The taunting look on Tarquin's face said it all; he was the boss and he had ordered Ivy to leave his company.
Ivy knew this wasn't the time to be rude so she went on her knees and started pleading but he refused to give her a listening ear nor hear her out. Ivy refused to leave when he asked her to leave his office to get ready to be sued in court.
Tarquin also promised to tarnish her image with his influence so she would never be able to get employed by anyone. Ivy didn't even know what to do, because she didn't have any money with her.
She just moved into the country, "How will I survive and cope when everything is already turning out like this?" She quietly asked herself.
"I'm sorry sir," Ivy pleaded with a shaky voice for the hundredth time, but Tarquin refused to listen. He stood up from his desk and put on his suit when a young lady came to inform him of the board meeting which was about to begin.
"Before I return, throw this thing out of my company," Ivy heard him say to his assistant before walking out. She knew he was referring to her and this hurt her more.
"How can someone be this heartless," She said loudly and stood up. Ivy could see the pity Tarquin's assistant already had for her in his eyes. He also knows that the way his Boss was handling the matter wasn't right but no one would dare tell him what to do.
"Please ma'am, you have to leave, my boss is very petty and would never back down until he does what he has in mind. Don't waste your time thinking he will change his mind," John said to her sadly. Ivy could feel her eyes burning. Tears threatened to fall but she tried as much as possible not to allow it to.
"I know," She replied and stood up. He ushered her out and handed her main luggage back to her which she cheerfully accepted.
"Thank you," Ivy appreciated and walked out of the company's premises. She contacted the driver who brought her to work in the morning.
On arriving home, Ivy was more than disturbed.
She jumped on her bed when she got to her room and buried her face into the pillows.
The scene that happened with Tarquin replaying in her head and she couldn't hold back the tears any longer and started crying out loud, cursing herself for relocating which she thought would help her move on after her last relationship crashed drastically.
"I took the wrong step. I should have stayed back in my country, maybe I would have relocated to another city and looked for a new job as Emelia, my best friend had suggested but I refused and decided that moving to another country to start afresh was the best option." Ivy thought.
"Now that things were already this messed up, where will I even start from?" she asked herself.
She was in another country where she didn’t know how things worked. She was more than scared of going to look for another job because she didn't know if Tarquin had already stigmatized her as a thief which can be possible through the internet.
Ivy didn't stop crying, and eventually cried herself to sleep, not even bothered about pulling off her attire.
*
Tarquin walked into the meeting hall to meet the board members who were already sitting down, patiently waiting for him.
He didn't bother to greet nor exchange pleasantries with any of them.
"I am higher than all of them," He reminded himself as he sat down.
"Let's proceed," he announced coldly and his assistant placed the company documents in front of him.
"Good day, Mr Jones!" One of the board members said to him and then started addressing everyone without standing up which made him annoyed. Tarquin raised his hand, an indication for the board member to stop which he did.
"You ought to be on your feet if you want to address any matter here, except you all want me to walk out of this meeting which you don't want," Tarquin's voice was cold to the core because he was yet to get over that luggage theft situation which had stressed him out for days now.
The board members looked at themselves before the one who had been talking stood up.
Tarquin knew they were all cursing at him in their hearts, stating how petty and rude he was with little things he could overlook, but that's just who he is.
He might be rich, and powerful but he is equally petty and couldn’t let any single matter involving him slide, even if it wasn't necessary… you cannot even get away with the least of his properties nor offend him in any way and think he would overlook it.
No, that's not who he is, he didn't tolerate it, and all his employees should know that already.
The meeting continued when the man acted according to Tarquin's order.
Tarquin gave them the required documents when the board members asked him to submit them.
The board members all went through it and confirmed that it was the needed documents that were required before the company could be handed over to Tarquin which made him sigh in relief.
"We have seen the documents, Mr Jones… I can see that you are truly eligible to take over from your father as we have always looked forward to, but there is a last wish your father asked us to help fulfill before he passed on," another member of the board said and paused. He looked at others before looking at Tarquin.
Tarquin was already very impatient with their long speech and all he wanted at this moment was to be asked to sign the documents which would make him the legal owner of the company and his father's other properties, and also get to become the new chairman of his father's empire but hearing them mention a wish to lengthen everything made him agitated.
"What's the wish?" he asked impatiently, while trying not to flare up, he remembered his mom's words but he waved it off. He hated when he was being kept in suspense, and the one he was getting right now was trying to push him to the limit of his patience.
