Chapter 19: Chapter 19: It’s Not Yet Certain Who’s Playing Whom
Ivy Sherwood wasn’t in the mood to eat in the first place. She stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the downpour outside.
She had to go to the hotel later to sign a contract with Gabriel Walker. Since Silas Blackwood had picked her up from her company, she hadn’t driven her own car and now had to get a taxi.
Ivy Sherwood glanced at her ride-hailing app. Because of the rain, she was over a thousandth in the queue. There was no telling when she would get a car.
Ivy Sherwood tried to hail a cab from the roadside, but there were too many people, and she didn’t stand a chance.
As time ticked by and Ivy Sherwood grew anxious, she spotted a figure.
"Uncle!" Ivy Sherwood called out, seeing the man who was also coming out of the restaurant.
Quentin Blackwood must have been there for a business meeting; everyone around him was completely deferential.
He stood out in the crowd as if he were glowing, completely different from everyone else.
Quentin Blackwood frowned when he saw Ivy Sherwood.
But Ivy Sherwood had already darted in front of him. "Uncle, where are you headed? The rain is too heavy, I can’t get a cab. Uncle, do you have a spare car I could borrow?"
With a favor to ask, Ivy Sherwood’s eyes were especially bright.
Quentin Blackwood didn’t speak, but the people beside him grew displeased.
’Where did this woman come from, daring to cause a scene here? If President Blackwood were so easy to get close to, we wouldn’t have had to start scheduling this six months in advance just to land this meeting.’
Quentin Blackwood looked at the woman before him. Just as Ivy Sherwood thought he was going to ignore her completely, she heard him ask, "What are you doing here?"
’Is she following me with ulterior motives, or...’
’The world is big, yet small, but it can’t be so small that we run into each other by coincidence every single day!’
’It’s no secret that I’m meeting someone here for business. Ivy Sherwood could easily find that out if she wanted to. It’s very likely she’s here with ulterior motives...’
Before Quentin Blackwood could finish his thought, he heard Ivy Sherwood speak.
"Silas Blackwood asked me out to dinner, but his little lover called him away right after we got here."
Quentin Blackwood’s expression remained unchanged after hearing this. The rain was heavy, and someone held an umbrella for him all the way back to his car.
The light in Ivy Sherwood’s eyes dimmed. ’How could I have expected Quentin Blackwood to give me a ride?’
’He’s a cold and heartless person by nature. I should just figure something else out.’
Just as Ivy Sherwood lowered her gaze to her phone, wondering if there was another way, an unquestionable voice called out from the car.
"Are you getting in or not?"
Ivy Sherwood lifted her eyes and met the profound gaze of the man in the backseat of the luxury car.
’I take back what I just thought. Uncle is actually a good, humane person!’
Ivy Sherwood sat next to Quentin Blackwood. "Thanks to you, Uncle, this is my first time riding in such a nice car!"
A car of this model couldn’t be found anywhere in Lustre, and only a few were produced for the entire world.
Quentin Blackwood didn’t respond to Ivy Sherwood’s flattery. Where she was going, whether she had a car, or if she got soaked in the rain—none of it originally had anything to do with him.
It was just that seeing her standing there, looking so thin and helpless, she seemed rather pitiful.
After arriving in Lustre, Quentin Blackwood had been sleeping quite well for the past few days.
The first time was at the hotel with Ivy Sherwood, the second was after returning from the Blackwood Family estate, and then again last night. It seemed that after every encounter with Ivy Sherwood, her scent would linger on him.
That indescribable fragrance soothed his nerves.
’Then again, maybe it has nothing to do with Ivy Sherwood at all. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.’
"Where to?"
Ivy Sherwood gave the hotel’s address—the same hotel where Quentin Blackwood was currently staying.
Quentin Blackwood’s eyes darkened. "You’re going to a hotel?"
"Mhm, I have a meeting."
Ivy Sherwood didn’t see the flicker in Quentin Blackwood’s eyes, or the flash of ruthlessness that passed through them.
