Chasing Dreams

chapter four

Ivy took her heels off running to find Q. She wanted to get out of this place. She had worked at the Ramblin’ Rose long enough to know that Vincent beat Arnie up. She had seen to many bloody hands to know that he didn’t. It made her wonder what kind of man Vincent Barron really was.

She found Q making out with some guy in a corner off the bar. Realizing she probably hadn’t even missed her, Ivy headed for the front door. She didn’t even bother putting her shoes back on stepping out into the cool Chicago night air.

She stood there for a minute thinking of how she wanted to get home. Since she didn’t really have that much money walking was her only option. She was almost around the corner when a red Porsche pulled up in front of her. She began trembling backing away when the driver side door opened.

A sense of fear and relief washed over her when she saw that it was Vincent. “Why did you beat him up, Vincent?” she asked when he came around the car. She needed to know the kind of man he was.

“I don’t know,” Vincent confessed, leaning back against the car, folding his arms across his chest. Those smoldering dark brown eyes locked on hers. “Thinking of what could have happened if I hadn’t shown up,” he admitted, dragging his hand over his perfectly groomed beard that looked like a days’ worth of stubble. “I lost it.”

Ivy could see that Vincent was struggling with what he had done. A part of her was glad that a man like him would go to such extremes to protect someone like her. Then there was the part of her that wonder why would he. She was just a nobody from nowhere.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping closer to him.

“How about I give you a lift home?” he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Ivy knew she probably shouldn’t, but she really didn’t want to walk home in heels or barefoot for that matter. “Okay,” she agreed. Letting him open the door for her.

Vincent was glad that Ivy agreed to let him take her home. He knew he was chancing it when he pulled over but seeing the look of pure fear on her face. Knowing that he was the reason it was there was something he couldn’t handle.

Ivy stared out the window. Every time she saw a new part of the city she found herself absorb in what she saw. She had even forgotten Vincent was driving until she heard him ask, “Have you seen much of the city?”

“Some,” Ivy said, turning to see him staring at her. “I think your eyes need to be on the road.”

“Sorry,” Vincent chuckled, turning his attention back to the road. He didn’t mean to stare he couldn’t help but noticed the way she stared out the window. It was as if she was memorizing everything she was. That gave him an idea on how to see her again. “What do you mean by some?” he asked.

“I mean when I go to a different part of Chicago for a job interview. Sometimes I walk around afterwards,” she whispered.

“How about Saturday I take you around the city. I will be your official tour guide,” he offered, hoping she took the bait.

“I’m sure you have better things to do than showing me around the city,” she scoffed. “Don’t you and Elle have some social function to attend,” she said without realizing it.

Vincent pulled the car over, turning off the ignition. He turned in his seat, resting his elbow on the back of the seat. “How the hell do you know that we’ve attended those things. I thought you only wanted to know what I did?” He couldn’t help but feel a little bit of satisfaction knowing she was interested.

“I only wanted to prove that there was more between you and her,” she said, her chestnut eyes boring into his. “And I was right,” she added, folding arms across her chest in triumph.

“Wrong,” Vincent stated, hooking his finger under chin, turning her face towards him. “There is nothing between me and Elle,” he whispered, leaning closer. Her sweet perfume was beginning to drive him crazy.

“What I saw in the elevator didn’t look like nothing,” Ivy quickly reminded him, moving back towards the door. Vincent’s warm breath on her face was sending those butterflies doing somersaults in her stomach again.

“Yes,” Vincent said, placing his hands on the steering wheel. His eyes never leaving her. “Elle and I f**k. And yes we have gone to parties just for appearances. That’s it,” he said, hoping she believed him.

“Whatever,” Ivy said, giving up. She knew there was no point in arguing with him.

They rode the rest of the way back to Ivy’s apartment in silence. “I hope you let me show you the city,” Vincent said, hoping for one last chance when they pulled up in front of her building. “It’s the least I can do,” he added before she could interrupted him.