Tarquin looked at the board member who raised the issue of the wish but he wasn't saying anything. He didn't know if the board member was scared of saying his father's last wish but Tarquin didn't care because there's nothing he cannot take care of. Tarquin didn't want to get angry and make a fuss so he calmed himself down and asked again.
"What's the wish, I don't want to lose my temper because I don't understand the reason behind your silence after you mentioned that my father has a last wish," Tarquin said aloud angrily and the board member cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, Mr Jones! Actually, your father wished you would get married before we hand over the company to you," the board member announced.
Tarquin felt himself becoming enraged, his temper was now boiling at its highest, and his eyes were already bloodshot. His mother had mentioned that during dinner but he thought she was joking.
Tarquin tried not to show how angry he was already, and looked down at the documents on the table, gritting his teeth in anger.
He knew why his father made that wish.
Before his father's death, Tarquin had mentioned to him that he would never get married because he was scared of being a bad husband and father to his children as his father was to him and his mother.
He feared that he would turn out to be like his father because his father's blood runs through his veins and his father knew that he was serious about it when he mentioned it at his sick bay.
Tarquin sighed and he couldn't help but regret ever making that revelation to his father. He heard a board member clear his throat but he didn't look up because he couldn't fathom how scary his eyes were going to be. He was boiling with rage and regret.
"He also added we should only make you temporarily own the company after your marriage, and until your marriage lasts up to a year without any crises, we shouldn't make you the permanent owner of the company. He also said_"
"Enough!" Tarquin barked, cutting him off, he had had enough. He stood up and started walking away to their surprise. His Assistant quickly packed the documents and went after him.
"Why is my father still cruel even after death?" Tarquin asked himself with a sigh as soon as he walked out of the company's premises.
"He must be kidding if he thinks that this is enough to stop me," He said to himself.
He entered his car and asked his driver to take the day off because he would be the one driving himself around that day.
He needed to clear his head and he only gets to clear his head when he drives. Tarquin drove out of the company, heading towards the outskirts of the city
>>>LATER IN THE EVENING<<<
Tarquin picked up his phone and called his Assistant after about three hours.
"Arrange a meeting with the lady who mistook my luggage thinking it was hers, I have an important offer for her," Tarquin informed John over the phone before ending the call.
He had thought about everything while driving and he decided to hire a temporary lady who would act as his wife until he fully took over his father's company.
Perhaps it was because Ivy was different from Christy and others; not a high-class whore like them and easy to tame... That was why he chose her.
Tarquin didn't know why he chose her who mistook his luggage as hers, maybe it was because he had an opportunity with her.
All he knew was that he just had to use the issue of the luggage exchange to make her agree to be his temporary wife until whenever he got his company and everything else.
Prepared and dressed to leave, Ivy took a long last look on the wall mirror in her room. Tarquin’s assistant John had contacted her that morning stating that Tarquin wanted to meet with her and sent an address. Ivy had been nervous after the call, she was afraid that he was going to take her to meet his lawyer and didn't want to honor his invitation at first but she later changed her mind, preparing for whatever it would turn out to be. She had spent the previous night drowning her sorrows in a bottle of wine, but the call from John that morning had given her a strange sense of strength and resolve. She knew she didn't have a lawyer or the money to fight this, but she was determined to face Tarquin head-on and talk this out like adults. They were both at fault, and she was ready to accept responsibility for her part in it. It wasn't going to be easy, but she was ready to face whatever came next. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, encouraging herself for the difficult
As Ivy paced back and forth, her heart was pounding in her chest. Today was the day she was going to get married, and she couldn't deny that she was terrified. She was scared of what marriage to Tarquin would mean. She remembered how she'd tried to act tough and challenge him, only to have him turn into a devil right before her eyes. In a moment of panic, she had signed the contract, but immediately regretted her actions. She had begged Tarquin to cancel everything, but he had refused. Now, she was stuck, and she didn't know what to do. Tarquin had made it clear that she wasn't getting out of this, and that there was no turning back. The deal was done, and she would have to live with the consequences. He told her to keep her copy of the contract safe, because without it, she wouldn't be able to leave the marriage. She sat in the room, watching as a team of maids fussed over her. It was a simple court wedding, but it felt like the biggest production. She didn't understand why they w
