Chapter 14: Games
He went to the parking lot and drove to Ian's house with fear in his heart, he hoped within that he didn't murder or do anything horrible to Ivy. He got to the chateau and ran like he has never before into the house.
He went to the master's bedroom but she wasn't there, he called a maid after effortlessly and fruitlessly searching everywhere in the house.
"Where's Mrs Kim?"
"She's at the room close to the garden,sir," the maid replied.
" The one upstairs? "
"Yes,"
"Why didn't I think of that?"he muttered and dismissed the lady before heading upstairs, when he opened the door he saw Ivy sitting on the floor and scrubbing it with a sponge. She packed her into a loose bun and she was wearing a floral print dress with an apron and looked quiet and serious and she engaged in the chore.
Amelia had told her about the room and she decided to convert it to her studio since it had no use. It had a grand piano at the center and a balcony for sightseeing it was also far from Ian's bedroom and the living room.
Niel walked up to her and squatted to talk to her, she turned to look at him. He wanted to speak but her looks made him wonder why the hell did Ian get blessed with someone like her? He didn't deserve someone like her at all.
"Hi, Mrs Kim,"he said and she frowned, she picked up a notepad from the apron she was wearing and scribbled a few words which read;
"My name's Ivy not Mrs Kim, "
"But you're marr.. alright sorry Ivy, I'm Nathaniel my friends call me Niel and I'm your husband's, I mean Ian's secretary and friend, "he introduced and she dropped the sponge in a bucket and stood up,Niel also did and gave her back her notepad she wrote another pair of words and gave him a sheet.
"Pleased to meet you Nathan, did Ian send you?"
" Nope, you don't want to call me Niel and she nodded. Niel felt a weird fuzzy and warm feeling while conversing with her, the fact that she didn't want to address him as Niel but Nathan made him excited.. but why?
"So why are you cleaning here,Ivy?"
"It's for her studio sir, Mrs Kim is a painter and pianist," Amelia said, dropping the box of supplies she get from the Mart close by, a few guards brought in the rest of the stuff and left after dropping it.
"Whoa...Bea didn't tell me that you paint," he said with shock and an impressed look.She was beautiful and multi talented giving her to Ian was like handing a jewel to a thief.
"We'd like to continue now sir,please could you leave the room?" Amelia implored and Niel smiled before taking off his suit and folding his sleeves.
"It's okay, I'll help" he announced and Ivy's lips curled into a smile and she mouthed a 'thank you"
Niel assisted in cleaning up the blue wallpapers, installing new bulbs and placing the white blub on the floor. Ivy felt comfortable with him even if she felt he was helping her because of his relationship with Ian and Bea. He also had a good sense of humor and he did a good job by maintaining the smile Ian erased that morning.
Soon, the trio were done with the studio design and Ivy looked at it with pure happiness before shaking hands with Niel and embracing Amelia as a form of appreciation..
Amelia called a few maids to pack up the trash since it was almost evening and Ivy and Niel hadn't eaten lunch. Ivy came downstairs with Niel and he a patiently waited outside her room until she was done with taking her quick shower. Amelia offered to wash his shirt but he politely refused.
Ivy came outside, she couldn't dry her hair because she forgot her hair dryer and her towel fell in the bathroom. She was wearing a blue sweatshirt and a blue sweatpant to match and her black wet hair made Niel trail away in the world of fantasies then he suddenly remembered that this lady was married to his best friend even if Ian didn't love her, developing feelings for her was the worse form of betrayal.
She waved at him twice and he was withdrawn from his thoughts.
"Lunch is served,Mrs Kim," Amelia announced as they both walked to the living room were the food was served. Ivy didn't want to eat in 'Ian's' living room after what happened but she didn't want to share the details of what happened with Niel so she acted normal.
She sat on a white rug and picked up a bowl of noodles from the table. In a few seconds, she slurped everything into her little stomach and Niel assumed she was alot more hungry than him so he gave her some from his plate.
"So, how do you see Ian?"he asked and she laughed."I know he isn't perfect..yet but if Bea chose you I'm sure she chose you for a reason," he explained and she nodded before drinking water.
Her mouth was full so she couldn't lip sync. "You're cute," he mumbled before he returned to his task of eating.
After their late lunch, the table was cleared an Niel was about to leave but Ivy persuaded him to stay with her since Amelia had returned back to her general duties. He agreed and they started playing a game of cards on the rug.
Ivy won the first round so she got to smack Niel on his cheek as a punishment for losing, the game went on and on until Ian walked in, they didn't notice he was there.
Ian marched in like a mad dog when he sighted Niel's car at the garage, he heard both of them laughing and when he got there he saw his wife and best friend playing and enjoying a card game.
"Wow,Niel...just wow,this is the reason you took a day off," Ian said and Ivy looked at Niel with shock, he never mentioned that he actually took a day of just to help her out.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone