The Lost Heiress

Chapter 7

Ivy took in all the expressions on Jordan’s face as she explained all that had transpired between her family and his family. She kept quiet as soon as she finished narrating it all and still, he said nothing, making her nervous.

“Say something, Jordan, please” she begged her voice almost shaking and that snapped his attention to her.

“Why do you look like that?” he asked confused at her almost fearful expression.

“I just- I feel that maybe you’ll think that I betrayed you or something” she said silently but he heard and quickly took her hand in his and then lifted up her face to his.

“Ivy, I’m not mad at you, I don’t think I could be even if I wanted to be, I was simply processing the news and new development of things” he explained making sure she held eye contact with him.

“I love you Ivy, and if I have to fight against the whole world just so I can be with you, I’ll do it without hesitating, I love you baby, don’t ever doubt that, whatever problem we face, we’ll fight it together because there’s no where I’ll rather be than by your side, Ivy” he confessed with all seriousness and Ivy’s eyes watered as she moved closer to him and joined their lips together.

“I love you so much Jordan” she said as their lips left each other and Jordan pulled her closer until she adjusted herself again so that her back was once again pressed to his front and he pulled her more into him and they stayed like that for a while simply staring out into space.

“Let me meet your father” Jordan said all of a sudden and Ivy slowly raised her head to look at him whilst processing what he just said

“You want to meet my dad?” she asked again and he nodded.

“Jordan, you meeting my dad won’t solve anything, he’ll simply get more furious with our relationship and cut off all our means of communication”

“So what do you have in mind?” he questioned

“Let me talk to him, I’m sure that I can at least try, he’ll still be mad but at least it won’t be as bad as if he hears it directly from you”

“So you want me to just do nothing? Ivy, you know I can’t do that” he argued

“I was hoping that you could talk to your family, well, your dad, I am just trying to cut to the lowest any possible disagreement that could arise from this especially between you and your brother, I know you have been trying to get close to your brother and this could be the ultimate deal breaker” Ivy explained

“I do understand baby, I just don’t want your father to think I’m hiding behind his daughter to avoid his wrath” he explained his reasoning.

As she opened her mouth to speak, her phone rang and she recognized the message alert tone and she sighed and went to check it.

One New Message from Father

Your Mother said you are down with stomach cramps, hope you’re doing better. You were not around or you would have been informed personally. We have decided to get you and Caleb engaged this Saturday, Marriage will be discussed later on after your studies, consider it a formality

Ivy’s eyes bulged out as she read the message and the understanding dawned on her.

They were getting her engaged to Caleb

“No, no this cannot be happening” Jordan was alerted as he jumped up and walked towards her.

“What’s the matter baby?” he asked and she thrusted the phone into his palms as she dashed in to her room and came out shortly after in a pair of jeans and a blue top with her hair packed into a pony tail.

“Where are you going?” Jordan held her arm and turned her to look at him.

“I’m going to see my father, right this minute, I’m clearing this whole marriage nonsense once and for all” she said her eyes shining with determination.

“I’m coming with you” he said but she held his arm

“No,-‘

“No buts, Ivy, this concerns the two of us, we are going to sort this out together” he interrupted her and she sighed before nodding positively and so they left the penthouse together and when they finally got out of the building she pulled out her phone just in time to see her mother’s face flashing on the screen.

“Did your father tell you already?” she didn’t bother to beat about the bush.

“Yes mom, I got a text from him now and I’m on my way with Jordan right now, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just found out now myself from you brother, your father and Caleb’s mother had a discussion after the dinner but I didn’t know this would be the outcome anyways, I’ll be waiting here.”

“Okay mom, I gotta go, I’ll see you in a bit”

With that they hung up and they both got into Jordan’s car and drove off. All the way to her father’s house, Ivy couldn’t help the feeling of nervousness that settled into her system and Jordan noticed this and held her hand to reassure her but to also reassure himself, they both knew that this night was very significant, her father’s decision will definitely change a lot of things in their lives, Jordan could only pray that his decision will be in their favor. Ivy was busy plotting many scenarios she could create that would make her dad not have any option but to agree to their union.

Perhaps she could pretend to be pregnant, it’s not like she and Jordan haven’t been intimate before but she knew that Jordan wouldn’t be a party to it besides she hoped her father would not be so hard headed about it and give in. Moreover, if she even pretends to be pregnant, for how long will she be able to keep up with that kind of lie?

Jordan could sense her internal struggle and squeezed her hand gently “Hey” he called and she turned to face him and he briefly looked at her before turning his attention to the road.