On hearing Ivy say stop, Tarquin somehow felt nervous that she was going to reject him in front of the guests and cancel the wedding. He clenched his fists, already thinking of how to deal with her if she had the nerve to do so. "I need to use the restroom," Ivy said and excused herself. One of the workers in the court followed her out to show her where the restroom was located. Tarquin signaled John to come over, John quickly did and he whispered in his ears. "Ask some of the guards to guide the restroom and stand by at every exit in case she wants to run away," John nodded, receiving his command before leaving to mobilize the guards to do so. Ivy thanked the worker who showed her the restroom and walked into one of them. Everywhere around the restroom was very quiet and calm, she slumped on the floor not minding her dress being messed up, and allowed the tears that had already gathered to flow down. She was regretting everything, the circumstances that brought them together, th
On getting home, the ankle pain had stopped and the swell had gone down a bit, making it easy for Ivy to walk inside. She headed straight to her room to take a bath and change. When she first got in, she saw a room decorated with lots of flowers which left her surprised. There were rose petals on the white bed, and a red bulb lit the place, blending with the white interior which made the room look beautiful. When she got into the bathroom, she saw Rose petals filled inside the bathtub. Ivy wondered who might have ordered all of this. She knew that Tarquin would never do it, she thought about his Mom, she was the one she thought. Ivy sighed, Mrs Caroline might be thinking they were going to consummate the night of their wedding but unknown to her Tarquin left while they were heading back home to wherever he had in mind and hadn't returned. Even if he didn't, he wasn't showing any interest like he was the type who loved intimacy and would want her at least to be intimate with him e
Tarquin relaxed back on the door looking at Ivy who was now restless. She quickly avoided his eyes as she looked away. "He is home, we are about to have dinner," Ivy replied. She heard Mrs. Caroline sigh in relief over the phone. "I thought he didn't go back home with you and had disobeyed me," Mrs Caroline said, getting Ivy confused. "Was there any time he didn't want to go back home with her?" Ivy thought. "Besides he didn't go home with her and left in the middle of the road," she thought to herself. "Alright, enjoy your dinner. I will come to your wedding party," Mrs. Caroline said and ended the call. "Wedding party?" Ivy wanted to ask but the call had already ended. She remembered Tarquin, who was still at the door of the room. He was looking intently at her. She was still feeling uncomfortable but didn't know what to do next. She adjusted her pajamas and decided to head downstairs to have dinner and at least breathe, she couldn't stand the sight of him. She wondered how
Ivy woke up with a stretch before opening her eyes, she looked around her surroundings like she had forgotten about it. She was spread out on the bed and the sheets were entwined and rough so was her hair when she touched it. She stood up and headed to the bedroom to wash her face. She had slept soundly unlike how she thought she would, she thought Tarquin was going to ask her to sleep in a different room or sleep on the couch or possibly on the ground. As she thought about this, she wondered where he had slept, she didn't find him in the room when she opened her eyes. Maybe he slept out or slept in a different room she thought but at the same time, she recalled him coming into the bedroom which had quickly driven her to sleep because she couldn't face him. Ivy sighed and stared at the reflection of her face in the mirror. Yesterday was crazy. She concluded and looked at her bandaged hand. "Was that how she was going to live the next 365 days of her life?" Under his dos and don't
"Mom!" Ivy called, startled to see Mrs Caroline as she approached them. It was then Tarquin looked up at the direction his Mom was heading from. He was equally surprised to see his mother too approaching them. "What are you doing, Ivy?" Mrs. Caroline asked as she noticed that Ivy was serving Tarquin and there was no servant around to do so. Ivy looked towards Tarquin who was looking intently at her before looking away towards Mrs. Caroline. She forced a smile. "I decided to serve my husband breakfast and asked all the servants to go get busy with other stuff," Ivy lied as she dropped the coffee cup in front of Tarquin. "Why? You should allow the servants to do their jobs, why will you stop them? Please sit," Mrs Caroline said. Ivy looked at Tarquin on hearing Mrs Caroline's words. She could see disapproval in his cold gaze as he continued looking at her. She declined and shook her head. "No, I will sit to have breakfast after making sure my husband is satisfied," Ivy said as poli
Tarquin finally stood up from the poolside and headed inside the house. He had finally gotten the privacy he craved, it was so stressful for him to start sharing his space with another person now. He isn't yet used to it and doesn't want to get used to it too.He walked into the bedroom and sat on the couch as he stared at the bed. He was still surprised at himself for allowing Ivy to sleep comfortably on the bed. The plan was to ask her to leave the guest room or sleep on the couch if she didn't want to leave the room. He became weak to ask her to leave when he walked in and found her sleeping comfortably like a baby on the bed, he was humane so he felt a little bit touched and decided to sleep out.He spent the night in his private space on the next floor where no servants are allowed to visit.Tarquin was agitated at his Mom, he didn't know why she was interfering in his affairs, if she would continue interfering in his affair, he would have no choice but to make Ivy's life more mi