Chapter 15
“You really do need to get an accountant!” Ivy said, widening her eyes at Leon who was sitting across from her at the table. The glasses were back on his face and he had a pencil stuck behind his ear.
He looked up at her, again from on top of his glasses and gave a smirk.
“Tell me about it.” He said.
Ivy licked her lips. They had been at it for several hours now and she had lost track of time. They both had a pile of papers in front of them each, trying to sort through all the business transactions that she could account for. She had managed to arrange a few things for the filing forms, but the rest of it was going to take ages. And she had been very careful till now to not make any comments on how much money this man actually had.
He sure didn’t dress that way. Leon Cooper’s arrogance wasn’t a moneyed sophisticated one, it was more masculine and brooding. If she didn’t know anything about him, where he lived, how luxurious this mansion was…she would never have guessed that he was a billionaire.
“Thank you, Ivy. For doing this.” He said suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. She looked up at him and their eyes met again. They had shared a good few peaceful working hours, putting their disputes and their worries behind them. She felt comfortable in his presence, like she could be herself, like he appreciated the work she was putting into all this.
“You’re welcome. See, I am good for more than just cooking meals.” Ivy said with a laugh.
“Of course you are. Which is why I’m glad you have a new job. A different one. I would be very guilty keeping you here, cooped up in my ranch, doing the dishes.” He said, placing the papers in his hands on the table.
Ivy flicked the curls on her face to the side and licked her lips again.
“That’s what daddy keeps telling me too. But what about what I want?” She asked, daring to meet his sparkling eyes.
“What do you want?” He asked, softly.
“I want to stay in this town. This is my home. This is where I feel closest to my mother. And I don’t want to work in a big fancy corporate office. That wouldn’t make me happy.” Ivy said, and stood up from her chair. She could sense that Leon was following her with his eyes.
“But there’s nothing for you here. For a beautiful smart young woman like you.” She heard him say, and Ivy whipped around to face him again.
“See, that’s what daddy keeps telling me as well. But nobody gives me the opportunity. He doesn’t let me help him run his business. I’m good at accounts, I’m good with customers. I’ll be good at managing a business. But he won’t let me. He thinks I’m meant for greatness, but what if I just want to be great here. In our town. In my home.” Ivy had worked herself up with the speech. She could feel her neck flushing, her cheeks growing red.
She could see that Leon’s eyes had travelled to her red-as-apples cheeks. His eyes softened, and he stood up as well.
“Well, I guess you have to just convince him.” He said, and there were several moments of silence between them.
“But I have a job now. Maybe in a few years I can come back again, maybe then he’ll give me a shot again.” She said and turned to the kitchen sink. There were a few dishes in the sink, which she started cleaning.
“Leave those be, Ivy. I’ll do them later.” She heard him say, but she didn’t stop. She kept washing them.
“I need to get a dishwasher.” He said, and she smiled to herself. Then she sensed him walking close to her.
“Leave them Ivy. You don’t work for me anymore.” He said and his hands were on hers. She felt her skin tingle with his touch, as he tugged her hand away from the sink. He turned her gently to face him, and the smile on his face was gone.
“I wish you the best of luck in your life, Ivy.” He said, somberly. But he sounded like he meant it. Ivy’s hands were wet from the soapy water of the sink but he still held them tightly, keeping her facing him as they stood.
“You deserve the best in life. I don’t know you at all, but I know you’re a great girl. Someday you’ll make a man very happy.” He said, and slowly let her hands go.
Ivy gulped, licked her lips and stared back at him with heavy lids.
“And I wish you the best of luck too, Leon. I hope you get the woman you want, that she realizes what a fool she is by giving you up. And I hope that you both are happy together.” Ivy said, and she stepped away from him.
The peace and quiet of them working together was ruined again. She wished she hadn’t started cleaning the dishes.
“It doesn’t work that way.” He said, surprising her with his words. She hadn’t expected him to answer her statement. When she looked at him, he was running his fingers through his hair again.
“What do you mean by that?” She asked him, and he only stared at her blankly.
“What you said. About the woman I used to love, and having her back. It doesn’t work that way.” He replied, facing her now with saddened eyes.
“Leon.” Ivy whispered, her heart beating rapidly against her chest in the silence of the mansion. “Will you please tell me what happened? I’m leaving tomorrow, we’ll never see each other once I leave town. Just tell me what happened and get it off your chest.” She implored him, and he could see it in her eyes.
She watched as he licked his lips, took in a deep breath and then sat back down at the table again.