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istorkyou · 2 years

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The Arrangement (Modern!Ivar AU)

A Modern!Ivar x F Reader

Warnings - Language.

Synopsis - Forced to work together, will you both get out alive and unscathed?

A big old sloppy kiss to @punkrocknpearls for the amazing beta, the delicious moodboard and the brilliant, thoughtful playlist (which I will post later). Dialogue tag? Never heard of it!

Tag List -(Let me know if you want on or off) @smears-and-spots @punkrocknpearls @youbloodymadgenius @momowhoo @zuxiezendler @not-another-viking-fanfic-blog @ivar-s-my-brat-tamer @pieces-by-me @heavenly1927 @berryonasummerevening @synnersaint @out-of-the-box-and-into-alchemy @petite-hime @serasvictoria @mimiiinspace @itsmysticalmystery @lonewolf471 @mylifeisactuallyamess

CHAPTER 1

Your eyes are trained on the clock on your office wall. Three minutes late already. The voice on the end of the phone is mid-flow and you know better than to interrupt the man. He likes the sound of his own voice and is determined to make the company pay for the behaviour of the VP of Business Operations. You still can’t believe it’s gotten to this point, but you’re thinking frantically on your feet as you listen, knowing you need to try and steer him away from taking this down a legal route.

Ragnar was emphatic in his email about the meeting you are late for. All to attend, no exceptions. Be prompt.

You grab your phone and shoot a message to him explaining that you are still on a call regarding the Mr Fymes situation and you will be there as soon as possible. He responds instantly.

We are at a critical point, I understand. Stay on call as long as needed, do not rush him. He will not like that. We will wait for you.

The relief is instant. The last thing you need is to be admonished by Ragnar; you hate disappointing your boss, he has given you so much. He’d taken chance after chance on you, promoting you multiple times despite your inexperience.

You’d impressed him during an all staff conference many years ago, by challenging one of his personnel decisions. You were ballsy, and just young and stupid enough to tell him straight out, in front of the whole company, why you thought his decision was short sighted; you even had the gall to go on and explain how you would have tackled the issue differently. You remember the glint in his eye and the amused look on his face as you spoke, the dead silence in the room and how all eyes were on you when you were finished speaking.

Ragnar has just stared at you, asked you your name and told you to go to his office after the conference. You remember the fear settling low in your stomach as the certainty of dismissal loomed over you.

In actuality, the exact opposite happened.

In his office, Ragnar sat you down and explained his decision fully to you, how it affected other areas of the business you hadn’t even considered and how he planned to rectify the loss of personnel in the future. You pushed back on a few points when you had realised that you had impressed the boss of the company, not pissed him off.

“You are very tenacious, and I am not yet sure if you are brave or stupid.” His bright blue eyes considered you closely, his fingers waving in the air.

“I am definitely not stupid, Mr Lothbrok,” you offered, holding his eye contact.

“No, I do not think you are,” he said slowly, “but I think your skills are wasted in your current role. You have a natural way with people, I have spoken to your line manager and she says you are very good with customers, she gives you all the problematic ones as she says you have a way with words. You will be moved into HR. I could use your skills. I think you have a bright future with me, Y/N.”

And that was that: you’d moved roles and never looked back. You made it to VP of HR in record time, earning yourself a seat at his table. You were the only person in the company at this level that was not one of Ragnar's sons. He kept his circle incredibly tight, he demanded loyalty and got that automatically from his sons, and you had proven yourself to be just as loyal over the years.

“Mr Fymes. Please be assured that Mr Lothbrok, Ragnar, has taken your allegations incredibly seriously. I am in the middle of carrying out a full investigation into the incident and need you to understand that I am able to be impartial during my inquiries. Off the record David, may I call you David?” He grunts in agreement.

“Off the record, David, we all know that the younger Mr Lothbrok can be the most difficult of people to be around, let alone work with, I’m sure you would agree?” You wait in silence, you aren’t scared of an uncomfortable silence and have found that this method often makes the other party babble to try and fill it. It’s a subtle way to draw out information that might not be offered up in another situation.

