The Contracted Stripper

Rose’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel, her thoughts consumed by Bella. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? Her careful plans with Parker, the years of deception, manipulation, and power-all shattered by one person. Bella.

She couldn’t believe that Kendrick’s daughter would dare to interfere, and now she had ruined everything. But Bella would pay. Rose would make sure of it.

Meanwhile, Luca’s mind was elsewhere, racing with concern for Ivy. Ever since her career had taken a nosedive, she had vanished from the public eye. She hadn’t answered his calls, hadn’t been seen in days, and Ryan’s words had only made things worse.

“She’s locked herself up in her room,” Ryan had told him. “Won’t talk to anyone.”Luca didn’t hesitate. He had known Ivy for years, and though she often put up a tough front, he knew her better than most.

Beneath that exterior was a woman who felt deeply-too deeply at times. Her career had meant the world to her, and now that it was in ruins, he knew she would be in unimaginable pain. The drive to the Kendrick mansion felt longer than usual.

His worry for Ivy gnawed at him, and by the time he arrived, his nerves were on edge. He barely registered the mansion’s grandeur as he rushed through the halls, making his way to her room.

He knocked, softly at first. “Ivy? It’s Luca. Please, open the door.”There was no response.”Ivy, I’m not leaving until you open up. I just want to talk,” he called out again, knocking louder this time.

Still nothing. Luca leaned his forehead against the door, sighing deeply. “Ivy, please. I know you’re hurting. I just want to help.”After several agonizing minutes, he heard the faint sound of movement inside.

The lock clicked, and the door creaked open, revealing Ivy’s disheveled figure. The sight of her took his breath away. Ivy-so usually composed, so full of life-looked like a mere shadow of herself.

Her eyes were red and swollen from days of crying, her hair in disarray. She wore a loose robe that seemed to hang off her as though it were too heavy for her frail frame.”Ivy…” Luca whispered, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

She tried to hold it together, but the moment she saw the concern in Luca’s eyes, her fragile facade crumbled. Ivy broke down, her sobs wracking her entire body. Luca didn’t hesitate.

He crossed the room in a heartbeat, pulling her into his arms. She clung to him as though he were her lifeline, burying her face in his chest.”I… I’ve ruined everything,” Ivy sobbed, her voice barely a whisper.

“It’s all gone.”Luca held her tighter, his hand gently stroking her hair as he whispered soothing words. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here now. I won’t let you go through this alone.”

“How?” Ivy pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face full of despair. “Everything I worked for… it’s all gone. My career, my reputation… ruined.”Luca cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

“I know it feels like that right now, but you’re stronger than this. We’ll figure it out, I promise. Just trust me.”Ivy shook her head, fresh tears spilling over. “There’s nothing left to fix, Luca. I’ve lost everything.”

“No,” Luca said firmly. “You haven’t lost me.”For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of Luca’s words hanging in the air. Ivy blinked, her eyes searching his face as if trying to understand what he was saying.

Luca’s heart pounded in his chest, but he knew it was time to say what had been on his mind for so long. “Ivy… I’m not just here because I’m your friend. I’m here because I care about you-more than you know. I love you, Ivy.”

Ivy’s breath caught in her throat. She had always been surrounded by people, but no one had ever truly said those words to her with such sincerity. She had always brushed off feelings and kept herself guarded.

But hearing Luca say it-seeing the raw emotion in his eyes-moved her in a way she hadn’t expected. Through her exhaustion, she managed a small, tearful smile. “I love you too.”It was a whisper, but it was all Luca needed to hear.

He kissed her forehead gently, lingering there as he held her close. For the first time in days, Ivy felt a sense of peace wash over her, her body relaxing in his arms.”I’ll help you,” Luca whispered, as he helped her to her feet.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, alright? You’ll feel better after a shower.”Ivy nodded weakly, allowing Luca to guide her to the bathroom. She was so drained, both emotionally and physically, that she could barely stand on her own.

Luca stayed by her side, his gentle presence giving her the strength she needed to keep going.

Once she was in the shower, Luca stepped out, giving her some privacy while he prepared clean clothes for her. He could hear the water running and hoped that the warmth would help soothe her.

When Ivy finally emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a fresh robe, she still looked fragile but cleaner, more like herself. Luca smiled softly as he approached her, holding out a towel to dry her hair.”You look better,” he said, his voice light, trying to ease the tension.”I still feel like a wreck,” Ivy replied, her voice hoarse from crying.

“You’re not a wreck,” Luca insisted. “You’re just… going through a rough time. We’ll get through this together.”He helped her sit down, and without a second thought, Luca called for the mansion’s help to prepare something for her to eat.

Ivy was too weak to argue, so she let him take care of her, watching as he busied himself with simple tasks. Something was calming about his presence-about the way he quietly ensured everything was in order, making her feel like, for once, she didn’t have to do everything alone.

A short while later, the help brought in a tray of food. Luca set it down in front of Ivy and, with surprising tenderness, began feeding her. She smiled weakly at the gesture, too tired to protest.

“Why are you doing all this?” Ivy asked, her voice small and uncertain. Luca paused, his eyes meeting hers with intensity. “Because I care about you. And I’m not going to let you fall apart.”

There was a moment of silence, and then Ivy spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. “But why… do you care so much?”Luca hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He had told her the truth earlier, but this felt different-more real, more vulnerable.

“Because I love you, Ivy,” he said again, his voice firm. “I’ve loved you for a long time.”Ivy stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“You… love me?”

“Yes,” Luca said, his heart in his throat. “I’ve been in love with you for years.”Ivy’s eyes filled with tears again, but this time they weren’t tears of sadness. She reached out, taking Luca’s hand in hers.”I love you too,” she whispered, her voice soft but sure.

“I’ve just… never known how to say it.”Luca smiled, his heart swelling with emotion. He leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss against her forehead before pulling her into his arms once more.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s warmth, both finding solace in the unspoken connection between them.

Eventually, Ivy’s exhaustion took over, and she began to drift off to sleep in Luca’s arms. He carefully tucked her into bed, watching her for a moment as she lay there, peaceful at last.

As he stood to leave, Ivy stirred, her eyes fluttering open briefly. “Don’t leave,” she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.

“I won’t,” Luca promised, leaning down to kiss her forehead again. “I’ll always be here for you.”Ivy smiled softly, her eyes closing as she drifted back into sleep. Luca watched her for a few more moments, his heart full as he quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

But as he stepped into the hallway, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from Ryan.”We need to talk. Something’s happened with Bella.”Luca frowned, a sense of unease settling over him.

Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn’t good. With one last glance at Ivy’s door, Luca made his way downstairs, his mind racing with thoughts of what could be happening now. And as he stepped out into the night, the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Inside the mansion, Ivy slept soundly, unaware of the storm brewing outside her door-a storm that threatened to tear apart everything she and Luca had just begun to build.