Rivals in Business, Allies in Love

Chapter 17

~Ivy~

I carefully sneak myself through the backdoor of my home. The last thing I want is for my mother to give me the twenty questions of why I'm drenched and looking a mess.

Today has been one disaster after the other. I mean, why today of all days does it rain? It could've rain any day but today. Moreover, why Zavier Manharti couldn't be the asshole that drives right past me on the streets? Why couldn't he treat me like a stranger?

Why did I have to end up in his car? You're always shining. I bet to him, a little too brightly since he's always trying to dim my glory. Why was he even looking at me like that?

I quickly and lightly thread up the stairs. My parents are probably not even here. They've both been busy lately. "Oh Ivy dear. What happened?" Martina strolls out of a room, concern scribbled all over her face.

"I got caught in the rain."

"Oh dear." She ushers me into my room. I follow behind her, trying to wipe off some of the water droplets left over on my shirt. My phone buzzes in my backpack just as I toss it on the floor near my dresser. "Come." She withdraws a towel out of nowhere and starts dabbing at my hair.

"Maria, I'll handle it. It's fine." I try taking the towel from her hands but she won't let me. She urges me to sit in the chair in front the dressing table. Martina takes care of me like I'm her own daughter. Speaking of daughter, isn't her daughter's prom tonight? Or dance.

"Isn't it Ella's dance tonight?" She hums a response, her eyes still focused on me. I watch her from the mirror in front me.

"Her dance is the day after tomorrow. We're supposed to go dress shopping tomorrow." I nod, slowly. A phone begins buzzing on the dresser and I note it to be Martina's. Her eyes widen as she swipes up the screen of the phone. "Sorry, I forgot to turn it off."

"It's fine." I took a look of the screen before she grabbed it. It was Ella. She ends the call but it starts up again. "Answer it. It could be important." I never really cared for whether or not Martina switches her phone off. My father implemented the rule after an ex employee took footage of him discussing a deal on the phone. At first, phones weren't allowed in our house at all. He became a little lenient a year after the incident and decided they'll have to turn it off.

"Ella, honey." I take the towel and start drying what's left of my damp hair. I'll blow dry it after my shower. "I've completely forgotten about our plans. I might have to cancel." I swivel around to look at her. She doesn't have to cancel. She's free to leave. I can handle myself.

"You can go." I whisper. I'm a nineteen year old who's on her way to running a business. I can clean myself up after a downpour. Martina takes her job too seriously. She always tells us how grateful she is to us but really we are grateful to her. My mother gave her a job when she needed it the most but she's done more than enough these past few years to make up for it.

Martina removes the phone from her ear. "Are you sure?" I shoo her with my hands, the smile taking over my face. She returns the phone to her ear. "Okay honey. I'll be there in thirty minutes." She ends the call and I can already hear her before her lips start moving.

"Martina, go have fun with your daughter." After one last concerned look thrown my way, she leaves.

Sometimes I envy people like Ella. They go shopping and bowling with their moms and me, my mom and I  barely eat together on the same dinner table like before.

I love my mother. Sometimes I miss spending time with her.

Shower. I need a shower.

After showering, I settle down on my window bay with a cup of coffee in hand and my cellphone. I just got from the shower and is in need of a hot energy boost.