The dinner was quite surprising, really" I told Jade over the phone.
"How?"she asked.
"Well guess the people that came over" I told her.
"Mr and Mrs Humphrey and their annoying air brained daughter?" She said with a little bit of uncertainty in her voice.
The Humphreys are a set of unnaturally annoying people. They think they're perfect, the richest–not that I care and above mistakes but the worst part is that they are so frigging far from perfect. They're the worst kind of family you can find in the US.
Their so called air brained daughter Miranda is just nothing to write home about, lucky for me she attends the other school in our town; always competing with me for no just cause.
Well that's by the way.
"Nope, you're wrong" I answered purposely keeping her in suspense.
"Stop making me guess" she said sounding annoyed and I could almost see lines forming on her forehead.
"Okay, okay, don't get all mad at me now 'kay, I'll tell you" I said still keeping her in suspense but continued immediately to avoid her wrath "it was the Davids". I said and there was a long pause to the extent I thought the line had gone dead.
I was about to ask if she was still there when I heard an ear piercing scream coming from the other end of the line, I had to throw my phone to the end of my bed; when I was sure she was done screaming, I picked up my phone again.
"Like seriously, the Davids?! Was Ivan there? Please don't tell me he wasn't" she rapped over the phone.
"Woah, slow down cow girl" I chuckled.
"Let's start with the first question. Yes the Davids came and Yes, Ivan was there" I blushed when I called Ivan's name.
I weep for my soul.
How will I resist him when mere calling of his name turns me to a sack of juicy beetroot. Then to make everything worse, he'll be going to Kings High, his father confirmed that much over dinner.
I'm so doomed. Don't forget to add the echo for the doomed.
"Give me the gist in full and do not leave anything out, not even the part when you blinked" she told me, obviously trying to calm her excitement down.
"Okay, I'll start from when mum called me downstairs..." And I told her all that happened and she kept on squealing until the call ended.
I was about to go to bed when an unknown number called me. At first, I wanted to ignore the call because I was feeling sleepy. But against my better judgement, my stupid brain forced my stupid hand to pick the call.
"Hey, Nuts" a very familiar voice said over the phone, it took me a second to remember where I've heard the voice from and then it clicked.
I –frigging– VAN my current unwanted weakness.
Yes I know, I'm pathetic.
"Ivan?" I asked just to be sure.
"Yes babe" he's so smirking, It's like I can see it clearly.
Jerk.
"How in the whole of rotten Tartarus did you get my number? I ask sounding surprised.
"I've got my sources" he replied obviously grinning.
"Whatever" I said and he chuckled, it's obvious my brain is already sleeping.
#lamecomeback.
Now for the case at hand, I'm really fuming. I've not even got the time to check him on the internet and he has already used his so called sources to get my number! I'm sure he must have checked me out on the internet and maybe what he saw wasn't good enough for him that he decided to use his sources. I'm sure this source of his must have found out all the colours of my underwear.
Nonsense!
Hmph!
I'm the one that's supposed to be doing all the spying so that I'll know his weaknesses and his flaws and use them against him when he tries getting too close to me.
That's supposed to be the first thing to do in my mission NEVER FALLING FOR IVAN but unfortunately he's beat me to spying and I'm pretty sure he's spying for a totally different reason.
"Why are you calling me by this ungodly hour by the way?" I asked trying to calm down.
He has frigging sources monitoring my movements, for sure they'll tell him when I fart and how bad it smelt and he'll laugh his dirty ass out and use it against me one day.
If he's actually stalking me, I'll make him pay for it.
"Just wanted to hear your voice" he answered plainly.
"Whaaat?" I screeched.
"If you keep on screaming into my ear like that, I think I might go deaf and the worst part would be that I wouldn't be able to hear your sweet voice, Nuts; and I don't like that" he said sounding like he was pouting, and I actually pitied him for a second. As I was about to say 'awww' before I caught myself.
He was trying to charm me with sweet words so I'll forget the problem at hand but you know what? This chick ain't falling for no shit.
