Chapter 36: Rose’s Deal

Three days later.

A breaking news alert interrupted the New York news channel:

Alexander of the Montgomery family was involved in a serious car accident in the early hours of this morning. His vehicle lost control and plunged off a cliff, bursting into flames. The rescue team has confirmed no survivors.

Police have preliminarily determined it to be an accident caused by brake failure.

New York.

In the presidential suite on the top floor of a hotel.

Leo sat alone on the leather sofa, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.

The amber liquid shifted in the firelight, reflecting his chiseled profile.

He hadn't turned on the lights, because darkness made him feel safe.

The door lock clicked softly.

Leo didn't even look up. He just brought the whiskey to his lips, took a light sip, and said flatly, "Door's unlocked."

He caught the scent of perfume--rose mixed with amber and musk, rich and aggressive, just like its wearer.

A seductive figure pushed the door open.

Ivy wore a wine-red dress with a plunging neckline, her skin glowing enticingly in the dim light.

The door closed slowly behind her.

She walked barefoot across the soft Persian carpet toward Leo.

One step.

Another step.

Ivy came up behind Leo and gently wrapped her arms around his solid waist, her soft body pressing closely against his broad back.

The air between them thickened with unspoken desire.

"That car accident with my unlucky fiancé..."

Ivy had already jumped onto the sofa, bracing her hands on the armrests on either side of Leo, her body practically pressed against his front.

This position left her cleavage fully exposed.

The wine-red silk rose and fell with her breathing, the diamond pendant below her collarbone swaying and casting scattered glints of light.

"Did you do it?"

Her voice was very low.

The question was both a test and, in a way, an invitation.

Leo just exhaled a puff of smoke, the haze blurring his stern profile. "The roads up in Washington get really slippery after rain. Mountain roads are dangerous. Car accidents happen."

Not a direct answer.

But that non-answer was the clearest answer of all.

He never admitted to anything--that was his rule, leaving no trace.

Ivy let out an alluring laugh.

She understood.

He wouldn't leave any trace, even with her.

"Thank you."

Ivy suddenly reached out, her red lips lightly pressing against Leo's.

A moment later, Ivy released him and licked her lips.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down."

Her voice carried a hint of satisfied pleasure at getting what she wanted.

Leo set down his glass, his eyes still calm. "That's not the kind of thanks I want."

"No?"

Ivy raised an eyebrow and sat back down beside Leo, her long legs crossed, the hem of her dress sliding down to reveal a large expanse of skin.

"Then what do you want?"

"Didn't we agree on this before? You trying to back out now?" Leo got straight to the point.

"Well..."

The smile on Ivy's face faded a bit, a hint of gravity flashing in her eyes. "It's trickier than I expected. William's built up quite a network over the years. Taking him down completely will take time."

"Name your price." Leo looked at her. "What can I give you to speed things up?"

Ivy was silent for a few seconds.

Then she suddenly stood up and straddled Leo's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I need..."

Ivy extended her slender fingers, slowly caressing his solid chest, whispering seductively in his ear, "Mr. Ashford, give this poor woman who just lost her fiancé... a little comfort."

Leo's brow furrowed slightly.

"Ivy..."

"What?"

Ivy's fingers traced lightly across his chest, unbuttoning the first button of his shirt.

"Scared? Or is it that... even Reaper is afraid of women?"

"I'm not someone who handles temptation well."

Leo's voice was low, carrying a hint of warning.

"Then don't hold back."

Ivy's red lips moved close to his, her voice seductive.

"Tonight, I'm yours."

The fire in the fireplace flickered.

The wine-red dress slipped onto the carpet as a blooming rose.

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloping two intertwined silhouettes in a hazy glow.

Much later.

Ivy lay languidly in Leo's arms, her slender fingers drawing circles on his chest.

"Do you... Really enjoy toying with men like this?" Leo lit a cigar and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Toying?"

Ivy lifted her head, those deep eyes looking at him seriously. "Leo, I'm not that kind of woman."

She reached out, gently stroking his cheek.

"You're a man who values loyalty. I can tell--you'd do everything in your power to protect the people around you."

"So..."

Ivy leaned closer, her red lips at his ear. "That's why I'm doing this. Because I know you won't stand by and watch a woman you've been intimate with get hurt."

"Right?"

Leo was silent for a few seconds, not answering.

Ivy smiled.

She knew she'd bet right.

This man, cold as the Reaper on the outside, had an incredibly strong protective instinct for his own people.

Once you became one of "his people," you had the strongest protection there was.

Leo took a deep drag on his cigar and suddenly spoke. "Ivy, I need you to do something."

"Name it." Ivy sat up, looking at him seriously.

"Make it look like all the negative news is coming from inside the Drake family."

A cold glint flashed in Leo's eyes. "Cleverly point the finger at a power struggle between Jonathan and Evan. Make the outside world think they're sabotaging each other."

Ivy's eyes lit up.

"Brilliant!"

She immediately understood Leo's intention.

The Drake family was already being battered by a media storm--internally, they must be in chaos.

If they also thought someone inside was causing trouble...

Brothers turning on each other, internal conflict escalating.

When that happened, she, the "neutral party," could rise to power.

"Got it. Within three days, I'll have all of New York believing Jonathan and Evan are setting each other up."

"Good."

Leo stood up and put his shirt back on.

He walked over to Ivy, leaned down, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Do it well. Do it right, and the Drake family is yours."

With that, Leo turned and left the room.

Ivy stood there, watching the closed door, slowly raising her hand to touch the spot on her forehead he'd just kissed.

A satisfied smile curved her lips.

"Leo..."

She murmured to herself. "You really are... fascinating."

Ivy walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at New York's glittering nightscape.

The power struggle within the Drake family was about to enter its most intense phase.

And she would be the biggest winner in this game.

"William, Jonathan, Evan... your era is over."