Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 394: The Face Off

Ian had always been a bookworm, never dated through his childhood or adolescence. When he finally reached university, he fell for Gemma the moment he first saw her. Gemma, with her long black hair and white dress, perfectly matched the innocent and pure image Ian, the bookworm, had always fantasized about.

Years passed, and now Ian found Gemma clinging to him, a complex look in his eyes. He remembered Ivy on her first day of school, shy and as pure as a bowl of clear water, without a speck of impurity. But now, she was heavily made up, wearing cheap perfume, and posturing provocatively in front of him.

In Gemma's mind, Ian, who had never been with a woman, was easy prey. She thought she just needed to spend one night with him to show him the pleasures of a woman, and then he would be forever under her spell.

"Ian, I really like you and want to be with you. Since you know the company's president, could you put in a good word for me? That way, I can get a job there, and we can be together. I'm doing this for our future," she said, sweetly but deceitfully, believing no man could resist her charms, let alone the inexperienced Ian.

Gemma's overconfidence blinded her to the deep disgust in Ian's eyes. "Gemma, could you please get off me? This is making me feel nauseous."

"What did you say?"

Gemma, always confident and having men dote on her, couldn't believe Ian's words. Seeing her astonishment, Ian pushed her away and said, "It seems you didn't look in the mirror before you left the house. Gemma, let me be clear. I must have been blind to have ever liked you, but that was the past. Now, I have regained my sight, and I don't like you, not even a bit. Not now, not ever. We will never be together. Please, have some dignity, and don't assume every man is interested in you."

Ian calmly adjusted his suit. He had always been a pushover at school, always trying to help everyone if he could. In Gemma's eyes, he was a fool, his good grades not enough to mask his meek nature. He used to be too scared to even speak to her; if she glanced at him a bit longer, he would turn away blushing, lacking the courage to even look at her. She would have never approached him if not for the help he provided with homework, viewing him as utterly beneath her.

Yet now, the man she had always looked down on spoke to her without a blush, with such certainty.

"Ian, who do you think you are? If you hadn't been so desperately chasing after me back then, I wouldn't have given you a second glance! What are you acting all high and mighty for now?"

Gemma raged, her face turning red.

I pursued you. But that's all in the past now. My pursuit ended long ago, and from now on, please stay

away, leaving Gemma stunned. She had been rejected by the very bookworm she had looked down upon. Why did she suddenly think he looked somewhat handsome when he adjusted his tie? Perhaps

her qualifications wouldn't get hired. When Ian left, he noticed that his friends were nowhere to be seen. He checked his watch; it was almost time for his interview. Where

long followed Aurora, and Julian, ever perceptive, noticed a few had been tailing them for a while. Frowning, he suggested, "Aurora,

you going to deal

on the door. "Yes, they've been following us since we entered

need, they're here for me.

"Do you know them?"

Julian asked, puzzled.

as me. They probably just want

Aurora reassured

I'll wait here," Julian relented, learning they

group. As they saw her approaching, they momentarily panicked. Though they had wanted to meet Aurora, now that she was approaching,

was Aurora's commanding presence that overwhelmed them. She seemed like a queen, exalted above all. The others felt unable to meet her gaze directly, as if they were from different worlds, fearing that even an extra glance would be

pointedly,

Seeing you with Mr. Barnet, we didn't want to intrude," Leonard managed to say,

also here for

asking Ian to scout some talented individuals for her new