Chapter 14.


    Ss was working when Ivy''s call came in. He didn''t know it was


    "Yes I am." Ivy replied firmly.


    "What happened? Why the change of heart?"


    sher until he heard her voice. "Uhmm, are you sure about that?”


    She paused for a moment before she spoke. "Nothing, I just changed my mind."


    He knew she was lying but he didn''t press. "Alright then," he said. "I''ll start the process."


    "Alright."


    Before he


    e could stop himself, he blurted out, "Dinner tonight? Somewhere private?"


    Another


    pause. "Yes, sure."


    "Great," he smiled, even though she couldn''t see that. "I''ll send you an outfit."


    You don''t have to, Ss," she said.


    "Oh,e on. It''s a gift," he countered.


    "If you keep gifting me lovely gowns, I''ll take it you disapprove of my wardrobe and don''t trust my fashion sense," she teased, but there was a hint of offense in her tone.


    "Oh I didn''t..."he stuttered. "I''m sorry. I didn''t know you felt that way."


    "Well, I just went shopping yesterday and I haven''t worn anything I bought," she said.


    "I''m sorry, Ivy. I didn''t mean to impose. I just wanted to give you something," he said, softening his tone.


    She sighed. "Fine. I''ll ept it-only because you have great taste in gowns." She sounded like she was smiling-


    He chuckled. "Alright, thank you"


    "No slits this time," she joked.


    "Ho slits this time," he promised.


    "See youter," she said and hung up.


    Ss set his phone down on the desk, still smiling. He had been thinking about her all night-all day. God, it had been so hard to focus on anything else.


    Why was it so hard to have her again? It wasn''t like it was the first time. He just wanted those pink nipples in his mouth-to taste her, to bury himself in between her legs and lose himself in her warmth.


    The mere thought made him hard, and he ran a hand through his hair as he tried to pull himself together. Then, with a sigh, he picked up his phone again, and dialed Wade.


    "Hey, Wade," he said when Wade picked up.


    "I heard your wife is a diva," Wade teased. "How''s it going?"


    "Good," Ss replied, then he remembered the conditions he wanted to add to the contract. "I need you to update the contract with a few changes, and I''ll need it today. Is that possible?"


    "That might be tight. Just send me the revisions, and I''ll get to it as soon as I can, Wade replied.


    "Thanks, Ss said. "I was also calling to inform you about the next phase of publicity"


    "Okay," Wade said. "I had a discussion with Thomas about the procedure we could begin with. Maybe starting with pictures. What do you think?


    "I have no idea," Ss said. "1]l meet up with my team ande up with something"


    10 16 AM


    "Alright. Tll have some meetings with Thom


    ''s publicity teams as well, and then we''ll work with yours. Good!" Wade asked.


    "Yes, sounds good, Ss replied.


    "Okay. Let me know how that goes. Don''t forget to send me those changes, Wade reminded him.


    "I won''t. Later, Wade."


    "Bye."


    Ending the call, Ss buzzed Mrs. Harris through the inte. "Send Rachel in, please."


    Then he went back to work. He was barely engrossed in it when his door opened. Expecting to see Rachel, a young woman barged in instead, notebook in hand.


    "Mr. Stone, what do you have to say about your brother?" she asked, stepping forward. "What''s your response to the allegations that he built his business through fraud? I would like your opinion on-""


    Mrs. Harris rushed in, flustered and clearly out of breath. She grabbed the reporter by the arm, dragging her towards the door. "You need to leave!" she said through gritted teeth.


    Just a few questions, Mr.


    Stone!" the


    reporter called as she was wheeled away.


    Ss sighed. It''s been awhile since he was in the news or had reporters buzzing over him, especially after his final breakup with Kim. He didn''t miss it and he most definitely didn''t miss Kim.


    Mrs. Harris returned, apologizing. "I''m so sorry, sir. She''s being handled by security. She just barged in, and I couldn''t stop her," she exined.


    "Alright. Let Rachel know I need to see her urgently," Ss said. Mrs. Harris nodded and left.


    Ss frowned, his thoughts turning to security. He''d have to double it now-he couldn''t risk reporters barging into his ce of business. especially now that Bud wasn''t securing him anymore.


    The door opened again, and Rachel, his personal assistant, entered. Aside from being his PA, Rachel also doubled as his director of internal affairs.


    "You called for me, sir," Rachel said, stepping forward.


    "Take your seat," Ss gestured to the seat opposite his. "I intend to go public with my marriage." Rachel was one of the few people who knew about it. "But I don''t know how to approach it. I need suggestions."


    Rachel adjusted her sses, her expression changed. "Depends on the kind of impact you want. We could issue a formal statement about the marriage, stage a wedding and release photographs. There are plenty of options,"


    Ss leaned forward. "Which approach would be the most provocative? The loudest?"


    Rachel pondered for a moment. "We could start by releasing snippets of you two spending time together-a public appearance, dates. Then, follow up with a formal wedding and release the photos. We couldbine several ideas together. Tm sure it would result in maximum attention.


    Ss thought about his with Kim. Everywhere they went, paparazzi followed. Kim enjoyed the spotlight, but him—not so much.


    This whole unveiling thing was like reliving his public moments with Kim, except this time, he was purposely putting them out-and doing it for Thomas.


    "Alright, sounds right," he finally said. "Gather your ideas with the publicity teams, and schedule a meeting with Thomas''s teams so we can brainstorm together."


    "Alright, boss," Rachel said.


    "I also need you to send the new contract arrangements to Wade. I''ll give you the


    list for that."


    Rachel


    ruse.


    1. se. "Got it, boss."


    “And increase security-both at the office and my house. Add new members to the


    team."


    Rachel nodded. "Would that be all, sir?" -


    10.16 AM


    Ss tilted his head, thinking.


    What else was he missing?


    faint smile tugged at his lips. Calling Ivy his wife had a nice


    "Ah, make a reservation for 8 pm at Chester Hotel for me and my wife." A faint


    ring to it.


    "Of course, sir." Rachel said with a nod.


    "That would be all" he said.


    Rachel nodded again. "Alright, sir," she replied before leaving


    If Ivy was holding up her end of the deal, he needed to do the same. He would call Thomas so he could secure a location for Ivy''s photography business. But first, he picked up his phone and dialed Sky Rave-the designer who had made that stunning ck gown for Ivy.


    This time, he would request for a golden gown, with no slit, elegant but with just enough cleavage showing. He couldn''t wait to see breasts of hers-reserved for


    his eyes only.


    those


    As he waited for Sky to pick, a thought crossed his mind: How would Ivy feel


    about dining at Chester Hotel-the very ce where they


    had first made love!


    AD