My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 39

Ivy

"Derek! What are you doing here?" I chirped.

He stood there—tall, hands casually tucked in the pockets of his jeans, a confidence in his stance that rivaled my own.

"Long time no see, Ivy," he said, his voice smooth, almost playfully. "Hope I’m not interrupting," he said with a half-smile.

Standing, I smoothed my skirt. What were the odds that Derek would show up after she had talked about him with Aidan?

Well...kind of talked about him since she didn’t mention any names.

"Come in, Derek. Have a seat." I said.

He moved with familiar ease, taking long strides into the room. As he took the seat, crossing one leg over the other, I perched on the edge of my own chair.

"Nice place you’ve got here," he remarked, glancing around the office that bore the marks of my achievements—awards, accolades, and a view of the city that spoke of power.

"Thank you," I replied, my fingers drumming an impatient rhythm on my desk. "I’ve worked hard for it."

I leaned back in my chair, a fortress of leather and polished wood between us. "Why are you here, Derek?" The words tumbled out, more blunt than I intended, laced with the confusion churning inside me.

"Life’s funny, isn’t it?" He flashed me a grin. "I moved back to the city last month. New job, new start. And, well, I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Ivy. Thought it was time to see how you’ve been."

His casual words sent my memories spiraling. A college party, our first encounter—his easy charm against my skepticism. I liked him after just a few dates, but our flame burned too bright, too fast, and turned to ash before the semester ended. He was my first.

Wait...he was my first! Oh god, Aidan better not find out!

"Reconnecting, huh?" I fought to keep my voice steady. "After all this time..."

"Is it so hard to believe?" he asked, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, searching my eyes for something I wasn’t sure I could give.

"Hard to believe? No." I forced a chuckle that didn’t reach my eyes. "Just unexpected, Derek. That’s all."

"Sometimes the unexpected can be good, don’t you think?" He said.

"Maybe." I shrugged.

"Seeing all this," Derek started, his voice pulling me away from the numbers and projections, "it’s no surprise you’ve taken your father’s legacy to new heights, Ivy."

I paused, my fingers hovering over the glass surface of my desk, feeling its coolness seep into my skin. I looked up at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, held mine with an intensity that had nothing to do with business.

"Thank you, Derek," I said cautiously. If he was thinking about asking me out, he better stop now.

"Let’s catch up," he urged, his smile reaching his eyes, warming the cold aesthetic of my office. "There’s so much I want to know—about you, about this place."

And there it is. Derek wanted to catch up. Oh, great.

"About me?" I echoed, a laugh escaping before I could stop it, tinged with nervous energy.

"Especially about you." His gaze lingered, a silent promise that there was more behind his words than just curiosity.

Aidan wouldn’t like this.

I shifted in my seat. "I don’t know, Derek..."

"Come on, Ivy. We had some fun in college, didn’t we? How about we grab some dinner tonight and catch up?" Derek asked.

I glanced at the sleek, black watch encircling my wrist, its hands ticking a reminder of the world outside this room. "I have a board meeting in ten minutes," I said abruptly, the words slicing through the heavy atmosphere between us.

"Right, business first." Derek stood up, the chair legs scraping softly against the plush carpet. "I didn’t mean to keep you from your work, Ivy."

"Work never stops when you’re running an empire," I replied, standing as well.

"Sounds lonely at the top," he said, his eyes scanning my face for something. "So about that dinner..."

"Sorry, I can’t," I said hurriedly.

"No?" Derek winced. "Why not? Are you seeing someone?"

I paused. I wouldn’t call whatever I have with Aidan ’dating.’ I didn’t even know what to call it. It was more like a hostage situation. But I couldn’t tell Derek that. He would positively freak out!

"Um...not exactly," I said hesitantly.

"Oh, so you are not seeing anyone. So why not have dinner with me?"

"It’s...complicated," I blurted out.

Derek’s eyebrows arched, his eyes dancing with intrigue. "Complicated?"

I crossed my arms over my chest as if to ward off his questions. "It’s just...personal."

"Oh," he said, understanding dawning across his face. "So, there is someone."