“Okay,” Ivy agreed. He did owe her forgetting her fired. It also meant she could say she got to see the city with a sexy, successful man.

“Great,” Vincent said. “I call you later and tell you the time.” He had no idea on what he was hoping this would accomplish. Maybe he could understand why she made him not think straight.

Ivy watched Vincent drive away before turning to step inside. Bonnie, who lived downstairs, was leaving for her job. She owned her own cleaning company, and she mostly worked nights since she cleaned a lot offices throughout the city.

“Leaving for work,” Ivy stupidly asked, knowing she was.

“Yeah,” Bonnie said on a small laugh, locking her door. “Hey. I know you are new in the city and are struggling to find a job. I could always use the extra help if you need the cash,” she offered. “I pay five hundred dollars.”

“Each job?” Ivy asked. She wasn’t keen on being a maid for that kind of money she could do it.

“Sometimes. Sometime more depending on the job.”

“How much more?” Ivy was definitely intrigued now. Especially, if she didn’t get the job she was interviewing for tomorrow.

“Close to a thousand on occasions,” Bonnie admitted.

“If I don’t get this job tomorrow…yeah, definitely,” Ivy told her.

“You can knock on my door tomorrow and let me know,” Bonnie said.

“Thank you,” Ivy said, running up the stairs to her apartment.

Ivy straightened of the black pencil skirt that Q leant her. She was interviewing for a job as a receptionist at a tech company. It wasn’t the most fascinating job but at least it wasn’t bartending or waitressing, and the pay was pretty decent.

She held her head up high stepping into the bright office, hoping she looked more confident than she felt. Her hands trembled as she sat down across from the woman who looked a few years older than her. “May I see your resume?” she asked Ivy.

Ivy couldn’t stop her hand from shaking as she handed her the piece of paper. At least this time it was a little more impressive but not by much. The woman didn’t speak she just sat there slowly looking over her resume. “Do you have any experience in being a receptionist?” she asked, finally looking up, her blue eyes locked on Ivy.

“No, ma’am,” Ivy admitted. She tried mentally preparing herself for the rejection she knew was coming.

The woman placed her hands on top of her desk. Her eyes giving Ivy a once over. She cleared her throat before speaking. “I’m sorry. I do appreciate you coming in…but we’re looking for someone with a little more experience.”

“Thank you,” Ivy said, standing up. “I do appreciate you meeting with me.”

“Of course.”

Ivy was proud of herself for not crying on her way to the elevators. She was getting used to being turned down, she was pretty sure she didn’t have any tears left to cry. At least with this rejection she did sort of have a back-up plan. Bonnie said she would give her a job when she needed money.

Whelp. Looks like I can add maid to my resume, she thought, stepping onto the elevator.

She must have still had tears left to cry because she stepped onto the elevator. Vincent was talking on the phone. The tears rolled down her cheek when he said, “I’ll call you back.”

She didn’t know why but seeing Vincent looking at her with concern The urge to bury her face into his chest took over. “I didn’t get it,” she sniffled, wiping her face with her sleeve, wishing he would wrap his arms around her.

As if he could read her mind, Vincent closed the distance between them, enfolding her in his arms. “What?” he asked softly, gently stroking her back when she buried her face in his expensive suit.

“The job,” Ivy said. Her voice muffled. Her arms moving up around his middle. His masculine scent oddly soothing.

“What job?” he asked, tilting her head back by the nape of her neck.

“A receptionist job at the tech company in the building,” she told him, realizing she was not supposed to be applying for jobs in this building. Every time she stepped onto the elevator she bumps into Vincent, just like now.

“Why didn’t you get the job?” he asked, wiping her tears away.

“Because I’ve never been one before,” Ivy said, pulling out his embrace. His gentle touch on her skin was sending chills down her spine. “At least that was what she said,” Ivy added, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Vincent,” she said, before he could respond. “Is there something wrong with me?” She was beginning to think that there might be. She had no problems getting jobs as a bartender or a waitress, but when she tried getting jobs where she could be something more. She was always turned down.

