The Billionaire And The Ice Queen (A Fantasy Romance)

#2 Ivy

“Ethan Westfield.” I didn’t recognise his name, but his face looked familiar. Cropped chestnut brown hair, sun-kissed skin with a five o’clock shadow and striking forest green eyes.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t recollect where I had seen him before. And more importantly, he was hiding something.

The air around him hummed in agitation as he talked about the IT system. I don’t have a complete picture of his character, yet. I’ll have plenty of time for that once he started working. Of course, I could be completely wrong, only time would tell.

The women in the office were my immediate problem. All Mr Westfield had to do was smile to make their heart flutter and it seemed mine wasn’t immune to it either.

The man was trouble and he hadn’t even started working yet. I rubbed my forehead at the impending catfights.

Rap-a-tap-tap

Mary popped her head around the door. “I’ll be leaving soon.” She gazed at my desk and scrunched up her nose. “I thought I picked that up.” She knocked her head a couple of times on the door then walked into the office, stood in front of the table, and gazed at the tray.

What did she think it would do? Bite her.

She sighed. “He didn’t drink his tea.” She said forlornly, glancing at me as if I would know why he hadn’t drunk it. Not that I blamed him, I internally shuddered at the thought of Mary’s tea.

“What did you think of him,” I asked, deciding to change the subject and get her opinion on the man.

I saw the lovesick gaze she gave him, which I couldn’t blame her for since the others in the office, or the ones that spotted him had done the same.

She sighed with a faraway look. “He is a gentleman.” The puppy look disappeared to be replaced with sadness.

She glanced down at herself and plopped into the chair Ethan had occupied thirty minutes ago. “He didn't look at me with disgust or talk down at me as if I didn’t have any brain cells or make horrible jokes like I wouldn’t understand.” She tried to straighten her stretched skirt before looking at me with a sad smile. “He treated me like a human being.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Just because he spoke to you like a ‘human being’ does not mean he has any compassion.” She had to learn, some used it as a front and a viper, actually, lay underneath. “He might be a wolf under Alpaca clothing.”

Mary snorted at my bad analogy. “I know what you mean, but it’s still nice to be looked at as a person and not a piece of furniture. I’m not naïve to think he’ll desire me or anything. But nobody said I couldn’t dream. And I am not going to complain if he is a wolf.” I stared at her; she held my gaze for a few seconds before looking down at her skirt.

“Sheep’s wool is cheap,” I explained. “Can you imagine him wearing something that doesn’t smell of money?”

 She scrunched up her nose. “I would have to disagree with you there.” I raised my brow, interested to hear her thoughts. She had less interaction with him than I did. What did she see that I missed? “Just because his suit looks expensive it doesn’t mean it is. It’s amazing the things you can get for a fraction of the cost if you know where to look. Unless you know that he only wears expensive things.”

My face stayed blank as I listened to her. I also knew it wasn’t just his clothes she was referring to, but his character too.

She had a point; I didn’t know the guy. Ironically, I hated those who judged based on looks and here I am being a hypocrite. The temperature in the room dropped and Mary shivered. She gazed up at the air con in confusion.

I bit my tongue and breathed out through my nose.

“The air-con is playing up, again.” She said, shoving herself up from the chair. “The maintenance guy swears there is nothing wrong with it, but this has been the sixth time it’s happened. And it’s killed the poor orchids.” Pointing to the dead plant on the windowsill.

“Leave the air-con. It’s faulty in this room only, and I don’t mind the temperature difference.” I got up to deter any further discussions. “I think I’ll leave early today.”

“You work too hard. Go home and put your feet up.” She picked up the tray and trudged to the door. “See you tomorrow,” she said in farewell without even turning back to look at me.

I shook my head, grabbing my handbag and jacket, from the back of the chair, before I left the office and headed home.

Thank god, home was a ten-minute drive from my office. A few years ago, I naively thought I’d be happy to travel an hour to work. Dad, the voice of reason talked me out of it, and I am so glad that I listened to him.

Dense trees surrounded the mansion, giving it privacy and much-needed quiet, as I drove down the driveway and parked the car.

An orange land Rover sat in front of the house. Tonia, my third stepmother, was the only one I knew who had that offensive colour.

Now, why would she be here? She never accompanied Nathaniel, my half-brother, dad did, and he used the BMW I bought him last year, for his birthday.

