Chapter 9
Ivy knocked on Archer’s door at half past seven, after both the brothers had returned to the mansion and parted ways to get ready for dinner.
A few moments after knocking, Archer opened the door of his bedroom wide. He was standing with his dark hair glistening wet and ruffled, and with a towel wrapped around his hips, way down his groin so that she could see the ridges that led to his dick. Ivy jerked her head up to look at his face again. It was this kind of foolishness that had led her to what had happened between them!
“I didn’t expect you here, so soon. It’s only been a couple of hours.” Archer was grinning at her, those dimples making an appearance on his cheeks again. He still hadn’t shaved, and the stubble had started to take on the appearance of a scruffy beard around his jaws. Setting him apart from his brother even more now.
Ivy cleared her throat.
“I’m not here for that.” She said, which made Archer smile more.
“You mean you’re not here for an orgasm?” He said, knotting his brows in mock-confusion. Ivy licked her lips and tried to remind herself that she had to be strong and resist all temptation. At least for now.
“Can I come in?” She asked, dropping her voice to a whisper. Even though Leon’s room was way down the hall and there was no chance of him overhearing, she didn’t want to take the chance.
Archer stepped aside, making room for Ivy to step into his gorgeously decorated room. She had been in there before, to do the cleaning and dusting, but now the French-window paned gloriously lit bedroom was filled with Archer’s masculine musky scent, and for a second it made Ivy dizzy. She whipped around to look at him again and now he was standing behind her, the towel still achingly low on his groin and he a grin on his face.
“I’m here because I wanted to talk about Leon.” She said, and even with the mention of his brother’s name, Archer’s expression didn’t change.
“My brother? What about him?” He said casually, and it made Ivy shake her head in surprise. How did this not matter to him? How was he not concerned how it might affect his twin, to know that he had just fucked the girl that Leon was sleeping with?
“Well, you said that he would be amused.” She said flatly, dropping her arms to her side. She could feel the rage building up inside her. It was going to be very hard for her to keep her voice down if Archer continued to play dumb this way.
“Yes, he probably would. He’s never been concerned about who I sleep with.” He added, looking at Ivy with amusement.
“Ok, and what about the fact that I work for him?” Ivy raged, speaking to him through gritted teeth.
“You’re over reacting, dear girl.” Archer said, stepping towards her. Ivy stepped back, she didn’t want to be tempted again, not this soon. And with the sharp as saws jaws that Archer sported, and the biceps bulging on his arms; it would be very easy for Ivy to be tempted. “You only work for him. He doesn’t possess you. Who you sleep with is none of his concern either.”
When he said that, Ivy knew immediately the horror of the mistake that they had committed. She had been wrong in assuming that the brothers shared absolutely everything, that Leon had told Archer everything. He had most definitely not told his brother, that he was sleeping with his housekeeper.
“What’s wrong? You look a little pale.” Archer said, the smile finally flickering on his face. He had at last started figuring out that there might something seriously wrong here.
“He didn’t tell you. I thought he told you…” Ivy began to speak, and Archer’s brows crossed.
“Told me what?” His voice was a little raised now.
“That we are sleeping together. We’ve been together for the past six weeks.” Ivy said and her own hands flew to her mouth in anguish. Her nostrils were flared; she was close to tears and it made matters worse in seeing Archer’s reaction. He had taken a few steps back away from her, the smile had disappeared, it wasn’t all fun and games for him anymore.
“No, he didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you tell me?!” Archer said, running his hands through his hair furiously. He was trying to keep his voice low as well, and had his jaws clenched.
“I tried to, but you kept interrupting me. You said that Leon wouldn’t mind.” Ivy had a tear in her voice, she had grown desperate. She could see that Archer was afraid of what had happened too.
“I meant that he wouldn’t mind me sleeping with his housekeeper. That’s what I meant!” Archer thundered, shocking Ivy into sudden silence. She hadn’t expected this kind of rage from him, she hadn’t expected him to react this way, to direct his anger at her. She wasn’t the only one at fault here.
Ivy let out a deep breath and rushed out of his room, without looking back. Not that Archer had called out for her either. She was bounding down the stairs, and eventually locked herself up in her bedroom. The food was ready, it was all laid out on the table, she was going to stay in her room all night again. She didn’t want to see the faces of either brother. She didn’t want to face Leon. She didn’t want to know what excuse Archer might give him. All she wanted to do was be by herself.
Ivy stuffed her face into the pillow and let out a loud scream, her voice muffled by the bed. She wanted to throw a plate at the wall, she wanted to scratch her own skin. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have been so weak? When Leon was the best thing that had ever happened to her.