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Bobby frowned as they exited the building. “I don’t accept rejection. Youhaveto accept this as a thank-you from me. I won’t be able to sleep tonight unless I properly reward you for today’s success.”
Seeing his insistence, Ivy sighed. It would be rude to refuse again. “Sure,” she murmured. “Thanks.”
She turned her head—only for her steps to falter.
Leaning casually against a sleek car, arms crossed, and eyes locked on her, stood Christian.
Ivy turned her face away, sighing in disbelief. ‘What is he doing here? I didn’t invite him, nor did he get a call from anyone at the office as far as I know.’ she thought.
She quickly pivoted on her feet, ready to take another direction. She didn't want to make it look like she knew him. But before she could walk away, she was startled when Bobby suddenly increased his pace to reach Christian. Now, she had no other choice but to follow her boss.
As Bobby got closer, his eyes focused on Christian, widening in surprise.
"Mr. Evans?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise. "I’m shocked to see you here. Did you have something important to discuss with us? You could have just called me, I’d have come to you myself." His tone instantly turned polite, eager to please.
Christian gave a small nod but directed his attention to Ivy instead. "I came to pick you up. Are you going somewhere? Is it work-related?"
Bobby’s eyes darted to Ivy, widening further. He immediately slipped into a more eager tone. "Ivy, you know Mr. Evans? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? That’s such great news!"
Ivy knowing Christian Evans—and having him personally come to pick her up—was a big deal. The man was one of the richest in the country, yet he had come here just to see a mere employee? Bobby's mind raced with questions about the kind of relationship they shared.
Ivy forced a small smile, her posture straightening. "I know Mr. Evans briefly—just a small interaction during my internship at his company. We met a few times, that's all."
Christian’s expression darkened instantly. He clearly didn’t like her answer. Ivy, however, didn’t care and continued, "We should leave now. It'll be late before we get there, and I need to leave early."
Bobby grinned, completely oblivious to the shift in tension. "It’s great to meet you, Mr. Evans! Please, feel free to visit anytime. And of course, Ivy will always be available to meet you whenever you please."
Although Ivy didn’t notice, Bobby’s tone was suggestive as he locked eyes with Christian. The implication behind his words made Christian’s face grow even grimmer.
"Where are you going?" Christian questioned Ivy.
"Just for dinner," she answered curtly before turning back to Bobby. "Let’s go."
Bobby quickly explained, "It's to thank her for securing the deal with your company, Mr. Evans. It’s a huge achievement, and we’re very happy to have you on board. I just wanted to treat her to dinner as a token of appreciation."
"Do you mind if I join you?" Christian asked casually.
Ivy frowned, about to refuse, but Bobby nodded eagerly. "Of course! Please, you’re most welcome."
He couldn’t believe his luck. The opportunity to dine with Christian Evans was rarer than gold—a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"Mr. Evans, you must be busy. You don’t have to come with us," Ivy said politely, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.
Christian ignored her words. Instead, he reached out, grabbed Ivy’s wrist, and pulled her toward him.
"Thanks for the invitation," he told Bobby before adding, "Mr. Bobby, are you married?"
Bobby faltered for a moment, glancing at Ivy before nodding. "Yes, I am."
"Kids?" Christian continued.
"Two," Bobby answered hesitantly.
Christian nodded again, then muttered, "Then going out alone with a female colleague for dinner at this hour doesn’t seem appropriate. I’m sure Ivy wasn’t the only one who worked on this project."
Bobby looked caught off guard, like a deer in headlights. He quickly laughed, trying to brush it off. "Of course, Mr. Evans! It’s just that Ivy was the one who finalized the deal, and I didn’t wantit to seem like I was taking her hard work for granted. That’s why I invited her. It’s just a good gesture."
"Sure," Christian muttered dismissively. "Since this is a celebratory dinner, why not invite the whole team? Instead of just Ivy, call everyone and have them join us at The Grand Atelier?"