“Why would you ask that?” Vincent asked. He tried to pull her back into his embrace, but she sidestepped him.

“I want to be more than a bartender or a waitress. I want it more than anything. Every time I tried to apply for them…I’m told no. I think there is something fundamentally wrong with me,” she said.

“Ivy,” Vincent said, placing his hand on her shoulders. “There is nothing wrong with you,” he reassured her.

“Then why can’t I get a job answering the phone,” she argued. “Any normal person should be able to get a job---right?” she asked, looking at him like he had the answers.

“Ivy, look at me,” he told her when she looked down at her feet. “It takes time. You have to be patient. It will happen,” he said, doing his best to give her hope.

“I don’t have time, Vincent,” Ivy said, raising her voice, stepping back from him. “I need a job,” she snapped, wishing he would understand.

“Why don’t I come by tonight and help prepare for you next interview,” he offered.

Ivy knew she should be grateful of his help. She should just graciously accept it but instead she said, “No. I’m always going to be a nobody from nowhere.”

“Ivy,” Vincent started to argue, but she stepped off the elevator when the doors opened.

She started running when she heard him chasing after her, shoving her way through the crowded lobby. She was such a fool for thinking she could ever be more than what she was. Seeing Vincent and knowing he had been with women like Elle Carson, was only a reminder that she could never be with a man like him.

“Ivy, stop,” Vincent said, who managed to somehow get in front of her.

“Let me go, Vincent,” Ivy sobbed, knowing this would be the last time she ever saw him again.

“Ivy,” his voice just barely a whisper, grabbing her elbow dragging her towards his limo. “You are going to listen to me,” he told her when she protested.

“You don’t get it!” Ivy shouted, jerking her arm free from his grip. “I’m never going to be like Elle!”

“I don’t want you to be like, Elle!” Vincent yelled back. He couldn’t believe that she thought that. “Why would you think I would ever want you to be like her?” he asked, hurt evident in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter why,” Ivy said matter-of-factly, stepping back from him.

“Ivy,” his velvety voice pleading with her.

Ivy didn’t say anything, she turned around and crossed the busy street. On the walk back to her apartment Ivy didn’t know what to do. A part of her wanted to keep searching for better job opportunities, the other part of her was tired of the rejections. Whatever she decided she knew not interviewing in that building was not an option. The next time she saw Vincent Barron, she might not be able to walk away.

Barron Law Firm

Ivy’s heart pounded in her chest when she saw the name of the door. She was helping Bonnie clean an office tonight. She didn’t know it was going to be Vincent’s office. If she didn’t need the money she would just walk away.

Now she knew why she kept running into him in this building. His office was located here. Should looked up his address, she thought to herself, It would have been useful information. She hadn’t seen him since the last time she was here. A part of her glad that she hadn’t but if she was honest with herself. She hoped that he would have called or tried to see her.

He was probably out with Elle every night going to fancy society parties or having s*x in elevators. She shook her head, pushing the thought away as she tightened her grip on the cleaning cart. It didn’t matter where Vincent was tonight, or who he was with. What mattered was that she had a job to do and rent to pay. Still, as she pushed open the heavy glass door, the scent of expensive cologne and polished wood wrapped around her like a memory.

Bonnie was already inside, humming quietly as she dusted the shelves. “You got the conference room, Ivy,” she said, not looking up. Ivy nodded, grateful for the task—anything to keep her hands busy and her mind off the man whose name gleamed in silver letters on the wall.

She moved methodically, emptying trash cans and wiping down tables, but every click of her shoes on marble echoed like a heartbeat in the empty corridor. Her eyes kept flickering to the door of Vincent’s office, just across the hall, closed but faintly glowing with the golden light inside. Was he still here, working late? Or had he already slipped away, leaving nothing but the ghost of his presence?

“Why don’t you do Mr. Barron’s office,” Bonnie told her.

