FIGHTING FOR LOVE [SEQUEL TO RUNNING FROM MY HUSBAND]

CHAPTER FIVE

Quin McDaniel

I left Love’s office, got into my car and decided to drive to Ivy’s office. I was on my way when I got a call from Elle, “yes?” I answered.

“Good morning sir. I was calling to remind you that you have a meeting in an hour.” Elle said.

“Damn!” I cursed as I hit my steering wheel.

“Sir?” Elle called out. “Are you going to make it? Or should I ask Mr. Lewis to take care of it?” She asked.

I looked at my wrist watch, I had less than an hour to my meeting. But from Ivy’s house to my office isn’t that far so I could have her take a drive with me as we speak, I guess that would work I thought. “I’ll be there Elle. Thank you.” I said and I could hear her let out a breath of relief. I felt like everyone was tiptoeing around me in the office, it’s like they were expecting me to lose my anger at any point. Did I have that much of an anger issue? I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Okay then sir. I’ll prepare what you need. See you then.” Elle said then she hanged up.

I got to Ivy’s office, “is she in?” I asked her secretary.

“Yes, she is but I don’t think she is ready to see anyone just yet.” The secretary said.

I walked into the office ignoring her words and she followed me in shortly after, “I’m sorry but I tried to stop him.” The secretary said.

“No problem Susan.” Ivy told the secretary who excused herself leaving me and Ivy.

“What time is your next appointment?” I asked.

“I don’t have an appointment until two in the afternoon. Why? You want to talk to me?” She asked as she offered me a seat.

“Actually, we will be holding the session in my office.” I said as I grabbed her hand and we walked out of the office.

“Susan, I’ll be out of the office for a while, direct all the important matters to my cell.” Ivy said as we walked past her secretary’s office.

“Sure ma’am.” Susan responded.

We entered my car, I was driving in silence when Ivy broke the silence, “what was so urgent that couldn’t wait till our assigned meeting day?” She asked.

“I got the courage to speak to Love.” I said.

“That’s good. How was your encounter?” Ivy asked.

“Not good.” I said in frustration as I drove full speed.

“Maybe you should slow down?” Ivy suggested, “I don’t think the driving would change what happened today but talking to me would help me understand how to help you.”

I took a deep breath as I decelerated, “I told her what I did for her and Nick but she didn’t care. She told me that I hadn’t changed as I was still in her office without her consent.” I scoffed, “why can’t she understand what I did for her Ivy?” I asked.

“Maybe you should see this as a journey you took for yourself and not for someone else.” Ivy said softly, “you decided to seek help because you needed to create a better relationship with Love and Nick. You didn’t do it for them but for yourself, so you would be able to have a better relationship with them.”

“Huh?” I said in realization, “I see your point doctor. I need to understand that it’s more about me and not them.”

“No Quin.” Ivy said, “it’s about your relationship with them not you.” She emphasized the relationship part.

I drove into the parking lot to my offices, “you will have to wait for me in my office as I have a meeting to attend.” I said as I got out of the car.

“You do know I’m not your personal doctor and that I have other patients, right?” Ivy asked.

“You get paid by the hour and I’ll make sure to pay for the hours you are with me.” I said as I walked into the office straight to Elle’s desk.

“Here you go.” Elle said handing me files, “you’ll need that for the meeting.”

“What was this meeting about?” I asked as I looked through the files.

“We are trying to land a new account and they have been poached by other people so it was really hard to get this meeting with them.” Elle explained.

“So I shouldn’t mess up.” I said as I closed the files. Elle led me to the conference room that was set up. The two older gentlemen with expensive looking suits and one younger one were already there. I greeted them, we went through the files that had our income for the last few years and there was a point where I lost track of the company but Elle had clearly removed that section. I owe that lady a lot I thought, “as you can see we have a very good reputation and our numbers show why we get that good reputation.” I said as I was hoping to conclude the meeting.

“I have some concerns regarding the time you weren’t working here?” The younger gentleman asked.

“I don’t understand what you mean.” I said with a forced smile.

“You didn’t think we would bring our business here without investigating you, did you?” The young man asked.

I sighed, “I had a short lapse in judgement but while I was away the business was well taken care of as you can see from the numbers.” I explained, “your business will be well taken care of.”

“How sure are we that you won’t have another lapse in judgement? Or that this time it won’t affect your business?” He asked.

“I assure you that my business is always taken care of and so are my clients.” I said with a sigh, “I have shown you the numbers, you know that my company is good at what it does.” I stood up and adjusted my coat, “if that didn’t convince you than I don’t think we are the right company for you. Have a good day.” I was about to walk out.

“Wait!” One of the older men said.

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

“You have yourself a new client.” He said and I smirked. Of course, I do I thought but then I put a straight face and looked at them.

“You have made the right decision.” I said as I shook their hands and led them out of the building.

“You managed to close the deal in one meeting?” Elle asked surprised.

“You didn’t think I lost my game, did you?” I asked with a smirk.

“To be honest I was a bit worried.” Elle admitted.

“I know and I wanted to prove you wrong.” I said as I walked into my office, Ivy was seated on my chair reading something, “found something interesting?” I asked she looked at me and shrugged.

“I don’t understand most of what you do here.” Ivy admitted.

“Let’s go grab some breakfast, I haven’t had anything to eat.” I suggested.

“I don’t mind.” Ivy agreed and we left.

I stopped by Elle’s desk, “do I have any more meetings today?” I asked.

“None. Just the briefing with Gabriel in the afternoon.” Elle said as she looked at her laptop.

“I’ll be back by then.” I said as I tapped her desk, “thank you.” I said and left.

Ivy suggested a coffee shop that had a calm ambience, it felt nice being in there, like I was swept up with a wave of calmness and peace. “I think I just found a new favorite café.” I commented when the waitress brought us our order.

Ivy chuckled, “I, too, felt the same way the first time I came her and I’ve been coming here all along.” She said. “Now to your matter, have you considered seeing other people and maybe organizing with Love that you and her to co-parent?” Ivy asked.

“I don’t want to co-parent, I want to have my family all together like it was before.” I said then I took a sip of my black coffee.

“Maybe what Love hopes to see is that you have moved on and you no longer base your whole identity on her and Nick.” Ivy suggested.

“You think my wife wants me to see other people?” I asked confused.

“No, I think your wife wants you to move on as she has.” Ivy corrected, “doesn’t she seem happy with this other guy she is seeing?” She asked.

“I don’t want another man raising my son.” I growled.

“He won’t if you agree to co-parent. You would spend enough time with him as you need.” Ivy said as she took a sip of her tea.

I really didn’t want to have to be on the outside looking in Nick’s life. I want to be the person who he comes to for advice and who he acknowledges as his father not Wayne. Then it hit me, “you said that I should see other people and that would convince Love that I have moved on, right?” I asked excitedly.

Ivy sighed, “sure.” She agreed hesitantly.

“What if I decided to date you?” I asked.

“I’m here to help you and that is not the kind of help I offer.” Ivy said.

“I don’t mean to actually date. I mean we would act like a couple and when Love sees that I have moved on maybe she will get so jealous that she would have to get back with me then I can have my family again.” I said excitedly.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Ivy said.

“How about you think about it. You are here to help me find my way and I think that would solve it. So please consider it?” I begged, something I never do. She just nodded her head. If this works, I’ll probably get Love back in a few weeks I thought excitedly.