Ballroom Dinner

Richard casts a look of disbelief at Ashton. "You're kidding right?"

His Dad also looks at him. "Are you sure about this? She just left your brother, it's yet to be a day. This will spark a lot of controversies and now that we already have one on our hands. Can we handle it?"

Richard nods, in an attempt to make him change his mind no matter what. "Yes, listen to Dad. Don't marry her. Let me tell you something big bro, she's a lousy woman, she's a terrible cook..."

"Yet, she always brought you your lunch. Am I supposed to believe that? You are her toast and coffee everyday, cooked your lunch and dinner for three years and now she's suddenly a lousy cook? Don't make me punch you." Ashton warns, standing up from his chair and towering over his brother with his full length.

Richard backs away. "I was just..."

"Shut up." Grandpa Wright snaps at Richard and then turns to Ashton. "If she's the woman you'd like to get married to, we need to meet her family then. How about we arrange a meeting?"

Ashton smiles. "That will be perfect." He looks at Richard who's still standing by the doorway, listening to every word being exchanged and not believing a word of it.

"Are you really going to get married to her?"

"I think you're forgetting something here." Ashton looks at his grandpa who nods at him, giving his his approval. Ashton presses the dial pad above him and two hefty men come inside.

"How can we help you sir?"

"Please can you escort this man outside the premises, and when next he's here, you have full permission to treat him as a trespasser."

The exchange looks and nod, knowing who the real master is.

Richard is speechless. "Are you really throwing me out? Dad? Mum? Aunt Nika? Grandpa?" He asks in a weak voice.

His grandpa just shakes his head in utmost disappointment and looks away to say he's not helping either.

"I can walk fine." He snaps at the security men. "I'll be back to prove to you all that this is all a mistake. A big mistake that you all are making. I'll have my revenge."

Ashton chuckles, listening to him shout as he's been escorted away. "He still has that victim complex. Anyway, I'll communicate to the Hall family and get back to you. Thank you very much for supporting me." He says with a note of finality and he exits the room, leaving the elderly ones in there.

*

In her room, arranging her things on her bed and unpacking her big bag, Ivy smiles at the feeling of nostalgia.

Her phones rings on the bed and she dives for it, knowing fully well who it is. "Hello?"

"It was a success. My family accepted and they've made a request to see yours."

"My family has accepted too. All that remains is the family introduction to one another. When can we fix that?"

"It shouldn't be hard. I'll fix it to this coming Friday, what do you think?" Ashton asks, seeking her opinion on the date.

It's a well known fact between both of them that the marriage they are about to enter into is only one of convenience.

Ivy knows why she agreed to the wedding, so she can have her revenge while shooting him where he's the most sore but she just can't think of any reason why Ashton, the wealthiest bachelor in all of New York would want to get married to her.

That simple fact has continued to elude her but she can't just ask, she's waiting for the best time.

"Friday is a perfect day. It gives us more than enough time to get everything ready. Is it going to be a regular family meeting?"

Ashton chuckles. "No, it won't. I am getting married, I want it elaborate and flourishing. We'll be meeting at a family dinner at a fancy ballroom.".

Ivy smiles. He's not the exact humble guy. "A dinner in a ballroom? Isn't that wrong?" She chuckles.

"It is. I don't mind breaking rules. It's going to be my only marriage after all."

What makes you so sure? Ivy wonders, keeping her words to herself.

"If you say so. I guess the dress code is ball then. Dinner in a ballroom. I'm looking forward to it."

"I'm looking forward to it too. I'll see you Friday then."

"Yes, see you Friday."

They both hang up.

Ivy collapses on the bed, some sort of warmth climbing into her heart.

She notices the shadow standing by the door.

It's Grant.

"Come on in." She invites, sitting up.

He doesn't move from his place by the door. "I have known you since you were a baby and I can't say I know a thing about you. A person who came out of a bad marriage should not be in a hurry to get into another, especially not with someone she has no feelings for. So why?"

Ivy smiles in a small lifting of her lips. "I'm Ivy remember? Poison? Venom? No snake warns you that she wants to strike. I want to strike and I don't want to give any warning."

"What really happened? You've changed... You've become..."

"Cold? Cruel?"

"Can all that happen in a day?"

"You have no idea. It can't happen in a day but all it takes is a few hours for it to erupt. Ever heard the saying there's a fine line between love and hate? I crossed that line with a big step that's all."

"Change of topic. So you own Trust Financials?"

Ivy shrugs. "I just wanted something to my name and it kind of happened with my help anyway. I wonder how I didn't know that bastard was a terrible businessman and cheat. I was so blind."

Grant enters and pats her on the shoulder. "It's fine. So when should we be preparing to meet the Wrights?"

"This Friday. I'll go inform Mum and Dad."

Grant nods. "I'll get every other thing prepared. Stay cold. It'll save you."

Ivy smiles, grateful for the chat with her big brother, regretting her absence much more again.

*

It's Friday evening and the venue for the ballroom dinner is packed with family from both influential homes.

It is an affair kept to strictly family members but somehow, it leaked and now outside, it's almost like a whole press conference complete with a red carpet and cameras.

Car and car arrive after one another, opening to reveal more and more influential people within both families.

Inside, it's a hubbub of activities, everyone introducing someone to another and otherwise.

Suddenly, there is a massive influx of camera flashing, signifying the fact that the Wrights and the Halls have arrived.

Everyone snaps to attention, wanting to see the couple that's caused such a ruckus across the country.

Exiting the cars are their families first, and then the last car pulls up.

A deep red limousine.

Ashton exits first. He walks to the other side and opens the door for his bride to be.

She exits the car in a flurry of red and beauty. She's dressed in a Red elegant one shoulder princess gown with a floor length pettiskirt. For someone with red hair already, it's a sight to behold as her hair is packed into an updo with a few tendrils hanging down her face and touching her neck, just covered enough to hide what's underneath.

Then the cameras flash away at her, everyone gasping at her beauty.

"She's so pretty."

"She's so elegant and graceful, watch her walk."

Ashton and Ivy have their arms interlinked and smiling very courteously for the pictures.

At the back of the hall, two different people find their way into the venue, both of them arriving at different times and for different reasons.

But both of them are just as equally not welcome.