"I love my sleep" I started "and my sleep loves me, so for me to abandon my sleep to talk to you, I don't know like you are meant to feel honoured. Then I ask you why you called me by this time when I'm supposed to be in the land of dreams and you give me such a stupid answer" I said sternly.
"Just wanted to hear your voice" I said mimicking his voice in a very horrible way that I almost blew my angry façade by laughing but I suppressed it.
"Oh come on, don't take it too far, I was only kidding" he said "but that doesn't mean that I don't want to hear your voice though" he added immediately.
"Okay, I'm gonna cut this call right now" I threatened half heartedly because whether I liked it or not talking to him isn't that bad and I enjoyed it.
"No, no, no, don't; I called to ask you if you'd be free tomorrow" he said in a rush.
"Why do you ask?" Can't your sources tell you if I'll be free or not I almost added but thought better of it.
"I'm new to this place, I just wanted to hang out with someone that–" He stopped.
"With someone that what?" I asked really wanting to know.
"–with someone that's cool" he said after a long pause and because I'm a pathetic fragile hearted girl with hots for him, I blushed.
"What about your volleyball friends?" I asked baiting him to say what's really in his mind because I know that cool is far from what he wants to say. Maybe.
"What about them?" He asked practically throwing my question back at me; smart boy.
"Aren't they cool?" I asked wishing he would change his mind and tell me that he's going out with his friends and not me because I need to keep my distance from him for my heart's own good.
"They have other plans and I can't just stay at home tomorrow doing nothing" he answered.
"I also have other plans, you know" I said almost immediately, knowing fully well that my plans for tomorrow were to sleep and eat.
"Plans like?"
"My plans are none of you're business"
"Ok, but I want to tag along" he said, his voice almost pleading.
"Nope, no tagging along"
"Then go out with me" he said "please" he added and that my brethren melted the ice I was freezing to be my heart.
Just one pitiable desperate please. Maybe he really didn't have anyone to hang with– poor thing.
He's such a charmer. But really what was in my mind was the Ivan Davids is begging me.
Ha! It makes me feel cooler than I already am. My inner girl is totally doing cartwheels.
Please this conversation stays between us. It's our secret, nobody tells him I feel cooler okay? This is a circle of trust, spill the beans and you are so out forever.
I would still have to correct you guys, I'm not falling for him, I just admire him. Understood? Good.
"Fine, you win" I said in defeat.
"Did you just say I win?" He asked excitedly.
"Yes, but it's not a date" I said sternly.
"Okay, I'm fine with it, I'll pick you up by 9 a.m– so we'll have all day to get to know each other well" he said sounding elated.
Oh well I just made him happy and that's not the plan. I feel like I'm failing.
Ivan– 2,000,000 points.
Me– 0, zero, zilch, nada, none, cero.
I weep for my spirit this time.
"Ok, see you tomorrow" I said, feeling like the call should end that minute and it did.
"Good night Nuts, sleep well we have a long day tomorrow" he said quietly and hung up.
