Heath finally got the kiss he’d been craving. Hell, he wanted more than that, but he’d have to play it cool and ease her back into their relationship. He’d already started thinking of it as an ongoing and current situation.Ivy struggled with their relationship status. But he was in now and not going anywhere. That was the stumbling block, but she was warming up to the idea. Heath’s lawyer wasn’t waiting after the article to file the last of the divorce documents. Today was the technical earliest that the documents could be filed. Heath agreed with his idea that they needed to file them so they could get down to the civil matters she’d brought on herself. He wanted to force her to return some of the things she took without asking and he wanted to hurt her wherever she was using the money for. His mother he’d have to handle differently this time around. There was no way to appease her and trying to do so made Heath’s life miserable.“Go get some work done and I’ll see you at
Ivy fled from the office. If she hadn’t, he’d have been hard pressed to get anything done today. As it was, his cock would remind him all day about what he’d missed out on.But if he hadn’t missed it, then he wouldn’t be able to deal with his parents, especially his mother.Parker knocked on his door. “Line one is your mother. I saw Dr. Smythe leaving, so I assumed you were ready to get this done. Good luck.”Heath grunted and picked up his phone. “What have you done this time, Heath? How could you embarrass us like this? A child with that woman? How can Monica, your wife, hold her face up in public? You better prove that the child is not your and cut that gold digger loose for good this time. I won’t have her upsetting this family with her search for money.”“Are you finished, mother?”“No, I’m not finished. How dare you walk out on your wife like that yesterday? Monica wants to give your marriage a second chance. When are you staying now? It better not be with that go
Ivy walked furiously into the restoration room and sat down at her workstation. The long table held many pieces of broken pottery in three large velvet lined trays. The earthy orange pottery shards were clean but jumbled like a jigsaw puzzle. Ivy couldn’t concentrate on sorting the pieces right now. She was furious. Heath threatened to take Geoff away from her again. Now he’d added that he wouldn’t leave her alone. It wasn’t fair; she thought after a night in her apartment, he’d happily leave. She felt like a fool. Ivy told him he couldn’t have women over last night. She figured he’d leave after hearing that or stay away when he had a date that he wanted more from. How could she have missed this revelation? He thought she would cave yet again and act like they were married. “Alice. Please come to my office. We need to talk about something. Bring coffee and something sweet. Really sweet.” That was their sign when Ivy needed a shoulder or ear, but didn’t want to advertise h
Once Alice went back to work, Ivy had new things to occupy her mind. It wasn’t what she expected to get out of the conversation. But at least she had a few friendly shoulders this time to cry on and compare notes, so she didn’t become that woman who others would use until she wasn’t of use to them anymore. She wasn’t a dishrag to be used, wrung out, and left in a pile to go moldy or hung out to dry for the next person. Get revenge, give as good as she got. But how did she do that without Geoffrey finding out? Sure, she could stop picking up after them. Ivy’s problem was how did she explain what she was doing to Geoffrey, because he’s surely pick up on it and question her. Again, she would look like a terrible parent. She’d also play right into Heath’s hands if he took her to court for Geoffrey’s custody. Ivy figured she’d have to figure this out as she went, and hope that she could figure out what she wanted at the end of it all. Did she
Ivy looked at the executives having lunch and hoped they hadn’t heard about the article yet. It was barely lunch hour. She didn’t know if she should be worried, or not. Then she realized she was holding onto Heath’s arm like he was her lifeline. Ivy let go of his arm and looked up at him. That’s when she wished she hadn’t. Heath’s face hardened into that cold imperial look he got when he thought he’d have to deal with some confrontation without an outburst. “Afternoon gentlemen. Did I miss a memo or some such thing?” “Oh, no, Mr. Allan, you haven’t. We just sat down for a social lunch. Are there any problems we should know about?” “We’ll have to speak about it later. I need to speak with Dr. Smythe about a personal matter first before we can speak. I’m afraid my ex-wife is making up fairytales that involve Dr. Smythe and myself. So, I fear I will have to set the matter straight publicly, and I hope this will not reflect on Dr. Smythe neg
Heath guided Ivy to a table far away from the board executives, sat and settled her into a chair. “Just relax. I ordered for us. Today they have your favourite on the menu.” “It’s a little late now for me to mind that now, isn’t it, Heath? What do you believe my favourite food is?” Ivy didn’t speak above a whisper as she sat at the small two-person table. She saw a server nod to Heath and head into the kitchen. “I had Parker ask Alice about your current favourites and how you like it. I hope she didn’t mislead him.” Of course, he didn’t tell her what he’d ordered. That was too simple. He had to smile and sat, keeping her in suspense. Ivy rolled her eyes. “Oh, really Heath? You couldn’t have asked me? Or let me choose my meal?” She would not let him forget this time around if he insisted on a second time. Things would be different. He wasn’t the big man on campus anymore. “Ivy, I wanted only to ensure you had what you wanted. Our time’s limited before we must get back to business.
