Ivy smiled, looking at her cheerful friend as she told her about her day and deep down she admired her . Yes Lisa didn't get to grow up in luxuries and all but she had a happy and simple life compared to hers.
She went on and took a quick bath . And as soon as she was done , she dressed herself in the dress that was chosen by her father. Lisa helped her with her makeup, and within only thirty minutes, she was ready and set to go downstairs.
Ivy stood in the mirror and looked at herself . She indeed was the complete figure of beauty in that red long v-neck dress that had a slit that moved to her knees . Her long wavy brown hair was neatly combed on one of her shoulders. Lisa had neatly done her makeup, and the dress matched well with her jewellery, making her look stunning.
" Don't worry, Ivy . I know things will turn out great . Try to chill , okay. " Lisa said, noticing her dear friend's discomfort. Ivy sighed , smirked lightly and pulled Linda into an embrace ." Thanks Lisa . " She said and then walked out .
Ivy cat walked down the stairs . The taps of her shoes on the floor capturing the ears of those downstairs . Causing most of the guests to raise their eyes to her .
"There's my lovely daughter. The one that my eyes yarn to see . " Mister Richard Staton , Ivy's father said the moment he turned to see Ivy walking downstairs. Ivy smiled seeing her father and went to him. He had opened arms inviting her in for an embrace . which she did reply to . My dearest little daughter . " Mister Richard Staton said . " Oh dad . I'm not so little as I used to be . I'm now a mature grown woman . " Ivy replied .
She looked around at the elegant decorations that covered the entire household . She really was off track and was wondering what was really happening . She walked with her father overp to the living room and took their seats as the waiters and waitresses went on serving drinks to guests.
"Dad, I'm curious, what are we celebrating?"
It won't be a large gathering. Only family friends , and in laws. She didn't wish to ever set her eyes on Fredrik and hearing her dad mention in laws . It didn't take her much thinking to know that he was referring to Fredrik.
" Wait , could it be that dad has set this so-called small party for my engagement with Fredrik . If I remember correctly, he wanted it to happen soon . I hope that that jerk of Fredrik didn't plant any crazy ideas in my father's head . i think it is about time I tell dad my true feelings about this whole situation before things get extra out of hand. " Ivy thought to herself . Her two siblings and Frida were also seated on the left side, and they could clearly hear the conversation between the two. Of which Ivy didn't want.
Ivy's point of view
"Dad . I .. I would like to talk to you . " I said to my father constantly grabbing his attention and the rest . " I would like to tell you privately. Please " I asked. I didn't want Frida to hear what I had to say to dad since I knew that she would definitely stick her nose in my business and try to complicate things further for me .
Dad didn't resist he used his hand stick for support and instantly got up and walked heading to the study room as I followed behind him . Frida and Albert's eyes glaring cold daggers at us but we pretended not to notice . Truthfully speaking none of the both of us even cared the slightest about what they thought or even said behind or backs.
Dad sat at the reading desk facing me as I closed the door behind us . I turned to look at him but honestly I hadn't thought of the words to say and yet I needed to get it off my chest although the highest probability were of him not agreeing . Well. At least I would have tried .
" Dad ... I wanted ... I was going to tell you that I .." I stumbled ,still not finding the words and the nerve in me to confess to my father for the fast time that I disagree with his decision.
" If you don't have what to tell me or have changed your mind on doing it , then it's better not to waste my time . " Dad said cutting in on me. I realised a small sigh in order to collect my courage and then raised my face to look at him . Straight in the eyes . In order to enable him see that I was speaking honestly and truthfully.
My dad had his way of seeing the truth from me whenever I looked in his eyes from the time I was still a child .
"Dad , I don't want to get married to Fredrik . I don't have any interest in him . " I said boldly but calmly.
My dad chuckled as he bent his head a little and then tilted to look back at me . " Oh, Ivy . There's a reason why I still continue to call you my little girl. It's because I know everything before you even have to say . I know that you don't like him . I saw that look you had on your face when I announced that you and him could make a perfect couple. And at the same time I saw his . But good enough one of you two kids loves the other . That's good enough to keep your marriage going. " Dad said .
" What ? Dad you're saying you knew this but yet you still didn't care . Dad do you even hear yourself . What have you become to the extent of not even caring about me your own daughter . what wrong did I do to make you hate me this much . " I said, fuming, disappointed and shocked to hear his words.
" Ivy , Ivy ,Ivy . Why is it that you fail to see things in your father's direction, my dear." He said as he walked to me .
" Ivy you are the most important and loved daughter I have . Your mum was the only and will always be the true love of my life . And you Ivy ,are the only thing that she left me . it would be impossible for me to hate you .. " He said but I cut him short. I was already too angry to listen to his stories.
