Chapter 226
Her heart skipped a beat. She averted her gaze, feigning composure.
"The company website was hacked recently. A virus got in. There must be remnants I haven't fully cleared. I'll just run a quick antivirus scan."
She continued working on the computer, calm on the surface.
For some reason, the computer, usually cooperative under her touch, was utterly uncooperative today. On the screen, the explicit scene carried on. It was almost unwatchable.
No amount of composure could shield Haley from this assault. She squinted, hitting keys blindly.
Unexpectedly, the image zoomed in, the volume amplifying, filling the room.
"Since you've invited me to your study, I assume that this video is part of your welcoming invitation, Ms. Haley?" Ivan's voice was laced with irony as a playful smirk formed at the corner of his mouth.
He leaned in.
Haley was startled. "Wh-What are you doing...?"
'Please, don't tell me this clip flipped a primal switch in him...' Haley thought to herself.
"Technology doesn't seem to be your forte, Ms. Haley. Do you not want my assistance? Or perhaps you wish the video to continue its cycle?"
Her cheeks flamed anew. Swiftly, she stepped aside.
His hands danced around the keyboard, and soon, the screen went black.
Haley felt rather foolish. It was that simple, yet she had fumbled with it for so long.
Ivan withdrew his hands. He fixed his stare on her blushing face. For some reason, her expression seemed eerily familiar to him, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
He licked his lips and ventured, "Ms. Haley, have we met before, years ago?"
Haley was about to respond when a familiar scent caught her attention.
That aroma hurled her memory violently back to the night of her eighteenth birthday. The man who had claimed her without restraint had this very scent.
Her eyes widened abruptly, locking onto Ivan's gaze.
Their eyes met, staring intently at each other.
Buzz!
A phone vibrated. Haley swiftly patted her pocket, then realized the sound wasn't coming from her phone.
Ivan straightened up, stepped aside, and answered the call.
"Ivan, where are you?" came Louis' playful voice.
"I'm at the DeRoss residence. What's up?" Ivan replied coolly.
"The DeRoss residence? Haley's home?" Louis whistled. "Smooth move, slipping into Haley's place unnoticed. And here I thought I was looking out for you as a friend."
Ivan's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm here to discuss business."
"Why leave me and Mark out of it? We've got stakes in this project, you know. There's a cruise party happening. Bring Haley along. It'll be fun, and we can talk business too."
Ivan nodded. "I'll ask her."
He ended the call without another word.
Lifting an eyebrow, he saw Haley troubleshooting her computer, the screen displaying a renewed virtual simulation experience.
He approached her and said, "Grab your laptop. We have something to go."
Haley frowned. "Where to?"
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