Chapter 6

Ivy

Three hours later.

The plane finally landed at the airport, and the first sight that caught my attention was a familiar jet with Dante's name written boldly on it.

Just like that, every bit of hope I'd managed to gather during the flight disappeared.

Dante really flew back without me?

All this while, I thought Dante wouldn’t leave me behind without showing the basic courtesy of informing me, but I was wrong.

Wrong and delusional.

“You don’t have to follow in the same car with me. I have cars waiting at the airport on arrival in case I come with visitors, so you can take one.” Voss said as he stood up from his seat.

He reached for the overhead compartment where he had initially dropped my suitcase, then he pulled it out.

“Here, I will have an attendant take it out for you and get you a car too. Tell the driver to take you to my house, that's all.”

After our last odd conversation, Voss barely spoke five words to me. He had his face buried in his phone, but he stalled the flight for one hour just because he wanted the flight attendant to go get more food options.

Then he had them prepare three dishes for me, even though I told him I had breakfast. I wanted to protest, but I couldn’t because thirty minutes into the flight my belly began to growl.

I had told him thanks, but he had his headphones on and he didn’t respond. Now they were off, and I had to say it.

"Voss?"

His green eyes lifted to mine.

"Yes?"

"Thank you... for the flight."

"...And the food."

He passed me a warm smile. “You are welcome, Miss Ivy Hart. It’s my greatest honor to be of service to you.” He said in a sarcastic tone, then placed a hand dramatically over his chest before giving me an exaggerated bow.

“Oh wow! That’s so sweet of you.” I mimicked his exaggerated bow again, which made both of us laugh a little more before the entire plane went silent.

Our eyes met again, and that familiar fuzzy feeling fluttered in my heart.

“No, seriously, thank you…” I said again, but he didn’t respond this time.

There was silence between us. I didn’t want to say anything to ruin the moment, so I just kept staring at him even while he was walking forward.

“There are two cars outside. You can take one back to the estate.” He said.

He had closed the gap between us, and now I was just looking up at him, just like I did last night in that bathroom.

His hands cupped my cheeks, and I found myself leaning hopelessly against them. His finger brushed against my lips.

“If it’s not too much to ask, come out with me tonight,” he said.

His finger cupped my chin, then made me look into his piercing green eyes. My eyes moved from his eyes down to his lips.

I dared to imagine myself kissing him. Last night I could swear we almost kissed.

“Okay.” I said.

His fingers ran across my lips again. I closed my eyes, trying to savor the moment a little bit longer before an attendant came out.

“Mr. Solano, do I take the bags to the car?” A lady from behind said.

Voss quickly removed his hands from my chin, then cleared his throat.

“Yes, yes, take it. And uhm, Ivy, take the car. It drives straight to the estate, so you don’t have to worry about giving him directions.”

I tucked my hair behind my ear as my cheeks warmed.

“Sure, thanks,” I responded.

The attendant behind us took my bag, then moved past me. I followed behind her, hoping to get off the plane, but I couldn’t get myself to walk out.

I turned back to see Voss packing his gadgets into his duffel bag. I didn’t want to leave him just yet.

I wanted to tell him that I could wait. I wanted to wait for him, and we would go to the estate together, but maybe it was just me pushing it.

Voss and I are not friends, and this feeling in my heart, this vulnerable feeling, was solely because Dante had broken my heart and I was in desperate need of affection.

It’s not real.

This silly attraction to Voss isn’t real. I mentally recited that before walking down the plane and boarding the car.

Even as we drove away, I kept looking back to see if he followed behind me or came down from the plane, but he didn’t, and it broke my heart a little bit more.

The drive toward the estate was longer than anticipated.

"We've arrived, ma'am." The driver's voice pulled me back to reality.

I blinked.

The massive Solano estate stood proudly before me. I hadn't even realized we'd been parked.

“Thanks very much,” I said before pushing the door open and walking out. The driver popped the trunk. I took my bag, then offered him a tip before walking into the house.

Every year for five years, with this year making it the fifth time I had seen this house, it looked beautiful each time.

It was built like a castle, and beside it lay a vast land of green grass and red rose bushes. It was indeed a tradition I didn’t want to miss.

As I reached the entrance, Gregory, the family butler, smiled warmly.

"Miss Hart!" He exclaimed with his usual warmth. "I thought you weren't coming this year."

I dropped my suitcase, then hugged him gently. His arms wrapped around me.

“Hello, Greg. It’s so wonderful seeing you again.” I said before pulling away.

“There was a slight delay in my flight, but I am here.”

“Oh, no problem. Then I will show you to a guest room.”

He reached for my suitcase before leading me inside. The familiar scent of polished wood and fresh flowers welcomed me. Guests chatted happily throughout the grand living room.

The celebration wouldn't officially begin until evening, when Papa Solano gathered all his friends and relatives.

“Ivy? Is that you?” Dante called from behind.

I turned quickly to see Dante at the base of the stairs.

He looked rather shocked to see me.

“Ivy? Wow. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

Seeing him sparked irritation in my heart.

“You left without me, Dante. You left without a prior message.”

“It’s not what you think. I…”

“It’s that the PR girl? Oh, I didn’t realize Ashcombe needed damage control so quickly.” Solange said from behind as she approached Dante.

Right before my eyes, she pulled him in for a kiss.

“Damage control?”

Was that really all I was?

“Uh, Ivy, you’ve met Solange, right? My girlfriend.” He pointed toward Solange, who was still wrapped around his arm.

“Yeah.”

“Well, Solange wanted to meet my father earlier, so we flew ahead. I figured since you weren’t feeling well yesterday, there wasn’t much point stressing you with the trip.”

There wasn’t much point.

Five years of traveling home together, and suddenly there wasn’t much point.

“I texted you,” I said quietly.

“I know.” Dante rubbed the back of his neck. “Things got hectic.”

“Oh, quit it, Ivy,” Solange laughed. “The man just won the Ballon d’Or. You don’t expect him to report every little thing to you, do you?”

My eyes stayed on Dante.

I waited.

For him to say she was wrong.

For him to tell her I wasn’t just anybody.

He never did.

Instead, he smiled awkwardly.

“I didn’t think you’d take it this personally.”

That one sentence hurt more than everything else.

Because he truly didn’t understand.

I forced a smile.

“You’re right. Congratulations, Mr. Man of the Hour.”

He smiled, relieved that I’d “gotten over it.”

“I knew you’d understand.”

Understand.

I almost laughed.

“How did you even get here?” he asked. “I checked the flights this morning. Everything to Spain was fully booked.”

I looked at him for a moment.

“I…”

Before I could answer, another voice came from behind.

“She didn’t need a commercial flight.”

Every muscle in Dante’s body stiffened.

I didn’t even have to turn around.

I’d know that voice anywhere.

Voss.

He walked in carrying his duffel bag over one shoulder, his gaze moving from me to Dante before settling into that familiar unreadable expression.

Dante’s eyes flickered between the two of us.

“…You can’t be serious.”