Why she left?

Chapter 8: Why did you leave?

Ivy’s pov

“Did you enjoy your lunch?” he asked her with amusement dancing in his eyes.

Ivy cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. “Yes, sir, it was quite delicious”. 

“Was the food not to your liking, sir? You barely ate anything.” Ivy asked as she looked at his plate, which was still full of food.

“I'm not hungry, besides, I think you ate enough for both of us already,” he said teasingly, not looking away from her for a second.

Ivy cursed under her breath as her cheeks burned.

“I don't normally eat this much. Uhmm, the food was just so good that I didn't want to waste it. And it was quite expensive.  Ivy rambled, trying to justify her actions.

“Hmmm, I see,” Liam said, nodding his head as if considering what she just said.

Deciding not to say anything to worsen the situation, Ivy kept quiet. Liam was still staring at her, but it was a different look this time.

Ivy shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she felt his gaze become more intense. She looked everywhere but at his face.

She almost choked on air when she heard his next question.

“Why did you leave without a word that day?” Liam asked, staring intensely at her as if to gauge her reaction to his question.

She had been expecting this question since the day they met again, and as much as she had been expecting it, she dreaded it. She didn't have an answer to it.

She had asked herself that question countless times in her head. “Why did she leave without a word?” She had no idea. She just knew she wanted to get out of there.

She looked up at Liam and matched his gaze. There was a look she couldn't quite fathom in his eyes. Was he upset?

“I don't know. I mean, I didn't see the need to stick around. After all, it was just a one-night thing with a stranger. I did think we were going to see each other ever again.” Ivy let out, now avoiding his gaze.

There was a flash of anger in Liam's eyes, but it only lasted for a second as his face returned to the indecipherable signature look he always wore.

 “Right, didn't think we were ever gonna meet, huh? Yet here we are. A small world we live in, don't you think, Ivy?” he asked with a tight smile on his face.

Ivy had no idea how she was supposed to respond to that. She could feel the tension rising, she was lost for what to say or do.

She breathed a breath of relief when his phone rang, somehow easing the tense atmosphere.

Immediately, he picked up the call, and she felt a sudden chill that sent a shiver down her spine the temperature around their table dropped to zero degrees.

She watched him as he spoke to the person at the other end of the phone; every trace of the smile he had on his face before was long gone, and was now replaced with a deep frown of displeasure.

She saw his eyes darken as he ended the call with one simple command. “Meet me there now!”

Ivy averted her gaze so he wouldn't catch her staring immediately, and she felt him look up.

“I'm sorry, but you will have to return alone. I have some important matters to deal with,” Liam said

“It's fine, I understand, sir,” Ivy replied as she stood up

“My driver will take you back,” Liam added

“Thank you for the meal, sir,” Ivy said as she bowed her head a little and proceeded to head out. 

The driver had already opened the door and was standing, waiting for her to hop in so he could close it.

Ivy thanked him and got inside the car. They drive off. 

They arrived at the company shortly after.

Ivy sighed as she slumped into her chair in her office. She couldn't help but wonder who he was on the phone with and what they talked about that made him so tense.

Finally, it was 5pm. Ivy arranged the files on her desk as she prepared to go home for the day. She checked to see if everything was well arranged. Satisfyingly nodding her head, she shut the door behind her. She looked at the office at the end of the hallway. “Is he back?” she asked no one in particular.

She turned and made her way to the elevator.

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By the time Ivy reached home, it was already dark. Rowan was seated in the living room with his mother, Evelyn, talking and laughing about God knows what.

“Oh, look who is back from their job at a big company,” Evelyn mocked. Their attention, now on her. 

“What big company, ma?” Rowan asked his mum with his brows furrowed.

“Oh, apparently, Ivy now has a job, and it's at a big company in the city,” Evelyn replied to her son.

Ivy chose to ignore them and walk away, but Rowan’s next word made her halt her steps.

“Oh is that why she's dressed like a whore on her first day? A big company indeed,” he snickered.

Ivy inhaled a big breath to calm herself down.

“Don't give them the satisfaction of making you angry,” she told herself in her head.

She turned to face them with a smile, “I didn't realize my life has become so interesting that guys can't seem to ignore”

“Oh, don't go and start getting ahead of yourself, honey, we just want to make sure you are not whoring yourself out in the name of looking for a job. Don't want your father turning in his grave now, do you? Evelyn replied with her face full of spite.

“Don't you dare talk about my father with that filthy hole you call a mouth,” Ivy said with her eyes almost brimming with tears.

“Watch your mouth, Ivy, that's my mother you are talking to,” Rowan said angrily 

“Maybe you should tell your mother to stop meddling in my affairs,” Ivy yelled at him angrily, tears almost threatening to fall, and stomped to her room.

Immediately, she got to her room, and the tears fell as she sobbed quietly.

She hated them so much. “Why did her dad have to die and leave her alone with these selfish and cruel people? Why, why, why?” she asked herself continuously.

She took out a picture of her dad from the drawer beside her bed.

Ivy crawled to her bed, hugging the picture as she cried herself to sleep without taking off her clothes