Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Chapter TEN.

"I wasn’t looking," Ivy continued quickly.

"Someone bumped into me and I just.....I’m really sorry, I’ll pay for the cleaning, I swear."

I pushed through the small crowd without thinking.

"Ivy."

Her head snapped toward me like she’d been holding her breath this entire time. Relief flooded her face instantly.

"Elaine."

I stepped between her and the man without hesitation, my body acting before my mind caught up.

"It’s fine," I said, glancing briefly at the spill. "We’ll cover it."

The man hadn’t said a word yet. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

That alone made my skin prickle.

I looked up.

And everything in me went absolutely still.

I’d seen pictures. Everyone had. Magazine covers. Business articles. Blurry shots taken from across streets or behind tinted windows.

None of them did him justice.

Zane Whitmore didn’t look irritated. Or amused. Or impressed like how the tabloids made him out to be.

He looked....absolutely breathtaking.

His gaze settled on my face with unnerving precision, dark eyes sharp and assessing. Not lingering inappropriately just... watching.

Something in my chest tightened.

"I didn’t realize this booth was occupied," I added calmly, turning fully toward him. "We’ll get out of your way."

Before he could respond, a security guard appeared at my side.

"Miss," the guard said firmly, placing a hand out to stop me. "This area is restricted."

I frowned. "We’re leaving."

He didn’t move. "This is Mr. Whitmore’s section."

The name landed like a dropped glass, I knew it was him but having the confirmation was shit.

Zane Whitmore.

I kept my expression neutral by sheer force of habit, even as my heart started pounding.

Zane’s gaze flicked to the guard. "It’s fine."

The guard hesitated, then stepped back.

Zane turned his attention to Ivy, who looked like she might faint. "Are you alright?"

She nodded too quickly. "Yes. I mean.....no, I mean yes. I just..."

"Ivy," I said gently, placing a hand on her back. "Breathe."

She did so shakily.

"I’m really sorry," she said again, looking at Zane. "I didn’t mean to spill anything on you."

He glanced down at his jacket, then back at her. "It’s replaceable."

That wasn’t what he said that mattered.

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