Chapter 4

Julian's POV…

I stared at Ivy in pure shock. 

“You were peeping, weren't you?" I asked her. 

“No sir. I'm sorry sir. I was um… looking for your room so I can clean it" she said.

“Stop standing there like a peeping tom and get inside" I ordered.

She entered the room and fixed her gaze on the floor with her head bent.

“What were you saying?" I asked.

“I only wanted to drop your briefcase and clean your room”

"Just go and do it some other time” I dismissed with the wave of my hand.

"Yes sir”

"But make sure that subsequently, you do your job before I come back. I pay you for that. Am I understood?” 

She nodded. "You can go”

She moved towards the bed and dropped my briefcase before scampering away.

I quickly got dressed and headed downstairs for dinner.

I approached the dining table and Tracy was already seated there.

"Hey baby" I embraced her.

I moved to my chair and sat down. Caroline had already set the food. 

"Where's Ivy?” I asked Caroline.

"I don't know sir” she shook her head.

“Go get her," I commanded.

She nodded and went away. A few minutes later, Ivy walked in with her.

“You called for me sir" she said, her head bowed.

"Yes. You can go clean my room. Caroline has the keys to it, whenever you want to clean it, you collect it from her” 

"Yes sir” she bowed and left 

"Then,” I added and she stopped. "When you're done with that, meet me at the verandah”

"Okay sir” she said and left.

We ate the rest of our dinner in silence. Tracy was moody. She didn't smile or laugh like she usually does. I knew something was up with her.

Immediately after dinner, she went up to her room. A few minutes later, I knocked at her door.

"It's dad,” I said.

"Come in” her voice was low.

I opened the door and smiled widely at her. “I got you your favourite ice cream" I waved the bag in front of her. She didn't smile.

I entered the room and shut the door. I set the bag on the bedside table and sat beside her. 

“What's the problem?" I asked as I put my arms around her.

“It's nothing," she answered.

“Come on. I know it's not nothing" I pressed on.

She sighed. “I miss mom” she started. “You said she was going to come back soon, but she's not yet back" she lowered her head slowly. “People make fun of me because of that" she muttered.

“What?" My eyes widened at her confession.

“Who dared make fun of you?" 

“In school, kids that don't like me, make fun of me because of mom. They say to my face that she doesn't love me and that was why she left me" she said and started crying.

I put my arms around her and embraced her. "That's not true baby. Mom didn't leave you. She loves you more than anything. Don't listen to them”

"I know dad,” she sniffed. "It's just that those kids in school make me feel bad about it”

"I'm so sorry you feel that way. We'll have to look for a new school for you”

"No, dad. I like my school. I have great friends there though. I don't want to go to another school" 

I kissed her forehead. "It's okay. Now go to sleep, remember Ms Lily will be coming tomorrow”

She nodded and laid on the bed. I pulled the duvet over her. "Goodnight”

I quietly left the room and shut the door, without making a sound.

I went downstairs and went to the balcony. I had asked Ivy to wait there. 

I met her standing and leaning by the railings. She was rubbing her leg with the other. I must have made her wait for long.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry for keeping you waiting" 

She turned around abruptly and looked at me. I must have startled her. 

“It's no problem sir" she shook her head.

I made myself comfortable on the mahogany chair. 

“You can sit," I gestured to the seat in front of me.

“Thank you sir" she bowed slightly and sat down.

“You work for me now, so I guess it's right for me to know about your background” I started.

She looked reluctant and I saw the way her face twisted in displeasure.

“You don't need to go into too much detail. Just a little bit of information is enough… for now” I added.

"I'm Ivy Ellie. I'm twenty-two. Ellie is my mom's name. She passed away when I was13 and a year later, my father married another woman, Mary. Ever since, she and her children had tormented and frustrated my life” 

"Were they responsible for that night?”

She lowered her head. "Yes” she muttered.

"What about your father? Was he aware of everything you've been through in their hands?” I asked.

"No. He doesn't stay with us. He lives in the city where he works and only comes back once in a while and while he's around, they treat me nice and threaten to ruin me if I said a word to him" 

“Don't you think he could be looking for you now you ran away?" 

She didn't say anything. Her fingers tugged at her apron. 

“I understand. That's enough information for now. I hope your past experiences won't interfere with your work here" 

“No sir" she shook her head vigorously.

"You have your phone right?” I asked.

She shook her head again. “No sir. I don't" 

"You just said you're twenty-two and you don't have a phone. How am I supposed to believe you and everything you've said just now?" My brows raised in suspicion.

“I have a phone, but my step mother was in control of how I used it as she always had it in her custody. I couldn't take it with me when I left" 

“Sure" I looked at her intently. “I'll get you a phone tomorrow" 

“Thank you sir" 

“That'd be all for now. You can go" I dismissed her.

She stood up and left the balcony. Why does she act so naive and archaic, compared to her age? I needed to keep a close eye on her and hope she has no bad intentions.

**************

Ivy's POV…

Last night, I was forced to swallow the pain of the past and tell Julian about my family. I wouldn't blame him if he had any suspicions about me. I was an adult and it wouldn't sound so true if I claimed I was being treated badly.

I sighed softly and rubbed my back. I couldn't sleep last night. I pushed myself off the bed and got ready for my duties. I didn't want to give Mr Trahan a reason to fire me.

I was in the bathroom when I heard the door to my room open. I thought I heard wrong and kept taking my bath.

But then, I heard the sound of something breaking in my room and realised someone was there. I quickly washed off the soap on my face and put on a towel. 

I came out of the room and saw a broken vase on the floor, but there was no one there.

I went to the broken vase and wondered how it got broken. Someone must have come in and broken it.

“You little witch, how dare you?" 

I raised my head and saw Caroline standing by the door.

"You're going to get into so much trouble today. You stole that vase and also had the guts to break it” 

"Stole?" My eyes widened. “Of course not. I don't know how this got into this room. I was not…" 

“Save that for little miss Tracy” she raised her hand to silence me. "I wonder how she'll react when she finds out that you broke the last gift her mother gave her" 

“Mr Trahan will surely kick you out" 

Now I was being framed. How was I going to prove my innocence now?