LOS ANGELES
IVY RIVERA APARTMENT : FEW DAYS LATER
Ivy Rivera heard the sound of the doorbell. She frowned at wall clock because the time was just 6:20 a. m. She hopped out of bed and pulled a sweatshirt over her head and started down the stairs. It was too early for anyone to be here and she wasn’t even expecting anyone.
Ivy Rivera silently prayed that it shouldn’t be a reporter this time. She peered through the hole on the door – It was Ace Clark’s figure on the porch. It passed through Ivy Rivera’s mind that she was hallucinating and that lack of sleep had finally tipped her over the edge. But Ace Clark was really there!
And Ivy Rivera frowned deeply when she opened the door and saw him standing on the porch.
“Ivy-”
She cut him off. “Go away.” Ivy muttered and shoved at the door.
Why was he just showing up now? She hadn’t heard from him since the past five days. It had bothered and hurt her the way nothing else could because Leroy was devastated by his father desertion. Her child was confused and hurt and he kept wondering what he had done wrong. He had told her that maybe grandpa had stopped his dad from coming over to see him or because of the news going around that’s why his dad wouldn’t see him.
Ivy tried to convince her son that it wasn’t his fault, that he had nothing to do with Ace’s disappearance but Leroy didn’t believe her. Ivy couldn’t find the right answers to why Ace Clark was absent since the past five days.
And as she shoved the door it wouldn’t budge, then she looked down and saw his booted – foot wedged in the gap.
“Go away.. Ace..” she stated unsteadily.
“Please let me in.. Ivy.” Ace Clark whispered, his eyes held a pleading look.
Ivy stopped pushing, there was no point. She couldn’t keep him out if he wanted to come in and explain the reason for his disappearance. But Ivy was sure to also give him a piece of her mind.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” Ace asked after some seconds of absolute silence between them.
She was tempted to say no but simple honesty compelled her not to turn him done. “Sure.. of course… come in.” Ivy stepped aside so he could come in.
“Ivy, I am really sorry for not showing up at all these past few days.” Ace Clark apologized.
“I don’t care that you didn’t show up!” Ivy lied.
Ace raised his eyebrows. “You don’t care?” He demanded, moving toward her slowly.
“Yes.. I don’t care!” She croaked out.
Ace Clark heaved a sigh. “I am aware that my dad was here few days ago. And I didn’t want to make things worst for you and Leroy because I know the type of man he is.” He paused his lips trying to find the right words to explain his reason for his disappearance.
“So I had to settle some things with my father before coming over to see you.” Ace added in a soft tone.
Ivy had to sneer at his words. “Really? You were settling things with your father? Absolutely! Bravo! Thanks for dumping us.” She snorted.
Ace Clark screwed up his face. “Listen Ivy, I didn’t dump you and Leroy.” He countered.
“So what would you call it? Staying away?” She grimaced.
“You have to believe me Ivy, I didn’t stay away without a reason. Listen, I was also aware of the fact that some media houses crowded your front door but do know why they stopped coming?” Ace requested.
“Those bunch of jobless humans stopped crowding my doorstep because I refused to give them the audience they wanted!” Ivy replied, annoyance clear in her tone.
“Alright.. accepted that you didn’t give them a chance. But I also had to settle them to stop coming.” Ace moved closer to Ivy but she stepped backward.
“Don’t.. don’t.. don’t come closer.” Ivy stuttered pointing her forefinger at him.
“I called off my wedding and rendered my resignation letter at the company.” Ace informed her.
Ivy mouth went slack immediately. She was aware that he called off the wedding but was surprised to find out that he resigned from the family businesses. “What?! Why did you do that?! Look Ace, Leroy and I are not stopping from getting married to the woman you love or the woman you want to be with. And moreover, Leroy and I have been doing good without you for so many years. So you can leave Ace Clark.” She said.
Ace crowded her before she could escaped this time. “No.. no.. no Ivy.. I don’t want to leave you and Leroy.” He stroked his hand down her cheek and then brushed his thumb over her sweet lips.
“I am Leroy’s father and l am ready to take on the responsibility for my son. Whatever I am doing right now is for the both of you and no one else.” He swallowed hard to push down the lump that was forming in his throat. This is the best time to convince Ivy Rivera that he was ready to be with them.
“Listen Ivy, all I want is to be with the both of you but I don’t know if you want the same too. And if you want what I want, then please just give me another chance and I promise to make it up to the both of you.” Ace lisped softly.
No response came from Ivy Rivera but tears was starting to well up in her eyes and she fought for control against the tears that threatened to spill anytime soon.
“Ivy, please one more chance to prove myself to you and Leroy.” Ace muttered.
Ivy stared at him intensely, trying to find some truth in his words but before she could read his expression, Ace Clark lowered his mouth, brushed his lips against hers as he waited for her to react but she didn’t. Ivy didn’t bring her mouth to his so he did it for her.
He curled his hand around the back of her head and brought her forward until her lips touched his. Ace kissed her until it felt like he was going to explode. Ivy hands went to his shoulder, and suddenly she was shoving at him, her hands pushing against his chest as she struggled to get out of his embrace.
Ace let go the instant it registered that she wanted him to stop. He stepped back as he ran his tongue over his lips. Then he looked at her, her eyes burned with tears. “Ivy-” He reached for her with the intention of comforting her but she pulled away.
“Don’t.. Don’t touch me! Don’t come close to me!” She snapped at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Ace shot her a confused look. “I don’t understand. Ivy.. don’t you want me?” He demanded.
Ivy shook her head. “I want a lot of things but you are not good for me. Ace, this can’t work out if your dad isn’t ready to accept my son then you should do the same. Don’t worry about us… we will fine.. so please just go away.” She wiped her face but it didn’t stop the tears.
“Don’t think like that, please Ivy forget who I am, forget everything about the news, forget what people said about me in the past few days because I am not the same man anymore. I want to be a responsible father for our son.” Ace swirled her to turn around, willed her to look at him but she didn’t do so.
“No.. no.. Ace.. this can’t work. I don’t want my son.. getting hurt again.” She objected.
“Ivy,” Ace laid a soft hand on her back but he was shocked to realize that she was trembling. “Please Ivy, I never meant to hurt you or Leroy. I swear I am ready to be the man you deserve, please just give me the chance to be the father Leroy deserves too. Please Ivy, I beg you and I promise you won’t regret your decision.” Ace Clark pleaded.
Seconds passed by before Ivy turned and look at him. “Ace-” Her voice trailed off.
“I am sorry my love. I am sorry.” And Ace wiped her tears before pulling her into his hands for a warm embrace.
Despite having a past filled with many women, Ace never knew that he would be in a position begging a woman to let him into her life. Ivy Rivera has made him do so many things he never imagined he could do.
Ivy Rivera’s top priority was to give her son the life he deserved. A life filled with parental love and affection. And since Ace Clark was ready to be a father to her son then she has no choice but to give him another chance.
Ivy Rivera hoped that this choice she just made was the right one.