" Dad please ,don't bring up Mum in this ."
"Ivy my dear. I have always taught you to listen before you act . The reason as to why I have talked about your mum isn't to bring her into this but yet to make you understand how much you're of value to me . "
" Ivy whatever decisions I made and will always make will be to your benefit. I want to save you from the cruelty of life that comes with being poor . I'm building your future . I have faced and gone through a lot with your mother and I don't need you to go through the same. So if I tell you to say something , say it . If I ask you to do something ,then do it . "
" But dad , how is marrying a man i don't love going to be a benefit. I will always be sad and I can never know what love is . " I tried reasoning with dad but only by looks on his face . I could definitely read the answer he was going to answer me . This is so unfair. Why me?
" That's the problem you youngsters have . You think that being happy requires being with someone you love . Which is not true . Only money can keep one truly happy . " Dad said and walked going to the big painted portrait of Mum that was hung on the wall like the other four, which were placed in different places and rooms of the house .
Frida hated it that my late mum's portraits were around the house instead of hers . But dad didn't and hasn't ever cared about what Frida thinks or said. At first I didn't really care either . And in fact I was thinking that she deserved it.. But now , I , I started feeling sad for her . She always looked out standing and pretty but on the inside was empty and filled with sadness due to my dad's actions.
And from what dad saying . It seems like i will be facing the same ugly fate. " Dad's voice broke me from my thoughts as he called me.
" Ivy, being my daughter, you have probably heard of the Greyhound family empire and definitely know my relationship with them . They're my greatest archenemies and business rivals. At the moment if I don't get support for Fredrick's family then all my life time hard work business will be falling right before my eyes .
Ivy ,and I can't let that happen . Once you accept and get married to Fredrick his father will accept to give me the necessary support to raise our company to be able to compete with that of the Greyhounds . And you and my future grand kids will be able to live a life of luxury . Both our families unit ment will make both families riches expand and soon enough we will own at least half compared to what Greyhound family empire has.
" But without that both of families are going to get squashed in the business field.
Ivy my dear you will live a life of a queen . And will be part of an influential family." Dad said trying to convince me into agreeing and seeing things in his point . But now everything was clearer than ever . Dad was trading my happiness for a business deal . I knew he loved money. But It had never occurred to me that he could reach this level . Or even say the words he has just did . And above all placing me in such a difficult situation . If I didn't accept that ment the total down fall of our company . The company that my dear late mother struggled hard to start along with dad .
Dad walked to were i was standing speech less and lost in thoughts of how I was to face the terrible fate he had installed for me . He placed both his hands on my cheeks like he used to when i was still a kid and lifted my face to look at him straight in the eyes . " Ivy there's no other way my dear . There's a huge lake for us to cross and yet we have got no boat . Fredrick's family will be our boat out of this. . " Dad said trying to reason with me . And pulled me into a tight embrace.
Not knowing that through his words . My mind peaked up a sentence . If this was a lake and I needed to get passed it then I can without getting the boat . Dad has been speaking of . I quickly broke from dad's embrace . "No dad they not our only way out of this . I'm not going to marry Fredrik but at the same time I won't let our company fall apart . Mum worked so hard to let it to us and I promise you that I won't stand and let it go . "
Dad chuckled and looked at me with a look that clearly stated you can't .
" And how exactly will you be able to do that ?" He asked .
" I don't know yet but I will . Dad , I can and will . " I replied ,my voice filled with intothiasim and courage . .
" Okay , let' s make a deal . " Dad said as he walked to his seat . " I will give you only a month time . And If by any chance you haven't got any change on the companies status then you will have to get married to Fredrik. no arguments no excuses . But if by any chance you have , which I think is impossible then you may do what you wish . " Dad said, and as a mischievous smirk crept it's way on my face .
" It's a deal " I answered . My dad also smirked . But the difference was that his was a challenging smirk . I then turned and reached out for the door . Followed by my father. We walked back downstairs . the guests were still arriving.
Different stuff members and family friends started entering one by one . As I my brother, sister and Frida welcomed them .
I saw Fredrick's dad and mum walking in and I went to great them. His mother was a really nice and kind woman . I even used to think that Fredrick took after his mum but it turns out he was more like his dad. Friedrick's dad wasn't a man you would likely to mess with . He had a warm smile always applied on his face but all who knew him well knew that it meant the total opposite .
If you thought my dad is overprotective, then Fredrick's dad was twice compared to mine . He always had Fredrick's mum tied on a leash and even once when I and Fredrick were still fourteen . We went to Frederick's house to hang out and found him slapping and yelling at her . We only seen them from a far and never let them notice us . But what shocked me most was the fact that she was so
tamed , to the point that she didn't even dare to speak a word back at him .