“I would absolutely agree. He is a horrible man, a tyrant. I don’t want to return to the office whilst he is still working there. You are all lucky I didn’t go to the police!”

You stay silent and he can’t help but fill it.

“It was only my wife who wouldn’t let me. Too close to retirement, she said. Didn’t want me to have to start again in another company, worried that he would scupper any chances of a new job anyway. She wants to move to our holiday home, you see? Although I am still very much considering the police, there were witnesses you know? Lots of them.”

And there it is, the information that gives you leverage. This is the out you needed.

“Mr Fymes, David. I am going to be very honest with you now. The reason I am on the call with you today is to try and sway you away from taking this to a tribunal or the police. I’m sure that isn’t what I should be telling you, David. It’s unprofessional but I think you might have come to expect that after having Mr Lothbrok as a boss for a few years.” You are using your soothing voice, a calm cadence which comes naturally to you and you’ve found it works wonders on angry people.

You hear a huff at the end of the phone, but a faint chuckle with it. You’ve got him. You know he will take your offer and it will avoid the company's name being dragged through the mud.

“I am able to offer you a severance package, if you would be interested? You’ve said already that you don’t want to return to work here, David. It’s an incredibly generous offer, I have made sure of that, and I have added some personal requests for you, such as a written and a verbal apology from Mr Lothbrok, over the phone or Skype if you don't wish to be in his presence, which I would completely understand, David. I have also added that you will be paid your salary and a half for the next five years, before taking your pension at the normal age, no early payout reducing the overall amount. We will also take care of the tax implications. I am sure your wife would appreciate being able to move to your holiday home earlier than expected.” You are silent again.

He starts mumbling, trying to find words to say. It is an incredibly generous offer, but it’s a lot less than if he sued the company; you’re absolutely certain he would win. But your sources say he hasn’t taken any legal advice yet, so your job now is to get him to sign the severance package as soon as possible.

“Well, that does sound fair for what he put me through. So I would still get paid and not have to work? No effect on my pension?”

“None at all, David.” He’s eating out the palm of your hand now. You fight to keep your breathing calm. It’s always a massive adrenaline rush when these things go your way.

“Fine. I will take a written apology and a video apology. I don’t ever want to speak to him ever again.”

“Thank you, David. I think it’s the best outcome for you. I will come by after 4pm today for you to sign the contracts. Obviously there is the standard NDA in the contract, but I am sure that was expected. Thank you for being so understanding and patient, David. You have made this awful situation much easier to deal with.”

You hang up and roll your eyes. Of course,the poor guy deserved the package, but you wish this wasn’t the shit you were so good at. It’s not actually in your job remit but Ragnar knew you would get it done. And you did. He’s actually authorised you to go as high as three times his yearly salary for five years, but you decided to hold back in case he has a chance to reconsider and you can up the offer when you are at his house later. Gathering your papers, you stand and head for the door.

--------------------------------------

You look at the clock: 27 minutes past three. You despise being late, but the outcome should go a way to make up for it.

You hurry to the boardroom, push the large, shiny wooden doors open and step inside to rounds of applause from your colleagues.

“About time, Y/N,” Ubbe announces, laughing.

“Thanks for finally joining us, lunch run over?” Hvitserk jokes, checking his watch.

You give them both the middle finger. They never tire of busting your balls, in or out of work. They are two of your best friends. Bjorn sits in another chair looking wholly disinterested in everything but still, he throws you a quick smile. There’s a history between you two, nothing serious or important to get in the way of your working relationship.

You look at Ragnar whose eyebrows are raised as if asking you how it went. You nod at him and he claps his hands together twice, stands up quickly, nodding and smiling at you.

“She obviously thinks her time is more important than the rest of ours,” says the sour voice from your right. The youngest Lothbrok is staring at you, twirling a pen in his fingers.

