Her words pierced through their heart, how could she say such things to them when she was the one who kept on walking away from them! Keeping them in the dark? How was they supposed to know without her saying a word?
Instead of saying all those and concentrate on their feelings, Ivy outburst and tone was all they focused on. Regret, they knew she did of her words.
"It's okay. We aren't mad," he hugged her.
"Everything is going to be okay," she nodded, her head on his shoulder.
In his embraced, she actually believed everything would be ok. The load she has been carrying on her shoulder since the announcement of her disease seem to loss weight. It became lighter, perhaps that was what she needed, instead of closing herself up.
Seeing she calm down, he made her sit beside him on the sofa, with Liam sitting across them. Watching them cautious, his eyes never leaving Ivy. He was about to go to her when Andy did what he wanted, he let them be though he wanted her to be in his arms.
"Can we do anything?" Liam asked wanting to relieve the pain she felt. Being it about work or not, as long as he could relieved her for a fraction of her pain, he would be more than content. Finding the reason behind the pain was a mission for another day.
"No." she shook her head to their dismay, "It's going to be ok. We would manage," she said feeling better.
Letting some of her frustration out really helped her see clear. The situation wasn't that bad, it was her messed up emotions who amplified the situation in her eyes.
"And you guys are right, we spent so little to no time together." She realized, at moments like that, she needed friends not solitude. Company was what she was in need of in moments of sadness, not isolation. Their solemn presence now showed it. She was more relaxed in their company.
"Tomorrow I have an interview, why don't you four join me? We can have dinner together after it," she proposed.
The two men exchanged a look, clearly seeing she was trying to change the topic, they let her do. Also, they also wanted to spend some time with her, they rarely saw her. It was even worst than when they lived in different countries.
Wait- did she say the four of you? Realizing her words, they looked at her like she grew a head. Bewilderment and confusion. What? Has she just invited the girls she dislike on her own free will? With no one offering? No pressure? Who was the woman in front of them and where was Ivy? The real one.
"You are inviting Shirley and Bella?" Liam asked to make sure he heard her right.
Ivy nodded, "Why? They won't want to come?" She asked confuse. For once she was trying to make the first step towards them, they won't care. There went her attempt to be kind.
At the realization she had no more chance with Liam, she decided to let go of him. To do that, she came up with two way to go about it, put some distance between them and show some level of respect towards his relationship with Shirley. By ricochet, she aim to do the same with Bella and try to be at least at a level of peace with them.
"No, it's not what I meant," Liam began, trying to find the right set of words.
Andy was as confused as he was and had no idea on what to say. Hopefully, they didn't have to crack their brain. Their escape was brought in the form of Jiang Yong, who banged in Ivy office without prior notice, taking the three off guard. Head turned at the sudden intruder.
"Sorry I didn't know you had guest," he quickly apologize seeing she wasn't alone. His eyes rapidly swept on the unfamiliar face, which took him a second to recognized, before landing back on Ivy. He walked to her.
"It's ok," she stood up from her seat.
"Sorry to disturb but we need to go now," he reminded her of the meeting.
"Of course," she was fast in front of her bureau, ordering her documents she should had already put in her bag.
"I told you a thousand of time to work more organized," he compliant helping her out. Already used to her and found no difficulty in organizing it while most would. He had three years experience, it was understable.
"Help me faster instead of complaining," she responded.
"Now it's my fault?"
"Totally, I'm never at fault, as dad," she joked. Earning a chuckled from Jiang Yong.
Liam and Andy was left standing, observing their interactions. Ivy told them about the arrival of her vice president, they concluded it was him but the relation they were displaying in front of them was nothing close to a simple professional one.
"All done," she exclaimed after putting the necessary documents in the files.
"Now, we need to go," Jiang Yong pressed, looking at the time on his watch. Pressure lessen seeing they were still in time.
"Okay," she replied throwing a last look on her bureau, making sure she didn't forget something. She nodded to herself and grabbed her hand bag and file, ready to go when she remembered her two uninvited invitee.
"I have completely forgot about you guys," she spoke up. They only smiled, shaking their head. It was only Ivy being Ivy.
"Let me do the introductions. Jiang Yong," she grabbed his arms, "Vice president, associate, and friends," she said.
Their eyes didn't fail to notice her intimate action, arising more questions in their head.
"And-" Jiang Yong stopped her,
"Let me guess. Liam and Andy," he said to which they nodded. Face serious, not matching the joyful look on Jiang Yong face. The way he skipped the formalities and went on calling them casually was unwelcomed by them.
"I heard so much about you." he greeted the both of them, " happy to finally be able to meet the famous best friends," he added. His smile never falling. He already saw them but never in person.
At the mentioned of them being Ivy best friends, their displeasure reduced. They were close, they concluded.
"What a lost to no be able to say the same," Andy spoke, giving a sweet glance to Ivy. She rolled her eyes.
"It's normal, she never shut up about you. I, on the contrary, is irrelevant," he said.
"Don't say that, you are not!" she lighted hit his arm. Her words made his smile grew wider.
"We would have much time to know each other better but not today. As you already guessed, we are late and have already lost enough time like this," he gave Ivy a reproachable look.
She ignored it. "You would be at the interview tomorrow right?" She asked, when they nodded, she smiled.
"Good. I would sent you the address," she said while being dragged away by Jiang Yong, holding her hands.
Once out of sight, Liam turned to Andy, "What do you think?" He asked.
Andy raised an eyebrow, not understanding.
"You know, what kind of relationship do you think they have?" he reformulated.
"Friends?" he said once again confused. She literally said it, what was he on about?
"With the way he looked at her? He doesn't see her like a friend," Liam was finite. The look he saw while Jiang Yong was helping her told him all. He had feelings for her and Ivy… he wasn't able to tell but it was clear, she had a spot for him in her heart.
Understanding what he meant, Andy asked, " and what if they are more than friend? Is there a problem with that?"
Unlike Liam, he knew Ivy had no feelings for the guy, and he also saw the look the guy was giving to Ivy, love was in the air but only on one side.
With Liam silence, he added, "It would be great if she finally have someone in her life, don't you think? Plus, he doesn't seem bad," he said genuine. If Ivy told them something was going between them, he would be delighted.
Liam shrugged, not saying a words. His actions leaving Andy perplexed.
"Anyway, what do you think of her sudden urge to invite the girls out of the blue?" Liam asked. That detail bothered him. He was happy about her sudden change of heart but wondered what brought it? Why her sudden move to make peace?
"That, only she knows what is going through her head," all he hope, it wasn't going to hurt anyone and mostly not her. She has been hurt long enough because of others relationship. Happiness, was all he wished for her.