บท 46: I Come Bearing Gifts

(IVANNA)

Karlen appears on the doorway shortly after I have taken a shower and dressed up. He looks at me warily the minute he sets his eyes on me. "Ivie, I was so worried about you last night. Are you okay?"

He is dressed like a fashion model. Expensive fabrics are draped over his lean frame and his hair imperfectly styled. His features however are softer than those of his dad in a more classical sense. His mother must have been a beautiful woman.

"Barely." I sigh and wave at him. "I was scared shitless."

"I can't believe it. That was sure a bad storm." He shakes his head then closes the door. "My father has an unbelievable temper. He must have been very angry to leave you out alone in the middle of a storm."

I figure that I can level with Karlen. "He asked me to not wear the black bikini at the meeting with Nikolai."

"And you put it on?" he winces. "Ivie, that was definitely asking for trouble."