Chapter 1

Ivy's POV

Today was the Ballon d'Or award, also known as the award given to the best footballer of the year, and Dante Solano would be winning it.

I knew this because for the five years I had known Dante, winning the Ballon d'Or was all he had ever wanted, and this year he scored more goals than any footballer out there.

He worked hard for this, and I was there at every pitch, every training session, cheering him on and showing the world how much he worked, so everyone knew this year he was going to win for sure, and nothing would make me happier than seeing my best friend on that stage doing what he does best.

Being perfect.

The truth was that Dante and I weren’t just client and worker. He was my best friend, and also the man I had been madly in love with for five years.

To everyone else, I was nothing but a PR manager who always made sure the team looked flawless on camera, and to the netizens they were dreamy and hardworking, but to Dante I was the "best thing that has ever happened to him."

His words, not mine.

And last night he proposed that I come over for a drink at his place, which I did without hesitation.

A few hours after drinking, he looked at me dead in the eye and said, "I trust you more than anyone in this world, Ivy. There's something special I want to tell you after the award show tomorrow." He said this while looking at me dead in the eye, his hands caressing my chin.

If I knew one thing about Dante, it was his principles about keeping his work life separate from his romantic life.

He had never dated any woman working on the team, and he always kept his love life outside of it, so after last night's confession, I came to the conclusion that maybe I wasn't the only one in love in our relationship, and he had been keeping it to himself too.

Maybe he too loved me.

I mean, it's clear as day. We have so much in common, we get along, and we've seen each other almost naked several times.

So today I was going to tell him how I felt about him, right after the award show.

The award show went pretty much as expected, with footballers and celebrities flocking the red carpet like sheep, and also the huddle and shuffle of trying to get my cameramen in, making sure they were all in the perfect position before I went to take my seat.

The show was about to start.

"Miss Ivy Hart! Can I have a moment with you to talk about the team tonight?" One of the interviewers called out to me as I walked the red carpet.

I turned around, waving and smiling at the camera as some of the team members walked in, and I walked over to her.

"You look really beautiful tonight, Miss Ivy. I see you are really excited about tonight," she said.

I nodded while smiling and waving at everyone I recognized.

"Yes, I am. It's Dante's night!" I said into the microphone.

"Of course, of course. We all know there is no one here who supports Dante Solano more than you do. How sure are you that he will win this season? I mean, we all know the Solano brothers are the best strikers there are. Voss Solano was also nominated this season. He played well this year as well," she said.

My stomach dipped, but I still held my smile.

I never liked talking about Voss Solano.

"Well, I know Dante, and I know how much he put his back into this season. I was there all through, and I know he will win! That's all. Have a nice day, thank you."

With that, I turned around and left as everyone talked and called out to me.

The mention of Voss Solano made sweat beads break on my forehead.

Voss Solano is Dante's older brother, who played for Valkyrie Rovers. He was also nominated this season. He had been nominated every season since he started playing, and he had won every season.

Every season.

He wasn't going to win.

Not this time.

As I walked up the stairs into the main hall where the show was starting, my phone buzzed with several notifications. I hurriedly checked and saw that they all came from Dante.

*Are you still struggling to get in? Do you need me to come help you?*

*Ivy, the show is starting. You should be by my side.*

*Where are you, Ivy! Ahhh, come already.*

*Ivy! I am coming out there to get you.*

A slow smile crawled onto my lips seeing how bothered he was about me. It wasn't the first time, and it made me blush each time.

*Don't you dare leave your seat. I will be there soon.*

If he came out by any chance, we would have a hell of a time trying to keep the interviewers in order.

*Don't waste any time. I need you by my side when my name is called, Ivy. You know how important it is to me.*

I watched his message a little bit longer than I should have.

Then I typed.

*I know how important it is to you, my love. I will be there soon. I love you.*

Shit.

This is too much, even for me.

I had never told him I loved him, at least not directly.

So I deleted it.

*Will be there soon, champ.* Accompanied by a thumbs up, then I clicked send.

He viewed it immediately.

A message bubble popped up beneath my message, then it disappeared.

It popped up again, then vanished.

Then a message popped up again.

*Champ? Is that all I am to you, Miss Ivy Hart? At least send a love emoji! Don't hurt my feelings,* he sent.

I bit my lip, holding back a blush that threatened to strain my muscles.

Every word he said now just reassured me that I wasn’t losing my mind over the fact that I felt he was going to tell me he loved me tonight, that he had always loved me.

Well, he would have to beat me to it because I also wanted to tell him how much I loved him, and I didn’t care if he would want to keep the relationship private, as I knew he would want a private relationship.

I didn't care if I worked for his team. We could keep it a secret until he wanted to make it public.

*On my way, sweetheart,* I typed, then clicked send.

He replied with a love emoji.

*Better.*

I smiled again, then shoved my phone into my purse before going back to work, arranging the media team and making sure every important piece of information was being streamed live, and all my team were allowed past the gate.

By the time everything was set, it had been about an hour, and the names of the nominees were being called.

I had to be in the hall now.

So I lifted my gown and led the media team into the hall, where Dante was seated in the front row.

The moment he laid eyes on me, his cheeks flushed and he winked at me.

My cheeks flushed at the sight of him.

He was simply breathtaking.

His dark hair scattered above his face, and he looked too good in that suit.

As he smiled at me, his dimple deepened, and it made my body react in more ways than one.

"You look breathtaking," he said to me.

It was the first time we were seeing each other since yesterday.

Then he waved at me, signaling me to come sit at his table.

There was a seat reserved by his side for me.

I lifted my gown and walked over to him.

"Hello, baby girl!" he said, pulling me in for a half hug and kissing my cheek.

"Hello, Dante," I said, taking my seat.

He looked so good, too good, and I was about to tell him how good he looked tonight when he said,

"I want to introduce you to someone."

He turned around, then pulled a lady beside him.

It was the first time I noticed someone else beside him.

This lady in particular was close to him in a way that made me uncomfortable.

Both of them were holding hands, and she rested on his shoulder.

"Meet my girlfriend, Solange. Solange, meet Ivy Hart, my best friend and the PR manager of Ashcombe."