Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken tension.
I wasn't sure what I had expected when I called—an automated response? A rushed excuse? Anything that would break the spell he seemed to have over me.
But instead, I got this.
A man who spoke with absolute certainty. A man who knew the weight of his own presence.
"I didn't say I wanted to see you," I said smoothly, tilting my head as if he could see me. "Maybe I just called to say goodnight."
A low chuckle. Rich, unhurried. "Is that so?"
I rolled my eyes, leaning against my vanity. "Or maybe I was curious."
"Curious about what?"
"Who you are," I admitted, hating how easy the words came out. "You didn't exactly introduce yourself."
"Neither did you," he countered, as if my name wasn't already known in every elite circle.
I smirked, tapping my nails against the counter. "I suppose that's fair."
Another pause. Then, in a voice lower than before, he said, "Do you always let curiosity win?"
A shiver ran down my spine, but I refused to let it show. "Only when I think it's worth it."
The silence that followed wasn't empty. It was filled with knowing.
And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't the one in control.
He exhaled softly, the sound intimate even through the phone. "Then tell me, Ivanna Sterling—what do you want to know?"
Hearing my name in his voice did something strange to me. Like it belonged there.
I hesitated, gripping the edge of the counter. "Everything."
He hummed, as if pleased by my answer. "Then meet me for dinner tomorrow night."
It wasn't a question.
It wasn't a plea.
It was a statement.
A dare.
A challenge.
And I had never been one to back down from a challenge.
"Text me the details," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I'll think about it."
His low chuckle returned. "Goodnight, Ivanna."
The line clicked.
And just like that, he had the last word.