Has dad’s illness worsened?

I strode to the front door of the post-war house. The previous owner had built it for his wife. They had no children, so when the wife died the husband followed her, not long after. The chatty estate agent thought the man did not want to live without his beloved and lost the will to live.

My curiosity got the better of me and I ended up digging further into the history of the house. A fruitless search since I found nothing on the couple or the house except when it was built.

The more I thought about them the more I envied the dead woman, who was lucky to have someone who loved her unconditionally.

Their love wrapped the house in warmth and happiness, it just needed someone to fill it up again. Unfortunately, it got me. A person who'd been alone for a long time and will no doubt die alone.

A cold breeze wove itself around me as I drew closer to the house. A few feet before I reached the front door it opened automatically.

I had modernised the building as soon as I purchased it with the latest mod cons. The front door would only open to me except when I am with others. The best thing, I didn’t need a key. Also, I could sign in some way to alert the AI that something was wrong, and it would alert the security company, who had access to the cameras around the property.

The cameras were situated outside the estate and not inside. Safety was important but I still wanted some privacy.

The chilly air followed me into the silent house as I strode into the main sitting area where Nathaniel sat bored out of his brains.

Poor boy. I wondered what Tonia threatened him with if he didn’t sit quietly.

“Ivy!” Nathaniel screeched, jumping from the chair, and hurled himself at me once he was close enough. I caught him and picked him up.

“How’s my favourite brother?”

He giggled, “I am your only brother.”

I put my index finger to my lips. “Shh. Don’t say that aloud. The invisible people will hear you.” I whispered conspiratorially.

His eyes grew round. “Cool. Can I meet one.”

“They are shy, that’s why they are invisible. When they feel comfortable with you, they appear.”

His whole face scrunched up in confusion. “No, can’t do that.”

 I raised my brow at him.

“They’re invisible.”

“What a load of rubbish,” Tonia interjected. Nathaniel and I both lost our smile.

She and I hardly mixed, parties are the only time I forced myself to talk to the woman, for dad’s sake.

“Tonia,” I said in greeting.

She gave me a sharp nod in return.

I tilted my head slightly as the air tightened and vibrated in agitation around her, sending out waves of heat. Unlike Ethan, who controlled his emotions with an iron fist, Tonia had no internal control over her feelings.

Nathaniel fidgeted in my arms. I gazed at him with a smile then put him down.

“Why don’t you go and see what Paula is making in the kitchen.”

Some kids might look to their parents for permission, Nathaniel doesn’t bother. Not because he is comfortable being with me, which he is, but more to do with the fact that Tonia would say no if he gave her the chance. He learnt quickly not to ask her permission and went ahead with what I suggested.

I tried not to get involved with how she disciplined Nathaniel, and she made it easy by not coming here to interfere with any decisions I made while he was under my care.

Once he disappeared from view, I asked, “Is dad okay?”

“Yes. Why shouldn’t he be?”

I can’t believe she asked me, where had she been for the last four years.

“Because you are here and not dad. I thought he might be ill for you to bring Nathaniel yourself.”

Her gaze never left mine but the air around her showed her true feelings.

I walked around the chair and sat down. She followed and sat opposite me.

“I told him I would take Nathaniel,” she stated.

I waited for her to carry on, but I might as well dip my hands in boiling water, she kept quiet.

I found it hard to believe that dad hadn't questioned her, after all, he knew how much we detested each other.

What had she said to convince him?

“What are you doing here, Tonia?” I asked, not wanting to prolong this uncomfortable meeting more than I had too.

“Since you ask, your dad and I need money.”

Why am I not surprised.

Raising my brow, I decided to wait and see what she had to say before I chewed her out.

“It’s been seven months since your father had the heart attack. And in that time, he hasn’t worked. It was okay, to begin with, but we are struggling now since no money is coming in.”

“What do you need the money for?” I didn’t wait for her to reply, instead, I listed the things of my fingers that I am already paying for. “I am paying all the bills. There is no mortgage on the house and Nathaniel’s clothes, trips and equipment are paid for. The only thing you need to spend from my dad’s retirement money is food and clothes.” I knew she spent his retirement money; dad had let it slip when they got into one of their arguments, not realising I had heard everything.

