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Ivy swallowed as she followed Silas. She wiped the corner of her eyes, determined to keep her tears at bay.
A young woman in glasses approached them, a tablet in her hand. “Good afternoon, ma’am. Good afternoon sir,” she smiled warmly.
“Afternoon, Rachel,” Silas said calmly. “This is my wife.” He pointed to Ivy, then he gestured to Rachel. “That’s Rachel, my personal assistant.”
Before Ivy could greet her, Silas addressed Rachel. “What’s the update?”
Ivy watched as Rachel scurried after Silas, her hand tapping her tablet. Unsure of what to do, she stood in the reception area until another young lady approached her.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m Debbie,” the lady smiled. “Please follow me.”
“Alright, Debbie,” Ivy replied as she followed.
Debbie led her into a room bustling with activities. There were men talking and typing, women arranging files–everyone seemed busy. They entered an inner room away from the noise, though Ivy could still hear them..
“Your stylist isn’t here yet,” Debbie said. “But while we wait, you can rehearse your lines for the interview.” She gestured to a brown armchair.
As Ivy sat, her heart clenched at the reminder of Aaliyah Salvatore. She didn’t even know why she was holding on to the jealousy stirring in her heart after she’d told herself she didn’t care about Silas’s past.
God, she just admitted she was jealous.
She averted her eyes, hoping Debbie wouldn’t see the color on her checks. Thankfully, Debbie left the room for a moment, allowing her to compose herself.
By the time she returned, Ivy was feeling more confident. She smiled as Debbie handed her a file.
“These are the questions the interviewer would ask,” Debbie explained. “Your replies are already included. There would be no sudden or unusual questions, so you’re safe.”
She felt calm under Debbie’s warm smile. “Thank you, Debbie.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll leave you to go through it, then I’ll come back when Ms. Salvatore is around. Good?”
“Yes, good.” Ivy nodded.
“See you in a bit.” Debbie waved as she shut the door behind her.
Alone again, Ivy sighed and opened the file. She skimmed through it, noticing nothing unusual in the contents. There were more questions about her and Silas than there were about her and Mason.
There was only one question about Mason’s lawsuit, and she found the response different from what she would have said.
“What’s your take on your ex–husband, Mason Hunter, suing you for the event at Laurent Bridal Store?” she read out loud. “His claims are false. I didn’t do such a thing. It’s very obvious Mason is jealous of my new marriage.”
She chuckled softly. She could bet Silas had written that line himself. She went through the rest of the pages, and when she was done, she closed the file.
Then a sudden wave of anxiety hit her.
It was happening–she was going public with her marriage to Silas. The thought of her father and Cole intensified her anxiety and she stood up, breaking out in sweats.
Sitting alone in a small room, with distant noise around, didn’t help her nerves. She tossed the file on the brown chair and stepped out, desperate for air.
Ivy wandered through the building, with no location in mind, feeling the anxiety build further in her chest with every step she took.
She was freaking out. She had to find Silas. She needed air. She had to get out of this place.
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Chapter 45
“Breathe, breathe.”
Ivy couldn’t see who it was, but the soft voice and gentle touch on her back made her obey. Slowly, she breathed, allowing the tight knot in her chest loosened up.
After a moment, she exhaled, feeling a lot better. She turned to face her companion. It was an elderly woman with a big smile on her face.
“Thank you,” Ivy muttered, grateful for her intervention.
The woman nodded. “You’re welcome.”
The glimmer in her eyes made Ivy blush with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she had almost collapsed.
“It can be challenging,” the older woman said, reaching for Ivy’s hand.
“Yes,” Ivy replied, not knowing what else to say.
The woman pulled her gently to a chair close to the door that read Staff Only. “Sit. We can’t have you fainting on set. Reporters can be very cruel.”
vy obeyed the woman and sat. “Thank you very much.”
The woman studied her for a moment before speaking again. “I take it you haven’t done something like this before.”
“No, I haven’t,” Ivy admitted.
The woman arched her brow. “But you were married to a public figure before, not that we can call Mason Hunter a public figure, but you get.”
Ivy chuckled at the woman’s candor. “Yes I was. It’s… different now.”
The woman nodded knowingly. “I understand you. Still, it’s just surprising. Why now? Why go public now?”
Ivy instantly became weary of the woman. Who was she, and why was she asking such personal questions?
The woman seemed to notice Ivy’s hesitation and quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry for being nosey. It’s just that I’m here for the same thing,” she said sadly. “Well, almost similar. bhave to publicly declare that I’m still married to my husband, or else I get nothing–the kids, the house, the business. Nothing.”
Ivy’s heart softened.“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the woman said dismissively, but Ivy could tell it wasn’t. “I’m Rita,” she said, stretching her hand.
Ivy received her warm hand. “Ivy.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rita said with a faint smile. “I’ll see you around.”
“Good luck on everything,” Ivy called after Rita as she walked away.
Ivy sighed as she stood up, still feeling sad for the woman. She promised herself she’d find Rita and talk to her again after her interview.
She headed to the hallway, hoping she could find Silas this time. As she turned down the corridor, she saw Debbie walk into a room. Quickly she followed, terrified Debbie might have been looking for her.
But as Ivy got to the door, the voices inside made her pause.
“I can’t find her,” Debbie said.
“Maybe she has wandered around,” someone said. “I just hope you’re not losing your job for that.”
“Maybe if Rachel actually makes a move on Silas, we wouldn’t have to deal with this,” Debbie shot back.
“It’s not happening. I’m not making a move on my boss,” another voice said, Ivy guessed it was Rachel. “Have you seen the wife? She’s hot.”
“Have you seen your boobs? They’re bigger,” Debbie said, earning laughter from the group. “Just show him, make our lives easier. It’s not like we don’t know you haven’t already slept with him.”
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Chapter 45
Ivy stiffened, a silent gasp escaped her lips as she walked quietly away from the door. She’d heard enough, more than enough to make her stomach turn.
She couldn’t believe her ears. Silas had slept with his assistant. Damn that man!
What else did she not know about him? She knew she shouldn’t care, but it was too late now. She’d heard it and she was bothered.
Ivy made her way to the reception area, turning towards the corner that led to the room she’d been in. Just as she did, a door clicked and opened.
Aaliyah and Silas came out of a room, hand in hand, smiling from ear to ear.
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