The Billionaire And The Ice Queen (A Fantasy Romance)

#8 Ivy

My head pounded from lack of sleep and unrelenting thoughts as I drove to work. The traffic was non-existent, and I even found a parking space. Not a huge surprise on a Saturday at six o'clock in the morning, I must be the only nutter up before the sun had completely risen. I had no problem with the time or change in temperature, what I hated about autumn was the loss of daylight hours.

The sky would have been a beautiful red as the sun started its ascension across the sky, if it wasn’t for the dark angry clouds, that hid the sun from view and plunged the temperature below zero, perfect for the forecasted snow.

The chill that met me in my office was unexpected. Usually when I arrived the room resembled a tropical climate, with condensed windows too. The cold never bothered me and I wouldn’t be getting any complaints since the unfortunate few, who had to work on the weekend, started work at nine. Not that it mattered. The heating would switch on in another couple of hours and the office would be nice and toasty before they arrived.

Taking my jacket off, I hung it behind the chair and switched the computer on.

I checked my diary; I had no appointments that day except for the detective at ten. Weekends were off days for Mary which meant I had to deal with anybody who came into the office. One of the reasons why there were no appointments on Saturday. Which lead me to believe, whatever the detective wanted to talk to me about had to be important, otherwise it could have waited until Monday. I just couldn't figure out what he wanted to ask me and more importantly why me. The only thing I knew being investigated was the hacking.

I sat back in my chair as it hit me. Ethan wasn’t here just to make sure my security had not been breached, but to snoop for his father. His was the only company I knew of with a cyber problem. I was so absorbed in what Alex had done that I didn't connect the dots. It would also explain why I thought Ethan looked familiar. Both he and Alex had the exact shade of eye colour.

My brows creased as the cogs in my head started to move more vigorously, as one thought led to another. Ethan was head of his company, so why would he come down himself and talk to me? Why not send a senior employee? Was he seeing every client, himself? An odd thing for him to do. I am sure I’m not the most important client he has, so why was he specifically dealing with me?

From my search on the Rowan’s this morning, they had their fingers in a lot of pies, yet I couldn’t find any personal information on the family. Even pictures of the tycoon’s children were non-existent. Only their names were mentioned in a few articles. I found this to be strange especially in the age of social media; I expected a few images to be splattered on the net, due to their father’s fortune. It seemed someone had swept any personal information on the family clean.

Ethan had a couple of photos, but it was more to do with his security company and no mention of his relationship to the famous John Rowan.

From the news Ethan was successful, which meant he had a huge client list. Why would he come and see me himself? I asked myself a second time. Why not email, send a letter, or telephone?

There was more to this than he let on.

I leaned my head back on the chair and closed my eyes, trying to release the tension in my throbbing head.

I must have fallen asleep for the next thing I knew I was jolted awake by a gaggle of women.

Picking up my mobile I squinted at it, eight-forty-five. I groaned, wanting to put my head down and sleep further. Should the others find me this way, they would think there was something seriously wrong with me, and I would end up being the topic of the week with rumours, as to why they found me this way, flying around. I shuddered at the thought. The things those women came up with was unbelievable, with such an imagination they should have become writers.

I darted to the tiny kitchen, situated in a rectangular room in my office with a computer terminal at the end of one side. Splashing cold water on my face got rid of any unwanted sleep.

At least I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

As I wiped my face with the towel, someone knocked on my door. Throwing the towel onto the table, I patted my hair down as I made my way to the kitchen door. Stopping I pulled my shirt down, praying it wasn’t creased then grabbed the handle, pulled my shoulders back and opened the door.

Caroline had her back to me, gazing at the health and safety poster.

“Caroline?”

She jerked around, hand over her heart. “Good morning, Ivy. Can I talk to you?”

“Sure, come sit down.” Pointing to the chair in front of the desk. “What can I help you with?” Making my way round to my own chair.

She fidgeted in her seat and cleared her throat, then, as if she had made a mental decision she straightened and made eye contact.

She had opened her mouth to say something when she sat ridged, her eyes going round.

The way she was staring started to make me nervous. Did she have a medical condition that I knew nothing off? All my employees had to fill out a medical form, for emergencies. I made it my business to know what conditions they had. Should there be an episode at least I knew what to do.

Based on her form, she was one of the lucky ones with no medical issues.

“Are you okay?” If she didn’t answer me then I could start to panic.

Closing her mouth, she gazed at the desk. “I’m pregnant.” She finally let out, slumping back into the chair with relief.

“Congratulations.”

Her head jerked up in surprise.

I couldn’t understand why she was nervous. Did she not know it was not good for the baby?

Smiling, I leaned back to make her more at ease. “How far are you?” I asked since she seemed to have lost the use of her vocal cord.

“Um... Three months?” It came out as a question as if she did not know what the right answer was.

I strained to keep the smile on my face, as she sat there quietly staring at me. “Is this your first child?”

“Yes.” She shifted on her chair.

This was like trying to show affection to a spider.

I decided to move the conversation along before I turned into a corpse. “What did you do for your check-ups?”

She froze. “Um…. I took time off?” I held the desire to sigh.

“Talk to Mary on Monday. Let her know the days you took off were for your check-ups.” Her eyes grew so round I was scared they would pop out. I rushed on before such a horrifying thing happened. “So, she can give you those hours back.” Caroline stopped breathing and blinked at me. “Whenever you have an appointment let Mary know.”

