Chapter 9

"... and that's where you come in". Ivonne said after narrating every single thing to him. In the end, she decided to go with the truth. Now all she had to do was wait for his reply.

Ayo widened his eyes in shock and then with his elbows on the counter, he held his head in his hands as his eyes drifted close and a small smile tug at his lips.

That actually warmed her inside.

"Hold up, lemme get this straight". He said and met her gaze. " You are the daughter of Mr. Johnson, the owner of Johnson Skin Care company?".

Ivonne knitted her brows at the very obvious question. " Yes". Did he not know that? " did you not know that?".

" well no... I mean you told me but I thought you were just saying... Things 'cause you were drunk, so I didn't actually take it to heart".

Say what now? " what are you talking about?".

" That night when I came here, you told me but I didn't believe".

" Hold on, I told you. Weren't we busy that night... With... ".

"so you lied to your father that you had a guy named Nelson, just so you can get a company?".

"Yes". She replied shamelessly.

He scoffed " and here I thought I was the king of liars. Your Highness". He lowered his head in a bow, laughing hard.

"would you stop that! This is a serious matter. I'm the only one qualified enough to be CEO of my Dad's company, he said so himself".

"If he said so himself, then why this... bizarre condition? It's just so old fashioned".

Yesss!

" exactly what I thought. It's so annoying, ugh!".

After a few minutes "so you want me to marry you so you can get the company?".

"Er... I don't know about marriage, but I have to get you to meet my Dad tomorrow night. I, for one, don't believe he would really pass down the company to a married woman but yet again, my Dad isn't one to joke with business".

"so all I have to do is meet your Dad?". Was he really considering this? Seems like he would do anything to stay by her side.

" yes. Wait, does this mean you'll do it?". Ivonne asked eagerly.

Ayo thought for a while. What would he benefit if he did this. She would be the one who benefits and not him. But who cares? As long as he gets to stay with her for a few more days.

Maybe in the process, she could develop feelings for him. The thought of that made his heart flutter. Ever since he saw her in that club, he had not been the same. He couldn't go a day without thinking about her. It was possible that he had feelings for her already.

"Yes, I'll help you".

"really? Why?". She asked unamused.

"what do you mean 'why'?".

"That's it, why. Why do you just agree. You don't strike me as someone who could do such a thing without wanting something in return". She folded her arms.

He grinned. " Be rest assured, I don't want your money or your property or part of your inheritance, i'm just here to fulfill this". He took out the contract from his bag. " so while I'm here, you can do with me as you want".

"in other words, you'll live here with me?".

"yes. How else are we supposed to pull off the 'we-are-so-in-love-couple'?". He made a cute face.

" I disagree". No way was she sleeping with him.

" ok, no staying here but I get to do what you want?".

"yes". Ivonne answers confidently.

"well that's just you being selfish. You can't eat your cake and still have it. This life is all about give and take. You give me a place to stay and you'll have your man".

The way he said ' you'll have your man' made her think of so many ways she could have him right now, right here.

" You can stay in a hotel". She said. Having him close to her would be a really bad thing.

"alright, if it makes you feel any better, I won't have sex with you unless I see that you're head over heels in love with me".  He smiled, revealing his dimples which made him even cuter.

Cocky son of a...

She still wasn't satisfied with his proposal. She didn't want him anywhere her house at all. He was a threat to her self-control and hormones.

" while you think about it, I'll go get settled in". He turned to leave.

"get settled in? I didn't say you could stay".

Ignoring her rants, Ayo headed up the stairs and into the bedroom with Ivonne on his tail. He dropped his bag and fell backwards on the bed.

He sighed in relief "this is heaven. Your bed is amazing!".

Ivonne just stood there, at the foot of the bed beside him, watching. " I haven't agreed to it yet, and even if I do, you're not sleeping here".

" I won't stay in a guest room".

" I don't even have a guest room. This house was made for me and myself. No one is welcomed to stay overnight". She announced. "so, you'll take the couch and I'll take the bed".

" oh no, I don't like that. We'll share the bed".

"No".

"wherever you sleep, there I'll sleep. We are a couple now, get used to it, and get used to me being all touchy touchy".

"don't even think about it Nelson". She warned.

"ok, first off, Don't call me Nelson. Call me Ayo. Secondly, I'm exhausted. I told you to start the convo earlier, now look at the time. It's almost 3pm. Come here, let's get some rest".

"No". She turned to go but Ayo held her hand and dragged her. Ivonne fell on top of him, her face in the crook of his neck. In shock, she lifted her head and faced him, ready to lash out at him, but was immediately smitten by his eyes. He was staring deep into her eyes. His lips a few meters apart. All she had to do was lean forward and kiss him. She couldn't remember what his lips tasted like.

