17.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the horrified look that crossed Rose's face and she was by my side in a flash, tugging at my arm, quite literally begging me with her eyes to not let her be the victim to another one of William Harkleroad's cooking fiascos.

Continued of the last episode ...

~~~

I think she was about to get on her knees to beg me...his cooking skills were that bad.

William on the other hand looked very confused, staring wide-eyed at his distraught sister.

"Fine, fine. I'll cook." I uttered, my shoulders slackening, I was so tired.

"Yay!" Rose jumped up, hugging me so tight. I'm surprised she didn't crush all of my bones into a heap of powder.

"Hey, my cooking skills aren't that bad." William said, looking rather offended.

"Of course not, dear brother. You have the culinary skills of the greatest chef there ever was. The best chef of this era who" Rose exaggerated as William's chest puffed up with pride. "Served the king of the fattest smelliest rats." Rose finished giggling as I burst into hysterics.

William's face turned a deep red. He threw me and Rose a heated glare which effectively shut us both up. But I could see he was only pretending to be angry as his mouth curved up into a little smile.

"Ok guys, I'll get working on dinner."

William nodded at me before strolling off to his bedroom as Rose went back to her comfy bean bag to lay back and continue her reading. And I got to work on dinner.

The steaming dumplings were ready in no time and we all sat down to dinner.

"I swear to god Ivy, you make the best dumplings like ever." Rose practically squealed in delight as she gobbled up the rest of what was left on her plate and was finished in no time.

"Jesus! At the speed with which you ate, someone would think you'd been starved for days." William mocked as his sister glared at him, earning a few chuckles from him.

"Ah.....now I remember, I almost forgot to ask you about the interview." Rose said, slapping her forehead.

"So, how'd it go with Mr. Billionaire ?" She asked as she sipped on a soda.

"Really well actually." I mumbled between servings of hot dumplings.

"I got pretty much everything you needed. He answered every question and I noted down all the answers. My notepad should be in my purse. I think it's in my room." I absentmindedly stated.

"That's great to hear. Thank god you got all the info you need because tomorrow is the last date to get my article published. Thanks. you so much Ivy." Rose squealed in delight, clapping her hands as she sprung up from her seat at the table to get my purse.

William just laughed it off, not really interested.

William's phone suddenly buzzed. He looked at the screen to see who was calling but then he hit ignore as an exasperated look crossed his face.

"Hey, who is it?" I spoke up, making him look up at me as he mindlessly dug at the dumplings on his plates.

"It's nothing. Just some girl I slept with last week." I urged him to continue when he didn't explain further.

Hesitant, he continued, " I told her I didn't date, she said that she was ok with being friends with benefits. And now, a week later she's calling me begging for me to commit to her and get into a real relationship."

William quietly completed, looking down at his food.

"So same old, same old." I commented, trying not to laugh.

It was always the same with him.....a different girl usually every week and it was the same with all of those girls, they wanted a relationship, he didn't.

"I swear to god you're the biggest player in the history of mankind." I deadpanned as he gave me a very strange look.

It looked like he would say something next but was interrupted when we heard Rose rush out of my room, banging the door really hard.

Great, now what happened?

"The notepad isn't in here." Rose said in a worried tone, holding my purse out to me as she dumped its contents on the dining table.

"Where is it? Did you leave it in the car ?" Rose suggested, her eyes flashing with dismay.

"Oh !" I gasped out, suddenly realizing I'd accidentally left it at Mr. Wright's house in my hurry to get out of there and out of his reach.

Shaking my head, I realized I left the little notebook on the kitchen counter where I had drinks with the Billionaire devil.

Rose had clearly read what I was thinking by the look on my face.

"You didn't...." Rose trailed off, a horrified look crossing her face.

"You could just get it back from him." William suggested, shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal.

"Please Ivy. Please get the notes back. Or my article won't be published and then I'll lose the extra credit and....." Rose rambled on, clearly very worried.

"But it's 11. I can't exactly go knocking on his door close to midnight." I said, my tone clearly desperate as I looked at the big grandfather clock which hung right in line of my view. The thought of coming face to face with....him and that also in the middle of the night shook me to my very core.

"Please Ivy. Puh-lease. I'll do anything you want me to. Just please get that little notebook back or there will be nothing for me to publish. And you know how important this article is to me...." Rose was grasping for anything at all that would convince me to go.

She seemed close to tears and I could never see anyone upset.

"Fine, I'll go." I said, my voice small as I caved.

"Thank you so much Ivy." Rose squealed as she rushed to my room and was back with my coat as she handed me my purse.

"I'll drive you." William helpfully said, clearing away his plate as he got up from the table and I did the same. I just gave him a small smile.

Reaching Chase's house, I quickly got out, telling William to wait and that I'd be back in no time.

Trying to get my nerves under control, I strolled over to the big black gates. My emotions were all over the place. The thought of seeing him again made my stomach flip in a very delicious way.