I spoke with unwavering determination, hoping to dispel any false assumptions. "No, it’s not like that. I am not involved with anyone."

"Oh, you are not?"

My body stiffened as a deep, raspy voice reached my ears. I turned toward the source and found myself face-to-face with Aidan Blackwood. His piercing blue eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

They seemed almost black in the dim light of the room. His lips were curved into a cynical sneer as he looked between Derek and me, his gaze lingering on my companion with obvious disapproval. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him, his presence filling the space with a tension that was both thrilling and terrifying.

Great, just great.

Aidan walked toward us slowly as if he was calculating each step. "I beg to differ, Ivy. Because you are with me."

Derek wrinkled his forehead and narrowed his eyes at Aidan. "Sorry, and you are..."

"Aidan Blackwood, Ivy’s boyfriend," Aidan declared.

Excuse me. My, what now?

"That’s not true," I quickly interjected.

"Is it not?" Aidan smirked at me.

"No. It’s not. We are not dating, Aidan," I said, trying to sound confident, but my voice trembled.

"Alright, then, I guess we are just fucking," Aidan said casually.

I gasped. "AIDAN!"

Aidan ignored my distress and kept talking. "Regardless of what you want to call it, one thing is clear. You are mine."

I stared at him dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Aidan was acting like a lunatic!

I could feel Derek’s eyes on me, waiting for an explanation. But how could I explain something that I didn’t even understand myself?

"Well, I guess I better get going so you two can sort this out," Derek said.

I felt my cheeks and neck heat up in embarrassment. "I am sorry about this man’s rudeness, Derek. Maybe we can arrange to meet some other time."

Derek smiled. "Sure, Ivy. I will leave my phone number with your secretary," he said, eyeing Aidan cautiously. "If you ever need anything at all, give me a call."

I nodded and watched him leave.

"Aidan, what the fuck is wrong with you!?" I nearly shouted.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow as if challenging me. "I don’t know what you mean."

I groaned with frustration. "Why are you claiming we’re dating?"

Aidan leaned against the wall nonchalantly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Ivy, Ivy, Ivy. Are you really denying our relationship?"

"There is no relationship," I retorted.

His lips curved into a smirk. "You can deny it all you want, but we both know there’s something between us."

"There is nothing between us!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in frustration.

"Then what do you call our little ’arrangement’?" Aidan said mockingly.

"It’s not an arrangement! It’s...kidnapping and...extortion," I stammered.

Aidan’s deep, throaty chuckle sent shivers down my spine as he wrapped his strong arms around my waist.

I couldn’t protest before he had me securely in his embrace, his body warm and comforting against mine. The scent of his cologne filled my lungs. How could this man both terrify and comfort me with just a simple touch? It was like being caught in a storm yet finding shelter in the eye of it all.

"Let go of me," I mumbled into his chest.

"Who was that guy?" he asked, his voice deep and husky.

"He’s from my past. So what?"

Aidan’s grip on me tightened as he spoke. "Is that so?"

I pushed against his chest, trying to break free from his embrace. "Let go," I repeated.

But Aidan didn’t budge. He just held me tighter, his body completely immovable. I could feel my heartbeat racing and my breath quickening.

"I won’t," Aidan said nonchalantly.

Ugh!

Aidan’s piercing gaze bore down on me as he asked the question. "Is he the one?" His voice was low and gruff, a clear indication of his impatience. I knew exactly what he was referring to.

He wanted to know if Derek was the person who had taken my virginity. The thought of this conversation made my blood boil. How dare he pry into my personal life like this!

"What do you mean?" I asked, playing dumb.

"Is. He. The. One?" Aidan repeated, his tone now bordering on aggression. I could feel his frustration radiating off of him in waves.

"None of your damn business!" I hissed.

"Oh, Ivy," he grumbled with a frustrated tone and clenched jaw.

I gasped in surprise as he swooped down and scooped me up effortlessly, cradling me in his strong arms.

I struggled against his firm grasp, wriggling and twisting to break free, but his hold only tightened. The muscles in his arms flexed and rippled under my touch as he strode confidently toward my desk. My heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement, unsure of what he had planned.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t escape him, feeling small and helpless in his arms.