I Sold It

Chapter 5

"Ivy," Tim said.

"Hey Tim," Ivy replied.

"When did you get back?"

"This morning. Sorry, I didn't want to wake you up."

"It's okay. You want me to make you breakfast?"

"I ate at the airport. I couldn't stomach any more classes; I need a high CGPA."

"Sure, anything I could do to help."

"Go get dressed; we're late already."

After a long day, Ivy and Tim decided to grab dinner at one of the campus canteens. Today's classes were boring, according to Ivy, but the truth was, she was just exhausted. She didn't find joy in the things that brought her joy. Life seemed to be moving fast, and no one truly cared.

"What are you going to do about the company?" Tim asked.

"I sold it."

"You're going to sell it? Dang! Your father must have really loved it. Don't worry, once I graduate, I'll make a lot of money and buy it for you." Ivy chuckled, which made Tim smile; it felt like ages since she last smiled.

"No, I already sold it. I took care of it before coming; I didn't want to be there anymore."

"Ivy, why? I thought we agreed to wait a while to think about our next move."

"Our? Our next move? My family died, Tim. I don't know what you want me to do. And then the police come in to tell me they couldn't find or identify the person driving the truck... he must have been drunk or something. Just one freaking stupid accident involving a drunk driver. So, no, I don't want to be there. I don't want to think about it. All I need to do and think about is how I'm going to ace my exams and pay my freaking fees, especially now that I'm in an 18 million dollar debt, and I'm falling apart... and..." Ivy's voice cracked as she burst into tears.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay," Tim said, pulling Ivy into a hug.

"Let me go! Let me go!" she screamed, struggling to break free.

"What can I do, Ivy? What can I do? Tell me, I'll do anything for you, I swear. What would you have me do?" Tim shouted.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" Ivy yelled, scurrying off.

The little commotion drew passersby, watching as if they were a piece of entertainment. Ivy kept running until her legs couldn't hold her anymore. As she was about to cross the road, an incoming car hit the brakes, barely missing her. Though there was no impact, the fear had Ivy all riled up, and she passed out.

——

Ivy opened her eyes, staring directly at her reflection. There was a mirror attached to the ceiling, but she didn't remember having one in her room. As reality dawned on her:

"Oh, my... where am I?"

She looked at her body, searching for any changes. All she remembered was being almost hit by a car... or was she?

She was wearing different attire now – clad in expensive silk. The door to the room opened, and a woman, probably in her sixties, came in carrying a tray of food.

"Oh, you're awake! Here you go, poor little thing. You must be dehydrated." She handed Ivy a glass full of fresh orange juice.

Ivy was skeptical but famished. The moment she smelled the bacon, she couldn't resist.

"Once you're done, there are fresh clothes in the closet, shoes too. Pick any you like, okay? Call for me, and I'll come grab the plates. I'll leave now."

After devouring the meal, Ivy freshened up and explored the closet, packed with clothes. 'Where am I?' she thought.

She picked a black turtlenecked short dress that hugged her hourglass shape and black high-knee boots. There were even expensive-looking jewels, but she didn't put them on.

Carrying the food tray, Ivy made her way out. She opened the door, turned left, and walked down the passage. A door opened, and her eyes met the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

"What a sight for sore eyes." Wait, he looked familiar.

"Just Ivy," he said, his voice heavenly.

"Oh, right!"

——

A girl suddenly appeared from nowhere, running in front of my car, stepping hard on the brakes. ‘She should be thanking her stars I wasn't speeding’ Alex stepped out of his car and moved towards the blonde girl as she passed out. He was quick to catch her before she hit the ground.

He removed the hair from her face. "Ivy?" She had a face he couldn't forget—hell, she had a face no one could ever forget. She herself was a piece of art.

Alex brought her home with him; he rarely brought anyone to his home. He didn't understand it yet, but there was something different about her, though he'd met her only once. She made him want to trap her.

She had an ID on her, her school ID too, and her address. But may he be damned if he took her to her address, so he took her home.

"Elizabeth, can you take care of her for me?" Alex said as he dropped Ivy on his bed. "Also, I'll be in my study room if you need me. I'll order dresses for her; if you could help me take a look for her size."

"Sure thing, Alex. What happened to her?"

"I almost hit her; she passed out. She's just stressed."

"Look at that face, poor thing." Elizabeth was one of Alex's trusted employees, in her late sixties and still as strong as ever. She knew him since he was a little boy, when he worked for his godfather, Donatello.

How he managed to inherit Donatello's properties after his death and turn it into an empire was something everyone in the syndicate was either intrigued by or wanted to know. The death of old Donatello was auspicious.

Alex wondered what had driven a girl to run in front of a moving vehicle. Since the day he met her at that party, he couldn't get his mind off her. Alex was certain he would have bedded her already if not for the stupid Mexicans he was dealing with.

Morning came fast, but excruciatingly slow for Alex. He couldn't get much sleep, especially knowing he had Ivy so close yet so far. He spent the night in one of his guest rooms.

Alex wondered if Ivy would be awake by now. He opened the door, and like the heavens were on his side today, he was met with the girl who kept him up at night.

"Just Ivy," Alex said. It seemed it took only a second for Ivy to remember who he was.

"Uhmm, hi, good morning," Ivy stammered.

"Call me Alex; I never gave my name."

"Hmm, Alex." Alex shivered as he heard her say his name.

"Let me help you with that," Alex offered, trying to collect the tray.

"No, I can handle it myself, uhmm." She continued walking.

"The way to the kitchen is the other way," Alex said.

Ivy stopped on her track and turned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I told you I'd go up to get the dishes; you didn't have to," Elizabeth said, seeing Ivy and Alex in the kitchen.

"Would you like your breakfast now, Alex?"

"Yes, I will have that now, thank you, Lisa."

"Sit with me, Ivy, Just Ivy." They both took their seats as Eliza served Alex.

All Ivy did was watch Alex eat; it was quite entertaining.

"So—"

"Alex." He shifted his gaze to look at her; he looked at her and he saw her. She felt it too. Everyone looked at her, but no one really saw her—except Tim, who would be dead with worry by now.

"Your things are in the car; they're all safe. Once I'm done, I'll drive you to your university."

"University? How did you—"

"I found an ID amongst your things. Sorry for sniffing through them."

"It's nothing; I should say thank you for everything.” Ivy continue "b- but I don't seem to remember what happened last night"

Alex could feel the fear oozing out of Ivy.

"what happened last night?" He asked

"yes, what happened last night" Ivy repeated.

"well, I almost hit you. You fainted. I brought you home, you threw yourself at me" Ivy gasped upon hearing this as Alex burst out laughing.

"oh gosh I was just kidding" That was all he said.

There was something in Ivy that made Alex feel at home. Alex never really had a home and Ivy had just lost hers.