Her mission was a complete fail. Her act didn't dismay her suitors. The colder and distance she was, the more she seems to attract them. Her mind was going crazy on the fact.
After talking to men none stop for hours, she had enough. She didn't even know why she was forcing herself through all this when she could simply leave. The answer was a petit elderly woman who kept on avoiding her. Every time she think have spotted her, she disappeared immediately from her sight.
'Just you wait mom!!' she thought.
Taking a break, she sat at the bar corner, taking a whole table for herself. The aura emanating from her, was a clear indicator she didn't was to be talk to. Everyone understood that much and made no attempt to come to her
'Couldn't they refuse to come to this stupid party?' but how could they when they had the possibility to have a big treasure. A waiter came to her table and placed a glace of champagne in front of her before giving her a bow and left.
She picked her glass up, her eyes running around the room, glad no one came to her.
"Good thing they understood I needed a break," she said to herself, leaning in her chair her face staring at the ceiling.
"After they would called women golden digger. As if they were better," she said absent minded.
"Well, we can't put them at faults. You're pure treasure to have," she didn't have to look up to know whom it was.
"So the traitors finally decide to come," she said as they took their seat beside her.
It was a half crescent moon shape cushion with a round table in the middle. They sat each on her side. She straight up, and putted down her glass, with her legs crossed.
"Traitors? Isn't it a too big word?" Liam asked fainting a hurt expression.
"Yes! It's all you guys are, traitors! You knew about all these since the beginning and no one of you taught of informing me!" she cried taking a big gulp of her champagne.
She managed to keep her calm around all those people but inside she was burning. She was furious by what was going own but she did it for her mother, she put so much effort in it. How was she going to explain her all her effort was in vain because her daughter may never marry?
"I would have love to inform you if you answered your phone when you are called," Andy said with a calm but angry voice.
"For real, why were you running away from us these days. I was worried sick about you. Is there a problem?" Liam asked.
She wasn't replying to their called and when she did they only spoke for few minutes before she cut it short, taking work for an excuse. It was strange coming from her. They when to Karl who was unable to give them any explanation.
"Nothing, really. It was work keeping me busy. You know relocating a company isn't the simplest thing to do. I got a lots of administrating work to handle in the main time, plus other matters," she wasn't totally lying even though she over worked herself to keep her mind busy.
Staring at the wine swirling in her glass, she only hoped they would believe her white lie. The two men silence started to worry her as she thought of something to do. She didn't want to prolong the discussion.
"Anyway," she placed her glass back at the round table and her hand one her thigh
"It's not the matter to be taking care of now". They looked at her, successfully gaining their attention. She wanted to smile but restrained herself, she wanted to look serious, for them not to think she was joking.
"Which is?" they looked at her.
"This, all this going on right now. Me in a room full of men I know nothing, for me to choice an ideal partner from them!" she said finally expressing her anger.
"I can understand that but don't you think it's the moment to think about that? You aren't young anymore," Andy half joked, his lips curving up. He successfully earned a glare from Ivy.
"I consider but none of this bunch of men enter in my criteria," she stated.
"And what are those criteria?" Liam asked.
She sighed, with a lazy voice she said gently, closing her eyes "What don't I pick one between you guys? It would be much easier,"
She opened her eyes and jet her hand in front of them, stopping them from saying anything yet.
"Hear me out first," she stopped them "I know you guys are already in couple and soon to get married but why don't one of you chose me instead? We know each other for years and have perfect understand of how the other works." She started to count on her fingers like a child "And I'm beautiful, smart, intelligent, brilliant, and my net worth is billions," her eyes never leaving her slim fingers as she listed her quality for them to choose her.
"And you don't know the best," she looked up at them with a corky smile.
"What's it?" the asked simultaneously, amusement on their face.
"I'm best friends with Liam Black and Adrian Anderson !! Which better connection do you want?" she whispered to them as if it was a secret and where wary for anyone to hear.
She also knew, it was the reason most of the men in the room was present, her connections. Having her by their side would open multiple doors they could have only dreamt to have. It infuriated her. Her worth was base on the people she knew. She hated it, but it was also a source of motivation. She hard to work harder.
"Yes, it did be perfect and amazing if we were together," Ivy and Andy looked at Liam with shocked, what was he saying.
Andy glanced at Ivy, both sharing a surprised and confused look. Was Liam really thinking of Ivy the other way?
"But since when did you learn to hit on your brothers?" he laughed.
'Anh…. That is what he wanted to say…' the thought as their wild thought start to calm down.
"My brother? As far as I know I'm the only child to my parents, so how could I have brothers? Are you the illegitimate child of my father? He dare to cheat on mum? He would hear own me!"
They chuckled at her antics, "But we grew together like siblings so they can't be that type of relationship between us, it did be awful!" Liam said taking a sip of his glass.
His both friends looked at him with an understanding and confused expression, 'so that's how he thinks' they thought hearing his words.
Ivy lowered her head, analyzing what Liam just said.
