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.

Working for Ivan meant being close to him, spending more

I had to hear him out. This wasn’t just about a job; it was about something more, something deeper that was

the nervous energy buzzing under my skin. When I emerged from the bathroom, Ivan was already sitting on the bed, clad only in a pair of sweatpants. The

a beat too long before he gestured to the empty space beside him. “Come here,” he smiled,

a comfortable

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 that’s going

hesitated for a moment, then continued. “As much as I hate to even

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Chapter 93

is booming again, and I’m finally

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hand in his, his fingers intertwining with mine. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me, a

you a

I squeezed his

it was tempting. The financial security, the chance to be close

laced with a healthy dose of

started, my voice cautious, “I appreciate the offer, I really do.

raised an eyebrow, a question hanging

when it was the fact that I didn’t want anything to do with him that made me quit a

Look, I get it. The whole Alex situation is a mess, and I wouldn’t blame you for wanting nothing to 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

washed over me. He understood. He

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

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 of doubt in my eyes, “you could choose something else entirely. We’re expanding the company, and there are openings in marketing, human resources, even event planning. Anything you

me. The idea of having some control over my role, of choosing something that actually Interested me, was appealing. But the thought of working in the same

slim, still made me

Ivan. It’s all a bit overwhelming. And the thought of even being in

but he is almost never physically present at the