Chapter 33: A Question I never anticipated

Ivy’s pov

I stood in the pristine marble bathroom of my office at Kingsley & Co., removing my brown contacts and splashing cool water on my face to ease the insane migraine pounding in my head. My assistant, Jenny, was hovering behind me, apologizing for the gazillionth time.

"I’m so, so sorry, Mrs. Kingsley. I can’t believe Mr Kingsley just walked into your office and took those plans right under my nose. It won’t ever happen again."

"Jenny, it’s fine," I sighed, patting my face dry with a soft towel.

God, my pills were at home. I came here directly from the Knights’ residence and usually didn’t carry my migraine pills with me.

Now I needed one so bad. Was it because I hadn’t used the pills in about a month? My brain was about to turn to mush.

"We both know Jake can be sleazy. Just don’t let your guard down around him again."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kingsley. I won’t," she nodded eagerly, her dark hair swaying with every movement of her head, while taking the small brown case for my contact lenses out of my hands.

I ran my fingers through my soft strands, my amber eyes fixed on the mirror. My short hair had grown about half an inch longer, reminding me, just as my father constantly did, that time had gone, and I still had not managed to get the ledger.

"Mrs Kingsley?"

"Mhmm?"

"If you don’t mind me saying, you seem to have lost a little weight. Are you feeling alright?"

Oh, I don’t know, Jenny. I’m juggling three devils, a blackmailing maid, and on top of that, I got to see Angel’s stupid face and walked past Pamela downstairs while walking into the building.

The audacity of Pamela to look me straight in the eyes, blinking rapidly like some innocent kitten asking me if we could talk.

"Just busy, thanks, Jenny. What’s the update on the project expansion in South Wisteria? Did the project manager send a report already?"

She fished out a navy blue sheath dress from the garment bag that she had brought for me, handing it over. "Yes, he has. I already briefed..."

I changed into the classy dress while Jenny reported on all the tasks I had assigned to her for last week.

I was here for a preliminary board meeting at my father’s company, and while I hated that Jake had carted his ass off with my plans, I was glad that he wasn’t around to get on my nerves.

I had enough people doing that already, and when I walked out of the office with Jenny by my side, heading towards the elevator, I met one of them.

The polished steel elevator door slid open to reveal Angel and his father in the elevator. My pathetic husband immediately straightened, narrowing his eyes at me as if daring me to speak a word of all his evil deeds in the ears of his father.

"Harper, how are you doing, child? I rarely see you around the company anymore."

I wasn’t close to Anthony Braddock, and even though he always seemed like a decent man, I knew he loved his stupid, brain-rotted son more than anything.

I would have to be a dumbass to even bother saying anything to him. I just needed to please Dad, get the board of directors to see how wonderful I was, and take over Kingsley and Co.

Then I was going to chop Angel’s balls and feed them to him.

I forced a smile as I stepped into the elevator along with Jenny. "Good evening, Anthony. I am doing just fine. How are you as well? How’s your liver?"

My father -in-law patted his round belly heartily, smiling hard. "It will be fine, or at least that’s what Meyers says."

"That’s good then." Dr Meyers had been our family doctor for about ten years now and he was quite skillful in his job.

When every other hospital had been unable to figure out why I couldn’t have children, he had figured it out. It was a painful truth to swallow, but at least I wasn’t being constantly stabbed with needles for blood samples anymore. I would have to see him for a new prescription of migraine pills before I ran out.

"How was work today, darling?"

I stiffened, blinking rapidly as the elevator doors closed before glancing to my right to see Angel before his father, a mocking grin on his lips.

Really? Just because I wasn’t ratting his smelly ass out to his dad did not mean he would play me for a fool and I would play along with it!

"Isn’t your darling in the reception? I’m sure-"

His eyes widened, and the smile dropped as he hissed quietly, his eyes flickering over to his father warily. "Harper!"

Anthony’s brows furrowed together. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, nothing," Angel rushed out quickly, glaring daggers at me. "She’s joking, Dad."

The doors slid open on the last floor where the meeting was being held, and as we stepped out, Angel’s hand grabbed my elbow, tugging me close to him. "What the hell was that?"

"Can you not blow that foul-mouthed stench in my ear?" I scoffed, rearing my head away, but his grip tightened, digging into my elbow. I glanced up to see Jenny and Anthony walking ahead of us to the conference room.

"Watch what you say to me."

"If you don’t let go of my arm right now, your balls are going to be fucking sorry," I spat, trying to wrench my arm from his grip.

"Don’t fucking test me, Harper... wait." His hand shot up to push my short bob hair aside, baring the back of my neck. "What the fuck is this, Harper?"

I swear I was going to commit murder, and I didn’t give a damn about consequences right now. "Angel, I have no time for your stupid games-"

"My stupid games?" He yelled, then lowered his voice when Jenny glanced back, hissing against my ear.

"Why the hell is there a hickey on your neck?!"