LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.
FEW MONTHS LATER
Ivy dragged herself lazily out of bed and she headed towards the bathroom to pee. And as she did her thing she remembered what the day was-Friday. Ivy motioned out of the bathroom as her gaze flickered on the wall clock. The time was 5:30 p. m which only means that Leroy would have been back from school since over two hours and thirty minutes ago.
“Did I sleep for so long?” Ivy mumbled to herself. She concluded that Leroy might not want to disturb her sleep that’s why he didn’t make an attempt to wake her up.
She grabbed her cellphone and headed out of the room. “Leroy.” Ivy called out as she closed the door slightly behind her.
“Leroy, are you home?” She charged towards her son’s bedroom hoping that he was sleeping in bed.
“Leroy are you-” Her voice trailed off when she met an empty space on the bed.
He must be watching tv in the living room. Ivy thought again as she rubbed her protruded belly. She was weeks due to the baby’s date.
“Leroy.” Ivy walked to the living but got no response. She furrowed her eyebrows when she didn’t see her soon in the house.
“Ma’am, the young master is not back home yet.” Ivy turned towards the voice. It was the middle aged woman who works part time.
“Did Jack forget to pick him at school or did Leroy ordered the driver to take him to the company again?” Ivy pondered deeply as she dialed her husband’s number.
It wasn’t a new thing that Leroy would head to the company on a Friday instead of coming straight home from school. He is always excited about going to the company with his dad on a weekend whenever it’s necessary or even helping out with files. And Ace is also willing to teach him anything. At this point, Leroy already made a decision to be a businessman just like his dad.
Ace didn’t pick up his call until the third ring. “Babe.. are you okay? I am sorry I missed your calls. I just ended the meeting with the board of directors.” Ace said in an apologetic and concerned tone.
“I am fine.” Ivy replied.
“What about the baby? Is everything fine with both of you?” He demanded.
“Trust me everything is fine over here but-”
“But what?” Ace cuts in sharply. He was scared that his wife might be in some kind of pains since she might fall into labour soon.
“Relax honey, I am fine. But I haven’t seen Leroy. Is he at the company?” She asked.
“Leroy? No, he is not here. I mean… in the morning we didn’t agree for him to visit today because I might be too busy to even be with him.” Ace answered.
Ivy tried not to panic. She tried to calm her breathing. “Leroy is not home.” She muttered.
“And the driver? Check the garage probably he didn’t go to pick him up yet.” Ace stood up from the swivel chair as he glanced down at his wrist watch. Time has passed so fast. The driver isn’t the type to not do his job. Leroy was expected to be home early on Fridays.
Ivy made her way to the balcony to check the garage but Leroy’s Bentley wasn’t there.
“Good evening ma’am. I am wondering why the young master is not back home. Jack left around 1 p. m to pick up the young master.” The security guard said.
Ace could hear every word over the phone. “Ivy try to call his school to confirm if he is still there. I’ll try to contact the driver.” He instructed before hanging up the call.
Ivy put a call through to Leroy’s homeroom teacher which she picked on the first ring.
“Good evening, Mrs Clark.” The sweet voice greeted cheerfully.
“Hello, Miss Joanna. Is Leroy still at school?” Ivy asked.
“Leroy? His driver already came around to pick him up around 3 p. m but Leroy mentioned it that he might visit his dad at the company.” Miss Joanna replied.
She had heard Leroy telling his two friends about visiting his dad’s company during lunch hour.
“Leroy is not at the company either.” Panic filled Ivy as she walked back inside slowly.
Ma’am Brenda was still in the living.
“What? Leroy is not in school neither is he at the company neither. So where could he be?” Miss Joanna blurted out.
“I.. I.. have no.. idea..” Ivy stuttered.
“Why don’t you check with the rest of your family? Probably his grandparents home.” Miss Brenda suggested
“Leroy would never visit them without telling me or his dad.” Ivy answered. Leroy has never done it.
“So what do we do?” Miss Brenda asked in a worried tone.
“I’ll just check with his driver.” Ivy disconnected the call. She tried calling her husband but his line was busy. So she thought that he has been able to reach out to the driver. But thinking this way didn’t help her feel relaxed.
“Mrs Clark, you need to calm down.” Ma’am Brenda advised.
“Calm down? No, I cant.. my son is not at school neither is her at the company. And I am certain that he is not at his grandparents home too.” Ivy didn’t listen. She went into a pacing to and fro fit as she waited for her to call back. She was scared. She became even more terrified when nothing came from her husband after twenty minutes.
But soon Ivy heard a horn, she stood up thinking it would be her son’s car. Ace had gifted his son a Bentley and even bought a house under Leroy’s name on his birthday few months ago.
And as for Ivy, she has been compelled to stay at home because of her condition even though Ace had commissioned a big photo studio in her name.
Ivy stopped pacing and rushed to the door. She unlocked it and went outside only to find out that it wasn’t Leroy’s car but Ace’s car.
Ivy didn’t wait for him to come up to the porch but she also noticed the unusual look on his face. Ace was perturbed which wasn’t a good sign and it added more flames to her fear.
Ace was halfway up the stairs when she flooded him with questions. “Where is my son? Did you get to talk to the driver? Did he take Leroy to your parents home? Say something Ace!” Her chest was rising and falling and Ace had no idea how to break the news to his wife.