Page 19 of Ivory Obsession

I just had to keep us both alive long enough to reap them.

Chapter Eight: Jade

The sterile smell of the lab clung to us as we squeezed into our usual table at the bistro. The comforting scents of garlic and herbs masked the lingering scent of fluorescent lights, a welcome change from the grueling day spent under them. I sank into the booth’s worn leather seat, grateful for the softness against my achy muscles.

“Thank goodness for this place,” I sighed.

Ellie let out a similar sigh as she dug into her spaghetti carbonara with gusto. “I needed this break so badly,” she said between bites.

“You and me both,” I replied, pushing up my glasses and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“So spill, what’s been on your mind all week? You’ve been avoiding my texts like the plague,” Ellie prodded playfully. “And you keep talking about work.”

I hesitated, knowing she wouldn’t let me off easily. “I mean, babe, it’s work. It’s been crazy busy,” I finally admitted.

“Don’t give me that, Jade. I know you. That’s all you talk about. You’ve been…distracted. You left with Dante Moretti. It’s him, isn’t it?” Her eyes sparkled mischievously across the table.

I couldn’t hide my smile as I nodded. “Yes, it’s Dante Moretti.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. Slut. I mean that in the most encouraging way,” Ellie chuckled, shaking her head. “You did say he was out of your league, remember?”

“He is!” I exclaimed, leaning in closer. “I can’t believe we slept together. He’s so handsome and...you know, rich. And he has a lot of stamina.”

Ellie’s laughter mixed with the sounds of the bustling bistro around us. But deep down, a small part of me couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to Dante than met the eye, and I was diving into dangerous waters with him.

“Speaking of well off,” Ellie leaned in, her expression turning serious. Her voice dropped to a whisper, the playful spark gone. “Jade, be careful. The Morettis...I’m pretty sure they’re not just rich. They’re mixed up in some serious stuff. It’s not all legitimate.”

A chill ran through me despite the warmth surrounding us, the noise of clinking glasses and chatter suddenly distant. My mind raced at the implications of what she was saying—dangerous, unlawful, the kind of trouble you don’t walk away from.

I shook my head, forcing a half-smile as I attempted to dispel the cold dread settling over me. “Dante doesn’t seem like...He’s just been really nice.” I wanted to believe that the man I had begun to fall for wasn’t tied to the darkness Ellie was hinting at.

Ellie frowned, the lines of concern etching deeper into her face. “Appearances can be deceiving, especially with them. You know how these families operate; they have a facade for everything.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. She knew I wasn’t naive, but this was territory far beyond my expertise in biotechnology. And yet, the idea of Dante being anything other than the charming man I’d come to know seemed impossible.

“Ellie, thanks for looking out for me,” I said, trying to reassure both her and myself. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

She gave my hand a tight squeeze before standing up. “I’m sorry I have to go,” she said. “I promised my roommate I’d feed her dog and she’s going away for the…”

“You told me,” I said. “We’ll go out properly next weekend.”

“Thank you! I love you. I’m serious, Jade. Be careful about this.”

Then she was gone, the cool night air sweeping in as the door closed behind her, leaving a void where her presence had been.

Alone with my thoughts, the restaurant’s buzz morphed into a relentless hum, pressing against my temples. The laughter and conversations around me blurred into a single indistinct noise—a warning siren that I couldn’t silence. Ellie’s words played on a loop in my head, an eerie soundtrack to my growing unease.

Just as the weight of her warnings began to truly sink in, my phone vibrated against the wooden table. I flinched as I looked at the screen. It was him. Dante. My breath hitched at the sight of his name, the familiar rush of excitement now tainted with a twinge of fear.

Hope you’re having a wonderful evening. Thinking of you.

The text read like any other sweet nothing he had sent before–and he had been in touch all week–but now it felt loaded, each word heavy with unspoken meaning.

I stared at the screen, my blue tank top suddenly feeling too tight against my skin, my heart pounding loud enough to rival the cacophony around me. Should I respond? My thumb hovered over the keyboard, indecision paralyzing me.

“Damn it, Dante,” I muttered under my breath, the sound lost amidst the din of the restaurant. The charming man who had effortlessly slipped into my life—was he a facade too?

Thank you, Dante. It’s been a long day.

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