After Mama Cruz figured out Kendra had been seen and the airport incident unraveled, Ivan thoughts scattered. He went to a bar, hoping the noise would drown everything out.
At the bottom of the club, a table was
cluttered with half-empty bottles of liquor. Sitting alone at the center was Ivan, swaying in his chair like a ship in a storm.
"Get me more drinks, waiter…" he slurred, trying to stand but wobbling dangerously.
"Mr. you've had enough! You've reached your limit at this bar," the waiter warned cautiously.
"I'm gonna punch you if you don't serve me one more drink!" Ivan shouted, raising his fist.
With a flick of fingers, two burly men appeared, grabbing him and dragging him outside.
"Hey! You can't just throw people around like that!" he hiccuped, glaring at them. "The next time I see someone handled the way you just handled me, I'll… I'll lock you up!"
As he stumbled, Ivan noticed the same men tossing a lady across the pavement. "Goddamnit… these two rascals are really testing my nerves," he muttered.
He rushed to her side and helped her up.
Acting on instinct, he grabbed a stone and hurled it at the men just as he staggered toward his car. The stone struck true, sending them stumbling back in shock and anger.
With the lady now safely beside him, Ivan climbed into his car and started the engine. As he sped away, the two men regained their footing and gave chase, shouting threats that were swallowed by the roar of the car.
Ivan floored the accelerator, the car screeching as it tore out of the club parking lot. The lady beside him held on tightly, her hair whipping in the wind.
"Who… who are you?" she shouted over the roar of the engine, trying to steady herself.
"Name's Ivan!" he yelled back, swerving to avoid a pedestrian. "And you're lucky I showed up just in time!"
The two burly men from the club appeared in the distance, sprinting toward the street as Ivan's car roared past. He smirked. "And there go my new friends. They never learn!"
The lady's eyes widened as the car weaved through traffic. "You can drive like this and still be alive?!"
Ivan chuckled, one hand on the wheel, the other casually holding her hand to steady her. "It's a talent. Don't worry, you're in good hands… mostly."
A honk sounded from behind, a delivery truck had to swerve to avoid the two men, who were still trying to catch up. Ivan seized the opportunity, turning sharply into an alleyway, tires screeching. The narrow lane slowed their pursuers down, giving him a chance to gain some distance.
The lady let out a nervous laugh, a mix of fear and adrenaline. "I can't believe this! One moment I'm being thrown across the pavement, and the next I'm in a high-speed chase with a stranger!"
Ivan grinned, glancing at her. "Lucky for you, I don't do boring rescues."
By the time they reached a quieter road, the shouting men were far behind, breathing heavily and furious. Ivan slowed down, finally letting the car coast. "Alright… we're safe for now," he said, his grin softening.
The lady exhaled, brushing her hair out of her face. "Safe… thanks to you. But you're crazy!"
Ivan laughed, shrugging. "Maybe. But crazy can be fun, right?"
The tension eased for a moment, replaced by a spark of something unspoken between them, a shared thrill, a hint of trust, and maybe… a little chemistry.
They laughed in the car, still catching their breath from the chaos at the club. Ivan glanced at Charis, and their eyes met, something unspoken passed between them, a spark of connection that went deeper than adrenaline or gratitude.
"Thank you… lvan," Charis said softly, her fingers brushing his hand briefly as she tried to steady herself.
"You're welcome," he replied with a small, teasing grin. "Though I think we both got more than we bargained for tonight."
As the laughter faded, the tension between them shifted. In the hotel room, they ended up sitting close on the bed, shoulders brushing, hearts still racing. Ivan reached out instinctively, and Charis leaned into his warmth, letting herself rest against him.
"I can't believe we survived that," he murmured, his voice low, almost vulnerable. "And here we are… finally just sitting."
Charis smiled, tilting her head to look at him. "I know. It feels… kind of nice, doesn't it?"
Ivan's hand found hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. He brought it to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her knuckles. "It does… and I don't want to let go."
She laughed softly, leaning her forehead against his. "Neither do I."
For a while, they simply stayed like that, close and silent, sharing warmth and comfort.
Small touches on the brush of a hand along an arm, the gentle leaning into one another spoke volumes more than words ever could.
When Lucas finally stretched, yawning, he whispered, "Guess we should get some rest… but I don't mind if you stay a little longer."
Charis chuckled, snuggling closer. "I think I'll take you up on that."
The night passed quietly, filled with gentle embraces, soft laughter, and the intimacy of two people discovering a connection that went beyond attraction. A closeness that promised trust, care, and the start of something real.
