IVEY'S POV:
I kept my head high as they led me outside, trying to maintain a calm exterior. The place I’d seen when the plane landed had been strange, unfamiliar, but I wasn’t about to let that rattle me. This was just a mistake, a mix-up that had dropped me into a situation I didn’t understand. I wasn’t scared just uneasy, trying to piece together what was happening.
The cold air brushed against my skin as we stepped out into the night. The surroundings were dark, the trees stretching endlessly into the shadows, but I pushed the unease aside. I needed to stay focused, to figure out what was going on. The car waiting for me was sleek and black, almost blending into the night. One of the men nudged me forward, and I slid into the backseat, determined to keep my thoughts clear.
The drive was silent, the landscape outside nothing but a blur of darkness. My mind raced with questions. Why had Jimin decided to keep me here? He hadn’t asked who I was, hadn’t shown any interest at all. It was like he already knew or didn’t care enough to find out. The uncertainty was unsettling, but I kept my emotions in check. I needed to understand this before I could figure out my next move.
The car eventually slowed, and only then did I start to feel a flicker of apprehension. The unfamiliarity of it all, the way everything seemed so distant from the world I knew it was unsettling. But I didn’t let it show. When the car stopped, I waited for one of the men to open my door, stepping out onto the gravel driveway with a steady breath.
---
The man’s voice cut through the cool night air, firm and detached. “This way.”
Ivey stepped out of the car, her gaze steady as she followed the men. As they walked, she realized they were leading her back to the mansion she had glimpsed from the plane a place that now seemed even more imposing up close. Its grandeur was intimidating, its size and security suggesting it was not just a residence but a stronghold of some sort.
As they approached, the heaviness of the place settled in. The mansion was heavily guarded, with men stationed at every corner, their presence a silent warning of the power held within these walls.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The grand foyer was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls, and the air felt charged with a sense of purpose. It was then she saw him a tall, muscular figure dressed in gym clothes, his physique clearly defined even under casual attire. In one hand, he held a steaming cup of coffee, which seemed incongruous with the severity of the situation.
He studied Ivey with a piercing gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took her in. A smirk played at his lips, his expression one of dark amusement. He approached her with a deliberate, measured pace, his presence commanding attention. Leaning in close, he whispered something into her ear. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down her spine, though she kept her composure.
As he straightened, he addressed the room with a mocking tone. “Look, we have a new guest here~”
The room was filled with men, their eyes cold and assessing. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that made Ivey’s skin prickle. She had initially thought Jimin might be a businessman, but the heavily armed guards and the stern faces around her painted a different picture. This was no ordinary environment.
Unable to contain her confusion any longer, Ivey spoke up, her voice steady despite the circumstances. “Who are you?”
The man with the coffee merely raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening slightly. The question hung in the air, a stark reminder that the world she had stumbled into was far more complex and far more dangerous than she had imagined.
The man’s voice was low and smooth, carrying a trace of amusement. “Kim Namjoon, at your service, miss.”
Ivey regarded him with a calm but wary expression. “Okay, and?”
Namjoon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Jimin didn’t introduce us?” His disbelief was evident as Ivey shook her head.
“Oh, I see~” Namjoon said with a slight shrug. “Well, while we’re not exactly the most welcoming crowd, I like to think I’m decent enough. You seem smart, figure it out for yourself, right?”
Ivey took a moment to study him, her curiosity piqued. “Are you serious?”
Namjoon let out a low chuckle. “Oh, yes, completely normal~ Do I look like a miracle to you?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never met anyone who talks like this to a stranger.”
“Are we strangers?” Namjoon asked with a sly smile. “I don’t think so~”
“Really? And how do you know me?” Ivey asked, keeping her tone steady.
Namjoon straightened, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “We were on the same plane, remember?”
Ivey frowned. “Okay... But can you tell me why I’m here?”
Namjoon’s smile faded slightly, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “It’s your fault, miss. You took a wrong turn, so to speak.”
Ivey’s shoulders drooped in frustration. She tried to hide her growing desperation. “Can I go back to my place?”
Namjoon’s gaze flickered briefly to her, his expression a mix of pity and resolve. He didn’t need to say anything; his look said it all.
“Fine,” she muttered, resignation coloring her voice.
Namjoon turned to the men standing by and gestured dismissively. “Take her. Show her to her room for now.”
As they escorted her away, Ivey’s mind churned with questions and a creeping sense of despair. The answers she sought seemed distant, and her hopes of leaving this place seemed to slip further away with each step.
•|DO VOTE IF YOU LIKE, THANKS FOR READING|•
YOU ARE READING
°BACKSTABBERS°
Mystery / Thriller[ONGOING] You've read countless 'rivals to lovers' stories, but what sets this apart is its darkness: there are no rivals, no lovers-only backstabbers. Everyone is a traitor, and trust is the most dangerous illusion of all.
