Chapter 10

One week later

Ivy sat with her ankles crossed on the bench in front of the reception desk. She had been waiting for close to an hour for her turn, and five people had already gone in for their interviews. This one was the latest in a long line of job interviews she had attended in the past month and she had her ankles and her fingers crossed that they would go well.

Logic Designs was a big name in the industry, and their expertise ranged from architectural designs to basic graphic designs and Ivy was hoping that there would be a place for her. She wasn’t willing to give up hope yet, of pursuing her dream of having a career in design. The last thing she wanted was to be a barista all her life.

She tapped the top of her head to make sure that her hair was in place, and practiced her polite smiles on the receptionist in front of her. A door at the end of the short corridor opened and a woman in a tight pencil skirt stepped out, and Ivy looked up at the exact moment that Travis walked out after the woman. A sudden electric shock ran down Ivy’s spine when their gazes locked. How could this have happened? How could he have been in this exact place at this exact moment?

Feeling a rush of panic overtake her body, Ivy stood up from her seat. She fumbled with the files she had on her lap.

“Miss, you’re next,” the receptionist said to her, but Ivy had already started to walk in the opposite direction.

“Miss Zimmerman?” the receptionist called after her, but Ivy was panicking. She had no intention of staying and actually facing Travis. All those feelings of anger and embarrassment, mixed oddly with an urge of sympathy for him came hurling back. She had managed to keep it all in check for a week. She had somehow managed to go about her daily tasks in the past few days, and now in a matter of seconds, she had lost all control.

Ivy half-ran to the revolving doors of the building, nearly slipping and sliding over the floor. Ballerina flats were a bad idea, she thought as she stuffed herself into one of the swinging doors. It was like the building had chewed and spat her out, as she came stumbling out into the bright light of day. She had just about managed to gather herself and keep all the pages in the file in when she heard Travis’ voice behind her.

“Where are you going, Ivy?” he said. She pretended to not have heard him and kept walking.

“I have your resume in my hand!” she heard him say and whipped around to find him waving the sheets of paper in his hands. They must have fallen out of her files. Travis walked leisurely towards her, his face a mixture of seriousness and amusement.

She reached for the resume, but he snapped it out of her reach so that she nearly tumbled forward into him.

“Please give it back to me,” she said, trying to make her voice sound as harsh as possible.

“Aren’t you missing your interview?” Travis asked and Ivy clenched her jaw and stuck her chin up in the air.

“That is none of your concern,” she said and Travis grinned, one of his devious grins.

“I was here for a meeting. I just signed a deal with them for some architectural designs. They’ll be a good place to work,” he continued and Ivy snapped her face away from him, with her nostrils flaring. “Are we incapable of having a polite conversation with each other anymore?” Travis asked and she had to look back at him again.

“I don’t see the need to have any conversation at all,” she said and still smiling, he handed her resume back to her. Ivy snatched it away from him and stuffed it back into the file. Despite all the rage she was feeling towards him, she hadn’t failed to notice his suit, the width of his shoulders and how strong his cologne was that day. She was trying hard not to get swept up in him again.

“Ivy, you should go in for that interview,” he said in a calmer, more controlled voice. He was searching her eyes like he was instructing her.

“It’s fine. I’m not interested in the position,” she said and Travis placed his hands on the curves of her shoulders. She nearly gasped from the touch. His hands were like molten lava, seeping into her skin. Just that touch was enough to melt her. She allowed him to hold her gaze, and she could feel the rage slowly dissipating.

“Don’t give up an opportunity like this on account of me,” he said, in a voice that was kind and commanding at the same time. It was like he was trying to hypnotize her!

“I don’t think they’re waiting for me. I’m pretty sure I’ve messed it up now,” she said and Travis smiled at her.

“I asked them to wait for you. They’re going to wait. Now go back in there and give it your best shot,” Travis said and drew his hands away from her. Ivy blinked as she stared at him, trying to register what he had just said.

“Go on,” he urged her, tipping his head sideways in encouragement. Ivy smoothened the top of her head and tucked in some stray strands of hair back behind her ears. She gulped as she gave Travis a last look and then brushing past him, she hurried back into the building.

This day was turning out to be a disaster, Ivy thought, and now that she had seen him again; there was no way that she would do well at this interview. She put on a smile and tried to develop a confident gait as she walked back to the reception desk.

“I’m sorry, I had an emergency call to take,” she said to the woman who was glaring at her confusedly.

“They’re waiting for you inside, Miss Zimmerman,” she said and giving her a flourished nod, Ivy found her way to the meeting room.