Ariana's POV
We finally reached home, the familiar structure looming ahead, when I noticed someone standing near the entrance. It's Ivan.
He wasn't just standing; he was posing without even trying.
Dressed in a sleek, black Christian Dior shirt, the material hugging his broad shoulders and lean frame like it had been designed just for him. His black tailored trousers looked expensive without shouting it, resting neatly over polished designer loafers that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.
The sunlight hit him perfectly, highlighting his pretty face and those cold, unreadable eyes hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses.
God.
Is he a model or just casually existing like a Greek god?
Ethan must have noticed my sudden silence because he leaned closer and whispered, "You're drooling."
I snapped out of it and elbowed him hard, earning a low chuckle from him.
Meanwhile, Ivan didn't even spare us a full glance. He casually checked his Rolex, like he had somewhere very important to be - or somewhere he would inevitably break hearts just by breathing.
I cleared my throat and tried to look unfazed, flipping my hair as I walked forward.
"Going to charm the world, neighbor?" I called out, smirking.
He looked at me and smiled, lowering his sunglasses on his nose to reveal those piercing eyes for a brief second.
"If the world's lucky," he replied lazily, then pushed the glasses back up and walked toward his orange Lamborghini.
I watched him slid into his car like he owned the entire planet, the engine purring to life with a low, arrogant growl before he sped off down the road. I stood there for a second longer, the echo of the car fading into the distance.
"Falling for him already"
I rolled my eyes "hell no" he smiled and I nudged him playfully as we headed inside.
__________In the evening
Feeling thirsty, I walked of my room to get water. I descended slowly then I heard some of the maids murmuring. I turned to look at them and saw...wow
Boxes.
Everywhere.
The entire living room looked like a warehouse exploded. Giant, luxurious-looking packages stacked on top of each other. Some wrapped in sleek black ribbons, others in minimalist white.
All stamped with intimidating logos - Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Balmain, Rolex - you name it.
I let out a low whistle and blinked.
"Did I just walk into a billionaire's garage sale? What the hell is this?"
Just then, one of the maids appeared, balancing what looked like a small mountain of paperwork.
"Oh, hello, Miss Ariana. Mr. Ivan said to move his deliveries inside. New season collection," she said like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Should I move your things too?"
I almost choked.
"My things?" I repeated.
My eyes followed her hand and spotted my tiny, tired suitcase. It sat pathetically in the corner, like a lonely abandoned puppy next to a fleet of pedigree show dogs.
New season collection.
Of course he'd casually buy an entire brand new wardrobe worth a fortune in a day like he was buying snacks.
I muttered under my breath, "And here I am, proud of buying a discounted jacket last month." I laughed and shook my head.
Somehow, this place was already turning my life into something crazy and I was loving it.
I was about to drag my suitcase upstairs when the maid spoke again.
"Oh, and these are for you, Miss Ariana."
I turned - and my jaw dropped.
A separate stack.
Boxes.
Curious (and suspicious), I walked over.
The maid untied the first ribbon and opened the box, revealing a stunning, knee-length, wine-red dress.
The next box had a pair of glistening white Louboutin heels, the red soles flashing like danger.
And then...
She opened a velvet jewelry box.
I literally gasped.
Inside lay a delicate diamond necklace, the stones catching the light and scattering rainbows across the walls. Beside it, a matching bracelet - thin, graceful, but sparkling with a kind of quiet, devastating wealth.
I blinked as I saw the other one, I stood up and take a few steps back and continued blinking.
"He didn't, he....he didn't" I whispered, already knowing he did.
It was a big sleek orange Hermes box, with the signature brown ribbon tied perfectly.
My fingers trembled as I undid the ribbon. The lid lifted with that quiet, expensive hush. Inside was a Himalayan Birkin. Pale, almost luminous. Crocodile skin. Diamond-encrusted hardware that glinted in the sunlight like it had its own heartbeat. I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"He did...On my God!" I almost jumped in excitement.