Ivar. God, you hate Ivar. An absolute giant pain in the ass, he and you have never gotten along. He’s never trusted you and you despise his character. The others went to college and worked their way up. Ivar’s enormous ego allowed him the self belief that he was too good for college, it was beneath him and he knew more than any of the professors already. The very frustrating thing was, he was probably right. He has the sharpest mind you’ve ever met and was incredible at strategy and predicting business trends, which has helped the company grow to its current success. But he was a vile person, with a temper so short he made Gordon Ramsey look like Mother Theresa, and a violent streak that he barely made any effort to contain. Hence your phone call this morning. You sometimes thought you spent more time cleaning up his messes than doing your own work.

It was no secret that you hated each other.

“Definitely more important than yours, Ivar,” you reply curtly “How was golf this morning?” You had called his secretary to discuss Mr Fymes and she’d thrown him under the bus. He must have done something to piss her off. Ubbe and Hvitserk try to suppress laughs.

Ivar’s gaze darts to his father, who just rolls his eyes at his youngest son. Ivar looks back at you with a menacing smile. He’s about to open his mouth but you get in first.

“I would very much hold that tongue of yours, Ivar,” you tell him bluntly, eyes unwaveringly cold. “I just got you out of a potential lawsuit and an horrendous situation for the company.”

He looks at you blankly.

“David Fymes?” you offer, not bothering to hide the hint of exasperation in your tone.

“Oh. He was incompetent.” Ivar at least has the good grace to look a little ashamed before he resumes his usual aloof manner.

“You threw your computer at him, Ivar. He has a scar on his forehead.” You tap your head to emphasise your words.

My god, the arrogance of this man.

Ivar shrugs. “Yeah, not my finest moment.”

“No it certainly was not.” Ragnar leans forward, both of his hands on the polished oak of the huge table you are all sitting around. “Luckily, that silver tongue of our VP of HR managed to save our asses once again, putting out another fire. You’d do well to remember that, Ivar.” He wags a finger in Ivar’s direction before turning to the rest of you.

“So,” he begins, changing the subject, “the reason you have all been summoned by me today is to let you know the new office will be opening shortly. All the necessary permissions have finally been signed, thank you for giving that a helping hand, Bjorn.” Bjorn gives his father a casual salute. You wonder idly to yourself what Bjorn did, then decide that you are actually glad you don’t know.

“So I have decided that we will need a permanent presence there until the build is complete and operations are running smoothly,” Ragnar continues. “I have decided that Ivar will be that person.”

Ragnar sits back into his chair slowly, waiting for the fallout.

You look at Ivar, waiting for the explosion. It doesn’t come. He just rocks back and forth in his chair, elbows on the arm rests, fingers together in front of his face. You watch as he runs his tongue over his teeth.

“You have no family responsibilities, Ivar.” Ragnar pulls a file from the pile in the centre of the table and hands one to Ivar. “You are the obvious choice. I hear there has been a breakdown in your relationship with the blonde. I thought you might see it as an opportunity to get away for a bit.”

All eyes turn to Ivar; this is the first you’ve heard about it and clearly the rest of the Lothbrok brothers are in the same situation. Not that any of you would have a problem with it: Freydis was insufferable.

“Floki has a big mouth,” is all Ivar says. His eyes dart to yours and you look away quickly.

“I’m not the only one with no responsibilities, Father,” Ivar pipes up suddenly. “Y/N doesn’t either, unless she has started up with Bjorn again?” His smirk is infuriating. You keep your face expressionless.

“I am married now, Ivar. Don’t be a prick,” Bjorn sighs impatiently.

Ivar keeps his eyes on you, even when addressing Bjorn. “Like that has ever stopped you in the past.”

“It would certainly stop me though,” you spit, disgusted at his insinuation.

Your eyes are still on each other. You refuse to be embarrassed about your fling with Bjorn, and absolutely refuse to let this asshole know that him bringing it up in front of everyone has gotten to you.

“Children. Children.” Ragnar's playful voice cuts through the tension. You look at him and his face is full of mischief. When his eyes meet you there is an unmistakable look of amusement in them.

This better not mean what you think it means.

His eyes widen for a fraction of a second and that is confirmation enough.

