Chapter 232 - Ripped

Joshua was momentarily stunned seeing Ivy's room. It was filled with markings on the glass wall, there were paper clippings attached to a movable board. Lines were connecting the paper clippings and it looked very mysterious. It was just like a maze which seemed exciting at first but later on one would realize there was no end to it, nor could they find the beginning to it after getting too involved.

Everything was fascinating to him. On a closer look, Joshua realized that everything was related to the organ trafficking case which she had been trying to solve since long. "Ivy, you pack your clothes and other necessities. I'll take these down. These being up here in the open is just too dangerous."​​

"What? Why?" Ivy g_r_o_a_n_e_d. It was all the research she had done to get her father back. She could not allow her hard work to go down the drain.

"Ivy, what if that man has plans to break into your house? You never know. It is better to be safe than sorry."

"You are right. Take them down but they are coming with me." Ivy said firmly and Joshua nodded. He had the same thought in mind. He would not allow Tim to get even a small hint as to what Ivy was up to. Either all these clippings would be going with him or they would end up being burnt. Never will he allow Tim to get his hands on them.

"Sure." Without delay, he started taking all of them. It was easy for him as the paper clips were pinned on a pinboard. In just twenty minutes, he had removed all of them. The once filled huge pinboard was empty now. He then picked up the duster and wiped the glass board clean. Now everything was wiped out. The traces of all her findings were gone. He had wiped it clean completely. 

Next, he went to help Ivy to pack her clothes. She had picked up some of her clothes as she could not pack all of them. If needed, she could come and pick them up again. She was packing her lingerie when Joshua came to see if she was done. "Are you done?" He asked.

Ivy had not noticed him approach her from behind. Moreover, he was right behind her and he could clearly see the lingerie set in her hands. It was a black silk lingerie with a transparent gown that would only reach till her mid-t_h_i_g_hs or even less. Seeing the s_e_xy nightgown, Joshua gulped unknowingly and he immediately imagined her in it He could not deny that even in just his imagination she looked tantalizing. She was just like a siren in this s_e_xy gown. Unknowingly, his mind wanted to see her in just that. 

Ivy turned to face him but he was closer than she had expected and she ended up slipping on her foot in shock when she tried to step back. Seeing her fall, Joshua tried to help her but his hand unknowingly went to the front part of her blouse instead of her waist. A ripping sound was heard in the silent room stunning both of them.

Ivy's eyes widened in disbelief. That day she had chosen to wear a shirt with buttons in the front. While he was trying to save her from falling, Joshua had ripped it open. The nightgown she was previously holding had slipped down from her hand and was lying like a puddle at her feet. All that there was at that moment was the shock and embarrassment.

Joshua too was not sure why he had pulled her by her shirt instead of her waist or her hands. Now she stood with her shirt buttons open until her c_h_e_s_t and he could clearly see the nude-colored bra she was wearing. Though it was not as s_e_xy as the nightgown, it still made him lose control. It made her look innocent and he just wanted to tear her shirt completely. 

Joshua had been with a lot of women before. He had seen them n_a_k_e_d and also in those beautiful and sultry looking lingeries. But never had he felt anyone this seductive. Though she was not n_a_k_e_d, it only added to her charm. Seeing his heated gaze on her, Ivy immediately covered herself with her shirt, obstructing his view on her c_h_e_s_t. 

He cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped back giving her space. "I am sorry. I..I.." He did not know how to save the situation and erase the awkwardness between them. "I'll be outside. Call me when you are done."

Joshua walked away without another word. He did not forget to close the door before him. Though he was not beside her, his mind was still reeling the scene that he had just seen. Her innocent eyes when her shirt was ripped open flashed through his mind. Unknown to him, a burning d_e_s_i_r_e erupted in his heart for her. His feelings were all over the place and he was losing his self-control. 'What is wrong with me? I need to calm down. Breathe in, breathe out.' He took deep breaths and went to the kitchen to get some water. 

Meanwhile, Ivy was still in a state of shock. She was unable to comprehend what had just transpired in the room. 'Did her shirt just got ripped?' She looked down and saw that the first four buttons of her shirt had come undone and one of the lapels had been torn which explained the ripping sound.

Ivy's shock turned into anger, not on Joshua but on the company that had produced such low-quality shirts. She had never been this embarrassed and helpless before. 

Time passed and Ivy was yet to come out of the room. Joshua waited for some time when he noticed that the woman would not be leaving her den anytime soon. The atmosphere between them had gotten weird. He could sense it but they had to leave. They could not delay any further. He sauntered towards her and saw it to be closed. He knocked at the door. "Ivy, are you done? We are getting late."

Ivy had already changed into a sweatshirt that was thick and would not rip open in dangerous situations. However, she was reluctant to face the guy who was just outside her room. Realizing that she could not stay cooped up in her room forever, she made up her mind. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and came face to face with the gorgeous man.

Joshua too looked at her and this time he made sure not to wander his eyes anywhere else. They were fixed on her face. "Shall we leave?"

"Yes. I am done." Ivy pulled her bag behind her. She had packed very few clothes. But since she was going to bring all her research materials with her, there were three boxes behind her.

When Joshua was busy taking down the paper clippings, she had gone through Aria's room to see if she had anything that would give away what they were up to. To her relief, there was none. She then noticed Aria's laptop on the table and picked it up. She did not know if there was anything in it. So, she did not want to take risks.

"Are these the things?"

"Just a minute." Ivy ran to the kitchen and packed all the vegetables in the refrigerator. Now that she would not be here, she did not want them to rot. She could as well bring them with her.

Joshua noticed her carry a paper bag and he could easily guess what was in it. "Ivy, why are you bringing those vegetables with you. I am not going to let you starve. You can trust me on that."

"I did not want these vegetables to rot. I bought them with my own money. We could use them in your house." Ivy said firmly giving him no room for denial.

"Fine. As you say. Wait a second." Joshua stepped out of her house and returned after a few minutes. But this time, there was someone following him. He looked to be Japanese or Chinese.

"Joshua, who is this?" She asked observing him carefully.

"This is my bodyguard, Kaito."