“So where are we going” I asked Ivan who was nodding his head to some loud trap music that'll probably give me headache later in the day.He said that the next place we were going to will be our last stop for the day since we've been going around town and I so hope this last stop of ours has something to do with food.“Benny's” he answered casually.“Shut the front door!” I exclaimed feeling thoroughly surprised.Only locals who have stayed in this town for a very long town knows Benny's– a very small eatery– and Ivan hasn't been here for up to a month, and he knows it already.“Don't you like the place?” He asked sounding nervous.Why the hell wouldn't I like the place and why in the whole wide world is he nervous?Before I could stop it, my buccal cavity vomit
“Thank you for saving me back there” I told Ivan weakly once we were in the car.“No problem anytime, after all they deserved it, they don't deserve to be called humans because they don't have hearts” he said grinning, trying to lighten the mood so I had no other option but to return his grin with a forced smile.The drive home was silent, too silent that I didn't realise when we when we got to my house because I was wrapped in my own thoughts.Although the day started well, it's ending with a sore heart. A pain I hid so fast and so well has been dug up and now the pain is worse, I feel like my heart is in pieces. My heart feels like a shattered conical shaped organ.But as cliché as it sounds whenever I remember how Ivan saved me from embarrassment, my heart feels a lot more better. He knows nothing about my past or those people, yet he stood up for me. I don't even want to start thinking of when he called me his girl.“We're here” Ivan said bringing me back to the present.“Oh, thank
“Is it weird that I'm catching feelings for Ivan when I just broke up with Linc?” I asked Jade who was ransacking my closet.It's been three days since she came back from Italy and she came over once I called her for fashion help, given that Ivan had asked me out… as a date.Okay don't crucify me yet. I don't know how I said yes to him, just that whenever he's around me all my reasoning and thoughts become so jumbled up; I think he knows this that's why he was all up in my space yesterday when he asked me prompting me to say yes without even knowing it.“Well since it's Ivan” she said stressing the Ivan. “I don't think it's weird. Just the sight of him can make a girl to break up with her boyfriend, talk less of a single girl—that being you—he's actually interested in” she continued, placing a flower patterned sun dress on my dresser stool and a nude coloured gladiator sanda
Ivan's P.O.V.I arrived at Ella's house—sorry mansion; I feel like I'm insulting the mansion whenever I just call it house because it is so freaking large, like the structure, the fountain, the garden, the drive way, everything is just so large—about three minutes earlier than I was meant to and called her.“Hey, Nuts” I said once she received the call.“Hey, Ivan” she said with a strain in her voice like she was sort of unhappy.“I'm outside but if you aren't ready yet, take your time. I want you to look your best” I said smirking—like she was going to see me—trying my best to make her forget whatever was troubling her. I just hope it isn't those jerks we saw the other day, thinking of them makes me sick. I keep wondering the relationship she has with them, why were so mean to her—more like why was the girl so mean to her and why was the guy looking sad, tired and weary.One day I'll surely get the information from her; I could always get the information I need elsewhere but I want t
Ella“Why don't you pick the call” I told Jade who has been ignoring a call on her phone.We were at a fare that Jade forced me to.She was trying to get me to go on one of the rides with her but no way I was doing that. I have a great respect for my fear of heights and she knows it too.After all, all I wanted to do was sleep, is that so much to ask?To add to her failed attempt of getting me to have fun, she's been ignoring a call which comes literally every minute on her phone.“It's not important” she said dragging me to the cotton candy stand.Yeah right; it's not important.It's obvious she doesn't want to talk to the other person in my presence. I wonder why.“The person probably wants to tell you something important” I tried to mak
“What are you doing here?” Ivan asked.“Scratch that, were you spying on me?” He rephrased his question.“I—I—erm—Jade and I—we erm—” I stuttered sounding so foolish even to myself.It's official I suck.“Come on, get up” Ivan stretched out his hand to pull me up.I untangled my hand from the tangled mess I and Jade were and stretched it out to Ivan who pulled me up.These sparks I get whenever our skins touch keeps getting stronger everyday.I turned to help Jade up but she was already standing and dusting herself while Ivan was checking my body for injuries.“You injured yourself” he said, a frown etched on his face as he was looking at my left elbow which I grazed on the floor when Jade bumped into me.&ld
