface. “What are you doing, Asher?” My voice had risen a notch.

He grabbed my hand and tugged me close. I looked away, trying my hardest not to focus on anything–not his cologne that tingled my senses pleasantly, not his piercing gaze that made me weak in the knees. I didn’t want to focus on the touch of his hand and how it distracted me from the anger I was supposed to be feeling on the inside.

“I want to talk to you, Ivy…”

“Well, I have nothing to say to you!” I retorted.

“Too bad, we’re stuck in an elevator, and you’re going to have to hear me out.” He answered. “I’m not Max, I’m not going to hurt you! Taylor came on to ine…”

Fresh tears welled up in my eyes. This whole argument was pathetic. It made me feel so awful on the inside. Why did I always have to be on this side? Why did I have to fight for the attention of my love interest with Taylor, my supposed best friend? I pulled away from his grasp. “You don’t need to give me any explanations, Asher. None. I’m not stupid,” I said with a sad smile. “Whatever we share…” I gestured between the two of us. “It’s a sham, it’s fake, it doesn’t mean anything…”

“Ivy…” he whispered my name.

“I wasn’t expecting fidelity from you of all people, Asher Sterling. That would be like waiting for it to rain money from the skies.” My tone was sharp.

His gaze hardened.

“I was thinking you were a friend, in a weird sort of way. That even if you wanted to be with someone else, you would not choose her!” My voice broke at the end. “I opened up to you. I told you all of it. I didn’t even want to be here!”

“It was nothing, Ivy!” He yelled aloud.

I flinched and blinked back the tears. I wiped at them with the back of my hands. “I’m so stupid, aren’t I?” I asked in a small voice. “I got hitched with the city’s most eligible, promiscuous bachelor, and I expected fidelity and loyalty from him. That was my fault.”

His jaw hardened.

“I was asking for things you are incapable of giving to anyone.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and sniffled. “That’s fine, I guess.” I let out a big exhale. “We aren’t friends after all. We’ve never been. And it was all for the best. For all intents and purposes, our marriage is a contract marriage. You owe me nothing, except of course to appear to the media like we are a perfect couple for the duration of our short marriage. I owe you nothing as well. I’d have other lovers on the side…”

I saw him visibly flinch.

“And your associations with your ever–flowing harem of women will not end, only that it has to be discreet. Remember the only reason I got into this in the first place is to protect myself from the media’s onslaught when they find out how Max and I broke up,” I said with a dry chuckle. “I don’t want you to be the reason why they talk…” I swallowed. “I guess I’ll see you around, husband.”

As if on cue, the elevator opened, and I rushed out. He didn’t come after me. I could feel his burning gaze on me until the doors closed shut. I desperately fought back the tears as I waited for the car to arrive. I was thankful for the hoodie I had on. I pulled it over my head. I was unrecognizable, which was all for the best.

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8:25 pm DD XX

Chapter 14

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