“What do you mean the journalist won’t speak to me? I have information that he’ll want about an ongoing article. He missed information in his last expose about the drama happening in the Allan family.” Monica couldn’t understand why the journalist was so existed when she first contacted him. Now he wasn’t taking her calls. There’d been so many things he’d missed to report within his article. “Miss, you won’t leave your name of give evidence for your claims. Our journalistic staff can only do so much before our legal team steps in and says we can’t print the information. It’s all about being sued. They tied our hands until you can come back with some evidence to back your claims. We are not in the business of putting our business at risk with a libel suit.” Monica didn’t get past the receptionist and her attitude stank. How did this woman keep her job? “I can’t believe he’s pulling this. I won’t believe it. Heath Allan has a bastard child wi
Heath waited until Ivy finished her meal to tell her the real reason, he’d insisted she have lunch with him. “Alright, since we appear to have hashed out everything we can about the past. We need to deal with the present and the future. Ivy, I want to know what you want to see that will stop you from pushing me away constantly and accept that we’re not breaking up and never have broken up.” Ivy put her drink down and looked at Heath for far too long and he fear she’d say something like there’s nothing. But she didn’t. The silence went on long enough that he saw she honestly thought about her answer. “You must prove to me you aren’t just a spoiled trust fund baby who may have grown up physically, but has no genuine sense of survival. I can’t have my son dependent on me forever. I can’t provide for him forever. You can’t lose interest in raising my son when the going gets difficult and walks out. Or pawn him off on a nanny or boarding school. My son w
In the school cafeteria, Jimmie Marks cornered Geoff to taunt him with the information he got over the last few weeks about him. Jimmie was told that Geoff was poor and his mother married his dad for his money. “So, you got a stepdad. It still doesn’t count. Your dad didn’t want your mom or you.” Jimmie tried to mess with Geoff and embarrass him in front of everyone who heard him. He’d heard from his housekeeper’s son all about Geoff because he’d gone to school with him. Maybe he was a little jealous because his family hadn’t been invited to the Allerfords summer house for their yearly party. “He’s my real dad not my stepdad. It wasn’t that he didn’t want me or my mom. Don’t you read or listen to the news? You’re so stupid. My ex-stepmom lied to my dad and made him think my mom didn’t want him. She then made it, so my mom had to leave. My mom had enough of the nonsense and left. When she did that, she didn’t tell my dad where she went. His mom and dad made him marry my ex
“Wait, is Alice dating him?” Heath missed a lot because he wasn’t in the trenches like Ivy. It didn’t surprise her he was unaware of Ed’s search for a wife among the female staff. Ivy kept brushing him off, knowing if he chased her, then he wouldn’t chase any other woman. He was a nice guy if the woman wasn’t his wife. Or at least that’s how Ivy saw it. “He’s trying to make his moves on her, that’s obvious. I don’t think he’ll fool her. Maybe she can fix his mistaken beliefs. I lacked the time or interest to try. So, all the power to her if she tries. Though I think she’d be wasting her time.” Ivy leaned back in her seat and explained. She tried to act like she didn’t feel the tension coming from Heath. Ivy couldn’t believe he felt so threatened by what she’d just said. His concern for Alice was decent, she guessed, because Alice was her friend and co-worker. “I’m glad to hear you say that. You had me worried there that you thought I didn’t apprecia
Ivy settled in the limo’s backseat, heading home. What a change to taking the train. It didn’t matter that she didn’t go home at once. It was nice to have someone drive her in comfort. The dark interior and gentle lighting somehow made everything easier. Heath liked them to pick him up as well. The three of them would go home. Kathy didn’t use her beat up old car anymore, because Heath insisted, she use the car he’d bought as a family car to transport Geoff safely. With Parker’s help, Heath had Kathy using a member of their security team to mail her packages and pick up her packages from her post office box. Ivy had to admit Parker played dirty by sending her a glitter bomb she’d opened after she got back to her studio. She called Ivy furious claiming Parker admitted to sending it to prove to her that anyone could send her a bomb. Kathy still felt outraged, even though she understood the point. Ivy could understand her outrage, even though the point