“Your father wants to go out and buy things. He can’t do that on his pension.” She bit out, struggling to keep her temper in check.

I had to give it to her, she was good. I mean she did not even blink when I told her I knew she had money and where it was coming from.

“You mean you can’t go out and spend on anything you want.”

She clamped her mouth shut as she breathed out of her nose.

“Why don’t you work. You don’t have to worry...” I mentally snorted at that. She never worried about anyone but herself. “About dad or Nathaniel, I'll take care of them.”

A vain on her forehead throbbed and her lips narrowed. She must be desperate to come and ask me but also, she must know I would say no. Tonia might act stupid, but she was a shrewd woman. Which led me to believe that she had something up her sleeve.

Will she show her hand or wait?

She took another deep breath, closed her eyes for a few seconds then turned her gaze in my direction. A cruel smile spreads over her face.

Here it comes.

“Your father doesn’t know Nathaniel is not his.”

I am proud to say my face stayed blank at her revelation, I had to thank my experience with others at work for this ability, but the temperature in the room dropped by ten degrees.

That wasn’t what I expected her to spout. I thought she would threaten to divorce dad if I didn’t pay. A stupid thought on my part, a cunning fox would strike where it wounds the most. Divorcing dad would hurt since it would upset him, yet the mess he was in was of his own making. Nathaniel, on the other hand, was innocent and I knew she would treat him badly just to hurt me.

“You were pregnant after you married dad.” Nathaniel was born a year after they were married, which meant only one thing. “You cheated on him.” Nathaniel looked like his mother with golden-brown hair and emerald eyes. Nobody would think Nathaniel wasn’t dads.

“Don’t tell me you are that naïve. Of course, I had other lovers. I didn’t marry your father for love, and I made sure I was on the pill…. And while he was away on one of his business trips, I had a little fun. Unfortunately, on one of those times, I had food poisoning.”

How can she not know that food poisoning would cause diarrhoea and vomiting? This would flush the pill out. I only knew this because I overheard a conversation between two teenagers talking about what the doctor said, while I was waiting in line at the pharmacy not long ago.

More importantly, why was she telling me all this? It’s as if she didn’t care I knew, not that I wanted to know about my dad’s s*x life.

I shuddered at the thought.

I kept silent. I found that keeping quiet unnerved the person talking to me and they kept yapping on. Tonia, receiving no reaction to her declaration, also started to doubt herself and prattled on. The temperature plunged further the more she ranted.

“I can’t live like this and I will take Nathaniel if you don’t help your father. It’s not like you’ll miss it with the amount you make.”

“You didn’t give a damn about my father! Don’t you dare use him as an excuse and if you try to take Nathaniel, I will show you who Ivy Hope really is. Now get out!”

She started to shiver, and her breath condensed in the air.

No one threatened me or my family.

“Your dad shall hear of this!” She spat out.

“Yes, go ahead and tell him.” I sprang to my feet. “Nathaniel stays with me like he usually does. Should anything happen to my father while you are with him, I will make you pay dearly.” What’s the point of having money if you didn’t use it? Power is intoxicating and for a while it makes you feel invincible.

I wanted her to suffer, for what she said and did. She did not deserve love from anybody.

“Why is it cold in here.” Nathaniel’s tiny voice popped the murderous feeling in me. Yet the temperature in the room stayed chilly.

I snapped my head towards him, hoping he had not heard what his mother had said. I wouldn’t put it past her to tell him. “There must be something wrong with the air-con.” I turned to Tonia warning her with my eyes not to say anything to him or she would pay. “Say goodbye to your mother.”

“Why?”

“Because you are staying with me for the weekend.” I turned my gaze to him, smiling. “Wouldn’t you like that?”

“Yay!” he jumped up and down around me.

“This is not over!” Tonia threatened, interrupting Nathaniel's dance of joy, then stormed out without even saying goodbye to her son.

The way she acted people wouldn’t have thought she was his mother.

I slapped a smile on my face before I faced Nathaniel. But I needn’t have worried, he faced the door his mother tore out off.

Damn that woman!

“Nathaniel is dinner ready?” He kept staring at the door then slowly turned his head towards me.

“Hey, there. What’s the matter?”

He blinked at me for a few seconds. “The room is warmer now.”

“All because you are here.”

“No. Because you are not angry anymore.”