Ivy arrived at the same apartment that brought so many memories. She didn’t come to cherish them or dwell in the past; she was only there to end it and move on totally.
“I did what you asked, ma’am.”
“Good, let’s go then,” Ivy responded, averting her eyes away from the apartment she and Dave lived. She got rid of the only thing that reminds her of his fake promises, fake affection, those bullshits about inconvenient exposure of their relationship because of her career, sacrificing what she worked hard for to please him.
She vividly remembered his exact words when he proposed to her. It was her twenty-third birthday; he didn’t arrange for a big party, it was just an indoor celebration. All she cared for was to be with him, in his arms. He gifted her the ring as a reminder of his love. He said ‘he will love her forever, grow old together.’ What a joke. She was still in her twenties so where is he now? He said those words so many times that it became a poem in her ears; that was the main reason she had to return it.
There was no need to confront him nor give him his ring personally; she was going to prove to him that he didn’t succeed in ruining her life.
A phone call jolted her from her thoughts, *HUBBY*. She didn’t want to repeat the same mistake again, so she saved his number.
“Hello….”
“Where are you?”
‘Is he being protective or what?’ He is her husband now.
“On my way to the hotel…. Why?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He sounded concerned, this side of him she didn’t know existed.
‘What did he find out?’ “Tell you what?”
“Never mind…. just follow the driver….” He hung up.
“Ma’am, we are changing direction,” the driver informed her as he stepped on his brake to divert.
“Where are we going?” Ivy had to ask. He just spoke to Zack over the phone a minute ago and now they were going somewhere else.
They arrived at a very familiar place. Ivy bit her lips when she saw the sign attached to the front of the nightclub.
There was no way she was finding solace in a nightclub ever again. She has moved on from her distress; she refused to dwell on it again. Returning his ring proved that. Just what was the reason Zack wanted her to come here?
The overall atmosphere was the same; the lighting, fragrance were all memorable. The same place she drowned in her pain. With a side glance, she noticed someone sitting at the void far end, swaying a glass of red wine. This man’s presence was enough to make her wonder. How did God make him? He was unique in his way, knowing him for only a few days was enough for her to see these qualities, refined grace and presence to make one stumble upon his enticing demeanor. She still expected more to see after all they were joined together in the name of marriage.
He waved to signal her, she threw her thoughts on the roof and went to meet him. Ivy knew fully well that he was a ticking time bomb that might explode if offended. She still wondered what came over him to agree to a contract marriage after trying to rid her of his Villa when she pleaded with him. He might have considered her heartbreak and desperation or maybe his own needs to shut the old man’s berating.
He gestured for her to have wine. Ivy responded with a negative response.
“I don’t do well with alcohol.”
“Oh, you realized, I thought you were really good at gulping a whole bar of wine to suit yourself.”
Ivy smiled, she won’t fall for his taunts; he seems to be so good at it. Bringing her here to remind her of her past ordeal.
“Why are we here?” She went straight to the point; there has to be a reason he called her here.
“When I first saw you, I didn’t know you were anyone of importance; I thought you were just one of those naive girls to be toyed with…”
“What are you bringing up?” Ivy was keen to understand what he meant.
“I’ve looked into your past, why would one with a promising career just forfeit for no apparent reason?” He seemed to have done thorough research about her. Ivy predicted this; it was only right to know more about her; she was a stranger before clinging unto him for marriage.
“I had my reasons then….” Ivy responded, hiding her true feelings, inwardly berating herself for the mistake she made in the past.
Zack’s lips curled up as he averted his eyes away from Ivy; he had his inner thoughts, what he found out was more than she predicted. Ivy was so close to the peak of rising in her career. Sacrificing her dreams for a jerk, and he was familiar with the jerk, so much like his father.
“Be careful of what you do; someone is lurking in the shadow ready to destroy you.”
Ivy knew fully well Irene had a dislike for her to betray her like that, after she took the side of the one person Irene hated in her life: her father. But after his death, she changed and they became close, only to find out she still had ill will towards her.
“I’m happy you’re concerned, but you don’t have to worry about me; giving me a home is more than enough for me. To make things even, if you ever need anything in return, please tell me….”
“Surely, it’s a marriage of convenience,” he responded casually.
“So when can I return to your house?” She loved the hotel hospitality and all, but it still wasn’t a home. She needed to adapt as soon as possible before she makes her next move.
“Soon….” He stood up ready to leave. “You’re becoming famous again.”
Ivy raised her eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
He ignored her question and left her in confusion.
To confirm her suspicion, she logged into her social media account, and that’s when she saw herself in her miserable state….