'So he always saw me like a sibling and never like a woman. It did be awful, awful!' she wanted to laugh but it was better, at least now she have an idea at the why he could never be hers. She wanted to cry but she calmed herself down, it wasn't the place nor the moment.
"This is because you guy friend zone me or more accurately, brother zone, but it's ok. I will find a better guy for myself while you would be with your boring fiancée. You don't know what you are missing out." she smiled, playing cool, successfully hiding her pain.
"If Liam and Andy aren't interested, I am Ivy," a man said standing in front of their table.
Synchronized, they looked up to the man who dare to come to their table, intruding in their conversation and that too, using so much familiarity while calling them.
Face frowned, displeasure evident, they focused their attention on the man.
"Good advertisement I must say, it reinforce my decision for coming at this party. You are a pure gem, not that I was doubting about it," he said, a hand in his trouser pocket and the other holding his glass.
He grinned, looking at their confused face. He was sure they had no recollection of him.
"Who are you call us as if we were friends?" Liam asked with a murderous stare.
Jane smiled, Liam's words confirming what he was thinking. They didn't remember him. His gaze shifted to Ivy who was looking at him with an expression saying, his face look familiar but who was his? As she tried to remember where she knew him. It was normal since she was the one among the group of friends with whom he was closed with.
"I Know I change but not that much for you not to remember me, right Ivy?" he asked with amusement. Her recollection expression was too cute, all he wants was to pinch her cheeks.
"We know each other?" Ivy asked. She was certain to have already saw him somewhere but here brain couldn't give her the answer.
The guys impatiently looked at him, waiting for his answer. Hating the way he was looking at Ivy. Wanting one thing, get his out of their view. They have always be protective over Ivy, after all these years it didn't change.
"High school, tutoring…" he said staring at her, waiting for a reaction but he saw none, she still didn't remember him. Pain going straight to his heart.
Purposely for what happen between them during the last high school year. Why he couldn't get over her here she was, already all forget about him. How delusional of him to have thought otherwise.
"High school?" he nodded. Ivy stared at him, if she ever schooled with such a handsome boy she would have remember. She was fan of beauties even though in love with Liam. It never stopped her from praising other men beauties.
"Jane Parker?" he said, hoping his name would provoked something and it worked!
"Jane parker!!" she jet out of her chair and looked at him surprised.
"The Jane parker?" he nodded finally smiling happy that she remembered.
Ivy looked at him doubtful as she tried to superpose the current looking Jane and they one she remembered, they look nothing alike. The Jane from high school was a slim boy, with a soft body and no muscle. His facial features, alike with that of a woman gave him a female energy, making him prompt to bullying. Especially by guys. The one in front of her was nothing like the fragile boy he used to be, standing before her was a man. A muscular man, holding himself with confidence. His facial features sharpened, but still hold trace of softness with his big blue eyes and pale skin. His lips, as pink as they used to be.
"Wow, you're drop dead gorgeous!!" She exclaimed sitting down dumbfound. Was it what we called the ugly duck turned into a beautiful dove? Though she never thought he was ugly in the past, his feminine facial feature made him cute to her.
"Thanks," he blushed, scratching his head to hide his embarrassment.
"You're beautiful yourself,"
"I know," Ivy answered.
He chuckled, admiring her. Her confidence was what first attracted him in her. She always held herself with high esteem, never caring about others words. Such a huge contrast with his past self.
"You know each other?" Liam asked confused.
The more he stared at the man, the more confused he was. He said high school so it meant he schooled with him but why couldn't he remember someone with a presence like him? What Liam didn't know was, in high school, Jane had little or no presence.
"The lady man guy hitting on Ivy in high school," Andy said to Liam. The moment he said his name, he remembered.
"What a description Andy," Jane said trying to keep it cool. Lady man, a name he never thought he would ever hear again. It haunted him to change, to perfect himself. Yet, he still got the bad luck to hear it.
"We are just horrible at remembering insignificant name that's why I'm trying to make him remember." He explained in all seriousness as if he didn't just insult him. He leaned in his seat fixing his suit, crossed his legs.
"And I don't remember ever told you to call me that. It's only reserved to my close friend which you are not included in," he added giving him a death stare to which Jane only nodded. He wasn't welcome that was a facts.
"Who? There were thousands of ugly guy running after her back then," Liam asked. He had his fair share of trouble because of that.
"Remember, the one you almost bit up too death in high school?" Andy inquired.
Liam thought about it but nothing came into his head.
"See, the onetime where the principal wanted to call your parents because he thought you went overboard," and then it hits him, he eye open wide as he finally remember the guy.
"The pervert!!" Liam exclaimed coming at the realization.
"Don't call him that!!"
"Don't call me that!!" Jane and Ivy both said at the same time. Realizing it they turned their head to each other before Jane shifted his gaze with his cheek slightly red up. He cough to hide his embarrassment. His feelings for Ivy couldn't be more obvious.