Page 86 of Saving Ian Pope

“She believes the record company is footing the bill. I didn’t think she’d agree if she knew the money was coming directly from you.”

“How fucking...noble.” I grabbed the back of my neck and took a turn around the room. “One more question, Jack before I fire you.”

Jack’s blue eyes bulged from his sockets. “Wh-what?”

“Who the fuck is Matt Russo? He’s on the Chase Arts invoice, like he’s a fucking CEO or something. Maybe he’s Ivy’s lover, and I’ve been cucked twice over.”

“Matt Russo.” Jack’s face scrunched up. “Can’t be her boyfriend.”

The throbbing in my head had receded to a dull ache. “How can you be so sure?”

“Must be a relation or something.”

“A relation?”

“Yeah, ‘cuz that’shername.”

My head finally exploded. “What the fuck are you talking about? Whose name?”

“Ivy’s. Her real name is Maddie Russo.”

Chapter 28

IVY

As soon as I could, I took my phone off airplane mode and tapped my text messages. My bottom lip jutted out. Ian hadn’t responded to my last I love you and my silly emojis. I missed him already.

I sent him another text to let him know I’d landed at LAX and watched my phone anxiously for a reply while I grabbed my carry-on. Nothing. Itwasone o’clock in the morning there, but I guess I expected him to be waiting for me to land. Thought he’d be tracking my flight on his phone. He’d probably fallen asleep. He’d been so busy the past week, taking charge of the lead single’s release and promo. Couldn’t be prouder of him.

It didn’t take me long to get off the plane and through customs. I’d taken just a carry-on. I didn’t have big plans here in LA—just a burglary. I’d already texted Chloe from the plane, and I headed out front to wait for her.

On the curb, I zipped up my jacket. I’d finally relented and picked out one of the gorgeous coats Sarah had chosen for me, but I didn’t need it here. I wouldn’t call it a particularly warm evening by LA standards, but it felt like a sauna compared to the UK.

I pulled my phone from my purse and scrolled through my messages. Still, nothing from Ian. I probably wouldn’t hear from him until tomorrow morning, his time. I’d stay up late tonight if I could, to catch his text, and then I’d call him. I needed to hear his voice. Even though he didn’t know what I was really doing here, talking to him would give me confidence to deal with Matt.

Chloe and I hadn’t formulated our plan yet, but at least we knew where Matt was hiding the flash drive, and I believed the dumbass when he said he had no copies of it—not that he expected anyone else to be interested in it, and I’d never fought back against my father or my brother before. Until now. I had something to fight for now.

Thirty minutes later, Chloe pulled up in her BMW and popped the trunk. I tossed my carry-on inside and climbed into the passenger seat. Chloe gave me a one-armed hug as she immediately maneuvered away from the curb. The faster you got out of LAX, the better.

“You look great, babe. England agrees with you, or maybe it’s just love.” Chloe put her hand beneath her chin and batted her eyelashes.

“It’s everything. You know, his house is near John Milton’s cottage, and we went to Oxford one day so I could visit the college I attended for that summer program. We went to Stonehenge, of course, and spent a few days in Bath and went to that fabulous costume museum there. We even went to Stratford and saw ‘As You Like It.’ It was so funny.” I glanced at my phone cupped in my hand for the tenth time since getting into the car.

Chloe whistled. “Are you trying to seduce the man or bore him to tears?”

“I don’t have to try to seduce him. He’s thoroughly seduced. The sex is...” I fanned myself with my hand “...muy caliente.”

“So, he feigns interest in your tedious pursuits to get into your pants. Okay.”

I stuck my tongue out at Chloe. “He doesn’t pretend. He enjoys all my little excursions...well, most of them. He does have an irrational hatred of Milton, though. I think he was forced to read ‘Paradise Lost’ in school.”

“Hatred of Milton isnotirrational. Not to change the subject from the love of your life, but did we nail it getting to Matt’s hiding place, or what?” She held out her fist for a bump, and I complied.

“Nailed it. Now we just need to figure out how to get our hands on it.”

“Planning sesh right now, if you’re not too tired.”

My gaze strayed to the phone in my lap. “I’m more wired than tired.”

---