The Paige's Party

CHAPTER 5

Matt turned to the counter and gestured to the bartender to refill his glass. " My mom would be thrilled.....she has been on my neck for a while now " he stated simply.

" Oh....I see, what are the rules ?"She asked nervously

He dropped his glass on the counter and turned to face her, his face bearing no expression at all. " This might be a contract marriage but you are still going to be my wife meaning you belong to me both your body and your soul for as long as the contract says "

His words sent a chill down her spine, and a smile suddenly crept to her face.......oh Good Lord what was she thinking? she should be scared but something about belonging to him actually made her excited. She reached out and grabbed her wine glass to calm her nerves.

" I also want a baby " he said, breaking the brief silence.

Ivy almost spat out her drink." A....a baby? " She looked at him in disbelief.

He stared at her in silence, his head titled to one side " Yes a baby, don't you want to have one? "

Ivy had always wanted to have her own child but Ethan had always pulled out. The thought of her finally getting the chance to have one stirred something deep inside her.

" I do.....I was just shocked "

" Good. Now you can proceed with your questions, I'm sure you have some " he pointed

Of course Ivy had a thousand and one questions running through her mind. She cleared her throat nervously before proceeding.

" First of, tell me about yourself, your family and what you do for a living "

Matt dropped his wine glass on the counter as he let out a deep sigh. " I am a graduate of Civil Engineering but I dropped my certificate to work on a farm. Weird right......something about being with nature gives me peace "

" Oh.....what about your parents?' She noticed the sudden shift in Matt as she mentioned his parents. He seemed to be uncomfortable.

" Dad's dead, all I have is my mom and my little sister. " he said as he proceeded to gulp down his remaining wine.

Ivy stopped herself from questioning him further, he seemed uncomfortable and she was sure she'll get to know his story better with time. They spent the remaining night talking and getting to know themselves while coming to terms on how the contract will look like. She watched as he smiled at some of her jokes but his smile never reached his eyes and she wondered why.

His raven dark hair dazzled in the dark and she finally noticed that he smelt like spices. She was spellbound and she knew it. They exchanged contacts before parting ways and she walked out of the building feeling ecstatic while Matt watched her silhouette in silence, his silver eyes growling......oh this naive ginger head, she didn't know what she was getting herself into.

...............................

( The next Morning )

" He's a farmer? " Emily asked, ready to burst.

" Don't laugh....... he's actually a graduate, he just loves nature"

" That's weird, but we will find out soon enough. I'll put a call through to Mark, he'll help us find out more"

Mark was a private investigator. One of the best in the city, he was the right hand man of the top Attorneys always ready to dig up anybody's past.

" So, will you prepare the contract now or after Mark finishes his investigation? " She asked

" I think it's best we wait till after the investigation but I'll make a draft before then to make things faster" Emily paused to observe Ivy's gloom face. " You look annoyed girl what is it again? "

Ivy sighed " I got an invite in my mail this morning, apparently Irene will be having a Party tonight at her new Mansion "

" So? You don't have to go, she's obviously inviting you to rub her top spot and the house in your face " She rolled her eyes.

" That's the thing Emily, I have to go. The press will be there and if I'm missing it will be on the front page of the daily news tomorrow " she slammed her palms on her forehead.

" Ugh..... you're right. They'll watch out for you specifically, they know you guys are rivals. Do you have to go with a partner? "

" No, the IV says it's a ladies party. The only good thing though is the fact that Lilies Club will be present and I'll get to meet Mrs Smith, the founder of the club"

" Alright girl.....make sure you wear something eye catching, or do you need me to come pick out your outfit? "

" Nah I'm good, plus I'm sure you have a lot of work here in your office, your table is practically flooded with documents." she pointed.

" Right " she said, smiling brightly as she waved her friend goodbye.

Ivy spent hours trying out different outfits, her maids almost tripping over themselves as they ran around trying to pick out only the best. Top female personalities would be attending the party and she had to dress to impress. She finally picked a dress she had bought on her last trip as her maids started another session of styling.

She pulled up to the grand mansion, her heart racing as she took in the sight of the extravagant Mansion right in front of her eyes, glistening under the evening lights. Her sleek white car, a luxurious model with sharp lines and a polished finish, exuded a sense of power and elegance. As the car door swung open, her driver a tall man in a sharp suit stepped out first, followed closely by a stoic security guard, scanning the crowd with a watchful eye.

Ivy emerged from the car next, commanding attention in a stunning black short sleeve dress that hugged her figure perfectly. The dress featured a fitted bodice and a flared skirt that danced around her knees, giving her an air of sophistication and confidence. The fabric shimmered subtly, catching the light as she moved. Her ginger hair was styled in loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face beautifully and adding a fiery touch to her ensemble.

As soon as she stepped onto the red carpet, the press and paparazzi swarmed around her, their cameras flashing like lightning. Questions erupted from all sides, probing into Irene's recent success as the top female CEO, while Ivy felt the weight of their scrutiny as they whispered about her fall to third place, the atmosphere was charged with tension.

As the cameras clicked and the reporters shouted questions, Ivy took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

"How does it feel to be dropped to the third spot and Irene emerging as the top female CEO?" one reporter called out, shoving a microphone in her direction.

Ivy hesitated, her heart racing. "It's... it's a tough competition, but I'm proud of the work I've done," she replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Another reporter chimed in, "Do you think Irene's success is a threat to your career?"

Ivy swallowed hard, feeling the pressure. "I believe every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. I'm focused on my own journey," she answered, her voice wavering slightly.

A third reporter pressed, "What are your plans moving forward? Will you try to reclaim your position?"

"I’m always striving to improve myself and my business " Ivy said, trying to sound confident. "I’ll be back stronger than ever."

A reporter with a sharp gaze seized the moment, asking, "Ivy, many are saying that your marital status has denied you membership to the prestigious Lilies Club. What do you have to say about that?"

Ivy felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks. "It's disappointing, but I believe that my worth isn't defined by my relationship status. I’m focused on my career and personal growth," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.

Another reporter quickly jumped in, "And what about your personal life? Is there a man in your life right now?"

Ivy's heart raced at the question, and she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "I'd rather not say " she said, her voice steadying as she spoke, though inside, she felt vulnerable.

The questions kept coming but she had had enough and she quickly gestured to the Security team on standby. They held the press back as she made her way into the mansion.