Chapter 74 Seventy Four

Chapter 74 Seventy Four
IVY POV
I kept my eyes locked on him, arms crossed, trying to keep my composure. His smirk faltered for a split second when he realized I wasn’t joking.
Amanda appeared at the door like I’d called her on cue. “Mr. Hales?” she said, hesitating as if sensing the tension.
Ronan’s dark eyes flicked to her, then back to me. “You’re really something,” he muttered, shaking his head, but there was a trace of amusement behind the anger in his voice.
“You may leave now ,” I said, my voice cold, but my chest ached with the words.
He hesitated, stepping closer one last time, his presence pressing into me like a weight. “Ivy…” he started, low and dangerous, but I held up a hand, my jaw tight.
“Thank you for coming,” I said firmly.
Amanda stepped forward, gently taking his arm, and he let out a soft growl of frustration. His eyes lingered on me.. dark, burning, and full of things I didn’t want to admit I felt… before he finally turned and walked toward the door.
The click of the office door behind him echoed in the silence, and I sank back into my chair, heart racing, hands trembling slightly. Even after all that, I couldn’t decide if I hated him… or wanted him more than ever.
I sat there for a long moment, my hands still shaking, trying to steady my racing heart. The office felt too quiet now, empty without him pressing against me, without the weight of him in the room.
Part of me wanted to run after him, to grab him and scream that I didn’t care about rules or reason… but another part of me burned with anger, reminding me of every time he’d hurt me, every betrayal I still carried.
I rubbed my face with my hands, trying to push down the ache in my chest. God, he made it so damn hard to stay mad, so damn hard to stay away.
Finally, I leaned back in my chair, staring out the window at the city lights, and whispered to myself, “I can’t let him get the best of me. Never”
Even as I said it, a small, guilty part of me knew… he already had.
I sank further into my chair, trying to focus on anything else.. papers, emails, anything that would drown out the memory of him. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw his smirk, felt the heat of his hands, heard the rough edge in his voice.
My phone buzzed on the desk. I didn’t want to look, didn’t want to know if it was him trying to text me again, but my curiosity won.
It wasn’t him. It was Max.
Hey how is work? Just checking in
I typed back quickly, my fingers trembling. Fine … I’m fine. Just super busy.
I stared at the screen a moment longer, then tossed the phone aside. “Busy,” I whispered to myself. Busy avoiding him. Busy pretending I wasn’t still burning for Ronan. Busy pretending that letting him into my life, even for a second, wasn’t the most dangerous thing I’d ever done.
By the time I finished packing my things, the office was quiet. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the floor. I grabbed my bag and headed out, only to stop dead when I saw him.
Ronan. Leaning against my car, arms crossed, that irritating smirk on his face. My chest tightened, and my heart started racing before I even had time to think.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though my hands shook on my bag strap.
“Waiting for you,” he said, simple and casual, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I wanted to yell, to slam my car door and leave, but a small, stupid part of me wanted to walk over to him. I clenched my jaw, trying to fight it.
“You’re annoying,” I muttered, trying to sound angry, but my voice sounded weak even to me.
He stepped closer, and the space between us felt tight, hot. “I know,” he said, his eyes dark and intense.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to act normal, but my whole body was shaking. My mind said to run… but my heart had other ideas.
He tilted his head, that smirk tugging at his lips, leaning closer so I could feel the heat of him. “Come on… let’s just watch a movie. Nothing crazy, just the two of us,” he said, voice low and smooth.
I crossed my arms, trying to hide the flutter in my chest. “It’s late… I don’t have the energy for crowded spaces,” I muttered, looking anywhere but him.
“Crowded? Don’t you worry” he teased, taking a slow step closer, his hand brushing mine almost accidentally. “It’s just us. I’ll make it worth your while.”
I swallowed hard, feeling my resolve waver. My body remembered him too well, even if my brain screamed to stay away. “I… I don’t know,” I whispered, my throat tight.
He smirked wider, eyes dark with that familiar, impossible charm. “Come on, Ivy. Just one movie. Let me make it up to you.”
I hesitated, caught between the pull of him and the push of my own pride, heart hammering in my chest
I bit my lip, trying to think of an excuse, but none came. Every part of me wanted to say no… and every part of me wanted to say yes.
“Fine,” I finally muttered, almost under my breath. “Just one movie. But… we’re keeping it low-key. No crowds.”
He grinned, that cocky, infuriating grin that made my stomach twist. “Deal,” he said, taking my hand gently. “I promise, nothing crazy. Just you, me… and a movie.”
My heart skipped, betraying me, but I let him lead the way. Even if I knew this was dangerous, even if I knew it would stir up everything I’d been trying to bury, I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t stop him.
As we walked together, his hand brushing mine occasionally, I felt heat creeping under my thigh, the kind that made my knees weak and my thoughts messy.