Chapter 3

Patricia trekked for hours before she reached the bus station. A free bus arrived and parked in her front and she entered without a particular destination in her mind. 

She had nowhere to go, but she felt it was not good to stay around her enemies. They were bad energies she needed to stay away from, so she wanted to go far away. She wanted to live and take care of herself so that she could protect the baby in her womb. 

It was all she got now.

The bus arrived at the last bus station, and she got down. Immediately as she stepped out of the bus, her stomach grumbled. 

She has eaten nothing yet.

She left home in a rush to the hospital early in the morning, and after hearing the joyous news, she hoped to have a delicious meal with her husband after he returned in the evening, but her plan was ruined.

She rubbed her stomach and raised her gaze to see a restaurant at the other side.

She quickly walked to the roadside and looked left, but she was eager and was carried away, so she crossed without looking at the other side.

She paced to the restaurant, excited, but the happiness in her disappeared the moment she laid her hand on the door handle and remembered she had nothing with her. 

She has no cash or card to pay.

She called herself back and gently took her hand off the door.

She took a step back and rubbed her stomach. She turned around, facing the floor in disappointment. She was carried away to see what was in her front and she stumbled onto an old man.

The man fell to the ground, and she took a step backward, startled. “Oh!” she sounded, encircling her mouth with her left hand.

“I am sorry,” she apologized and quickly bent to help the man up. 

“I am so sorry, sir.”

He cleaned his body. “It’s fine,” he said with a smile, showing concern. “Young lady, what are you thinking that you aren't watching your front?”

“I am-” Patricia wanted to give a reply, but before she could complete her statement, he looked up, and seeing her face, he was shocked.

His eyes widened, and his entire body froze. He pointed his finger at her, keeping his mouth densely ajar. “Ivory!” He shouts.

“Where have you been? Why didn't you come back?” He questioned, his voice raised a bit in a delight tone.

She stared at him, confused. He just calls her mother’s name.

“Sir, I am Patricia. But you just call my mother’s name.” She explained. She is identical to her mom, and for him to mistake her for her mother, he knew her mother.

He scanned me from head to toe and pointed at me in disbelief. “You are Ivory’s daughter?” He let out, amazed.

I nod. “Yes.” She confirmed.

“Where is Ivory?” He asked.

“She died when she was a kid.” She announced.

He was shocked. His body shook with sadness and his voice stammered. “W-What!” 

She quickly took a step closer and held him so he wouldn't fall. “Yes, she died.”

“What? How? What killed her? How did she die?” He investigated.

“Sir, she died in a car accident.” She proclaimed. 

He raises his gaze to look up at the sky. “Why Ivory? Why did you die without allowing me to pay your debt?” He let out.

She could feel the sadness in his heart through his voice and seeing how painful he seemed to be, she faked an insincere smile to console him. “Sir, it's fate. Take heart. You being sad may reopen my wound,”

The smile on my face vanished and tears rose in her eyes. But she caged them and refused to let them out. “Her death is so painful because if she is alive, I won't be going through all these…”

“She will be here for me during this hard moment of my life. I'm sure she won't disown me no matter what happens. She won't chase me away.”

Pouring those words out makes her feel sad, and she couldn't help a drop of tear from falling from her eyes.

Hearing her pitiful words, he quickly took heart and gazed into her eyes with great concern. “What are you talking about? What's wrong with you? What are you going through?” He asked.

“Talk to me. You can trust me.” He persuaded.

“Sir-” Patricia opened her mouth to talk, but her stomach grumbled, making her stop talking. 

He gazed at her face, wearing a welcoming comprehending smile on her face. “Let's discuss the rest of the meal.” He offered.

She smiled and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

*****

Mr. Jackson was hungry, but refused to eat, because watching Patricia enjoying her meal made him feel up already. He longly hoped to treat Patricia’s mother to a meal, but he couldn't, and doing it for Patricia made him feel accomplished.

Patricia gluttoned the third plate of rice, she picked up a glass of water and drank everything without taking a break.

“Are you okay, or should they bring more?” He asked.

Without waiting for her response, he waved his hand at the attendant. “One more plate, please.” He ordered.

“No, she am okay.” she declined.

“Are you sure?” He asked, looking back at her.

She nodded with a beam. “Yeah, thank you, sir.”

“Okay, do you need any other things? If you need anything, order it. If it’s not here, let me know. I will get it for you. The bills are on me.” He informed.

Patricia smiled. “She is okay. I'm not a foodie. I guess I take this much because of what happened?”

“Patricia.” He called and paused, giving her a space to answer.

She raised her gaze to look him in the eyes. “Sir.” she answered.

“What happened to you? Why are you like this? What are you passing through right now?” He investigated with a concerned look on his face. “Where are you coming from? Where is your destination?”

Patricia exhaled deeply with her mouth making a noise. She looked down and squeezed her hands, placing them on her laps. “she got her husband cheating on me with her best friend-” she voiced out. Her voice was teary because her eyes were already filled with tears.

“You are married?” He interrupted her narration.

She nodded. “Yes, she am married to Leonard Cohen.” she disclosed.

His eyes widened in a fraction. “The same Leonard Cohen?” He let out in a questioning tone.

“Yes.” she confirmed. 

“He cheated on you. Why are you here? Did you leave home in anger?” He interrogates.

She shook her head in opposition. “No, sir,” she responded. “Cohen divorced me. He said he doesn't want me anymore. He trusts her best friend and wants to be with her now.”

