Chapter 2 2

Ivy could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing through the implications of what Gregory Hale was proposing. No, demanding. Her entire life, she had fought for her independence, clawing her way out of small-town obscurity to build a name for herself as an investigative journalist. And now, in a single moment, it felt like the walls were closing in on her.

She turned her glare back to Gregory, who watched her with the smug satisfaction of a man who knew he had already won. "You're insane if you think I'm going to agree to this," she said, her voice low and full of venom.

Gregory didn't flinch. Instead, he spread his hands in a mock gesture of innocence. "Insane? No, Ms. Collins. I'm a pragmatist. You see, my son has a problem that needs solving, and so do you. This arrangement benefits both of you. Sebastian gets to keep his empire intact, and you, well... you get to keep your precious career. Seems like a fair trade, don't you think?"

Sebastian let out a sharp breath, stepping forward to interject. "Enough, Father. You don't get to dictate my life. Not anymore."

Gregory turned to his son, his expression hardening. "Oh, don't be so dramatic, Sebastian. This is about survival-yours and mine. Or do you think the board will sit quietly once I reveal the cracks in Hale Enterprises' foundation? The lawsuits, the scandals... do you really want them sniffing around your dirty laundry?"

Sebastian's jaw tightened, and Ivy could see the conflict playing out behind his cold blue eyes. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"And what about me?" Ivy demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. "What exactly do I gain from this farce, other than a lifetime of regret?"

Gregory smiled, and it made her skin crawl. "Oh, my dear, you gain access. Access to the Hale family. The inner circle. Isn't that what you've been chasing all this time? The truth about us?"

Her stomach twisted. He wasn't wrong, but hearing him say it out loud made her feel exposed, as if he could see every secret she tried to hide. "You think you're clever," she said, her voice trembling with controlled anger. "But I don't need your permission to uncover the truth. I can do it without marrying your son."

"Perhaps," Gregory conceded, tilting his head slightly. "But it will take time. Time you don't have. Your editor is already breathing down your neck about this story, isn't he? And let's not forget your family-your mother's medical bills, your sister's tuition. All things that could be... inconvenient, if someone were to make them worse."

Ivy's breath caught in her throat. She felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. How does he know about my family?

Sebastian's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Enough, Father. Leave her family out of this."

Gregory turned to Sebastian with a sly grin. "Oh, so protective already? How charming. But this isn't about her family, Sebastian. It's about leverage. And right now, I hold all of it."

Sebastian ran a hand through his dark hair, visibly struggling to keep his temper in check. When he spoke, his voice was low and measured, but there was an edge of steel beneath it. "You think you've won, but forcing us into this won't end well. For any of us."

Gregory chuckled, clearly unimpressed by the threat. "Oh, Sebastian, you underestimate me. This isn't about winning or losing. It's about control. And if you want to keep what's yours, you'll do as I say."

The room fell silent again, the weight of Gregory's ultimatum pressing down on them like a vice. Ivy glanced at Sebastian, hating the fact that she might actually need him to navigate this mess.

Finally, Sebastian turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You're not seriously considering this, are you?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "Do I look like I'm considering it? But your father seems to think he can strong-arm us both into submission."

Sebastian's eyes darkened, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something human behind his icy facade. Regret, maybe? Or frustration? Either way, it didn't make her feel any better.

"I won't let him destroy your life," Sebastian said quietly, his voice so low she almost didn't hear him.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you're my knight in shining armor? That's rich, coming from the man who just called my career third-rate."

He exhaled sharply, as if trying to keep his patience. "I said what I said. But that doesn't mean you deserve this."

"And what about you?" she shot back. "You're just going to roll over and let him control you?"

Sebastian's gaze hardened. "I've been fighting him my entire life. You think I don't know what he's capable of?"

Before Ivy could respond, Gregory clapped his hands together, drawing their attention back to him. "Well, this has been entertaining, but I'm afraid time is running out. I suggest you both make your decision quickly. The clock is ticking."

He turned on his heel and walked toward the door, pausing only to add, "Oh, and one more thing-if either of you breathes a word of this to anyone, the consequences will be... unpleasant."

With that, he left the room, leaving Ivy and Sebastian standing in stunned silence.

Finally, Ivy broke the silence. "Well, that was... something."

Sebastian let out a humorless laugh. "That's one way to put it."

She looked at him, trying to gauge whether he was as trapped as she felt. "What do we do now?"

He met her gaze, his eyes colder than ever. "We survive. Together, if we have to."

The words hung between them, heavy with unspoken implications. And for the first time, Ivy realized just how dangerous this game had become.