In the office, Ivy was patiently waiting for Leila, sitting on her father chair while fixed on her phone. Sitting the grand chair she always wished to brought her encouragement in her battle. No one was going to take it away from her.
The grand office was luxurious. Having the warm aura of Karl all over the place. From the display of his wife and daughter pictures on his bureau to the choice of colors. Toned mostly of brown, it made one relax when inside. Two sofa, positioned across each other with a low level glass table in between them were taking the center of the room. His bureau in front of it.
"Come in," she said hearing the soft knocks at the door. Eyes still on her phone, she didn't spare a glance to the person coming in knowing it was Leila.
Leila stepped in, and was greeted by the view of Ivy in the chair she knew the latter had always been coveting. In the past, these two enemies used to be friends.
"Keep dreaming on that. It would never be yours," she thought for herself as she walked to Ivy, files needed in hands.
"You said something?" Ivy asked, getting her eyes off her phone. She let it rest on the bureau, making herself more comfortable in the chair.
"Nothing," she answered placing the file on the table.
"I'm sure I heard you said I would never be at the head of this company," Ivy said, her serious face. She was amazed by the audacity she got to tell her that.
Yeah, she spoke out loud. Realizing her error, Leila didn't panic. She had cards she was yet to play. Soon, she would have the upper hand. She kept her calm and confidence unlike earlier were she was been watched by an outsider.
"Let's be realistic. No one wants you here. Why don't you focus on your small company and let adult deal with the rest?" she spoke her mind.
Ivy lips lifted up, astonished by her sudden confidence. She really found the courage to speak back and be against her.
"No one or my family members?" no sane person could be able to deny her capabilities. Not even Leila. Ivy knew her worth and none of their opinions could make her confidence waiver for a second.
"It doesn't matter. At the end of the day, this-," she gestured to the office, "-would never be yours,"
Ivy left out a dry laugh, "What a sharp tongue we have here. Seems I have to remind you whom you are talking to," she said. A mischievous smile signed her face.
"Go on." She started, " I would make myself a pleasure to tell mister Black how you tried to kill his fiancée,"
"Still in love with him Ivy?" she questioned curious. She genuinely wanted to know if her obsession for the man faded away.
Ivy smile felt, to the delight of Leila. Her words caused Ivy soul to leave. How did she found out about it? No one except her and her men were supposed to know what happened that day.
She stared at Leila with disbelief, wondering how she got her information and most importantly, what she was going to do now. On no circumstances, what she did could reach Liam's ears.
"Or Mister Anderson, about how you torture his future wife," she added.
Panic grew in Ivy eyes, "How do-"
"How do I know? You know the saying keep your friends close and your enemy closer? I did just that," since the day Ivy burned her, she vow to take her revenge.
She didn't weight the resources to keep Ivy in track and have things against her. All she waited was the opportunity to use it.
Ivy paled up, fear grew in her heart. Having those reveal was signing the destruction of their friendship. She knew them well, they may never be able to forgive her . Maybe Andy? There weren't together when she did what she did to Bella. He may understand her. Who was she kidding? They won't .
"To destroy you is simple. Severe your relationship with those guys. Those you love the most," she knew Ivy well. Nothing would hurt her as much. Having them hate her was the worst kind of punishment.
"Do it and I promise no one of your family would see next year," Ivy mischievous smile was back. There were no way she was letting it reach their ears.
"The moment those words leave your lips, you sealed your whole family fate. You know what I'm capable of. Don't tempt me," she warned.
What she was capable of? Leila knew, and she trembled in fear imagining it. Was her desire for revenge, to see Ivy world crumbled beneath her feet worth the annihilation of her whole family, absolutely not. With that in mind, she knew what to do.
Thinking about her behaviour, Ivy was filled with shame. Her dad would be so disappointed if he found out his princess wasn't as innocent as he thought.
Seeing Leila taking the right decision, her body relaxed, "Now, let's get to work. How have the company been doing?" Ivy said at peace, taking the file she placed earlier on the table.
She went through while Leila were giving her the update. Time passed but still no sign of her father. It was later she received a text from him, saying he was on his way.
"Dad is on his way," she started closing the documents in front of her.
"Before he arrives, I have something I will like to ask you," she said piling up the documents on the table.
"Did anyone had the silly idea to get after my father?"
Leila frowned. It wasn't what she expected. She wondered if she say yes, would the person receive the same treatment as her or even worse?
Leila hesitated in fear of the repercussions of her words. Of course there were girls after him, making move. How could they leave the change to be pampered all through their life, even if it implied being the mistress? Leila knew them all, all their names but how could she let another person go through what she went.
Ivy saw her hesitancy. She knew there must be women trying to, and it was a fact. She was just trying to Judge Leila character.
"No Miss Stone, no one I can remember of," she may not love them but she wished to no one to be Ivy enemy.
"Okay," came Ivy short reply.
She got what she wanted and was pleased. Leila could have called them out to make them feel what she went through.
'why should I defend them when I was punish for the same act' was what she could have thought while taking her decision but she didn't. She decided to defend them and that spoke much of her.
"You may leave," Ivy added. Leila bowed and left.
Not even a minute after, her father entered, a man following behind him. Ivy recognized him at first glance, she raised her eyebrows,
'What's the meaning of this,' she asked herself.
"Sorry princess. Couldn't come earlier," he said kissing her forehead.
"No problem, I had Leila for company. And stop calling me princess in front of people. I'm a CEO now," she protested getting up from her father's seat.
