I had barely turned the water off when I heard a soft knock at the door. My mind was still occupied with the day's tasks, but something about that knock made me pause. It wasn't urgent, but hesitant. Quiet. Ivy.
I pulled a towel around my waist and walked to the door, droplets of water still clinging to my skin. The cool air from the room hit me as I turned the handle, opening it to reveal her standing there, looking unsure. She wasn't dressed up for anything special—just simple clothes, her hair a little messy from running her hands through it. But she didn't need anything special to look striking.
Her eyes flickered up from the floor, widening as they landed on me. I watched her, amusement creeping in as her gaze traveled down from my face to my bare chest. Her mouth parted slightly, and I could practically hear the wheels in her head turning. It took her far too long to pull her eyes away from me, and by the time she did, her cheeks were flushed a lovely shade of red.
Interesting.
I stood there, towel loosely tied around my waist, wondering how long it would take her to speak. I could see her struggling—whether it was with her thoughts or with my presence, I wasn't sure. Either way, I found it highly entertaining.
"Uh…" she began, voice faltering. She cleared her throat, her embarrassment practically radiating off her. "I… I wanted to ask for a favor."
A favor? This was interesting. She looked so unsure of herself, standing there in front of me, fidgeting with her hands. For someone so determined to handle things on her own, she rarely asked for help.
"I want to get a few things for Aiden," she said, her voice quiet. "But I don't have any money."
She paused, and I watched her carefully. There was more she wasn't saying, and I waited for her to get to the point.
"I know the contract says you'll only pay me when my role becomes more relevant to the mission, but I really need it. I promise I'll repay you... with anything."
The way she said it—"with anything"—it wasn't lost on me. Ivy was innocent in many ways, but there was an unspoken implication behind her words that even she must have realized after she said it. I could see the moment regret flashed in her eyes, the flush of red creeping back up her neck and into her cheeks.
I let the silence hang between us for a moment longer than necessary, just to see how she'd react. Her discomfort was palpable, but there was something else—an edge of vulnerability I hadn't seen from her before.
I held back a chuckle as I watched her squirm under my gaze before turning back into my room without a word, leaving the door ajar for her to follow or wait. I wasn't about to make this easy for her. I heard her fidget outside, unsure if she should come in, before I returned with one of my black cards in hand. If she needed money, I'd give it to her. But her offer—her words—they'd linger with me far longer than the exchange we were about to make.
When I offered it to her, she stared at it, wide-eyed, like it was something foreign and untouchable.
"Ask one of the staff to accompany you," I said, watching her closely. But before she could relax, I added with a smirk, "And about that repayment… when do you plan on fulfilling it?"
The way her breath hitched, the way her eyes darted up to meet mine with a mix of surprise and embarrassment—it was intoxicating.
The blush that rushed to her cheeks this time was unmistakable. She opened her mouth to respond, but for a moment, no words came out. I could see the panic in her eyes—she hadn't meant for her words to come across like that, and now she was scrambling for an answer.
"I... I don't know," she finally said, her voice faltering. "Tell me what you want and when. I'll try to do it, as long as it doesn't bring harm to Aiden."
I studied her, letting the silence stretch between us. She was trying so hard to be brave, to hold her ground, but I could see the nerves written all over her face. It was endearing, in a way.
"I'll let you know when I decide what I want," I finally said, watching as she visibly exhaled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
"Thank you. I'll get going now," she muttered quickly, clutching the card like it was her lifeline.
I nodded, watching as she turned and practically fled down the hallway. I waited until she was out of sight before closing the door, a chuckle escaping me. That had been more fun than I expected.
But as I stood there, a lingering thought gnawed at the back of my mind. Ivy wasn't just some girl who was easily shaken. She had an unexpected strength to her, and for some reason, she had started to get under my skin in a way I didn't anticipate.
I ran a hand through my still-wet hair, the cool water dripping down my neck. She was vulnerable, innocent in so many ways, and yet there was a strength in her that intrigued me. She was a challenge, one I hadn't anticipated. And for someone like me, challenges were something I thrived on.
But it wasn't just her determination that drew me in. It was something deeper—something I couldn't quite put my finger on. The way she looked at me, with those wide, trusting eyes, even when she was nervous or unsure. The way she pushed herself to be strong, even when I knew she was scared.
I couldn't help but wonder—what exactly would I ask for when the time came to collect on that favor? Ivy had no idea what she'd just agreed to. And neither did I.
But I was damn sure I was going to enjoy finding out.