The Clash, Book One

Chapter 25: Pretty in Blue, Part A

Hey, everyone! I hope you guys are all looking forward to the next installment of The Clash! Just a note that I got a little carried away while writing, and this chapter will actually have 9 separate parts. But I promise that it's worth it! Happy reading :)

Alena took a deep breath in front of the doors of Belfry Towers. Per usual, she would need all of the strength she had to deal with whatever Ivy and Victoria threw at her today.

When she walked in, she noticed the receptionist wasn't quite her usual jovial self.

Alena furrowed her brows and thought about asking if everything was alright. She decided against it when she realized the receptionist was very deep in thought.

And so, Alena simply walked toward the elevator and pressed the button to go up.

When she arrived on the floor, she furrowed her brows at the empty chair at Ivy's desk. For a moment, she wondered where her co-worker could be when she realized it truthfully didn't matter.

The blonde then walked into Belfry's office, stopping abruptly when she saw Ivy sitting at the desk.

The brunette glanced up before she grabbed a file off the desk. She then walked over to Alena and offered it to her before stating, "I have your assignment right here."

Alena raised an eyebrow as she matter-of-factly pointed out, "You may be Belfry's daughter, but you don't have any authority here."

Ivy only smirked as she responded, "Perhaps. But in my mother's absence, it's my job to make sure this company isn't run into the ground."

Alena furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she asked, "Absence? Where did she go?"

With a tilt of her head, Ivy then questioned, "You mean you haven't heard?"

"Heard what?" Alena questioned, crossing her arms over her chest.

Instead of answering, Ivy saw an opportunity to be smug: "You know, I'm quite sure that my mother wouldn't approve of you being so ill-informed."

Alena resisted the urge to roll her eyes before she spoke, "Not that I owe you an explanation, but I have two three-year-olds at home that take most of my attention."

"That's your problem, not mine," Ivy told her, a fair amount of condescension in her tone.

Alena balled up her fists at her sides - she knew she should just let it go, but no one talked about her girls like that.

"They are anything but a problem. Call them that again, and you'll regret it," she seethed.

Ivy rolled her eyes before she said, "Geez, you have a flair for the dramatic, don't you?"

Alena only huffed in response while Ivy offered another smirk. The brunette then continued, "Since you clearly don't know, I'll tell you."

She paused before she stated, "Mother was arrested last night."

"Arrested? For what?" Alena interjected. Victoria Belfry was far from innocent, but she always covered her tracks well.

"For keeping poor Eloise Gardener prisoner. I had no idea my mother could be capable of something like that," Ivy explained, with what appeared to be genuine sorrow in both her eyes and voice.

Alena had to admit that Ivy was pretty convincing, but the blonde knew better. Even if Tilly hadn't filled her in with both Victoria and Weaver's involvement with this Eloise, Alena knew there was much more than meets the eye.