Geoff enter his new school. He realized his insignificance among the other kids in school, but this time, he wasn’t alone. Three kids he met at the cottage a few weeks back were with him. They were his friends; they said to him. He’d accept it because his dad said he needed to make friends to learn to be like him. “Thanks for bringing me, Kathy. We know where we’re going.” Kathy blinked at Geoff in surprise. Geoff desired to appear as a helpless child, needing help to navigate the school corridors. “Okay, quick check then. Have you got your bag, water bottle, lunch, phone, and hat?” “Yup.” Geoff said. He insisted on wearing a fedora he found as his dad unpacked a box of old clothes. “Okay, then go seize the day and try to avoid getting in trouble. Don’t forget your security is in the parking lot. No leaving the school grounds without them and they’ll bring you home. Parker is with your dad today and I’m getting my workroom se
Heath watched Ivy lose her confrontational nature, and that sexy hidden kitten came out to play. He loved it, because when this happened, she had no limits. He panted as she opened her blouse to reveal she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her hands moved to his waistband and Ivy had the air kissing his cock in moments before she was kneeling between his thighs, sucking on him like he remembered she used to do. His eyes devoured the sight of Ivy’s glistening lips bobbing on his hardening shaft. “Babe, slow down or the enjoyment will end too soon. You know I’ll want a good long taste of you too. God, you remember how good that is,” Heath said. He felt himself gasped as her small teeth nipped at his foreskin. His thighs shook a little. She’d barely gone down on him, and he wanted to lose himself. “Enough. I hope you have got no panties on either, or I’ll rip them apart to get to your cream.” Ivy resisted when he tried to pull from her mouth. She teased him by hol
Ivy and the other wives could head off for several potential disasters. Finally, she witnessed Heath’s efforts to make the day of a dream come true. Thankfully, the wedding planner realized how dated and difficult achieving this was to arrange. In the end, Heath got what he wanted, and Ivy understood him better. He’d kept a storage space of things he couldn’t part with that she’d left behind when she’d left. One of which was a dream book all about her dream wedding. She’d made the book about a decade before she met Heath in her teens, like many girls. So, it was out of date by the time she’d met him. The only reason he’d known about the book was she’d found it one day and told him about it. But she’d forgotten about it. With help from her new friends and the planner, they could achieve their goals. Ivy got stronger and walking became easier. She returned to work and life continued. Geoff now seemed content with his two reliable parents.
The weekend had been going well. The men didn’t disappear, as Ivy believed. They’d stayed close to the house and the kids. Ivy learned that this was normal. The men in Alec’s circle tended toward wanting to foster family bonds and friendships with people who had similar interests. The men all found they disliked how their parents raised them, and this was their answer to their problem. “You don’t know how glad we are. It’s you here and not her. Is it okay if we mention her? I don’t want to make you feel awkward.” Ivy sat outside on the patio after a rather enjoyable dinner. Heath had stayed true to his word, and the men were watching the kids play beside the lake. “It’s fine, I guess. Some argue I don’t consider her as much as she considers me. So, please understand, I probably won’t have much to say about her.” “You’re not angry at her for messing up your life?” “I’m sorry? Messing up my life. How? Everyone has r
Ivy couldn’t believe how present Heath became. Present for Geoffrey and herself, that is. He’d planned everything and stunned her when he revealed how he’d remembered her dream wedding one evening. He’s changed from the man who only cared about marriage paperwork. But what had Ivy scratching her head was he’d written it all down and he wanted her to review it to ensure her wishes hadn’t changed. Or she preferred a newer style. Her preferences and opinions now took a precedence they never had before. Heath ensured that she and Geoff enjoyed the best at the Allerfords’ beachfront event. Heath went with Geoffrey shopping for clothes, as well as for school supplies. Geoff looked like an entirely different child, right down to his expensive new haircut and running shoes. Ivy initially dismissed it, as Geoff naturally outgrows clothes and requires haircuts. That happened to boys his age. She’d finish but clothing in one size to buy
“Really?” Geoff was sure his dad would have limits. Geoff just needed to figure out what they were. His dad would surely appreciate his lack of tantrums and materialistic desires. At least not yet, anyway. Perhaps when he discovered what other children possessed. But right now, he enjoyed having his own gaming space and a lot of rooms to himself. Stop using the dining table for art and having to clean up before and after meals. “In the past, I used to dictate and control you and your mother’s actions and choices. Now is different and your mom and I decide together. But I have the connections and influence, so I’m the one that makes things happen. The young man will prioritize school, grades, and friendships. Learn from me to network and build connections for your family’s future. Remember the job I’m taking over from your grandfather?” They both wrinkled their noses when a member of the hospital staff pushed a cart by them with something smelly in it.