Chapter 0157

“Ivan,” I say, my voice hardly more than a whisper as I stare at him from the top of the steps. Then, realizing that I’m standing

here basically naked in my tiny robe, I clutch the fabric closed at my throat and take a deep breath, trying to figure out what the

hell to do next. What is he doing here!?

“I take it,” lvan says, his smirk deepening, “by your state of dress that you are...not ready yet? Do you need a few more

minutes?”

“A few more minutes?” I ask, baffled. And then, fully aware that Kent’s eyes are on me, I flit down the steps until I’m eye-level

with Ivan. “What are you talking about, lvan? Why are you — what are you —*

Seeing that I’m not playing coy and that I’m genuinely confused, Ivan frowns at me. “Didn’t you get my texts, Fay? Or your

dad’s? This was...all set up.”

I slap a hand to my forehead, groaning. Texts. My phone. You know, communication with the outside world?

“Ivan,” I explain, shaking my head. “I haven’t checked my phone since like...yesterday afternoon. I’m sorry — I’ve been...

distracted.”

Images flash through my mind, suddenly, of precisely how distracted I was. Images of Kent pinning me up against the wall of the

stable — his mouth hard on mine while he carried me upstairs — the feel of his body against mine as he pressed into me —

Despite myself, I blush, which only makes Ivan grin. “Ah, that’s all right, Fay,” he says, giving me his patented cocky half-smile.

“It's a surprise then. Go get packed — I’m taking you away for the night. A little mini-break, just you and me. So we can, ah...get

to know each other.” His eyes move, at his last words, to Kent standing at the top of the stairs. lvan’s smile deepens, bringing out

a dimple on his left cheek.

Slowly, I turn to follow Ivan’s gaze. Kent doesn’t look at Ivan, though — only at me. Then, he twists his head quickly to the side

towards my room, his meaning perfectly clear.

“Give me a minute,” I murmur to Ivan as I run up the stairs, past Kent and towards my room. I can hear Kent’s heavy footsteps

behind me as I fly into my room and spin to face him. He slams the door shut.

“Kent, I swear —“ I say, all in a rush. “I had no idea — I did not plan this —*

“Give me your phone,” Kent commands, interrupting me, apparently having no interest in what I’m saying. I nod quickly and rush

to my desk, grabbing the phone he gave me off of it and handing it to him. Kent glances at it and then tosses it on the bed,

glaring at me. “Your other phone, Fay,” he demands, his voice starting to get angry.

I purse my lips together, a little

frustrated, and then nod. I kneel

down and open the bot am qoon oF!

« nalir@ he Bu burner phone

Ligene gave me. I glance at it, seeing

that I have several unread messages.

I start to open them but Kent grabs

the phone out of my hand. Please

read the original content at

.

“Hey!” I protest, but he just flicks his

eyes at me once, annoyed, and then

ignores me, opening the mugseag

and readin ugtytaaf, Leross my

arms ainey gee chest as I stand up,

angry at Kent for not letting me have

privacy, but then also angry at myself

for thinking he would. And then again

for thinking that I was clever enough

to have a second phone without him

knowing about it. Please read the

original content at .

“What the boy says checks out,” Kent says, tossing the phone onto the bed with the other one and then turning to glare at me.

“You didn’t plan this?”

“I swear,” I say, pressing a oe to nal

chest. “I didn’t know anythi

this — ye ser oP OSUANT AY ally my

panes call you to like...ask

permission or something.” Please

read the original content at

.