"This is-" I swallowed, trying to find the words. "This is a $500,000 bag"
"What the hell....God am I dreaming" I asked my self cos he literally bought me something I've only seen in auctions..... something I never even let myself dream of owning.
I'd spent so much of my life convincing myself I didn't need anyone to prove my worth. But Ivan... he shattered that defense with a glance, a gesture, a bag that cost more than every apartment I'd ever lived in combined.
The maids smiled gently as they saw my reaction.
"Mr. Ivan instructed us to prepare a few essentials for you and he specially bought this bag for you. You can tell us if you need anything more Miss"
"Goodness! Essentials? Essentials?! He shops for essentials at a level that could pay my college tuition five times!"
"Well, that is our boss. Glad you get on his better side and I'm glad you like it. I'd bring them to your room soon" one of them said and I nodded.
_____
As I walked into the kitchen, I couldn't wrap my head around what's happening. Five hundred thousand dollars. A bag. For someone he barely knows. An insanely expensive 500 grand and more, hell, that was someone's annual salary, and for who, a girl he barely knows. I shook my head not believing it.
I'd laughed at first. Actually laughed. What the hell was wrong with this guy?
But as I made my way to the kitchen, trying to shake off the mix of confusion and disbelief, I froze.
There he was.
Ivan.
Leaning against the counter, one hand around a glass of water, looking maddeningly calm. Like he hadn't just done something outrageous. Like he wasn't the most dangerous, arrogant, infuriatingly composed man I had ever met.
I crossed my arms and stepped closer, chin tilted just slightly higher than necessary.
"Do you always drop hundreds of thousands on girls you barely know?" I asked coolly. "Is this a test… or a trap?"
"Call it whatever you like," he said, setting the glass down without a flinch. "You didn't refuse it."
I let out a sharp breath. "Of course not. I'm not stupid."
His lips curved into that lazy smirk, his eyes running over me with the ease of someone who thought he'd already won.
"Didn't think you'd be the type to get flustered over a bag," he murmured. "It's just a bag."
My jaw tightened. Just a bag. Half a million dollars, and he calls it just a bag.
I crossed my arms tighter. "I'm not flustered. I'm just… surprised. Why would you buy something that expensive for someone you barely know?"
His gaze lingered on me, heavy, unsettling. "Maybe I just enjoy giving beautiful things… to beautiful girls."
I rolled my eyes, though my pulse betrayed me with a little skip. "If this is your way of buying attention, you might want to rethink your strategy. A Hermès bag, Ivan? What's next—an island? A penthouse in Paris?"
He sipped his water, calm as ever. "If I did, would you say yes?"
I almost laughed again, but there was no humor in it. "You really think money makes me easy, don't you?"
I stepped closer, close enough to meet his eyes without flinching. "Let me make this clear, Ivan. I'm not one of your conquests. I'm not going to melt into your arms because you tossed half a million my way. You don't get to buy me. Not with a bag, not with a penthouse, not with even you"
His smirk faltered, just slightly.
"Relax, I haven't even uttered any word"
"What do you want then??"
"Be my girlfriend?" He said it flatly. This boy, who the hell does he think he is to throw a half million on me and expect me to be his girlfriend.
"I'll try to change. I promise I will" this time, it was softer.
My laugh came sharp, ringing in the kitchen like it didn't belong there. "Change? You?" Ivan, you don't change. Men like you don't wake up one morning and decide to become saints. Listen, I want to be kept out of this your game so don't you ever, say that again"
He tilted his head, "You think you know me already?"
"I don't need to," I shot back, arms folded. "Your reputation speaks for itself. The cars, the parties, the girls. It's not exactly a mystery."
He just looked at me, quiet, like he was studying me rather than arguing. Like he was amused how I talked to him. His silence was unsettling.
I tried to shake it off, but when he finally spoke, his voice was lower. "Maybe that's what I've been. But what if I wanted to be something else?"
That made me laugh again, though softer this time, because honestly, it was ridiculous. At first, I had found him intriguing. The confidence, the effortless charm, the danger in the way he carried himself, how he ignored me. But now, extending his so-called pleasures to me, like I'd want to be just another notch in his belt? That turned intrigue into something else entirely.