“Don’t be nervous, we’ll face this night together” he told her and she sighed

“My mind is creating all kinds of scenarios, I can hardly keep calm, I just don’t know what to expect from dad and it’s playing with my sanity, I just hate not knowing”

“Like I said, we’re in this together, we’ll face the outcome of tonight together, I’ll be by your side no matter what” she sighed and did not say anything more. Fifteen minutes later, they were driving into her father’s compound after letting the security know that Jordan was with her.

Her mother came out as soon as she heard their car drive in and Jordan parked the car and he and Ivy got out of the car and soon he was by her side facing her mother.

“Good evening Misses Stewart” he greeted her and she smiled.

“So finally, I get to meet the famous Jordan Quinton, it’s nice meeting you but I’ll prefer you call me Olivia, no need for formality if you are to be my son-in-law” she said with a chuckle and Jordan smiled.

“Nice to meet you too Olivia”

“Mother, where’s father?” Ivy asked her anxiety taking over her entire system and Olivia sighed

“In his office, listen, I know you both want to go in there and tell George about your decision but I’m going to give my candid advice to you two and that is to allow Ivy go in first. You can wait with me but believe me when I say that it’s for the best” Olivia repeated what Ivy had since been trying to tell Jordan.

“Olivia, I really do wish to be there when Ivy informs him, I don’t like the idea of Ivy fighting both our battles by herself” Jordan protested.

“That’s how you see it but her father has zero idea about what’s going on, you being there when she tells him will make him more angrier because he will assume that Ivy is trying to corner him by letting a stranger be pat of that kind of discussion and a cornered George is not up for negotiation, he’ll arrange the wedding this night in itself and make you the best man for the occasion, so to have a better chance, let Ivy meet with him and when he calls for you, you go in” Olivia told them and Jordan finally nodded and they all made their way into the house and while Olivia and Jordan stayed back in the living room, Ivy made her way to her Father’s office on the next floor.

On getting there, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down many times before finally knocking and waiting for her Dad’s voice to tell her to come in and she didn’t have to wait for long before he did. She opened the door and went in.

“Dad” she said and he looked up clearly not expecting her.

“Ivy? I thought your mother said you were not doing to well and you were at your residence?”

“Um not quite but I got your message” she said as she sat down

“And so?” he asked

“Dad, there’s something important I need to tell you concerning this supposed marriage” George Stewart sighed and rubbed his face.

“Ivy if you are here to refuse it, then don’t even waste both our times because you know I won’t go back on my decision, you are going to become the daughter-in-law of that family, that decision has been made and there’s nothing you can do to change it.” Her father said sternly.

“Dad, I have no problem becoming Misses Quinton” she began and sighed “I just want to make this union beneficial to all the parties involved, you want this marriage to work for business benefits and I just want to be happy with the person I love” she told him and she saw the tick in his jaw.

“What do you mean the person you love? What’s that about?” he asked his voice low.

“Daddy, I told you before, I love someone, there’s only one person I can imagine spending the rest of my life with”

“Then begin to imagine your life with Caleb Quinton because that’s the only person I would give you away to, you know the tradition of this family Ivy, it’s older than us, it’s what has made this family strong up till this moment, and I will not let your flimsy passing crush for some guy you don’t even know to destroy it, understand that young lady”

“Dad at least hear me out, I will still be marrying into that family just to a different person” she blurted out and her dad looked at her as though trying to make sense of what she meant.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked her.

“Dad, the person I love is the first son of that family, Jordan Quinton” she said and her dad narrowed his eyes at her.

“The illegitimate son?” Ivy cringed at the way her dad said it.

“If you put it that way dad, but I don’t see him that way, to me he’s the first son of that family from a different mother” it was silent after that, Ivy couldn’t tell what was going through her father’s mind at that moment.

“No” Ivy nearly fainted when her dad voiced his disapproval

“But why dad?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Have you thought of how you are going to be viewed by that family?” he sighed “You’ll be seen as the rich heiress who goes from one brother to the other” he said and Ivy almost rolled her eyes.

“Dad no one knows of this impending engagement yet, at least no one outside both families and besides I could care less whatever anyone thinks”

“That’s what you think Ivy, but I have a reputation to uphold so I’m sorry daughter, but whatever it is you think you have or feel for that boy, best you forget it and begin to imagine a future with Caleb” her father said and Ivy could hear the note of finality in his voice, she began to feel desperate and in that desperation she did the one thing she knew she could to save her relationship with Jordan, she said the only thing she knew would force her dad to accept her relationship and future with Jordan.

“Dad, I’m pregnant with Jordan’s child”