A meeting at a hotel this late at night—it was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild.
"Miss Sherwood, you really play the field, don’t you? Is it a different man every day?"
’So am I just another fish in Ivy Sherwood’s pond?’
’That first time the other night... was it real or fake?’
’When he entered her, he had clearly felt the resistance, and her inexperienced reactions didn’t seem like those of a seasoned veteran.’
’But with these actions—a club one day, a hotel the next—how is she any different from that philandering Silas Blackwood?’
"You think too highly of me, Uncle. I’m not that capable."
Ivy Sherwood checked her bag; thankfully, her contract was still dry. ’No matter what, I have to make Gabriel Walker sign this today!’
Quentin Blackwood didn’t say another word after that, but Ivy Sherwood rambled on by herself.
"Uncle, don’t you think we’re fated to meet? We ran into each other yesterday, and again today."
"Uncle, why don’t you do us all a favor? Just say the word to Uncle Blackwood and have my engagement to Silas Blackwood canceled. It would be a release for all three of us. Silas and Anna Nash are so in love; they’ll definitely thank you for it."
"Say one more word and I’ll throw you out!"
Ivy Sherwood propped her chin on her hand. ’Fine, I won’t talk. I’ll figure out the engagement thing myself.’
They arrived at the hotel quickly, and Ivy Sherwood got out of the car.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Just as she closed the door, she saw Quentin Blackwood get out from the other side.
"Uncle, you don’t have to come with me. I can go by myself."
’If Quentin Blackwood shows up, he’ll scare Gabriel Walker half to death.’
"I’m staying here," Quentin Blackwood said, his voice devoid of warmth.
Ivy Sherwood: "..."
’I was getting ahead of myself. I actually thought Quentin Blackwood got out of the car to go up with me.’
This was the most luxurious hotel in Lustre, and not many people could afford the top-floor suites.
Even the room Gabriel Walker had booked was on one of the lower floors.
Ivy Sherwood’s floor came first. She stepped out. "Goodbye, Uncle."
Quentin Blackwood retracted his gaze and idly rolled the Buddha Beads on his wrist.
’Who Ivy Sherwood is meeting has nothing to do with me.’
Upon reaching the top floor, Quentin Blackwood strode toward his room.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Ivy Sherwood arrived at the designated suite and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Ivy Sherwood entered and was met with dim, suggestive lighting. The bed was covered in rose petals, and an array of props was laid out on the headboard.
Gabriel Walker was in the room, wearing a bathrobe and sipping red wine.
Seeing Ivy Sherwood, Gabriel Walker quickly beckoned her over. "Come, come, Miss Sherwood. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time."
That smile made Ivy Sherwood’s stomach turn. "President Walker, here is the contract."
"Who signs a contract right away? What a killjoy. Why don’t you play with me for a bit first? If you make me happy, I’ll give you more than just a signed contract—I’ll satisfy your every desire." As he spoke, Gabriel Walker reached out to wrap his arm around Ivy Sherwood’s waist.
Ivy Sherwood dodged, not letting Gabriel Walker touch her at all.
"If President Walker wants to play, I’m more than happy to keep you company. But without the contract signed, I won’t be able to enjoy myself."
"How about this? President Walker signs the contract, and then I’ll play with you properly."
"If you’re just toying with me, President Walker, and you didn’t call me here for the contract and have no intention of signing it, then I’ll be leaving now."
With that, Ivy Sherwood turned to leave.
"Wait!" Gabriel Walker called out to her.
’It’s just a contract,’ he thought. ’I’ll sign it now to keep her here, and after I’m done playing with her, when she’s lost in pleasure, I can just tear it up.’
Gabriel Walker, quite pleased with his clever scheme, briskly signed his full name on the contract.
He didn’t, however, see the smirk that formed on Ivy Sherwood’s lips behind his back.
’Who’s playing who? That’s not yet decided!’
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