Karl chuckled at her attics before taking back a serious face. Remembering they had someone else with them.
"It is the person I wanted you to meet." He said gesturing to the elderly man standing by his bureau.
"Mr. Brown," he introduced.
Ivy shook his hand, already knowing whom he was. She gave a thankful look to her father before focusing on the man. Her father was too good for her.
Harry Brown, one of the big name in the fashion industry in the country. Becoming a partner with him would a big opportunity for her company to grow in the country. Create a name for herself. Her parents were drawing the path for her. Though she appreciated it, she took the firm decision to talk to her father.
She appreciated his help but she wanted to do it on her own. It was her name she was trying to forge and wanted no one name attached to it.
After an hour of discussion. A rendezvous was took by the two of them for a more profound discussion. When Mr. Brown was out of the picture, she went to her dad sitting on the sofa and sat beside him.
"What's it?" he asked recognizing her expression. She had something to ask.
"I really appreciate your gift, really," she said taking his big hand in hers.
"But I would like you to stop," Karl was left confused by her demand. Wasn't Mr. Brown the right person for her to do business with? Was he in the wrong?
"I want to do this on my own. This company is mine and I don't want to relay on you. People would all say I'm nothing without you," she explained her point.
"But you never cared about that," he wasn't oblivious of what was said behind his daughter's back but Ivy never protested with his actions. He deducted it wasn't a problem for her.
"Yes, I don't care. It's not to prove anyone a thing but to prove myself that I'm capable of it on my own," she wanted neither his help nor anyone else. She would build her own connections, find her own partners. He already did the most important with her introduction in the business world in the country with her welcome party.
"You already proved your capabilities princess. You built a company all by yourself."
"Yes and want it to continue like this," Karl nodded in understanding. His princess didn't need his help anymore.
"I understand," he said getting up on his feet.
Ivy watched his every expression and was relieved seeing no sadness but acceptance and understanding. Her father was really the best.
"I have something I wanted to ask you," she said getting up.
Karl smirked, "Didn't you just say you didn't want my help?"
"In business related matters. What I want has nothing to do with it," she defended herself. He was her father, of course he was the first one she would turn to help when needed.
"I want Kris, Yan and Raya contact. I have work for them," she told him.
Now it was his turned to harbored a serious face, "Why?" he asked.
Kris, Yan and Raya are his men he assigned for her protection when she turned fifteen. Though initially his men, they turned to hers rapidly. Putting her order first and became more loyal to her than him. It made him both happy and worry. He knew she was in good hands but was wary of what type of thing she had them do. He was sure they did things he could never imagine.
"As I told you, I have work for them. A pressing matter," she couldn't delay any longer. She would have never thought, she would needed their services so long.
"I know what ever I say you will end up doing what you want but, princess," he said taking her both hands in his, looking straight in her eyes,
"Don't get yourself involved in any dangerous things. Promise me that," it was all he wanted. To keep her safe.
"I promise," she said her right hand up m, a goofy smile on.
"Good." He patted her head, "They are in the building presently. I would tell them to come up," he said ordering some documents and putting in in his briefcase.
"I have a lunch meeting. I need to go. Take care princess." he kissed her forehead and was out.
Leaving her wondering what were her men doing in the building. Except her father was in needs of them.
Few minutes after, a trio came in the office. Two tall men and a woman who didn't have to compete with them in terms of height. All stood straight in front of her, each dressed in black suit, and carrying a serious face. The only difference was their different hair color.
"You call for us?" the woman standing in the middle asked. Bowing in front of her boss. As tall as the men, she had her long blonde hair tied into a pony tail.
"Why so serious," she said getting up from her seat,
"You didn't missed me?" she pouted, her arms opened. Ready to receive a hug.
They three exchanged suspicious look. It was so unlike the girl they used to. Looking at her sad face, the bravest one, the tallest man went to her and hugged her.
"I'm happy you are back Ivy," Yan said. He wanted to do it the moment he stepped in but knew to respect his boss boundary.
"I was sure only you would have hug me Yan," among all of them, he was the one she loved the most. He was caring towards her like her father.
"But now you are suffocating me," she said tapping his back.
Embarrassed, he broke the hug. With an apology smile, he joined the others who were looking at him with envy. They didn't dare to take a step forward while they wanted to.
"I missed all of you but now isn't time to rejoice. I have work for you," at her words, they took back their serious face. All focused.
"Shirley Fine and Leila Grey, I want to know everything about them. As detailed as if I was their shadow," she informed, arms crossed.
No one threat her and get away with it. She needed to get back the upper hand, and that very fast. And for Shirley, she needed to do what she didn't do when they met, a complete background check. Let's see which secret they were hiding.
Her men shared a sad look. Despite all these times, their boss didn't forget her unrequited love. They hoped she would have gave up on Liam by now.
"Miss, why Shirley?" Raya asked in hope her assumptions were false.
"Simple, I want to know if what I heard is true"
"And if it is?" they asked. They all already knew what she was talking about.
"Well, you know the rest,"
Yeah, they knew the rest. They had always been by her side at every of her actions. Actions they securely kept away from Karl for they knew, he wouldn't approved of none. Themselves tried to stopped her from entering the realm of her friends but she didn't listen.
They forever blamed her so called friends to her spoiled her innocence. She wasn't vicious when they first made but after the boys initiation to the underworld, of course she followed suit. They forever blamed themselves to have allowed it.