LOGINIvy's heart seized as her eyes went round the body of this woman. From her head, down to her toes, to her makeup, over to her style of dress, then her hair.
She was the epitome of beauty. This woman was her husband's ex and now she was back in the city and wouldn't stop coming after her husband. Still staring at Sheila walking elegantly towards them, her hand involuntarily curled up into a fist. She had raw anger dripping from her breath. "Hi Ivy, I've heard so much about you from Ryder, you're truly beautiful." Sheila bellowed with a smile. Ivy came out from where she stood, between Ryder's legs. "Hi Sheila.. thank you, you're also looking beautiful.." She muttered back, trying to smile but the smile wasn't reaching her eyes, she already had a lump formed at her throat "I hope Ryder is very nice to you, he is the sweetest thing that could ever happen to any girl.." Sheila muttered, and then laughed, but Ivy didn't laugh, she only gave a slight chuckle, she knew what Sheila was doing, she was trying to tell her Ryder was once hers and he was sweet to her. "Yes, he's my husband now and the sweetest thing that ever happened to me," Ivy replied, she could see a flash of disappointment glaze through Sheila's eyes. She thought she was the only fierce and outspoken one, Ivy also had some elegance and fierceness up her sleeves. "Ehm Ryder, let's go to where you were taking me," Sheila muttered with such sweet voice, her attention now on Ryder. "Yeah.. that's right." Ryder smiled and switched off his laptop. Ivy watched, her heart twitching in her chest, and she clenched her hand tightly. Earlier, when she came in here, Ryder was glued to his laptop as though she was invisible, but as soon as Sheila came in here, he looked up to her, smiling as though he had lost his mind and now he didn't even waste time switching off his laptop just to attend to her need. Pain cut through her chest like a knife, her eyes welled up with tears. What had come over Ryder? Was he truly picking his ex over her? Ivy's stomach churned, and she felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen, trying to caress it, she held herself back. She wasn't sure if she should let Ryder know about it just yet. Just then, before her very own eyes, Ryder stood up and left the office with Sheila without any word to her about where they were going or why he had to go with her. Still trying to process what Ryder just did, nausea suddenly hit her hard, she rushed into the bathroom, throwing up profusely into the basin. While she was going through this, Ryder was busy going around with his ex. He wasn't attentive to her anymore. If not, she was adding weight and her old Ryder would've noticed and said something about it, but now he had an ex to take care of. A few minutes later, she came back weak, the dull ache in her stomach intensified, and she held her stomach as she settled into a nearby seat. Sweat was forming on her forehead. A few minutes later, the pain was reducing slowly and finally she felt no pain anymore. Relief washed over her. Her baby was fine. She wasn't sure if Ryder was fit to be her baby's father anymore. Several rays of thought jumbled her mind. Feeling like this and looking utterly dejected, she couldn't go out in this state, hence she sat there for her eyes to dry up before heading back to her office. Not long after, she slept off there, in Ryder's office.Carl woke up to several glimmers of light passing through the hospital window into his eyes. He raised his head slowly and his eyes landed on Ivy where he lay. He couldn’t believe it—he had just slept off beside this lady. For years, Carl had been struggling with chronic insomnia, he hardly fell asleep even when he struggled to, even when he was given pills to sleep, he never did, but today, he slept so freely without any struggles. Gracious goodness, he wouldn't let this woman go. Even if she was pregnant and the baby belonged to someone else who was obviously neglecting her, he'd make her his, he vowed. He walked into the bathroom and brought out a warm water and a towel. He sat beside Ivy and began wiping her face very gently as though she was an egg. When he was done, he went back to the bathroom and took his shower. As he came out, his manager was already in the ward waiting for him with his tuxedo suit. He took it from him and slid into it swiftly. He had a meeting thi
‘I wouldn't be coming home tonight Ivy, Sheila fell ill again.’He wouldn't be coming home tonight? Who was this? Then it came crumbling down on his head. Ryder was the CEO of M&C he met earlier. What close relationship do they have that involved so much as not coming home tonight? Were they dating? And who was Sheila? His sister? And also, that name sounded familiar to him for some reason. Then he recalled earlier, when they got into Ryder’s office, Ivy’s expression changed into an almost crying one when she met Ryder and some girl seated in that position, he saw her painful expression but didn't read so much meaning to it. But now that he thought about it, something was not adding up. There was something hidden. Was the girl Sheila? All these questions in his head with no answers. But then, his guts and calculations had never failed him. Ivy and Ryder might be dating but he was cheating with Sheila. For some reason, the lady on Ryder’s lap earlier seemed familiar as well