Ivan“Who are those people we saw at Benny's? What history do you have with them?” Why did I just ask that?She was shell shocked.She totally didn't see that coming.I don't even have the right to throw that question in her face right now. I've never prodded her for it; just that once I asked her about it and I've never asked again, so why the hell did I have to bring it up now.I'm such a díckhead.I'm not even as angry as I let her believe and I just had to throw that stupid question in.I don't totally feel bad about asking her the question though because if I didn't put something harsh out there for her to wallow in, she'll want to know about Jack– the realtor I had a meeting with at the fare.The guy sure knows how to pick weird and awkward places to meet. Our first meet
Ella“Nuts”Ivan?It can't be.Who else calls you Nuts; you disappoint me Ella.But he was furious when I left his house.I turned my head slightly just to be sure it was him and there he was in his car looking unnecessarily handsome.Is this dude bipolar or something?He was vomiting hurtful things just minutes ago; why the hell did he come after me??He can't see me crying and I so don't want to be around him now.Ugh! My life sucks.I bent my head back, he should just go on with his life and leave me alone.“Come on, get into the car so I could get you home at least”Yeah right, that'll move me.Your leg hurts, stop
Ivan’s pov:“Call me when you get home”“I will Babe” I kissed her forehead and watched her go in and close the door.Everybody had left the party; I didn’t think we stayed that long at the garden.I got in my car, checked under the passenger’s seat to make sure the documents were still there, and thankfully they were.I headed home at once to meet my mum in the living room, still wearing her clothes from the party.“Where’s dad?” “He left for New York, he’s expecting you there tomorrow, bright and early” she sounded tired.“Of course, he wastes no time” I muttered,unbuttoning the first few buttons of my dress shirt. I felt choked.“And the plan?”“I’ve got the security footage in a flash drive, I’ve called a lawyer, divorce papers will be mailed to him next tomorrow and the replica is on your bed with a body cam”“Awesome, I guess I’ll retire now… I’ve got a long day tomorrow” I moved to kiss her head.“The movers are coming tomorrow too, don’t worry about packing, I’ll do that for
Ella’s Pov:Jade and I went to grab some food from the buffet table.I was so done with greeting guests plus any guest I hadn’t greeted was probably a late comer.“I love a good cocktail party” I beamed, slowly twirling my glass of non-alcoholic beverage.“The food makes it even better” Jade said with a mouth full of muffin.“Yeah” I said absentmindedly as I scanned the guests for Ivan. He left once Jade arrived.“Have you seen Ivan though?” I asked her still scanning the crowd.“Come to think of it, I actually haven’t” she wiped her mouth after finishing her fourth? Or fifth muffin. “Ugh, if I take another one of these tempting disguise of a runny stomach, I might spend the rest of my life in the toilet and then I’ll miss your wedding” Jade said, pushing the tray of muffins away from her.“Whose wedding aren’t we attending?” Joshua approached us. I really thought he wasn’t going to make it to the party.“Joshua! You made it” I grinned at him and he gave me a side hug.“Yeah, I did” he
Ivan’s pov:It was the night of the party, Dad wanted us to arrive in one car but I insisted on using my car because only then will I and Mum’s first plan work.“When we get there, go immediately and get the documents; your mum and I will distract the Thompsons” dad grumbled to me before his chauffeur drove off.I got to the party a few minutes after mum and dad and they were already involved in a conversation with the Thompsons as I arrived but Ella wasn’t there. I walked over to them, exchanged pleasantries and took an excuse to ‘find Ella’; when in the real sense I was going to find Mr. Thompson’s office and then the documents.The ground floor of the Thompson’s home was huge. You could literally get lost from just looking for the toilet. There were so many doors, so many walls and so many corners.Every door I opened just wasn’t his office; I was starting to get frustrated. I had finished checking all the rooms in a particular hallway and I was rounding the corner to check more roo
Linc’s pov:I woke up feeling so low -just as I’ve felt for the last few months. My blinds were closed haphazardly, letting little rays of light to seep in. I was still fully dressed from the party I went to last night. Everything was a blur, I could only remember drinking myself into oblivion.Waking up was pointless; it was just another day to feel down in the dumps with no hope and light at the end of the tunnel.The light filtering in from the blinds were disturbing and just as I grabbed my blanket to cover my face because what’s the point in waking up, mum called me to have breakfast.No matter the fact that everything was going downhill, mum made sure to put the family together. We always had breakfast and dinner together; the littlest things count. With the need to make mum feel like she’s really holding us all together, I hurriedly took off my clothes from last night and put on fresh nighties so that they wouldn’t know that I wasn’t in my room after dinner.On getting to the ki