“No.” You shake your head slowly.

“Yes, little one.” His blue eyes sparkling

“No, father,” Ivar says through clenched teeth.

“Ragnar…” Your voice is low and there is a distinct warning in your tone.

“The hot head and the fire fighter.” Ragnar is looking between you both, smiling wistfully.

Ubbe, Bjorn and Hvitserk are looking at you, bewildered; it’s taking them much longer to cotton on than it took you and Ivar.

“I cannot work with him, Ragnar,” you announce firmly. “He’s insufferable, lazy, he will oppose my every decision for the sake of it! I don’t want to move away for six months either.”

“Oh? And what have you got to stay here for? However, she is correct, Father, I will do things to deliberately piss her off.” Ivar smirks.

You both continue throwing insults at each other so you don’t notice that the other four people in the room are all up to speed now.

“Father, they will kill each other.” Hvitserk whispers loudly.

Ragnar gives his three sons a wink as they all settle back to watch the argument breaking out between you and Ivar.

“Either that or they will finally fuck and we can all get some respite from their feud,” Ragnar says cheekily. “I wish we had some popcorn.”

------------------------------------------

There is no changing Ragnar's mind. It’s an opportunity you would have normally flung yourself at an amazing challenge, an experience which you would never have another chance to gain. You would have fought for the chance to add another string to your professional bow. But there were two things making this difficult for you.

The first being Ivar.

You have no idea how the pair of you are going to keep from murdering each other whilst you are there. Six months? There is no way both of you are going to make it out unscathed.

You begged Ragnar to just let it be you, but he is insistent that Ivar has the skills for certain areas that you lack, and vice versa. You know he is right but this is going to be the hardest task you've ever undertaken.

For all your reputation of having a silver tongue, for all your skills in swinging anyone round to your way of thinking, sadly Ivar has never been one of them. He is immune to it. However, his reputation of being hard to handle and scary has never bothered you; you will happily call him on his bullshit.

In short, you are oil and water. And everyone knows oil and water don’t mix.

The second reason you don’t want to move away for six months is that you have just started seeing someone. It’s new and fresh and super exciting. You haven't liked anyone like this for a long while. But work is your priority at the moment, so you break the news over dinner at your favourite spot.

“Six months?? What? When did you find out? It’s so far away.” Ash looks heartbroken, and your stomach sinks immediately.

“I’m so sorry, Ash.” you genuinely, “I had no idea, it was sprung on me a few days ago. I’ve been trying to find a good time to tell you and this is the first time I’ve seen you face to face.”

“So what does that mean for us?” Ash asks with a shaky voice, reaching out to take your hand across the table.

“It means I will be gone the full six months,” you say. “it’s a massive undertaking and I can’t see myself having much free time at all. It’s not a short flight either. I suppose what I’m saying is we should probably call it quits for now. Maybe see where we are when I get back?”

“Hello there, Y/N,” Ivar is suddenly next to your table. You have been so lost in Ash’s eyes you hadn’t noticed him at all.

Fuck, what have I done that’s so bad that karma would let this asshole interrupt this moment? You curse inwardly.

“Ivar,” you say, as you let Ash’s hand go. Ivar watches your hands pull away and looks to Ash.

“And who do we have here? You haven’t mentioned you are seeing anyone, Y/N. Especially someone as beautiful as this.” His predatory eyes run all over Ash’s face and down to her chest. Anger rises in you.

“Ivar, this is Ash. Ash, this is Ivar. We work together. Ivar please leave us alone, we are in the middle of something.” You stare pointedly at him, silently pleading for him to go away. He looks back to Ash who has tears along her waterline at the words you have said to her.

You watch it register on Ivar’s face as he realises what is happening here, that you are in the middle of something serious. You are expecting for him to revel in the awkwardness, even pull up a chair and ask you to continue, but he doesn’t. He looks in your eyes and nods quickly.

“I am sorry for the interruption, ladies,” he mutters curtly, straightening. “Please enjoy the rest of your evening.” And with that, he turns to walk to his table.

