Obsessed(20)

"I can't sleep much anymore." Liz walks towards the windows. "I'm worried about the placement. If I don't get it, maybe I need to rethink my dream."

"Ridiculous." I try to sound encouraging, "Never give up that dream."

She lets out a slow breath. "It's all I have left."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." She half-smiles. "I'm just tired of living off Daddy's trust fund."

"You're the next big thing in art. I can feel it."

"What would I do without you?" She turns on her stilettos and struts to the door. "Let's go shop."

"I can't. I need to work on the rest of the pieces for Jax and Maddie."

Liz picks up the envelope addressed to Mark. "Another one?"

"I'll take care of it."

She places it back down and nods as she swings open the door and tosses her hair back. "See you later."





Chapter 9




"Is Ms. Veray in?" I quiz the unfamiliar middle-aged woman seated behind the reception desk.

"She's other wised engaged." A weak smile crosses her thin lips. "May I ask whose inquiring?"

Other wised engaged? What did that even mean? "I'm Ivy Marlow. I'm here to drop off the final pieces of my bridal collection."

"You're Ivy Marlow?" Miss Meek and Unassuming has shot to life.

"That's me." I extend my hand over the desk to her.

She jumps to her feet. "I'm Teresa. I love your jewelry. I …well…I mean my husband and I love it. He gave me one of your necklaces this past Valentine's Day. He gave it to me right after we made love and now I wear it every time we do it."

"I'm flattered." I'm assaulted by a mental picture of her naked with one of my necklaces bouncing off her chest as she's on all fours with a faceless man behind her. I shake my head subtly, trying to chase the image away.

"Can I see what you brought?" She's giddy and not afraid to show it.

I lean closer and in a whispered tone say, "I can do one better. I'll have a set of earrings that didn't make the collection delivered right to your desk."

I'm met with a high pitched squeal of delight.

"But there's one condition." I smile.

"What is it?"

"You have to promise to wear them when you go out with your husband." I say half-teasingly, looking for reassurance that she's not just going to wear my pieces only when she's being fucked.

She throws me back a wicked grin before sitting back down behind the desk. "I know Ms. Veray would want to see them right away, Ms. Marlow. Why don't you take them in to her? I'm sure she won't mind."

I'm puzzled. "Maybe you should call her and tell her I'm here?" I point towards the phone sitting on her desk.

"She's not really busy." She continues, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I'm supposed to tell people she's busy when she's waiting for her lunch to be delivered."

"Gotcha." I wink at her.

I knock softly on Madeline's slightly ajar office door.

"That must be lunch," I hear her say. "Come in."

I push open the door and I'm instantly greeted with the image of Madeline sitting uncomfortably close to Jax at the table next to her desk.

"Ivy! It's you!" Madeline leaps from her seat.

"Hello." The word somehow forms on my tongue and leaves my mouth.

"I thought you were lunch." She giggles and throws Jax a knowing glance.

"I've been told I'm delicious," I say without thinking.

Jax coughs and Madeline laughs a bit too hard. "You've always been such a card, Ivy. That's why we love you so."

I know it's all in my imagination, but I feel as though the walls are rapidly closing in on me. I place the box containing my jewelry on her desk. "Here's the rest of the bridal collection." I push it towards her.

"This calls for a celebration!" She turns to Jax. "Let's take Ivy to lunch."

"No," I say louder than necessary. "I can't."

"Nonsense," she says as she rounds her desk to place the box in a drawer. "It's not open for discussion. This is an important day for all of us."

"I agree," Jax chimes in.

I look directly at him, my breath stopping briefly when his eyes catch mine. He stands and puts on the blue suit jacket that had been carefully placed on the chair behind him.

"I'm not dressed for lunch." I'm hopeful that my hastily thrown together ensemble of jeans, red knit top and black flats will be enough to grant me a rain check.

"You look stunning as always, Ivy. I'll tell Teresa to cancel our lunch." Madeline marches out of her office in the direction of the reception desk.

"I don't want to go," I whisper to Jax as he approaches me.