The next morning, Charis woke to find a small card and some money left on the dresser. She smiled, slipping them into her bag. "Such a jerk… but maybe a good one," she muttered, still feeling the lingering warmth of the night and the faint, unmistakable closeness of Ivan.
She stopped a cab and climbed inside, sighing in relief at finally being on the move. But as the vehicle started, a sudden, uncomfortable prickling sensation ran across her neck. She touched it instinctively and froze.
"Excuse me, ma'am," she asked the woman sitting next to her, trying to mask the growing panic in her voice.
"Am I… looking horrible?" Charis murmured.
The woman's eyes widened slightly. "Yes… my lady, you're… um, you have two red marks on your neck. I don't know where they came from."
Charis fumbled in her bag, pulling out a small mirror and holding it up.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Her scream echoed through the cab as she saw the marks, eyes wide with shock. The driver and her fellow passenger both turned sharply, startled by the sudden outburst.
Charis quickly covered her neck with her scarf, her mind racing. Daggers… on my neck? She muttered to herself, heart pounding. Ivan… what did he do?!
The cab ride suddenly felt longer, every passing car and streetlight magnifying her embarrassment and discomfort. She tried to focus on anything else, but the memory of the night and those marks kept flashing in her mind, making her cheeks burn.
Charis adjusted her scarf nervously, trying to make herself look composed, though her hands trembled slightly. She could feel the driver's eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, and the woman beside her gave a subtle, knowing smirk.
"I… uh… must have bumped into something," Charis mumbled, her voice tight as she avoided looking at anyone.
The woman chuckled softly. "Sure… if you say so, my lady. But those are some serious marks. Looks like someone had a very enthusiastic night."
Charis's cheeks burned hotter, and she buried her face in her hands. "Oh, don't… don't say things like that!" she whispered, mortified.
The driver cleared his throat awkwardly, focusing on the road. "Ma'am, I didn't hear anything. Don't worry about it."
Charis peeked through her fingers and glared at the woman beside her. "I swear, if anyone mentions this later, I'll..."
The woman raised her hands in mock surrender. "Relax! I'm just saying, you two must have had fun… that's all!"
Charis groaned, leaning back in the seat, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips. Despite her embarrassment, her mind couldn't help but wander back to Ivan, the way he had looked at her, the way he held her, the warmth and intensity of the night. Daggers or not, she thought, that was incredible.
By the time the cab pulled up at her destination, Charis adjusted her scarf one last time and stepped out, walking briskly into the building. Her heartbeat was still racing, a mix of excitement, embarrassment, and something else, something dangerously close to anticipation.
As she entered the lobby, she muttered to herself, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Ivan… you're lucky I like you. Otherwise, those marks would have been a huge problem."
As Charis reached her apartment, she kicked off her heels and sank onto the couch, still tugging at her scarf to hide the marks. Her cheeks were warm, and her mind raced with mortification. She grabbed her phone, dialed Ivan's number on the card, and waited, tapping her fingers nervously on the armrest.
"Hello?" came Ivan's familiar voice, calm but curious.
"I… um… Ivan," she began, her voice high-pitched from embarrassment. "You… you did something to me!"
"Did something?" he asked, a grin already forming in his tone. "Charis, what did I do?"
"You...you left… marks on my neck!" she burst out, covering her face with one hand. "The driver saw them! The woman next to me saw them! Everyone saw them! I'm mortified!"
There was a brief silence, then Ivan laughed, a deep, teasing laugh that made her cheeks heat even more.
"Ohhh… those marks," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "You mean the little souvenirs from last night?"
Charis groaned, pressing her scarf tighter around her neck. "Little souvenirs?! Ivan! I can't go out like this! I look ridiculous!"
He chuckled softly. "You? Ridiculous? Impossible. If anything, you looked… stunning. And maybe a little dangerous," he teased, his tone playful yet intimate.
Charis huffed, but a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "Dangerous?! You've got some nerve, you know that?"
"I take full responsibility," he said, his voice softening slightly, almost tender. "But I think you secretly enjoyed it."
Charis bit her lip, half embarrassed, half amused. "I… maybe… I did. But you're lucky I like you, Ivan. Otherwise, those marks would have been a major problem."
Ivan laughed again, warmth in his voice.
"Noted. I'll be careful next time… maybe. Or maybe I'll just keep driving you crazy."
Charis rolled her eyes, but her heart fluttered. "You really are impossible," she said, smiling. "But… I guess I like impossible."
"Good," Ivan replied softly. "Because I'm not going anywhere, Charis."
And with that, the call ended, leaving Charis blushing and smiling, a little embarrassed but undeniably happy, thinking about Ivan, the night, and the spark between them that refused to be ignored.