Saturday mornings were Ivy's least favorite time to leave the house, but she didn't have much of a choice. She was out of milk, and her pantry was embarrassingly empty.
Though she had a lot of chores to do, she wasn't ready for any of that. She didn't even have the strength after sitting at a club for over an hour.
Thinking about what happened at the club, she sighed, glad that the headache she had woken up with had subsided.
"I don't have a social life, people keep saying. Yet, I decided to socialize yesterday and saw myself at the wrong club with two fools who assumed that every lady they meet is the same," Ivy said out loud, her irritation from last night partially returning.
"I sincerely blame myself for accepting to attend the birthday party, but I think I blame Selena more for giving me the wrong address and allowing me to waste that precious time of mine doing absolutely nothing," She said and took a deep breath, deciding to focus more on the present.
Her house was empty, and she needed to do some grocery shopping. She thought, finally deciding to run to the store.
By the time she arrived, the grocery store was bustling with activity. Ivy grabbed a cart and made her way through the aisles, tossing in the items on her list—bread, eggs, and a couple of canned goods.
Though she owned a restaurant, she didn't always eat there as she mostly didn't have the time.
After grabbing almost everything, she glanced at her list to see what was remaining, and she smiled when she saw there was just one item left: her favorite chocolate.
Without wasting time, she made a turn for it. When she turned into the sweets aisle and saw that there was only a single pack of chocolate sitting on the shelf, a flicker of disappointment flashed through her eyes.
Deciding to make do with that, she quickened her pace, her hand reaching for it eagerly but only for another hand to snatch it at the same moment.
Startled, Ivy turned, her disappointment barely concealed as she came face-to-face with a man holding the chocolate. He was tall, with dark hair and a confident smirk, but she didn't recognize him.
"Excuse me," she said softly, her tone polite despite the twinge of disappointment. "Could I please have that? It's my favorite, and I'd really appreciate it if you don't mind."
The man's smirk widened as he studied her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Wow! You. What happened? You sound..... completely different."
"Different?" Ivy blinked, confused.
"Yeah," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. "Different from how you sounded when you spoke to me yesterday."
"What?" Ivy's brows furrowed as she took a step back. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
What was this guy talking about? Who is he? Have I ever met this person before? Ivy mused, her eyes on him as if trying to figure out who he really was.
The man raised an eyebrow. "So, that's how we're playing this? Pretending like you don't know me now?"
"I'm sorry," Ivy said, irritation creeping into her voice. "Am I supposed to know you?"
Hunter chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "You don't recognize me after the way you talked to me? Seriously?"
Hunter was one of the guys she had met at Club 02, and though he recognized her well because of how rudely she had talked to him, she couldn't.
Not because she had a short memory but because she didn't exactly give much attention to his looks the previous night.
How could she when all he made her feel was irritation? After the way he spoke to her, the way he looked was not much of a priority to her.
Hearing this, Ivy stiffened, a flicker of anger sparking in her chest. "Look, mister," she snapped, her voice sharper now. "If it's because of that chocolate I'm asking for that you're mistaking me for someone else, you can keep it. I'm not interested anymore," she said, but even as she said that she could feel her throat not agreeing with her.
A huge part of her longed for the chocolate; in fact, merely looking at it made her feel like she could already taste it in her mouth.
She really wanted it and wouldn't mind begging for it, but she didn't like to be disrespected, especially by someone she didn't know.
Her gaze lingered on the chocolate for a second—her resolve faltering as her craving returned—but she shook her head and pushed her cart away without another word. Her pride was what mattered more than her craving.
Besides, she could get it at any other mall. She told herself as she kept pushing her cart further away from Hunter.
Hunter stood frozen, staring after her with a mixture of disbelief and irritation. Of all the reactions he'd anticipated, this wasn't it. She didn't just dismiss him—she'd acted like he didn't exist.
Last night, too, she made him look like a fool in front of Derek.
"She was unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. He looked at the chocolate in his hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. "If she wants to play games, fine. Let's see how far this goes."
He followed her to the checkout counter, taking his place a few feet behind her. Hunter stepped forward as the cashier scanned her items, holding out the chocolate.
"Here," he said, his voice calm but teasing. "You can have it."
Ivy didn't even glance at him. "It's best I don't take it," she replied curtly. "That way, you won't mistake me for one of your little friends the next time we run into each other."
"You're being very rude, you know. Just take the chocolate," Hunter said with a thin smile. Ivy turned to look at him, her brows raised.
"I can be worse than rude if you keep bugging me. Please leave me alone," Ivy said, returning her attention to the cashier.
Hunter blinked, momentarily speechless. Her tone was sharp, her words cutting, and he found himself at a loss for a witty comeback.
After she finished paying, Ivy grabbed her bag and turned to leave without a second glance.
Hunter watched her go, his irritation fading into something more. Though he had thought about just letting last night go and lying to Derek that he couldn't find her, he decided to carry on with the bet so he could make her fall for him, only to break her heart.
That was her punishment for treating him with so much disrespect. She was bold and blunt in a way he hadn't encountered often, and he was going to make sure he humbled her.
As she stepped out of the store, attempting to get into her car, Hunter discreetly pulled out his phone, snapping a quick picture of her before slipping it back into his pocket.
That picture was enough to give him all the information he needed about her; he thought as he watched her get into her car and drive off.
Sliding into his own car, he kept his distance, trailing her as Ivy made her way through the city.
When she finally drove into a picket-fenced house and got into the house, Hunter leaned back in his seat, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"Let the games begin," he murmured to himself before driving off.
*************
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