Undressed By His Arrogance

Luca leaned back in his chair, shirt unbuttoned just enough to be obscene, rings glinting as he lifted his hand lazily. His eyes lit up when they landed on Ivy, recognition sparking instantly. A slow, delighted smile spread across his face.

"Boys... boys... come on," Luca said, waving them down. "A celebrity is in our midst." He stood, spreading his arms theatrically. "Beyoncé herself. To what do I owe this scintillating pleasure?"

The guns lowered reluctantly. The tension remained.

"I need your help," Ivy said flatly. "And I need it now."

Luca chuckled, pouring himself a drink with exaggerated leisure. "Straight to business. I like that." He took a sip, eyes never leaving her. "Though I must say, I haven’t even cashed the blank cheque your boyfriend handed me, and here you are, gracing my humble office."

"You want another blank cheque?" Ivy asked.

Luca laughed outright, rich and amused. "Tempting. Very tempting." He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the desk. "But no. My blank cheque needs both your signatures." His gaze dipped pointedly. "You and him. Power couples are very... bankable."

"You get my signature if you deliver me someone in less than an hour," Ivy said, planting her palms on Luca’s desk. "One hour. Not a minute more."

Luca’s smile widened. "Sweetheart," he drawled, "you do not make a bet with the devil unless you’re ready to pay." His eyes flicked over her face. "And I always deliver."

"Then deliver me this man." Ivy reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and dropped it onto Luca’s desk. The screen lit up with Raphael’s face frozen mid-smirk.

Luca picked up the phone, his brows lifting in faint interest. "Well, well," he murmured. He handed it to one of his men. "Looks like Christmas came early." He gestured lazily with two fingers. "Find him."

The man nodded and disappeared, already barking orders into his headset as he went.

Luca turned back to Ivy. "You want a drink?"

"No," Ivy said immediately. Her stomach rolled, heat rising behind her eyes. She exhaled hard, the adrenaline beginning to crash now that she’d stopped moving.

"Miss Morales," Reese said gently from behind her. "You should sit."

"I’m... I’m fine," Ivy insisted, even as the room tilted slightly to the left.

"You want to stand the entire one hour?" Luca asked mildly, amusement flickering again.

"Can you find him?"

"If he is still in the city," Luca said calmly, "I will." He nodded as his men returned briefly to hand Ivy’s phone back. "Relax."

The door closed behind the men, leaving the three of them alone. "Aren’t you going to ask me what I need, Beyoncé?"

"My name is Ivy."

Luca chuckled. "It will always be Beyoncé to me." His eyes softened, just a fraction, nostalgia slipping through the cracks. "You were my best dancer. You made me tons of money. Men lost their minds over you."

"Thanks," Ivy said dryly, rubbing her arms as if she could wipe the memory off her skin, "but that is a part of my life I would rather forget."

"Forget?" Luca echoed softly, as if tasting the word. "My dear... why would you want to do that? Every step of our lives shapes us. Every move. Every soul that brushes against ours chisels us." He gestured toward Ivy. "Either better." Then he tilted his hand back toward himself, lips curling in a self-aware smirk. "Or worse."

He wasn’t wrong. Every version of her still lived inside her.

"What do you want in your blank cheque?" Ivy asked flatly, cutting through the philosophical fog.

"A section in Kane Designer Mall."

That got her attention. "It’s a designer mall for a reason. What would you want to trade in your section?"

"Drugs, of course," Luca said pleasantly.

"Excuse me?"

"Well," Luca continued, unbothered, "I’ll think of something tasteful to mask it. Something luxurious of course. Whatever nonsense rich people are interested in." He shrugged. "Hundreds of wealthy men in one place, Ivy. CEOs, heirs, politicians. They are my target market." His eyes locked onto hers. "And you are my key to getting in."

Ivy stared at him, her pulse roaring in her ears. Kane Mall was Winn’s world—his legacy, his pride.

"Fine," Ivy said at last.

Reese inhaled sharply. Luca’s brows lifted, impressed.

"You realize," Luca said smoothly, "you cannot go back on a deal with me."

"Wouldn’t dream of it," Ivy replied.

Luca tilted his head, studying her again. "Why don’t you discuss it with the boyfriend first?"

"Because the boyfriend is dying!" Ivy snapped. The room went very still. Even Luca’s smile faltered. Ivy winced, moving a hand to her stomach. "Winn is dying," she said again, quieter now. "And I need that son of a bitch because he has the antidote."

"Then I guess I better make sure Mr. Kane doesn’t die," Luca said lightly.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone. Dialed. Waited. Ivy watched him, every muscle in her body wound tight, her heart slamming against her ribs. She could hear the faint hum of voices on the other end. Luca listened without interrupting, his expression giving nothing away. After a few seconds, he ended the call and placed the phone back on the desk.

"They have his location," he said calmly.

She managed a smile and closed her eyes for a brief moment, pressing her lips together as she inhaled deeply. Winn. She pictured him the way he looked when he had pulled the trigger in her presence once before. She channelled his anger and hers. She let that image harden her resolve.

Raphael better give up that antidote easily, she thought darkly.

*****

"It’s been one hour!" Anna shrieked, staring down at her phone. "It’s been one hour!"

"He needs the money, Anna. He will call," Tim said gently, stepping into her path to stop her from spiraling. His own face was tight with strain.

Anna clasped her hands together, fingers trembling as she whispered prayers.

Everyone was nervous. Everyone was tense. Evans had returned with the bags of money—black duffels stacked neatly against the wall. Sam stood near them, one arm wrapped around Irene, holding her close. Irene’s face was pale, her eyes fixed on the clock.

(To 200 power stones. 400?)

NB: Who would like a story based on Luca?