"Please," I said, shaking my head. "You think spending more money on a girl makes her automatically yours, make her start having interest in you? Maybe it does. But not me. I'm not one of those girls."
"I know," he replied simply, and for the first time, his words didn't feel like a trick.
"That's why I want you to give me a chance. Maybe we can work"
"It won't I don't have any plans of even falling for you. You know why, because the man you are right now, the one who switches girls like seasons, he's not someone I could ever fall for...never"
His eyes darkened, but I didn't let myself waver. I turned, already walking away when I heard him step forward.
"Come with me. Tomorrow night," he said, almost a command. Well, I think he is used to commanding people.
"Where"
"You'll see"
"Well, I wouldn't....."
"Please" I couldn't finish speaking and he cut me off with that word. He held my hand and I shook it off.
"Okay.....but don't think I'll suddenly fall at your feet" I said and walked out.
_________
I walked back into my room, still a little dizzy from the shock. He looked so serious with that gorgeous face of his an she thinks I would fall for that.....hell no!
I've fallen for a guy like him before and it ended in tears.
He was the first boy I liked-really liked. Zayn was charming, mysterious in a way that made girls fall without even knowing they'd jumped. He was a playboy too, I wasn't one of those girls he easily got to date. I made him worked for it. I played hard to get. Made him chase me, think I didn't care. But deep down, I did. So much knowing he was a playboy.
When I finally gave in, I thought I was safe with him. He told me things-soft things that felt like promises. He made me feel chosen. And then he shattered all of that in just two weeks.
I remember walking into that empty art room, hoping to surprise him. I still remember the floral scent in the air and the faint sound of giggling. And there he was-Zayn-kissing another girl. A girl from one of those rich families. She had always been around him, but I didn't think he'd...
I don't know what hurt more-that he did it, or that I had finally let myself believe in someone, only to watch him prove me wrong.
We never kissed, no, I never allowed him to kiss me and I don't know why but I think that is also a reason he cheated on me. I personally was the reason.
I broke up with him that same day. No tears, no drama. Just silence. He left school a few weeks later and then left the country. No explanations. No apologies. Just gone.
I wasn't really hurt about that and I got over it quickly than I expected. From then, I never believed in boys.
And Ivan "scoff"...
But I'm surprised why he has suddenly changed. He used to ignore me so why does he suddenly want me to fall for him. I smiled and sat on the bed, my charm worked on him faster than I expected, or...he just want me on his bed. I remembered his face, he was annoying and authoritative but undeniably charming.
"Let's see how you gonna make me fall for you handsome" I said and laid on the bed smiling. Not that I liked him, but....well .....I smiled.
But what if it's true, I mean, he is totally my dream guy, so tall, so masculine, sharp jaw, nice skin, and his face card.....that was simply out of the world....he is my full speck so ...I can....
Just then, I heard a knock.
"Miss, may we come in?" It's the maid's voice. I sat up quickly, brushing my hair out of my face.
"Yeah, sure" I called.
They came in, with the boxes. I sat there watching them as they hang the dresses in my closet, lining up the shoes neatly by color, and setting the handbags like little works of art.
I felt like a complete idiot.
A very spoiled idiot.
When they finished, one of the maids turned to me with a bright smile.
"Everything is in place, Miss. If you need anything else, just ring."
I nodded, still a little stunned.
"Thank you," I managed to say.
They gave small bows and quietly left, leaving me alone with a room that looked like it belonged in a Vogue photoshoot.
I stood up and walked slowly toward the closet, running my fingers lightly over the luxurious fabrics.
Each dress more beautiful than the last.
The shoes gleamed under the soft lights.
The bags practically whispered rich girl secrets to me. I couldn't help but smile and thankhim. So stupid of me, I didn't even do that. And to show my appreciation, I'll go with him like he suggested. I hugged the Hermes bag dearly and smiled.
---The next day