Chapter 8

“What would it take for you to forgive me?” Travis walked back towards her and handed her the glass of wine, which she accepted and cradled in her hands. She wasn’t exactly sure of all the etiquette involved in drinking wine in an environment like this, but she couldn’t help it. She knew she was completely out of her league now and there was no point worrying about embarrassing herself.

“You don’t strike me as someone who is concerned about forgiveness,” she said as he sat down across from her on one of the chairs. Travis had unbuttoned his jacket before he sat and now he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he peered into her eyes. A playful grin danced on his lips as he watched her. She felt completely naked under his gaze, especially since he had seen her partially naked already and touched her in the most intimate way possible.

“Then you have misjudged me as well, Ivy,” he said and took a sip of his whiskey. The ice cubes clinked together in his glass and made her skin tingle. His voice was velvet smooth and every word that came out of his mouth seemed measured and well thought out.

“Enlighten me then, Travis,” she said, repeating his own words, and noticed the way his lips curled in a half-smile and then he took in a deep breath.

“I had no intention of offending you, Ivy. I genuinely believed that you were in my office for a particular reason and I wanted to get it out of the way before you had to leave to go back to work,” he said, in all seriousness. Ivy took a sip of her wine and allowed the rich spicy flavor to travel warmly down her throat.

“Did I give you any reason to believe that I was on a mission?” she asked and Travis smiled, then shook his head.

“No, you didn’t and for that I’m sorry,” he replied and their eyes met. He looked less threatening that night, more genuine and approachable…or it could have been the wine she was drinking, she thought.

“Then why did you…” she began to say, but he had interrupted her.

“Because that is what I’m accustomed to like you pointed out. You were right. I am used to a certain brand of women. Meet them at a club or at a party, they throw themselves at me, they make it very clear what they want and I am always too happy to oblige. Who am I to deny a beautiful woman her pleasure?” Travis said and Ivy arched her eyebrows at him.

“So it’s a kind of public service that you carry out?” she said and she heard his laugh for the first time. It was a deep throaty laugh that only lasted a few seconds before he was back to smiling.

“I like to think of it that way,” he said and Ivy rolled her eyes before she drank some more of the wine. A silence hung between them for a few moments, before Travis spoke again.

“You said that your capabilities are wasted at the cafe, what is it that you really want to do, Ivy?” he asked and she licked her lips and tasted the wine. She was surprised that he even remembered that part of the conversation.

“I am a digital artist…well, not really because that isn’t my profession, but that is what I studied in college and that is what I want to do. But it doesn’t exactly pay the bills yet, not till I can get an actual job,” she told him and then hid her flushed face by drinking some more of the wine. It wasn’t easy admitting that she had been a failure all her life. Travis was thinking, absorbing the information.

“And have you been looking?” he asked.

“Yes, of course, I have. There aren’t that many jobs and I have very little experience,” Ivy said but he looked unconvinced.

“Do you have a portfolio?” he said and Ivy huffed, heaving her shoulders, noticing the familiar feelings of frustration that were creeping up on her. These were exactly the kind of conversations she had with her dad.

“Yes, I do and I’ve been to interviews and there are just no jobs,” she said exasperatedly and Travis clenched his jaw.

“Perseverance is key,” he said to her and Ivy rolled her eyes.

“And your idealism is nauseating,” she said sourly and regretted it the very next second. He didn’t deserve that, she was channeling her frustrations with her own life; on him. But Travis seemed to take it in his stride, instead of responding or scowling, he took another sip of his drink and sat back in the chair.

“I didn’t mean to offer you unsolicited advice,” he said and Ivy pursed her lips together.

“No, I’m sorry that I snapped. I didn’t mean to be rude, you were just trying to be encouraging,” she said and this time he smiled again.

“Look how the tables have turned. You’re the one apologizing now,” he said and when their eyes met, Ivy noticed the glimmer in his gaze. He was looking at her face, but his gaze dropped to her breasts again and he held it there, without apology. Ivy straightened her back, instinctively thrusting her breasts out more. She had no idea why she was reacting this way to his gaze.

“So the dress, dinner…inviting me here, is this not your version of games people play in the art of materialistic seduction?” Ivy said, and he looked up at her face again. Travis breathed in deeply and then stood up from his chair, to walk back to the bar. He was pouring himself another finger of whiskey while she still had half a glass of her wine remaining.