You continue where you left off the conversation. Ash wants to stay together, saying she can fly out and see you but you know what you are like. You know you will be hyper-focussed on work and will not make her a priority, and you are adamant that she deserves to be someone’s priority. You also know you won’t last six months without sex; you can barely last six days, and you will never be a cheater.

It ends amicably, with the promise that you will be in touch as soon as you get back home. You really do like her.

-------------------------------

Ivar doesn’t mention seeing you with Ash again, not until you have both boarded Ragnar's private jet that will ferry you to your new City.

“Has Ragnar gone over the living arrangements with you?” Ivar asks as he thumbs through a dossier.

“Yes, hotel for a week then we move into an apartment complex once the decorating is finished.” You don’t look up from the spreadsheet you are working on.

You can feel his eyes on you; you glance at him and his eyes are narrowed as he takes you in.

“I didn’t know you are bisexual,” he says out of the blue.

“Why would you?” You still don’t look up from your spreadsheet.

“Is it a secret?” he enquires.

You stop what you are doing and close your laptop, giving him your full attention. He has never asked you one single question about your personal life in the decade you have known him. Trust this to pique his interest.

“No, it’s not a secret.” You offer him no more information than he has asked for.

“Do my brothers know? My father?” His face is expressionless; he can be so hard to read, much like yourself.

You breathe in deeply through your nose and survey his face. It’s not often you get to just look at his face. Objectively, it’s a beautiful face, perfectly proportioned, smooth skin except for a scar on his right cheek that runs over his lips, neat hair, always shaved and the sides pulled into a bun.

Shame about his personality.

“Hvitserk and Ubbe know, of course,” you tell him with another sigh. “Bjorn? I don’t know. I never told him because it never came up, and I don’t think Ragnar is concerned in the slightest with who I fuck.” You are blunt and hope this is the last of the exchange.

“Oh he was when it was Bjorn,” Ivar scoffs, raising his eyebrows twice.

You frown before you can stop it, because you would prefer to poker face the conversation. Why would that bother Ragnar? you wonder. You want to act disinterested but you need to know.

“Ragnar was upset by it?” you ask him, desperately trying to sound detached.

Ivar is studying your expression intently; with a little tilt of his head he chuckles.

“Quite the opposite,” is all he offers. Playing your game: making you ask for more, not offering.

“What do you mean?” you ask, taking the bait, sighing audibly so he is aware of your irritation at him.

“He was ecstatic at the thought of you being a Lothbrok,” Ivar says smugly. “The way he exploded when he found out Bjorn had slept with someone else.” He lets out a whistle then laughs as if he still can’t believe what happened. “We all thought father was going to kill him. He was so apoplectic it took all of us to hold him back.”

Your brow creases together in confusion and Ivar doesn’t miss it.

“He is very fond of you,” Ivar explains and gives you what you think could be a genuine smile, but as you’ve never seen his features pull into anything genuine you can’t be certain.

You feel a little blush on your cheek and you look out of the window to have a break from Ivar’s gaze. This is probably the most civilised conversation you have ever had with him.

“It would have ended with Bjorn eventually,” you explain. “It would never have gotten serious. His wandering dick just sped up the process. I need someone more…” You are searching for the word.

“Feminine?” Ivar smirks.

You smile. “Not necessarily. Someone more challenging. Someone with a bit more upstairs.” You tap the side of your head.

Ivar laughs loudly at your gesture and you laugh along with him. It feels…odd.

“So, did you break up with Ash?” he asks carefully. “She is very beautiful.”

“Yes, it’s six months, Ivar,” you reply with a shrug of your shoulders. “I’m not planning on going back often, if at all, so it was unfair to keep her hanging. You’re right, she is very beautiful. Perfect body.” You glance at him.

“Can I have her number?” You can see he’s only half-joking.

“Unfortunately for you, Ivar, she isn’t interested in what you have to offer her at all.” Your eyes flit to his crotch.

“Ah, I see. That is unfortunate for me.” He chuckles and goes back to his work, and you do the same.

CHAPTER 2

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