She nodded her head vigorously, still not breathing.

“There will be forms to fill in, but that could wait until Monday.”

It relieved me to see her take a breath before she gave me another vigorous nod.

This conversation was going to put me to sleep if I didn’t do something about it. I talked to her about children, hoping it might stimulate the conversation, but she still gave me a one-word answer; “Really,” … “Hopefully,” … “Maybe,” and my favourite, “No.”

What felt like hours but must have been only fifteen minutes, I stood up, ending the conversation. “Well, if you have any issues with anything let me know so we can sort it out, okay.”

Her lips tugged up into a smile. Maybe, like me, she was relieved our ‘talk’ was finally over.

I walked her to the door where she stopped abruptly and turned to face me.

What now?

Gazing at my shoulder, she cleared her throat. “Err… Your mascara has run.” She pointed to her face to show where than turned and scurried out.

It explained the funny look she gave me, I just wished she had told me earlier.

I rushed to my desk and searched for my bag, when I couldn’t find it, I searched in the kitchen but still nothing. Which meant I had forgotten it at home. The day just seemed to get better and it wasn’t even midday yet.

“Stupid!”

How I forget it was beyond me. It wouldn’t have bothered me if my makeup and compact mirror weren’t in it. In the end I had to use the towel I dried my face with so I didn’t resemble a zombie. Once that was done, I finally sat down to do some work.

It was not long before the noise outside stopped unexpectedly. I turned my head towards the door and waited.

What the girls, in the office outside, never realised was I could hear everything they said. The vents carried any noise into my office. It was annoying but also enlightening too. I had learnt a lot about my employees and I didn’t even have to interact with them to get it.

Just like when Caroline had told them she found me in a mess when she spoke to me. Their imagination, into way I looked this way, went into overdrive.

Sonia’s voice broke the deafening silence. “Mr Westfield.”

I stiffened, I forgot he intended to start work on the system today. He was the last person I wanted to see today.

“Can I call you, Ethan?” It did not surprise me she knew his name. Any man who had the misfortune to come here was accosted by Sonia. If we had a hierarchy, she would have been the alpha female and I am the unknown wolf they couldn’t understand.

“Ethan it is then.” Sonia answered her own question. Ethan had still not uttered a word.

I had to save him from her, not that he couldn’t take care of himself. I was sure he could brush her off if he wanted, but it wouldn’t deter Sonia.

When Sonia wanted something, she went for it no matter what storm was in the way. I admired her determination but it got annoying when it affected her work or those around her.

After I straightened my clothes out, I flung the door open making a few of the girls jump.

Good.

I gave Ethan a quick glance. He had taken his coat off, carrying it on his arm and a rucksack on his shoulder. Like yesterday he wore shirt and tie but without the suit jacket. He wore a stony expression, aimed at Sonia.

Turning my gaze to six girls in the office, I glared at them.

“You don’t look well.” Sonia broke the tension and all eyes turned to me.

Great.

“I am fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Of course, we’re worried.” What a lie. “I can look after Ethan if you’re…. Not well.”

It amazed me how I never lost my temper with her unlike Tonia who just had to breath for me to lose it.

Ignoring her comment, I faced the other five girls who sat in front of a console. “Is there something wrong with the system?” They all gave me a confused look. “Or have you caught up with all your work?” It hit them what I referred too and just like that work seemed to appear from thin air and they busied themselves with it.

Still ignoring Sonia who had not shifted from her position, I spoke to Ethan. “I’ll show you where you’ll be working.”

He stared at me with concern and before he could reply, not that he opened his mouth to say anything, Sonia interjected. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

It wasn’t aimed at me.

I watched him, waiting for his reaction. He kept his green eyes fixed on me as he spoke to Sonia. “I already have a lunch date.”

I heard a few audible gasps as I gazed at him with a puzzled look. Was he talking about me? No. What a stupid thought. I couldn’t even keep Alex’s attention who not only I knew for more than a year but was a lot easier to talk to.

Most likely he was meeting someone at lunch.

Sonia never lost her seductive smile, at the brush-off. “Well, maybe another time then.” Instead of waiting for him to acknowledge what she had said she sashayed to her computer.

Most women envied her figure, which she dressed in clothes that showed it off to its full advantage. Today was no different, she wore a tight knee length sleeveless grey dress that left little to the imagination. I wondered how she didn’t freeze in it.

Ethan eyes never left mine but I was sure he’d already checked her out.

Pivoting, I strode to my office and heavy footsteps followed behind me.

The only other place I had were he wouldn’t be disturbed him was the room that had the little kitchen.

“This will be your office and you can use anything you want in the kitchen. The staff room is opposite this room should you desire to use it instead.”

“No, this is fine.” The first thing he had said since he had arrived.

“Okay if you need anything let me know.” With that I took a step towards the door.

“Ivy.” Him calling me by my first name had me freeze mid step. My name on his lips sounded strange and spin tingling all at once. “We need to talk.”

I turned my face slightly so the side was in profile. “There is nothing to talk about.” I didn’t want to discuss Alex. It still stung at what he had done.

“I have to disagree.”

I would argue more, but I had ten minutes before the detective arrived. “Not now.” Or ever if I had anything to say about it. “I have a meeting at ten.” And strode out of the room before he could say more.