Chapter 11 Boundaries And Battles
- (Ivy’s POV)
- The drive back to Damien’s estate was silent.
- I could still feel the weight of his words lingering in the air.
- "You’re a part of this world now."
- I hated how true it was.
- No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I had some semblance of control, I knew Damien was always one step ahead. He made it clear today.
- And worse?
- A small, traitorous part of me found it intoxicating.
- I shook the thought away as we pulled up to the grand estate. The gates closed behind us, trapping me once again in his world.
- A Nightly Visitor
- I barely made it to my room before a knock echoed against the door.
- I exhaled sharply. "What now?"
- Opening the door, I found Elias standing there, his usual calm expression in place.
- "Mr. Blackwood wants you in his study," he said.
- Of course, he does.
- I crossed my arms. "And if I don’t feel like going?"
- Elias didn’t even blink. "That’s not an option."
- A mix of frustration and curiosity swirled inside me. I wanted to refuse, to draw a line somewhere.
- But I also knew that denying Damien wouldn’t end well.
- With a resigned sigh, I followed Elias down the dimly lit hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor.
- The study doors were already open when I arrived.
- Damien stood by the window, hands tucked into his pockets, staring out at the vast estate.
- He didn’t turn when I stepped inside.
- "Close the door, Little Lamb."
- I did.
- Then I waited.
- Finally, he turned to face me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine.
- "You’re upset."
- I scoffed. "Upset? No. Just re-evaluating my life choices."
- His lips twitched, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. "Good. You should."
- I frowned. "What do you want, Damien?"
- He studied me for a long moment before finally speaking.
- "I want to know how long you plan to fight me."
- The question sent a shiver down my spine.
- I straightened, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "As long as it takes."
- His eyes darkened.
- The tension between us thickened, an unspoken battle of wills crackling in the air.
- Then, in a single step, he closed the distance between us.
- "You think you still have a choice in this, Ivy?" he murmured, his voice dangerously soft.
- My breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my chin.
- "I think you like this more than you admit," he continued, tilting my head up slightly.
- I wanted to deny it.
- To shove him away and prove him wrong.
- But my traitorous body refused to move.
- Damien’s smirk deepened. "You’re starting to understand, aren’t you?"
- A war raged inside me.
- Because the terrifying truth was… maybe I was.
- Maybe I was getting used to this—used to him.
- And that was more dangerous than anything else.
- Unfinished Business
- Before I could respond, a knock interrupted the moment.
- Elias stepped in, his expression neutral.
- "Sir, there’s an urgent call for you."
- Damien exhaled sharply, his hand dropping from my chin.
- His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned away, his mask of indifference sliding back into place.
- "Stay here," he ordered before stepping out of the study.
- I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
- The moment he left, I took a step back, trying to gather my thoughts.
- I needed to regain control—of myself, of this situation.
- But how could I when Damien Blackwood was making sure I had none?
- ******
- I glanced around the study, my curiosity getting the best of me.
- Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound books and documents. The large mahogany desk in the center held neatly stacked papers, a few pens, and a glass of half-finished whiskey.
- Something caught my eye.
- A file, slightly askew, sitting at the edge of the desk.
- I hesitated.
- Then, before I could second-guess myself, I stepped forward, fingers brushing against the folder.
- A single name was typed on the cover.
- Ivy Monroe.
- My heart stopped.
- Why the hell did Damien have a file on me?
- I swallowed hard, quickly flipping it open.
- But before I could read anything—
- "I wouldn’t do that if I were you."
- His voice sent a jolt through my body.
- I spun around, finding Damien leaning against the doorway, arms crossed.
- His expression was unreadable, but there was something dangerous in his eyes.
- Something that sent a chill down my spine.
- I shut the file quickly.
- Damien pushed off the door, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps.
- "Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Little Lamb."
- I forced myself to meet his gaze. "Then why leave it out in the open?"
- His smirk returned. "Maybe I wanted to see if you’d take the bait."
- My stomach twisted.
- He was toying with me.
- Testing me.
- Again.
- I clenched my fists. "What’s in there, Damien?"
- He reached out, plucking the file from my hands.
- "Nothing you need to worry about."
- I narrowed my eyes. "I think I should be the one to decide that."
- His jaw ticked slightly. "You don’t need to know everything, Ivy."
- My frustration boiled over. "That’s not your decision to make!"
- Silence.
- A charged, suffocating silence.
- Then, suddenly, he laughed.
- A low, dark chuckle that sent shivers down my spine.
- "You’re playing a dangerous game, Little Lamb."
- I lifted my chin. "I’m not afraid of you, Damien."
- His smirk faded.
- And in that moment, I realiied something.
- He wasn’t amused anymore.
- He was… intrigued.
- Interested.
- And that was far more dangerous than his anger.
- Because Damien Blackwood didn’t like losing.
- And I had just challenged him.
- (END OF POV)