THIRD PERSON POV:The same three people are in a dimly lit office. The older man sat at the table while the younger man stood in front of him along side the woman.“Any progress? Or did you just go away for a fuck?” The older man sneered.“Eros” The woman cautioned lightly.“It’s fine mum” the younger man intervened and turned to Eros “I’ve gotten the password and I’ll get the documents when they’re celebrating the African establishment…Dad” his throat tight with swallowed anger and frustration.“I’m pretty sure he got it from fucking her; at least he’s good for something -fucking all that wears a skirt” he laughed menacingly.“Eros” his wife warned while Ivan’s fists clenched.“You don’t fucking say that about her!” all his neck and arm veins bulging while he turned red.“Someone has fallen in love, eh?” Eros stood to sit at the edge of his desk.“You know what? This shit is shady as fuck and you’re obviously not being truthful. Why don’t we let the right authorities do the dirty work
“One of these two things will have to happen; either you delete the picture or you lock it up in a hidden folder never to see the light of the day”“But I want to see it first thing every morning; it would be in a frame on my bed side table, what do you say?”“Nope, no way Ivy; I really hope you’re joking” I panted.I didn’t remember this route being this long. I convinced Ivan to come swimming with me at the lake Dad used to fish in when ever we spent a weekend here. Well, it didn’t take much to convince him; I brought up the idea of swimming and he was up for it. “So long as I see you in a bikini” were his exact words laced with his legendary undies dropping wink.Pervert much.“I honestly feel like we’re lost” I complained as my sandals crunched on dried leaves and twigs behind Ivan who was somehow leading the way to somewhere he’s never been to but with my directions guiding him.“I hear water! We must be close” he said excitedly holding my hand -which he hadn’t left since we ente
I woke up half wrapped in a blanket on the bed with the AC blasting cool air. I could only remember feeling sleepy on Ivan’s laps in the sitting room. He must have carried me up.The thought made me smile.I didn’t see Ivan around so I freshened up in the bathroom before I set out to look for him downstairs.He wasn’t in the kitchen or sitting room so I started going down the passage that leads to the back door to check him there when I saw my dad’s office open.I entered the room and found Ivan looking at books on my dad’s wall to wall and floor to ceiling book shelf.“Hey” I said stopping to rest my hand on my dad’s desk. He turned swiftly with a book in his hand, a little bit startled.“Nuts” he said giving me his contagious one million watts smile. “You’re up, you slept well, yeah?” He asked putting the book back on the shelf where it belonged.“Like a baby” I smiled as Ivan open his arms for a hug. “I was just going to the back to look for
“So Ivy, huh?” Ivan said with his eyes trained on the road and a hint of a smile on his lips.“It slipped” I said sheepishly, blushing.“Oh, it slipped. Meaning that's what you've been calling me in your mind all this while” he said finally laughing out.“Why are you making it such a big deal?” I pouted playfully.“Because, you're embarrassed about it and I don't want you to be. You can call me anything you want and I'll be fine with it” he looked at me and smiled sweetly then he took my hand and held it on his thigh, rubbing soothing circles. “But Ivy is my favourite” he grinned looking back at the road.“How can you choose Ivy as your favourite when you haven't even heard the others?” I laughed“Ouuu, so there are others, huh? Tell me, I want to hear all of them” he said wiggling his eyebrows.“Oh my God, you're impossible” I laughed covering my face with my free hand.“I was just saying! There isn't any other one” I laughed more.“Okay, if you say so” he grinned.★“Babe, we're her
Third person's P.O.V“You're too slow son, too slow” the first man said disappointedly while the other man rolled his eyes discreetly.“It's a slow process, you of all people should know this”“A slow process that's getting to two months?! This is a snail's pace. We need to act fast and you are the way to the first step of this plan and you haven't done anything!” the first man boomed.“I'm doing my best” the other man said through gritted teeth, his anger rising slowly.“Doing your best” the first man mimicked. “You just have to be fast so we can get to the F.B.I and get this over with”“I would put more effort” the other man said calmly.“Sometimes I wonder why and how you are related to me” the first man said dismissively.“Like I'm happy doing this” the other one muttered under his breath as the first one angrily left the room.Ella's P.O.V“And the ship has finally sailed!” Jade screamed jumping around excitedly after I told her of everything that happened in the party.“We need t