“Where is your father?” 

The moment he asked about her father, a drop of tear fell from her eyes, but she quickly wiped it.

He disowns her, so he isn't worth her tears.

None of those evil souls did!

“He disowned me and removed my name from the family register.” She narrated.

Mr. Jackson hit the table with anger, and its loud noise brought everyone's attention to them.

Patricia looked around and slightly bent her neck to apologize to those looking at them, but Mr. Jackson wasn't concerned about that.

He ground his teeth. “He-” He wanted to speak with anger, but tried to watch his words and calm down.

“Why did he do that?” He investigated.

“He said my mom cheated on him with another man. I'm not his daughter, but an illegitimate child. My father is unknown.” She narrated.

“Is that true?” Mr. Jackson asked. He quickly sensed the question wasn't right, so he corrected himself. “That's not possible. I know your mother very well. She can't do that. I trust her-” 

He went silent for a few seconds and breathed out heavily. “Even if that is true, he isn't supposed to do that. Despite everything your mom did for him, how can he be heartless?” 

“Patricia, don't worry. You have me now. What do you plan to do now?” He asked.

“I don't know. I don't have anywhere to stay or run to. I have no plans. Right now, I just want to live for the sake of the baby in me.” She poured out.

Mr. Jackson stood up and walked out of his seat. He walked to the other side of the table and sat on the chair next to Patricia. He caged her tiny hands in his left hand and wiped the tears on her face with his right hand. “Stop crying. Everything will be fine.” He consoled.

“When? Today should have been my happiest day, but my life crumble before me. The only thing I used my life to protect was destroyed within a blink of an eye,” she expressed. 

She wished to stop crying, but the more she talked and remembered what happened, uncontrollable tears flooded out of her eyes. She hit her chest, weakling as if that would ease the pain she felt in her heart.

“Sir, in a single day, I was betrayed, heartbroken, and rejected. How am I supposed to live?”

He drew her head closer and rested it on his shoulder, patting her back. “And what if on this same day, you climb to the top of the ladder of success?” He raised a question.

His question made her raise her head from his shoulder. She looked straight into his eyes, wanting to dig deep. “What do you mean, sir?” 

“I will repay your mother's favor through you." He declared.

She frowned her forehead. “My mother's favor?” She repeated his words in a confused tone.

“Patricia, right in front of you now, is the old man, president Jackson Matthew, the CEO of Ivy global organization,” he introduced. “Also, I am your mother's old friend, who owes her all his wealth. She is behind the success of the Ivy organization.”

Hearing him introduce himself as the popular unknown old man of Ivy organization, Patricia’s eyes enlarged, and she moved back a bit startled.

She was shocked that she had been chatting with the richest man in the city!

“You are the president of the Ivy organization?” She asked.

He nodded. “Yes. I have been living my life in hide because I feel I don’t deserve to show myself to the world as the president. Your mother deserves it. She is the founder of the organization, and its name was derived from her name,” he explained, and everything began to make sense to Patricia.

“She put me in charge of the company while it was still in the developing stage. She begged me to keep it a secret from her husband and never look for her unless she comes to me,” he stated. “I have been waiting for her for years, only to find out she is dead now.”

“She told you to take the secret to your grave. Why are you telling me now? Isn't that another form of betrayal?” She said her view.

“It is not. Now, I understand Ivory took that wise step then for the future. She wasn't speaking about herself coming back to me. She was indirectly referring to you.” He explained.

Patricia was speechless, and she nodded, impressed. “What do you want to do now?” She asked.

“I will transfer all the companies and properties to you. It’s yours.” He proclaimed.

“No, you can't do that,” she declined. “You are a great man to inform me about this. Keep the companies and properties. You deserve it. If you didn't take proper care of it, it won't be a global organization. Ivy is the biggest organization in this city.”

“Patricia, please accept this from me. I'm giving you just the company. There are other properties to live off. Please, Patricia, consider my request.” He implored.

“But sir, I don't need it.” She continued to decline.

“Patricia, I can’t advise you to take revenge on those that hurt you, but what if there is a chance in the future? What will you do when you come across them later?” He threw reasonable questions to convince her. “When the time comes, do you still want to be someone they can step on anyhow they like?”

“You have to be somebody so you can't be in a position lower than them and once you become Ivy president, even the Leonard family will be under your feet. You will have a say then.” He convinced.

She reasoned along with him but said nothing. Instead, she nodded.

“Or Patricia, don’t tell me you don't want that. Do you want those who hurt you to have the chance to do that in the future?” He asked.

“No, I don't want that. I want power to fight back.” She proclaimed.

“To have that power, I will legally sign your name into the Matthew family register. I will officially make you the president of the Ivy organization and give you a man to stand by your side and protect you.” He proclaimed. 

“A man to stand by my side?” She let out an unclear.

“Yes. He will help you with everything he can.” He assured.

“Who is the man?” She inquired.

“My grandson, Bastian.” He replied.

“Patricia, are you ready to tackle whatever the future holds?” He threw a question.

Before Patricia could open her mouth to give a response, a man's voice came from behind. “Even if she isn't ready, I will be right beside her to support her.”

Patricia raised her gaze and saw a tall, handsome man walking to their directions with his mouth filled with a lovely smile that could drive a woman crazy. His hand was in his pocket, and his appearance alone was satisfying.

“Who are you?” She asked.

“Bastian.”