Bonds

Chapter 93

-Maya’s POV-

The surprise must have been clear on my face, because the word exploded out of me in a surprised gasp. “What?”

Ivan chuckled as he pulled out and I had to stop myself from letting out a moan, his eyes holding mine. “I know it’s out of the blue,” he admitted, “but hear me out.”

He leaned down then, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. It was a chaste peck, a playful tease that left me wanting more.

“Go get cleaned up,” he whispered, his voice husky. “I will use another bathroom down the hall because,” he added, a glint of amusement in his eyes, “I can’t promise I won’t take you again if we get in the shower together.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the bathroom, leaving me standing there speechless. It took a moment for my brain to catch up with what just happened.

Ivan wanted me to work for him?

A mix of emotions swirled inside me – confusion, surprise, and a flicker of something else, something deeper and more unexpected.

Happiness? Maybe.

Taking a deep breath, I finally tore myself away from the spot and stumbled towards the shower. The cool water cascaded down my skin, washing away the lingering heat of our encounter and giving me a moment to clear my head.

As the water massaged away the tension in my muscles, I replayed Ivan’s words in my mind. Working for him… it was a tempting offer, especially after weeks of fruitless job hunting. But there were complications, of course. The biggest one being Alex.

His investment had given Ivan’s company a much–needed boost, propelling it back onto its feet. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on me. The man who rejected me, who broke my heart, was now indirectly helping the man I was married to.

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t want to be beholden to him in any way, not even through Ivan.

spending more time together. The idea sent

had to hear him out. This

already sitting on the bed, clad

on my form for a beat too long before he gestured to the empty space beside him. “Come here,” he smiled, his voice low and

to him, leaving a comfortable distance between

began, his voice sincere, “I’ve seen you running yourself ragged trying to find a job. It’s not easy out there, especially with everything

then continued. “As much as I hate to even mention his name,” he said with a grimace, “Alex’s investment

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Chapter 93

is booming again, and I’m

874

mine. The warmth of

need to be out there struggling. I can offer you

I squeezed his

The financial security,

voice of reason, the one laced with a healthy dose of skepticism, piped up in

appreciate the offer, I really do. But working for

an eyebrow, a question

and the thought of working in the same place as him when it was the fact that I didn’t want anything to do with him that made me quit a job I really loved and after everything that

do with him. I don’t even want you near him in the first place but I’m proposing this because you are stressed out, especially after having to

washed over me. He understood. He saw the hurt and

of job would I even be doing?” The question tumbled out, a mix of curiosity and lingering hesitation

on his face. “Honestly, Amaya,” he began, “you have a lot of options. You’re smart, capable, and you have a great eye for detail. You could be my personal assistant, handling my schedule and paperwork. Or,” he continued, seeing the flicker

something that actually Interested me, was

still made me

don’t know, Ivan. It’s all a bit overwhelming. And the

but he is almost never physically present at the office. He invests, he gets updates, but he leaves the day–to–day