Undressed By His Arrogance-Chapter 251: Thank You For Coming

Predictably, Winn was pulled almost immediately into conversation with the investors. He handled them effortlessly, a smooth smile here, a confident nod there, his charm dialed to lethal.

Ivy found herself speaking with Bernard’s wife—a stunning woman in her fifties wearing a soft pink dress and diamonds subtle enough to be intimidating.

"Ivy, dear, thank you for coming," she said warmly, taking Ivy’s hands.

Ivy asked if she had received the birthday present she had sent ahead—a rare perfume blend.

"Oh, I loved it," the woman gushed, eyes bright.

They spoke for a few minutes, touching briefly on Amsterdam sights, and how stressful managing an empire could be. The men think they are the soul, but they are the brains and the power. Then, in perfect hostess fashion, she excused herself.

"Duty calls, I’m afraid. Go enjoy yourself."

Ivy smiled back, watching her glide seamlessly into another circle of guests. She lifted her glass and downed it.

She grabbed another flute of champagne, the bubbles lazily rising. She tipped the glass to her lips, letting the cold fizz settle her nerves. The chandeliers above cast warm gold halos across the ballroom, and for a moment she just stood there thinking, When did this become my life?

Somehow, in a matter of months, she had been flung from her simple life straight into rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite.

It was dizzying.

It was surreal.

It was terrifying how much she felt she didn’t recognize herself anymore.

"Dance with me." Winn’s voice slid through her thoughts from behind her as if he were whispering it against her neck.

She turned to find him standing there with his jacket unbuttoned. He looked stupidly good. Unfairly good. Or maybe it was the alcohol.

"Uh...yeah...okay."

Just a dance, she told herself. Just movement, just music.

He reached for her hand and guided her toward the center of the ballroom.

Winn slid one hand to her waist, the other catching her fingers. Ivy stiffened, her body hesitant, rigid, unsure. He felt it instantly.

He pulled her just a fraction closer.

He couldn’t blame her for the tension.

Hell, whatever she felt, he felt it ten times over. No—a million.

"Did you have fun in the city?" he asked softly.

"Yes, I did." And she had. She really had.

"You’re leaving tomorrow, right?" he asked, guiding her gently through a turn.

"Yes. Need to get ready for work on Monday," she said with a sigh. Her cheek brushed his shoulder as she came back into frame, and Winn’s hand tightened just slightly on her waist. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"I think you earned a break, don’t you?" he murmured. "You are juggling too much."

She swallowed. "I know. With school and stuff, it’s a lot. But I don’t want people to think that I can do whatever I want because I was handed my position by my family."

"Honey, they’re going to think whatever the hell they want anyway."

She shot him a look. "I’d still rather they don’t think I’m some entitled brat."

"Actually, you can do whatever you want. Your subordinates or staff do not have a say," Winn said. "Your profits are yours, your losses are yours. They don’t share those with you. Do your best, yes—but don’t hold yourself to anyone’s standards."

She lifted her gaze to him.

"Even yours?" she asked.

Winn looked away. It always circled back to this—them—even when they tried to avoid it, even when they tried to pretend their orbit wasn’t dangerously close.

He searched for the safest possible path through a minefield they’d both planted.

"No, you shouldn’t," he finally said, turning back to her. "I know you think I came here to police your presentation, but no. That’s not true."

"I came here because I thought it would be... refreshing to be with you," Winn continued. His thumb stroked her waist unconsciously. "Away from our families, from our past, from the shadows that stand between us."

Winn pulled her slightly closer. "I wanted to dream," he admitted. "To lie to myself just a little bit. And you, have always been incredible. But you already knew that."

"It’s nice to hear you say it." Ivy smiled.

"You care what I say?" he asked.

"Of course." Her fingers brushed his shoulder lightly as they turned in the slow dance, and Winn felt it all the way down his spine.

He swallowed once. "You want an honest review then?"

"Sure. Go on. Hit me with it."

"Your boyfriend is a piece of shit."

Ivy stopped moving, her body going rigid in his hands. She looked up at him sharply, eyes flaring with indignation. "That’s not a review," she hissed. "That’s an attack."

Winn sighed, tightening his grip to keep her from pulling back.

"I apologize," he said. "I don’t like the man for obvious reasons."

"Oh, here we go," Ivy muttered.

Winn ignored the jab. "Let me rephrase," he continued. "He is boring. He looks like the kind of man who will ask your permission before taking your bra off."

"That is... what’s so terrible about that?"

Winn leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "It’s not what you want," he murmured. "That’s not the kind of man that lights you on fire."

Ivy’s heart punched her ribs. She stepped back just enough to glare. "You don’t know what I want. I want a man who loves me. And he does."

"Of course he loves you," Winn said. "What’s not to love? You’re... you." His thumb brushed her waist again—slow, involuntary, tender. "But a man can both love you and ignite your passion."

She lifted her chin, fighting the emotional quicksand.

"Like you?" she asked. "You mean I need someone like you."

"Ivy..."

"No." She shook her head, cutting him off before he could make everything worse. "I tried that once. Look where it got me."

The music swelled, couples drifted around them. The world looked beautiful, perfect, celebratory—yet there they stood, bruised and fragile in the middle of it.

"I am not trying to stir things up again. I just—" Winn exhaled, a slow, tortured sound that barely rose above the music vibrating through the ballroom floor. "I think you are making a mistake with Eugene. And yes, I love you, more than life itself. I won’t apologise for it. You know why?" He waited, breath warm against her hair as they swayed among the glittering crowd.