WRITER'S POV:
The second course hadn't even landed when Gina struck.
Cassius had excused himself briefly to speak with one of the older men at the far end of the room—an advisor, Ivy guessed, or someone with a name that triggered phone surveillance.
Which left Ivy alone. And Gina pounced.
"You know," she began, voice sweet and high and poisonous as Ivy slowly looked up to her, holding back an eye roll. "when I met Cassius, he used to hate bringing dates to these things. Said it was a distraction."
Ivy didn't flinch. Yet."But I guess standards change. Or maybe desperation does." Gina continued with a theatrical sigh.
The man seated beside Ivy chuckled under his breath. Ivy didn't look at him.
"You look very... polished," Gina continued. "For someone who came from coach."
By nightfall, Ivy was dressed in a black evening gown that felt suspiciously like it belonged to someone with a deeper bank account and fewer trauma spirals. Her hair was pinned up. Her nerves were staging a full revolution.Ivy's face burned. She stared at her plate, jaw tightening.
Gina leaned in. "I wonder how long it'll take before he forgets your name. Or how he got you. Maybe he already has."
Cassius returned.
Gina sat back with a satisfied smile."Do you want to be removed from the table?" Cassius muttered to Gina through his faintly gritted teeth. Gina blinked. "Excuse me?""I can have you gone in thirty seconds." Cassius warned."I was just making conversation." Gina, retreated, putting her hands in the air, as she angrily flipped her hair."Try harder. Or try silence." Cassius muttered under his breath as he suddenly stood taller with one hand in his pocket.The table fell quiet.Gina glared. Cassius didn't look away.Ivy stared at her plate, cheeks hot, throat tight.Cassius reached under the table again—found her hand,Held it.Firm. Warm. Unmoving.Later, as dessert came and conversation turned to something about Eastern trade routes and someone named Vico who may or may not be dead, Cassius leaned in towards Ivy ear slowly."She won't bother you again." He whispered to her which sent shivers down Ivy's spine.
Ivy whispered back, "You didn't have to defend me.""I wasn't defending you. I was protecting you." Cassius scoffed faintly, leaning back to his seat."Same thing."
Not in this world.She turned to look at him. His expression had shifted.No mask. No calculation.Just... real."I didn't mean for this to happen," he said. "You were supposed to be temporary."
"And now?" He paused and didn't blink. Didn't look away.
"...Now, I'm falling for you"Even worse." He continued.Iv's stomach dropped.
Of all the things she thought he'd say—that wasn't it.
She opened her mouth. Nothing came out."Don't say anything," he said softly. "Just... know it."She nodded, holding back her words.And hated how much she liked the way it felt.Humiliation still burned under her skin.But so did something else.Something dangerous.Something warm.