A Graduation Gift

When Ivy handed Amanda her resignation letter, Amanda didn't bat an eyelid and signed it immediately.

"Ivy, please work hard for Mr. Ji,"

she told her, looking strangely relieved, as if she had unloaded some kind of burden.

Amanda had agreed almost instantly when Clark said that he wanted Ivy to work for him.

The last time he insulted her in the office, it was because of her own slip up. She made a mistake, which cost her terribly. Cassandra and Rufus were able to make up, throwing out that little space Clark had to carve for himself in Cassandra's life.

Now, another very willing woman had appeared to take her place as Clark's scapegoat. Amanda wondered if she felt pity for the other girl, but found that in her heart, there was only a twisted sense of relief. She knew better than anyone what it meant to be Clark's woman, and there was nothing she wanted more than to rid herself of him, even if that meant another woman was going to be what she used to be.

On her end, Ivy also felt relief. She had thought that there might be problems, but she was pleasantly surprised at how smooth-sailing things had gone.

Once again, Amanda's relieved expression came to her mind. It was indeed strange. Why did she look so relieved when Clark was taking another woman with him? Was there no love between them? Was their connection nothing more than matters of the flesh?

Ivy was puzzled, but her questions disappeared as quickly as they had come. She had better fix her attention elsewhere. Now that she was going to be around Clark day and night in the future, she could not help but feel excited at her prospects.

Oddly enough, however, Clark did not assign any work to Ivy, but only allowed her to take unlimited vacations. Ivy was either relaxing at a beauty salon, shopping at a mall, or doing yoga at home. Despite her carefree lifestyle, she had put in a bit of restrain and did not go out to have fun as often, thinking that Clark might call her for work anytime. Like a faithful dog, she jumped to her phone at the first ring, but no calls had come from him.

Clark just invited her to dinner from time to time, took her out to various high-end clubs, but all-in-all, he remained ambiguous towards her.

Every time Ivy would get her hopes up, Clark would take things a step back and distance himself, not calling until after a few days. He had even never entered her apartment.

What was his deal? Ivy beat her brains in frustration. She had no idea what that man was thinking. What did he want from her? Was it sex?

But he had never touched her either. He had only looked at her seductively, leaving her in confusion between the contradiction with his words and actions.

Even when she tried to take the lead and suggested they go to his house, Clark was quick to decline her. However, he was very generous. He would shower her with expensive gifts without so much as a blink.

It was like his mind was a maze, and Ivy had lost herself trying to find a way out.

One day, just as she was relaxing at home with a face mask on, the phone rang. Ivy was on her feet in a split second and answered the phone.

"Can you come to my presidential suite in the hotel I'm staying in? I'll wait for you."

Clark's familiar voice echoed from the other end. Ivy jumped up excitedly and pulled off the mask to get dressed. Her chance had finally come.

suite. Just what was he about to

was ready, she stood in front of a mirror. The picture of a perfect woman looked at her from it. She sprayed perfume on her body and went

was none of the sensual mood she was expecting when she arrived. Clark was wearing a serious expression. Saying nothing about her meticulous get up, he

were almost eerie in the dim light, and the smell of

Ivy. Puzzled, she took the envelope and opened it. There was a printed piece of paper inside. Her face turned white as she read the words on it.

"This is slander!"

the paper in her hand wildly.

this! This is all

and nothing

sent to me by someone who seems

deep sigh, showing an air of tiredness. After a short pause, he continued slowly, "Ivy, I don't really care for a woman's background. Not her money, not her name, or

his tone. Ivy

mind. I admit that you're not my first woman, but

across from him, her eyes glued to the paper in

has made things difficult for me,

stood up and turned his back on Ivy, pinching the cigarette butts at his fingertips.

hands, the sheet wrinkled from

There were also claims that she still had a good

written to destroy the relationship between Ivy and Clark, but who would do

you, Ivy," Clark said, interrupting her train of thoughts. "I have invested in Dawn Star Group. That is to say, your ex-boyfriend Lionel and I

stared at Clark's back

wrote

pale face paled even more

up to the feeling that something was wrong. He asked the receptionist for

shame at all? I'm gonna call the police and have you arrested if you don't

angry. His eyes bulged out from their sockets and his

few naked photos of you as security, in case you

not avoid him, so

jaw dropped at her declaration. "I'm warning you, if those photos get out, I'll make your life a living hell. There will be no

Lionel poked Ivy in the face with a finger as he threatened her.

me, I won't spread the photos," Ivy said, matching his gaze with

was not afraid of Lionel. Compared to him, she