“O…Okay,” Ivy said. Her pounding in her chest, realizing she was about to see Vincent’s office.

She was a little curious to see what his office was like, was it all sexy and masculine just like him. Hesitation washed over her standing in front of the walnut doors. Her fingers ran over the gold letters that said his name. The butterflies she felt every time she saw or thought about him began their somersaults in her stomach.

Taking a deep breath, Ivy opened the doors, stopping dead her tracks when she saw Vincent sitting at his desk. She stood there watching him for a second fighting the urge to through her arms around his neck. Then she remembered she was here to do a job.

She took another deep breath before saying, “Excuse me.”

“Ivy,” Vincent said. His head popping up from the paperwork that was spread out across his desk. “W…What are you doing here?” he asked. He couldn’t believe she was standing in his office. He wanted to call her a thousand times. The fear of pushing her farther away prevented him from doing so.

“I…I can come back later,” her voice just above a whisper. He looked tired like he hadn’t slept in days. It made her wonder if he had missed her.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, slowly rising up from his desk. “What are you doing here, Ivy?” he asked again, closing the short distance between them.

Ivy couldn’t look at Vincent. She could feel heat rushing to her cheeks knowing she had to confess to him that she was nothing but a maid. She never imagined that when she saw him again she would be wearing her old Cardinals sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants.

“I…I…” she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t tell him the truth.

Hot tears ran down her face as she turned and ran out the door. The sound of both Vincent and Bonnie made it difficult to concentrate. “Ivy, what’s wrong?” Bonnie asked when she saw her tear-stained face.

“Vin…He was…” The sound of Vincent voice caused Ivy turned around.

She knew by the look on his face that she was the maid. Ivy began backing away slowly, all she wanted was hide. “I’m s…sorry Bonnie,” she said. Her eyes darting to her. “Y…You don’t have to pay me,” her voice catching doing best not to cry.

“Why don’t I leave you two alone,” Bonnie said. The look on Mr. Barron’s face told her that there was something deeper between them.

Vincent didn’t say anything when the woman named Bonnie left him alone with Ivy. He honestly didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t understand why she was working as a maid. “Why?” he heard himself asking her.

“I need a job,” Ivy responded defending herself.

Vincent knew that wasn’t the reason. All the rejections made her lose her confidence in herself. She honestly believed she wasn’t more than what she was. If she believed she all she could ever be was being a maid. She wouldn’t have run from him like she did. The knowledge that she cared about he thought gave him some hope.

“Tell me what I have to do, Ivy,” he stated, closing the distance between them, cupping her cheek, brushing the tears that were slipping down away.

“Nothing,” Ivy said. Her eyes drifting towards the floor. Vincent gaze was making it difficult to think. “I mean….it’s you…it’s me,” she whispered. For a brief second she wished he would kiss her.

“I mean I’m a maid,” she said, stepping back from him. Her fingers trembled as she fidgeted with the him of her sweatshirt. “That’s just tonight,” she confessed. “I’m not Elle,” her voice cracking as she spoke.

Vincent wanted to strangle Ivy, he was so tired of her comparing herself to Elle. “Ivy. I wish I knew how to make you see. I don’t want you to be Elle.” He slowly took a step closer to her. His hands reaching up to cup her face. “I want to get to know you, Ivy,” he whispered. His lips hovering just above hers.

“Why?” Ivy asked, before turning away. Vincent’s warm breath across her face was making her legs tremble like they had turned to jelly.

“Because your smart__,” was all he got out before Ivy turned back to face.

“If I’m so smart. Then why can’t a find a job Vincent?” she asked. “Because I’m not smart,” she threw at him before he could respond. “I nothing….just like I’ve always been and always will be,” she said, before running out the door.

“Ivy!” Vincent yelled, chasing after her. He was to late when he got to the elevators, she was already disappearing behind the door. “Damn,” he cursed, hitting the elevator door with the palm of his hand.