Chapter 11 Boundaries And Battles

(Ivy’s POV) The drive back to Damien’s estate was silent. I could still feel the weight of his words lingering in the air. "You’re a part of this world now." I hated how true it was. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I had some semblance of control, I knew Damien was always one step ahead. He made it clear today. And worse? A small, traitorous part of me found it intoxicating. I shook the thought away as we pulled up to the grand estate. The gates closed behind us, trapping me once again in his world. A Nightly Visitor I barely made it to my room before a knock echoed against the door. I exhaled sharply. "What now?" Opening the door, I found Elias standing there, his usual calm expression in place. "Mr. Blackwood wants you in his study," he said. Of course, he does. I crossed my arms. "And if I don’t feel like going?" Elias didn’t even blink. "That’s not an option." A mix of frustration and curiosity swirled inside me. I wanted to refuse, to draw a line somewhere. But I also knew that denying Damien wouldn’t end well. With a resigned sigh, I followed Elias down the dimly lit hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The study doors were already open when I arrived. Damien stood by the window, hands tucked into his pockets, staring out at the vast estate. He didn’t turn when I stepped inside. "Close the door, Little Lamb." I did. Then I waited. Finally, he turned to face me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "You’re upset." I scoffed. "Upset? No. Just re-evaluating my life choices." His lips twitched, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. "Good. You should." I frowned. "What do you want, Damien?" He studied me for a long moment before finally speaking. "I want to know how long you plan to fight me." The question sent a shiver down my spine. I straightened, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "As long as it takes." His eyes darkened. The tension between us thickened, an unspoken battle of wills crackling in the air. Then, in a single step, he closed the distance between us. "You think you still have a choice in this, Ivy?" he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. My breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my chin. "I think you like this more than you admit," he continued, tilting my head up slightly. I wanted to deny it. To shove him away and prove him wrong. But my traitorous body refused to move. Damien’s smirk deepened. "You’re starting to understand, aren’t you?" A war raged inside me. Because the terrifying truth was… maybe I was. Maybe I was getting used to this—used to him. And that was more dangerous than anything else. Unfinished Business Before I could respond, a knock interrupted the moment. Elias stepped in, his expression neutral. "Sir, there’s an urgent call for you." Damien exhaled sharply, his hand dropping from my chin. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned away, his mask of indifference sliding back into place. "Stay here," he ordered before stepping out of the study. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. The moment he left, I took a step back, trying to gather my thoughts. I needed to regain control—of myself, of this situation. But how could I when Damien Blackwood was making sure I had none? ****** I glanced around the study, my curiosity getting the best of me. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound books and documents. The large mahogany desk in the center held neatly stacked papers, a few pens, and a glass of half-finished whiskey. Something caught my eye. A file, slightly askew, sitting at the edge of the desk. I hesitated. Then, before I could second-guess myself, I stepped forward, fingers brushing against the folder. A single name was typed on the cover. Ivy Monroe. My heart stopped. Why the hell did Damien have a file on me? I swallowed hard, quickly flipping it open. But before I could read anything— "I wouldn’t do that if I were you." His voice sent a jolt through my body. I spun around, finding Damien leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was something dangerous in his eyes. Something that sent a chill down my spine. I shut the file quickly. Damien pushed off the door, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Little Lamb." I forced myself to meet his gaze. "Then why leave it out in the open?" His smirk returned. "Maybe I wanted to see if you’d take the bait." My stomach twisted. He was toying with me. Testing me. Again. I clenched my fists. "What’s in there, Damien?" He reached out, plucking the file from my hands. "Nothing you need to worry about." I narrowed my eyes. "I think I should be the one to decide that." His jaw ticked slightly. "You don’t need to know everything, Ivy." My frustration boiled over. "That’s not your decision to make!" Silence. A charged, suffocating silence. Then, suddenly, he laughed. A low, dark chuckle that sent shivers down my spine. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Little Lamb." I lifted my chin. "I’m not afraid of you, Damien." His smirk faded. And in that moment, I realiied something. He wasn’t amused anymore. He was… intrigued. Interested. And that was far more dangerous than his anger. Because Damien Blackwood didn’t like losing. And I had just challenged him. (END OF POV)