Chapter 71: We have a mole

Ivy’s pov

Leti... Leticia?

My eyes widened like saucers and I immediately shook my head.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Ivy,"

In my knowledge, no one had ever called my mother Leti. Besides she died fifteen years ago. There was no way Chase Wells bury could have known her, and even if he did, why would he look at me like he had seen a ghost? I didn’t look a lot like her. Shit but if he knew my mother, that would mean he could know my secret identity.

Well not exactly, Father was quite private with his life, the media hardly knew me or my mother. Only snippets here and there.

I was still turning it over in my mind when the heavy oak doors of the conference room swung open. The meeting was over. A stream of men in suits filed out, their low murmurs filling the hallway. I straightened up, flattening against the wall so they could pass.

"I see you survived the suit invasion?" a cheerful voice called out.

I glanced up to see Tyler, the charming guy from earlier, strolling towards me, a wide, easy grin on his face while everyone else walked past us. "You look like you’re planning your great escape."

I couldn’t help but crack a small, nervous smile. I mean someone in this house who was just normal and wasn’t as overwhelming? I needed that any day. I just couldn’t trust them. I trusted Milo, only to fall into his trap. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to a fellow professional escaper," he leaned against the wall beside me. "My go-to is the ’urgent phone call move. That works every time. You just hold your phone to your ear and look concerned as if they just told you your cat died and vroom, you’ve escaped."

"I’ll keep that in mind," I chuckled, shoving my hand deep in my apron to make sure my phone wasn’t still connected to the listening device. "My usual method is just to look incredibly busy."

"Classic!" He grinned, pointing at me.

"I knew I would like you. I was dreading to come here actually. It’s my first time in the Winslow estate and my god; it’s like the freaking presidential villa. I would bet," His eyes crinkled around the corner as he leaned closer, "you know all the best hiding spots in this place."

"I could tell you," I leaned in conspiratorially, "but then I would have to kill you."

His grin widened. "Wow, a woman of mystery. I didn’t get your name,"

"I’m- "

"None of your business," a new voice cut in, smooth as honey and cold as ice. "Don’t you have a car to catch, Tyler?"

An arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me back against a solid wall of warmth. The scent of cinnamon and lavender wrapped around me, a familiar, intoxicating perfume. I didn’t even have to turn. I knew it was Roman.

Tyler’s smile faltered. He shot a look at Roman’s arm around me. "Yeah, just heading out now, boss. I was...just saying my goodbyes."

Roman’s arm tightened around me, his fingers pressing possessively into my shoulder.

"You’ve said them," he quipped and I glanced up to see his hazel eyes were as hard as diamonds. "She’s working."

"Right," Tyler cleared his throat awkwardly, his smile now completely gone. He gave me a tight, awkward nod. "Well. See you around, Miss."

He just turned and disappeared down the hallway along with the other men. I didn’t see Chase with them. Was he still inside the conference room?

"Roman, that was rude," I shrugged his arm off me.

"He was lingering around you," Roman’s voice dropped, the sunny facade vanishing completely.

"I don’t like it when they linger around you."

"He was just being nice,"

"He can go be nice elsewhere, Vivi," his eyes darkened. He stepped closer, crowding me against the wall. "I don’t like that you laughed at his weird jokes. He’s not that funny."

"I can laugh at whoever I want," I groaned. What on earth was this? "You’re being ridiculous."

"Am I?" he murmured, reaching out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek, tracing my jawline.

"I don’t think so. I think I’m being perfectly reasonable."

"Hey, lovebirds!" Milo’s voice, cheerful and oblivious, cut through the tension. He was walking towards us from the conference room.

"Gideon’s about to have an aneurysm. Ivy, can you grab us some water? Roman, stop terrorizing the staff and come back inside please. We have a lot to do."

"I’ll go with Vivi, you guys go ahead," He grumbled, tugging me by the arm down the hall.

"I can get it myself- "

"I’m coming with you."

I gave up arguing as we made our way to the kitchen. Donna raised her brows at me as Roman followed me in, his hand on the small of my back. I gave a helpless shrug and reached for the fridge door, but he stopped me.

"I’ve got it," he opened the door and pulling out five bottles of water. "These are too cold for your fingers." He set them on the counter, then took my hands in his.

My fingers were stiff and cold. He brought them to his lips, blowing gently on them, his warm breath whipping on my skin.

"I didn’t even touch the bottle," I whispered, trying to push away from him but he gave a little whine, the dark look in his eyes fading away while his charming twinkling eyes lit up at me.

"Can you allow me this at least? I’m pretty stumped you let Kai touch you when he was- "

My cheeks went beet red. Donna was right here in the kitchen. I shoved away from him and grabbed a tray avoiding eye contact while arranging the bottles on the tray.

"We should get that water back to the conference room. Your brothers are waiting."

I picked up the tray, but he put his hand over mine. "I’ll carry it,"

"Okay, fine, you’re carrying it, I don’t have to come."

He pouted, his lower lip jutting out in a way that was both childish and disarmingly charming. "But I want you to," he groaned.

"Please, Vivi?"

I sighed, but nodded, anything to get my ass out of the line of Donna’s wide flaming eyes. "Fine."

As we walked back into the conference room, it was just the four of them: Gideon, Kai, Milo, and Chase Wellsbury. They were all gathered around the table, their expressions grim.

"So, what are you saying?" Chase asked.

"I’m saying," Milo glanced around and his eyes locked directly onto mine. "We have a mole."