"You really aren't going to do that, are you? You're going to mess up things, Ivan and that is what she wants. Don't you see you're exactly falling into her trap? She might have a recorder on her for all I care," Kevin rushed and whispered to Ivan, who smirked and went on staggering towards Vera.
"You're such a sweetheart. I didn't know you would leave alcohol and come see me. That really must be love!" Vera happily said as she smiled broadly, and Ivan just looked at her. He then turned to look at that partying, and not wanting to air dirty linen in public anymore, he held Vera's hand and hissed, "come with me."
Without hesitation, Vera happily walked with him out of the house.
Both were not aware that Joel and Kevin had secretly followed them from a distance and were eavesdropping.
"Why are you trying to spoil my name, Vera? We both know that isn't my baby, and I have really tried so much to be civil with you, but you don't understand that language," Ivan said in a low and polite voice that hid the irritation he was feeling about the topic.
"You're the father, Ivan. I wasn't intimate with anyone for at least two months before our hookup. I told you that," Vera reiterated in anger, and Ivan smiled and said, "Everyone says that."
"But I meant it. I also haven't been with anyone else since I met you. Don't talk about the protection because you also know they aren't 100 percent effective," Vera said in a harsh voice, and Ivan nodded his head in understanding.
"I said it on TV, and I'm here telling you again, we will have to do a paternity test. I will cover the cost. If the baby is mine, I will take responsibility. If it's not, you will regret ever getting to cross paths with me," Ivan warned in a sharp voice that sent shivers down Vera's voice.
She cleared her voice and tried to regain composure as she said, "Has it gotten to threats now? This will really become a good story for the tabloids."
She then broke into a burst of soft laughter, and Ivan remembered Kevin warning him of the possibility that Vera had a recorder on her, and he knew if that was the case, things didn't look good, but he didn't want to let Vera know she had the upper hand.
"You can call it whatever you want. I just don't give a damn anymore!" Ivan shouted as he turned back to walk into the house, but Vera's next words hit him to the core, and he stood glued on the spot.
"You threatened me, forgetting that I really don't have much to lose anymore, but you do. Don't forget that. I'm not the only one who wants your entire family to go down. Ask your father about Stacy Lund."
'Stacy Lund! Who the hell is that?' Ivan tried to remember where he had heard the name and to save him from the agony. Vera helped him out.
"The f*ck!" Ivan cursed. He knew the lady and how controversial she was, but why was Vera bringing his father into this?
How did Noah personally know Stacy, and why did Stacy want to bring down the Jacksons? Were Stacy and Vera working together?
Is that why Stacy aired Vera's story? Nothing made sense, and the more Ivan thought about it, the more confused he became.
He watched in disbelief at Vera's receding figure and turned back to find Joel standing so close to him they could almost feel each other's breath.
"Hey buddy," Joel greeted, and Ivan swallowed saliva hard as he returned the greeting.
How long had Joel been so close?
Had he been eavesdropping on his and Vera's conversation?
"I was hoping to talk to you for a while," Joel said.
Ivan nodded as he angrily asked, "About what exactly? Are you going to talk about you trying to take the position of captain, or is there something new?"
Joel scratched his head and looked at the ground as he said, "There is."
There was silence between the two for a while, with each waiting for the other to say something. But what was Ivan to say?
"I have been your friend for so long. You have given me the status I have in this school right now, and honestly, that is all I ever wanted sometime back. But after you stood up for Steph and not me that day, I realized something."
Ivan resisted the urge to laugh. He had almost forgotten Joel had been so annoyed at his act.
"I should be fearless, and that is why I'm telling you this. I know it's out of the blue, and it will sound strange, but…." Joel said and stopped talking as he deeply inhaled and exhaled severally.