Chapter 8

Ivory was having a good morning. The extra hours of sleep rejuvenated her, it had been ages since she had been at ease, she was accustomed to fast-paced, hectic mornings. She felt her cell vibrating in her bag, she reached her hand in trying to find it, distracted she accidentally bumped headfirst into someone from behind. She looked up just in time to see the object of her collision spin around to face her.
How this man managed to look this good was a mystery to her.

"Hi," she said nervously, immediately regretting the ridiculous manner in which she greeted her boss.

"Ms. Remington. " he acknowledged her somewhat dismissively, allowing her to walk ahead of him.
Ivory had never been this conscious of her movements before. She knew, with her every fibre that this immaculate being wouldn't give her the time of day, much less give any form of attention to her for a few seconds as she walked ahead of him, yet her entire body tensed at being this close to his disapproving eyes.
Once in his office she slid behind her desk and breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes covertly following his movements as he walked over to his desk. When he had once again forgotten her presence, Ivory reached down to grab one of Emery's files.

*Empty.*
She stared blankly for a second, then turned instantly to the other side.

*Empty.*
Her gaze returned to her desk, her heart rate increasing dangerously. She had been certain the files were here. Doubt began to seep in, making her question whether she had moved them.

"They have been returned." Ivory gasped in surprise. Raiden was standing much closer to her now. His proximity was unnerving especially since she hadn’t heard him move.

"Excuse me?" Ivory questioned, her heart pounding for an entirely different reason than fear.

"The files Ms. James entrusted to you." he was measuring her reaction, wondering if she was really that soft and naïve.

"I-I" she couldn't seem to find the words, her entire face turned white.

"You are only obliged to complete the tasks I entrust to you. I would never allow anyone to exert any form of advantage to you, understand?" He said, hoping she would look at him. She nodded listlessly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but they were so startlingly close that he heard her clearly.

"Why are you sorry?" Did she think he was angry? He would be lying if he said he wasn't angry at her just a bit. He knew that anger was misplaced, but he couldn't shake the fact that it disappointed him that she wasn't comfortable coming to him. He could have saved her the trouble sooner.

"I never wanted to cause any problems." She said softly.

"The fault was never, at any point, yours." He restored the distance between them, his mind and body unpredictably urging him otherwise.

***
There had been a great deal of turmoil materializing in Ivory's brain these past days. She feared it had less to do with the absentee, Braylen, and more to do with a certain Devilish businessman. The words he'd spoken to her coupled with his shockingly compassionate mannerisms had her rearranging her neutral beliefs surrounding him. One thing was clear, her harsh views concerning Raiden De Ville had softened...considerably. Conversely, Ivory's fondness of Braylen was on a steady decline. She believed it had become easier to pass her days without the pleasure of his company and part of her could tell that their connection was waning.
She was fully aware that her assumptions could be wrong but she was attempting to put weight to Zoey's advice which involved Ivory hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. Ivory hugged her pillow closer to her chest, her eyes no longer capable of receiving the television images.

*Who was she kidding?*
Ivory smiled sardonically at herself. She couldn't possibly be certain of the state of her affections for Braylen. Her disappointment in consequence of his absence confused her into ignorance of her emotions. She kept communicating to herself that she shouldn't be unsettled, especially when he had his duties towards his ill mother alongside his duties as an employee. As a last thought in her head that night, Ivory had reconciled her feelings towards Braylen, she would grant him the benefit of the doubt.

***
"I am outraged!" Felix muttered dramatically. Raiden yanked at the noose of a tie coiled perilously around his neck. "I have worked for you for years and I have never been given a courtesy rest day. Here I thought you didn't play favourites." Felix continued despite a warning glare.

"You can have any day next week, with pay," Raiden responded idly. He hardly ever granted his employees a day away from work but he needed a day away from Ivory. It took every ounce of self-control he had not to drag her off her chair and onto him. He realized that his "business only" rule was crumbling without effort.

"Thank you, Sir. There is none kinder than you." Felix bowed theatrically as he exited with a smile that would put shame to a Cheshire cat.

"De Ville, I am here to drop off some files for you." Raiden nodded without observing the intruder.
Braylen seated himself comfortably and waited until Raiden had completed drafting his email to a business partner. Raiden finally regarded Braylen. He noted that Ivory's vacant desk intrigued Braylen more than Raiden anticipated.

"Is Ivory not here yet?" Braylen questioned, gazing at his wristwatch.

"Ms. Remington will not be in today," Raiden responded dismissively. He found himself curious as to the relationship between the two but Raiden knew better than to ask whether a woman he wanted was desired by another man. Any special knowledge on his part may cause him to be labelled as an immoral rascal. Although he wouldn't consider himself particularly moral in any regard.

"*You* gave her a day off?" Braylen questioned in disbelief.

Raiden inhaled sharply. "Ms. Remington has been working tirelessly and admirably. I saw it fit to reward her."
Braylen nodded absent-mindedly. "Yes, I dare say it wouldn't be easy working under your constant gaze." After a moment, he continued. "To the undiscerning eye, it may seem that you have taken an interest in Ivory. But, I am pleased to know that you do not pursue any business relation."

"Ms. Remington is curiously interesting. As for my philosophies, I may at some point be inclined to relax them." Raiden was certain that his words enlightened Braylen as to his meaning. The usual relaxed expression eroded away.

"Surely, your... philosophies... are not so lax," Braylen commented acutely.

"In the right circumstances, it may be non-existent," Raiden responded after a moment's consideration. "I have never agreed to a life hurdled with undeviating rules."

"I admit; I have always admired your rebellious nature. It has always proved fruitful *economically*. As for personal matters, I can't say if the ruthlessness underhanded measures utilized in business tactics are to bring about the same success." Braylen returned severely. Raiden's lips pulled up stubbornly in a rare smile as he retorted daringly.

"One would be unaware of success unless all methods have been exhausted, even the unconventional ones." Raiden tilted his head and smirked. Lines were being drawn, he could feel it.

Braylen didn't respond, he saw no need to continue the conversation. He nodded dismissively. "Well then, I shall not keep you any longer." He stood and bid farewell to Raiden.

***
Ivory had planned to have a productive day. She made a mental to-do list the night before which included finally finishing that self-help book she began reading three months ago, which she accepted may end up in her starting anew, cleaning her apartment which included her mess of a closet, and getting a head start on birthday shopping for Zoey. Much of these expectations were botched when Ivory's eyes chose to open at eleven that morning. If it hadn't been for her phone's ringtone sounding unforgivably in her ear she didn't know what time she would have greeted the day.

"Hello?" her voice every bit as sleep-laden as she was.

"Were you asleep?" he was clearly amused. Ivory blinked several times hoping her vision would clear as she immediately sat up in bed.

"Braylen." She identified her caller, her mouth suddenly going dry.

"I came by the office today, but your desk was vacant." He said.

"I was given a rest day." She responded, hating the way her senses whirled to life at his acknowledgment.

"That's a relief, I assumed the worst, that you were ill." His voice could soothe a viper.

"Nothing like that." She assured.

"How is work? Are you still finding it difficult to work under Raiden?" He probed.

Ivory considered this, her cheeks colouring instinctively. "Unexpectedly, work isn't the nightmare I made it out to be. Mr. De Ville is..." she paused struggling to find a neutral manner in which to describe the man who had returned her dignity and independence. "I have come to realize that he is as you made him out to be, fair." She finished.

"I am relieved. How about I stop by for lunch?" He offered.