Oh that's right, she was drunk!

His warm breath tickled her nose, his hands moved to her waist. After a few minutes of silence, he rolled her off him so her back was to his front and he pulled her forward. Ivonne gasped when her backside came in contact with his hard on. His hand rested on her waist and he held her so tenderly it actually made her not want to resist.

"stay". He said and nestled  his nose in the curve of her neck. The action, so tender and gentle made her want to close her eyes and relax under him.

What was this feeling? It made her so vulnerable against him. She hated this feeling. Being so weak and feeble.

"Let go of me". She managed to say.

"what?". Ayo asked. She'd spoken so low that he didn't catch it, but judging from the way her body tensed, he knew she was about to erupt. She pushed away from him and he let her go.she claimed up to the bed, moving to the far end, she rested her back on the headboard and folded her arms.

Silence enveloped them for a while as Ayo studied her closely. When he held her at first, she'd relaxed but then later her body tensed. What the hell did he do wrong? Maybe it was too soon to hold her again.

" we still haven't finished our discussion". Her voice was so cold, she'd put up her walls even tighter this time.

He rolled so that he lay on his stomach as he watched he held her gaze. " what more is there to talk about?".

" Nothing is ever free. What do you want?". Whoever made her like should better flee from the surface of the earth!

He smiled. "True nothing is ever free. So in return for acting as your lover, I want you to give me anything you want for payment".

Ivonne furrowed her brows. " I don't understand".

" for acting as your lover, I want you to decide what you'll give me in return. I don't care what it is, just say it".

She thought for a while. What more would he want if not money? Maybe a car? Could be both. " In return for helping me, I'll get you a car. The latest model of BMW".

If he looked amused, it didn't show. Instead, his face was one of discontent.

" Cool. I can't drive".

Oh!

" I already stated what I'll get you. If you can't drive, then give the car to someone else or better yet, you could sell it".

He didn't say anything after that, but now he looked... Disappointed. Was he expecting her to state something else?

When he looked away, she released the breathe she didn't know she was holding. Staring into people's eyes was what she loved to do in a conversation but it was getting harder with him.

He turned to her, opened his mouth to speak but closed them. He nodded and stood from the bed. " I'll be in the living room if you need me, since it's your house, you can get the bed". He grinned but somehow, she didn't feel that it was real.

When he left, Ivonne laid back on her bed, spreading her arms wide and closed her eyes. What the hell just happened? He looked pissed and then he grinned all of a sudden.

She'd made him mad with her words. Now why did that thought pierce daggers through her?

Ivonne shook her head trying to discard the thoughts. She took her iPad from the bedside table and sent a message to Patricia. She still needed full update about the company.

Ivonne: You better have a good reason for not texting me earlier.

After a few minutes she got an alert.

Patricia: I'm sorry Miss. Ivonne. I just finished the meeting.

Ivonne: Just now? Why did it take so long? Did you do something wrong? You better not because i'll fire before I even leave my house come next month!

Patricia: There's nothing for you to worry about Miss. Ivonne. I did really well. Their chairman was really impressed, I told him I learnt from my Boss, which of course is you.

Ivonne: I didn't teach you how to flirt with the customers so be specific about the people you learn the traits from. Don't go about spoiling my name!

Patricia: I'm sorry Miss. Ivonne. It won't happen again.

Ivonne: It better not. So I'm assuming they agreed to it?

Patricia: Oh Yes Miss. Ivonne. They couldn't even wait to sign the papers.

Ivonne: Of course! You probably promised to meet up with the chairman after the meeting. Bravo Patricia! You've just won " Whore of the month".

Patricia: No, no Miss. Ivonne. I would never... I'm nothing like a whore. I'd never set down my body for a company. Please don't say things like that.

Ivonne: oh shut it. Why am I still texting you!? Just don't ruin things for me. Good day!

She dropped her phone back on the table and relaxed. The text had calmed her down a bit. She closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to come. She wasn't exactly feeling sleepy but she needed to do something to pass the time.

Subconsciously, she remembered the way Nelson had... Ayo, the way Ayo had held her so tender and gentle, with so much care and warmth. It was just too good to be real. But it was real. It was too good for her to enjoy and so dangerous. She'd known better than to lower her guards around people. Especially around Ayo. He was a threat to everything she knew and believed in.

As she drifted off to sleep, her mind played the scene over and over again.

A/n: hope you're enjoying the book. Thanks for reading.

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