“To put it simply, yes it is. In my twenties, this is what I did. I lavished women with dinner and compliments and gifts. Then over the years, I realized that we all want the same thing. Men and women; we want to feel good,” he said and stood leaning on the bar, his eyes riveted on Ivy’s body. She felt scrutinized under his gaze, naked and open as he watched her. She was trying to focus on the conversation, but the more he spoke the more she found it difficult to concentrate on his words. She could sense that her nipples were pebbled and sensitive as they grazed against her bra.

“Then why did you invite me here? You’re wrong to think that is all I want,” she said and Travis clenched his jaw.

“Because I wanted to apologize for making an assumption,” he said.

“But why do you care?” she prodded him, her voice rising to a feverish pitch. She couldn’t understand what she was doing here. Why he was even remotely interested in a girl like her. With his experience, his wealth, the kind of women who threw themselves at him…

“Because I want you,” he said and took a sip of his drink. He had said the words confidently, unbothered by the consequences of his statement. It came naturally from him like he was completely unaware of the effect he had on her. Ivy couldn’t speak. She hadn’t expected him to be this blunt with her.

“I’ll admit I was being selfish. I wanted you, your body and I was wrong in assuming that was all you wanted from me too,” he said and Ivy stood up with a jerk from the couch. The wine glass fell from her hand and crashed to the floor, the drink spilling all over the carpet. Her hands flew to her mouth and she held it clasped there.

“Don’t worry about it,” Travis said and she looked up at him, their gazes locking again. She took a few steps towards him, but he didn’t make a move.

“I haven’t been with anyone before,” the words came crashing out of her and she searched his face for a reaction. Travis’ drooping eyes remained fixed on her, he was looking at her from under his sharp brows. She had just made one of the most personal admissions of her life, but he had no reaction to that seemingly.

“I am not surprised,” he finally said, and Ivy looked down at her feet.

“You don’t need to be ashamed of it, Ivy,” he said and she forced herself to lift her eyes up at him.

“I went to your office because I want you. And I came here tonight because I still want you,” she admitted with a shaky voice. It hadn’t taken him long to get the truth out of her. Even though she had decided that she wouldn’t allow him to exercise his power over her, she was weak. She had fallen right into his trap and now she felt like she had reached the point of no return.

“I know,” Travis said and she took another step towards him.

“So, I guess you’re right. I guess there’s no point in playing games. I’m foolish enough to be here, so we might as well do it,” Ivy said and threw her arms out in a gesture of giving up. Travis’ brows rose up.

“Do it?” he said.

“Yeah, do it. Have sex. You can have my virginity,” Ivy said in a loud screechy voice that she didn’t recognize. Travis turned slightly, to put down his glass on the bar counter and then crossed his arms over his chest. He was standing with his feet apart, exuding strength and control while Ivy felt like she might have melted in a puddle to the floor.

“I don’t just do it, Ivy. And that is not what I planned to do with you,” he said and Ivy’s brows crossed.

“What are you talking about? In your office, we were going to have rushed wild sex if I hadn’t stopped it in time. What is the problem now?” she asked and took a few more steps towards him.

“I’ve changed my mind, and if that is what you want, then I suggest you look elsewhere for it,” he said. She noticed how his voice had hardened again. He wasn’t smiling anymore and a dangerous glaze had formed a curtain on his deep blue eyes. He was impenetrable and she couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

“You’ve changed your mind? You invited me here for dinner and even though I didn’t want to admit it, I knew exactly why I accepted your invitation. Do you want me to take off my clothes now?” she said, feeling a cry rising up in her throat.

“Ivy, please stop. You’re not thinking straight. You need to go back home and take it easy. If you’ve never been with a man before, then I’m not the man you should experience your first time with,” Travis said and Ivy clenched her fists on her sides. She gritted her teeth and tried to control her rage. This was the second time Travis had successfully embarrassed her. He was playing with her. Teasing her.

“I knew this was a mistake!” she hissed and turning on her heels, she stormed out of the living room.

“The car will take you home, Ivy,” she heard him say, and continued on to the front door. Still fuming, her mind nearly exploding with anger, she pulled the door open and stepped out into the cool air of the night.

The chauffeur was leaning against the limo that was still parked where it had dropped her off, and he jumped into position and held the back door open for her. She considered whether she should just call a cab but then decided against it.

Without another look back at the house, she stormed in a huff to the car and got in. She couldn’t wait to go back home and forget that she ever met this horrible man.