Her neck dangled backward and her eyes shut closed. He stood up to her side to grab her on his shoulder. Just then, a hand grabbed his arm and sent a strong punch across his face. He staggered backward and fell to the ground, Carl rushed him and sent several other punches to his face while cursing him out. “How dare you lay your hands on her! How dare you!” he screamed as he kept punching him till he lost consciousness. Then he stood up and ran to where Ivy sat, her head now fallen on top of the table in front of her.“Ivy.. Ivy, stay with me.. Ivy..” he muttered vigorously, his voice frightened. Then he flung his phone out of his pants pocket and put a call to his manager. “Meet me at StarH now. The tables behind the bartender, away from the club.” he voiced vigorously and put back his phone. Earlier before Ivy stopped talking, he had gotten to the hub. His eyes darted around as he looked for Ivy. Then he suddenly didn't hear anything from her again, panic overwhelmed his so
Sheila paced up and down in her office. Her face contorted with anger. How dare she say she wouldn't divorce Ryder? She must divorce him by all means. She breathed angrily, plotting what to do next. No matter how Ivy persevered, Ryder must become hers once again. She jammed the door behind her and walked away. —————It was closing time and Ivy was ready to go home to shower and relax now. But it was as if she wasn't done yet as her phone just beeped and an email popped up. Requesting her to be at StarH. Her forehead creased and her eyes squinted. When she read further, it said she needed to get a document from X&Y bags. And at the end of the write up has ‘Secretary, Carl Wayne’ She wondered why anybody would want to meet there. She knew the place to be rough and a clubbing hub, with a hotel.Why should a business discussion be held there and why this time? It was already her closing time. Then, the email popped up again, asking her to be fast about it that he/she needed to
A few minutes later, they arrived at M&C. Carl looked around and nodded briefly. The CEO of this company had actually tried to get here this fast—he knew when they started and how far behind they used to be and he believed it should be all thanks to this lady’s design. He commended in his mind, his eyes staring intermittently at Ivy. “Let’s go,” Ivy muttered as she finally turned off her car and got down. They walked into the company, with Carl walking behind her. His presence in M&C began turning heads immediately. Whispers began flying around. “The CEO of X&Y group himself. What is he doing here?” “Why is he with that low life?” “Is she sucking up to him too now? Is this how desperate she is for a big position?” The whispers were flying around so much that Ivy could hear and even Carl heard too. He scoffed. Shaking his head at this company and its CEO. This lady was doing so much for this company yet they don’t respect her. She wondered the kind of po
“Alright, I think we should cut to the chase as you might be very busy in your office and so am I..” Ivy muttered, feeling cringed at the intermittent gaping from this young man she considered too handsome. “Yes yes, you're very correct. I have another business meeting with the Reyes in a few minutes” he muttered and Ivy’s eyes opened wide. He could’ve sent someone to her and prepared for Reyes instead. Reyes Group was the second richest company in California after X&Y bags, while M&C came third. Why did Carl choose to come to negotiate with her in person? Does he think she'd cheat his representative in some way? They hadn't even started, and they were already having trust issues. Ivy breathed in deeply. She'd proved to him that in M&C designs, they don't do shady business. With that, she cut to the chase immediately. Discussing the fabrics, colors, and designs that would blend with the new product he wants to release into the market. And of course designs that would fit well
"Ivy.." He breathed. Ivy's heart beat faster, waiting for whatever he had to say. "I.. I.. I'm sorry Ivy.." Ryder muttered, his voice low and his eyes still looking everywhere except Ivy's. "Sorry? Why? I'm just working here now, how's that offensive? Ow did that offend Ivy?" Sheila muttered,
"Have you lost your manners?" Ivy yelled, her frustration etched on her forehead. Sheila's eyes widened at the condition of her office. "Are you packing?" She queried, with a slight smirk on her lips. It was obvious she wanted her to leave. "I'm taking some books out why?" Ivy lied, she woul
Ivy frowned at Ryder's words. She couldn't believe he'd say such a thing to her, her chest constricted from the severe pain piercing through it, yet Ryder sat comfortably conversing with his ex and seeing her as though she was an intruder. When Ryder couldn't even see she was hurting and spoke to
Without thinking more about it, Ryder grabbed her lips into his and began relishing on them. Ivy felt delighted, her heart dangled with bliss as her hand went round his body, while she has devoured on his lips as well. Her husband was finally back with her. --------- It was morning, light ray







