Ivy decided to meet up with Irene at the restaurant. She instructed her driver to drop her a good distance away from the restaurant to avoid giving away too much information that would be saved for later, but right now, she needed to make Irene believe in her own assumptions.
Irene really thought Ivy would be nothing without Dave…
Ivy saw her seated at a table for two with a waitress by her side.
“Over here…..” Irene waved.
“What is it? Why do you want to see me?” Ivy said as she sat down, gazing at her facial expression.
“You know, in your present situation, you should learn to speak a little nicer. You never know who might help you…” Irene curled up with a sneer.
Ivy didn’t respond to her disdain, nor showed her any emotions that she wanted to see.
“I would like to have the same food she ordered.” Ivy told the waitress who was standing beside Irene. The profound look given to Ivy from the waitress made Irene chuckle. “Do as she says.” The waitress bowed before leaving to bring her order. “So how is life, sis?” Irene’s scorn was visible in her words as she smiled, waiting for Ivy’s next reply.
“Life has been better, how’s yours?”
Irene kept her smile, thinking she was acting tough. Ivy’s life was definitely not in good shape, she just can’t admit. She thought.
The waitress arrived with their order. “Bon appetit.” But she didn’t leave without squinting at Ivy. Her image in public now was full of pity and derision, all because of the one sitting opposite her.
“You know I can help you…” Irene took a sip of her drink, acting all superior, with crossed legs, tapping her fingers on the table.
Ivy sneered when she saw her attitude. “Irene, what do you want? I don’t have time to play your games, so spit it out, I’m waiting…”
“I want to offer you a place to stay for the meantime before you get back up. Dave was too ruthless to you that day so…..”
“I told you to go to hell that day, didn’t I?” Ivy cut her off before she could blabber her nonsense. Irene raised her eyebrow, as she wasn’t expecting her to be brave enough to provoke her.
“Here I was trying to offer you some help thinking you need it. Ivy, drop your pride, because it will fail you.”
“I don’t need your help.” Ivy said, berating herself inwardly for meeting her when she knew Irene would never give her an explanation for hurting her remorselessly. She was so tempted to tell her to her face that she was perfectly fine after her betrayal, that she was living well, far more better than her, but she pressed her lips tight. Letting her drown in her assumptions and derision before stunning her was far more satisfying.
“I have a close acquaintance with someone who can change your life and give you a better future, that’s if you drop the act and accept my generosity. Irene has no limit to shamelessness.
“Generous, noble, honorable – those words are not in line with her character in any way. The words that will suit her descriptions were cunning, deceitful, manipulative – a betrayer, hell of a sister she was.
“Who do you think could change my life better than it is now?” Ivy nonchalantly asked, toying with her food….
“Why aren’t you eating? You’ve lost your appetite after eating scraps…”
“Irene, watch your words or else….” “Or else what, you still have the guts to threaten me.” Irene frowned. “Listen, you deserve everything that has happened to you. From losing your career to breaking up with your so-called ‘true love’ and being a homeless piece of trash roaming about the street, you deserve every bit of it.”
‘Homeless piece of trash.’ Ivy sneered inwardly, she had no idea…. ‘It was the same phrase Kate used when she saw her at the store…’ did they really think she was homeless? They seriously thought she would end up being nothing without Dave.’ Well, that would have happened if not for a lucky encounter…..
“So who is this acquaintance of yours that could help me without getting anything in return?” Ivy had an idea of what Irene was proposing.
“Now you are talking, when you are ready, we will meet him, it depends on how desperate you are.” She sounded confident Ivy would surely accept her proposal.
“Where can we meet him?” Ivy asked, pretending to be interested, she wanted to know how far Irene was ready to go to destroy her.
“In the evening, the same nightclub I told you to meet me downtown and don’t be late…” Irene said as she stood up, ready to leave.
Ivy held her hand to stop her from leaving. Irene, thinking she had questions for her, sat back to listen.
“What…”
Ivy’s smile was now visible on her face, it was time to tell her how she felt…
“Irene to be honest, I feel you still hold a grudge towards me because I took father’s side. But let me tell you something, I have no regret, if I fall I will rise again and not even you can stop me. Deal with that.”
Irene’s eyes widened in surprise, Ivy’s words were too direct. “And how do you plan on doing that? How do you plan on rising up when you will continue to be defamed the rest… of… your… life.” Irene emphasized every word to show her true intentions.
Ivy responded, “Try me.” Those two words were enough to anger Irene, she bit her lips glaring at her.
“You are nothing…” ‘Is that what you think.’ Ivy’s lips curled up, she would regret what she just said. “You don’t have to pretend to worry about me. I can carry my own weight.”
Irene’s blood was boiling, clenching her fist and fighting the urge to tear her apart right there.
“You are sick.”
“So are you, Irene.” Ivy responded abruptly. Irene couldn’t believe her plan just failed, she thought she must have suffered enough to not reject her. She should be crawling for help, not arrogantly rejecting it. There were other ways to make her suffer; she would have to resort to the only thing she had on her palms. But first, she should be humiliated.
“Fine, pay the bills.”
“Irene. F**k you.”