Present time...
Aiden Blackwood, 33 years old...
Holy shit. There she was, chained to the damn chair like a helpless animal.
Ivy fucking Williams was all grown up now.
And goddamn, she was looking better than ever. I didn't remember her having such a tight body back in high school. Yes, she was cute, but now...
I had no idea she was Connor Williams' daughter - the guy who owed me a shit ton of money. I knew he had a wife and kid, but I never gave a damn about who they were.
That's what my right-hand man Joseph was for - handling the dirty work. But then Joseph comes to me and says that the daughter wants to negotiate a deal. A woman with balls like that? Definitely worth meeting. And when I found out it was my little Ivy? Oh man, I was fucking thrilled.
"Aidan, are you listening to me?" Her melodious voice broke me out of my nostalgic thoughts. "Are you seriously asking me to sleep with you because of my father's debt?" she breathed.
My lips curved into a smirk as I leaned back in my chair, taking in every inch of her. "That's exactly what I'm saying, Ivy. I am giving you an easy way out of dear ole daddy's debt."
Ivy's eyes widened at my words, her jaw slackening in disbelief. "You can't be serious," she said, her voice wavering slightly.
I chuckled, enjoying the way she was squirming under my intense gaze. "Oh, I'm very serious, darling."
She shook her head, her hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly. "I won't do it. I won't sleep with you just to get out of my father's debt."
"Suit yourself," I shrugged nonchalantly. "But just know that your father owes me a lot of money and if he doesn't pay up soon, things could get...messy."
Ivy bit her lip nervously, considering my offer. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she weighed her options.
"You wouldn't really hurt my family, would you?" she asked quietly.
"I don't make idle threats," I replied evenly.
She glared daggers at me. Another difference between the old Ivy and this new one: this one had some fire in her.
"How long?" she asked in an icy tone.
"How long what?" I asked.
"How long do you expect me to sleep with you?" Ivy asked in an angry tone.
I couldn't help but smirk at her feisty attitude. She had definitely changed, no doubt about that.
"Hmm...let's see. Your Daddy dearest owes me about two hundred million. So how about you be my little whore for two months?" I replied smoothly, leaning forward in my chair. I looked at Joseph. "That sounds fair, right, Joseph?"
"Very fair, Boss," Joseph nodded in agreement.
Ivy's eyes widened in shock at my proposition. "Two months? That's insane! I can't just sleep with someone for two months like it's nothing!"
"It's your choice, love," I shrugged nonchalantly. "You can either agree to my terms or your family faces the consequences."
She bit her lip nervously. I could tell her mind was racing with thoughts and emotions. I could see the turmoil in her eyes as she tried to come up with a solution.
"I-I need some time to think about it," she finally said, avoiding my intense gaze.
"I had given your father plenty of time, but he ran out, Ivy. So I expect you to make your decision now," I growled.
"Why are you doing this, Aidan? Wasn't bullying me ten years ago enough for you?" Ivy asked in a trembling voice.
Ivy's question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected her to bring up the past.
"That was a long time ago," I said dismissively. "This isn't about the past. This is business."
But even as I said it, memories came flooding back. Ivy, with her long chestnut hair and kind blue eyes. I saw her again as she was back then - sweet, gentle, innocent. And I saw myself as I had been - angry, hurt, taking out my pain on someone weaker than me.
And now, here I was, threatening her family to force her into being my mistress. I was no better now than I had been then. I was much worse.
Ivy's blue eyes locked onto mine, just like they used to when we were younger. She may be older and more confident now, but there was still a hint of her former innocence lingering in those eyes.
But did that make me feel sorry for her? Hell no. In fact, it made my cock throb even more for her. I needed her in my bed and I needed her now.
"Don't do this, Aidan. This isn't right. A-and if I remember correctly, you weren't even attracted to me back then. So why are you trying to sleep with me right now?" she asked.
"Oh, sweet Ivy. You are being so naive right now," I said in a condescending tone. "I was just a kid back then. But things are different now."
"Different, how?" she asked.
"You probably looked at me like I was some trash off the street back then. Not good enough for a sophisticated rich girl like you. Isn't that right? So even if I showed interest in you, I would've been rejected," I replied.
Ivy shook her head, denying my words. "You're full of shit, Aidan. You remembered things wrong. I never looked at you that way. I always thought you were..."
I cut her off. "It doesn't matter what you thought about me back then. Not anymore. What matters is that things have changed and I hold all the power over you, Ivy Williams. So you better fucking listen up. If I tell you to dance, you better dance like a good little slut. And if I want you on your knees, sucking my cock with a smile on your face, you better do it without hesitation." My voice was filled with venom as I snarled at her, relishing the control I had over her now.
Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she stared at me, dumbfounded. "You are despicable, Aidan Blackwood. I thought you were bad back then but now...now you are a monster!"
"That's something we can both agree on," I said and grabbed her face again. "Now, stop wasting my time and tell me your decision. Do we have a deal?" I snarled.
Ivy looked at me, fear in her big blue eyes, but there was something else brewing there too. Determination. "Fine, I'll do it. But know this, Aidan Blackwood, I will never forgive you for this."
"I think I will sleep just fine knowing that, princess," I smirked as I let go of her face and stood up. "Joseph cut her ropes and let her free," I told Joseph, who had been silently waiting for my order.
Joseph cut Ivy's ropes and she rubbed her wrists, still in disbelief about what just transpired.
"Joseph will drive you home. Tomorrow night, he will pick you up and bring you to my place. I expect you to be ready at eight o'clock sharp. And don't try anything funny, Ivy. Because I will be watching," I warned her.
With that, I turned around and left the room, leaving Ivy to her thoughts and Joseph to deal with her.
As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that this deal was going to be more than either of us bargained for. But I pushed those thoughts aside. After all, I had won this round. And for now, that was all that mattered.