The sound of heels clicking against the floor seemed to soothe the women, the sound familiar and calming. Her 5'4 frame easily matched her assistant's 5'9 frame with the providence of her dark stilettoes. Her black curls cascaded down her back, meeting her hips in tight spirals. Her navy blue blouse was tucked tightly into her white pencil skirt, hugging her curves to perfection. Her hourglass figure screaming to breathe. The skirt rested just above her knees, exposing her olive legs.
Her hand moved to her forehead, holding it as a throbbing pain entered her head. Her assistant made a move to approach her but she quickly stopped him. She released an irritated sigh before running her fingers through her thick curls. Her ocean-blue eyes darted around the room, watching to make sure that her employees were actually doing their work. She walked through the rows of desks, looking over everyone's shoulder, eyeing the spreadsheets that were displayed on their screens.
"Excellent." She muttered as she finished examing her newest hire. Their face lit up as the feeling of satisfaction sparked in their body, thrilled to be recompensated by her boss for the first time. Some of the other employees glared at her from their desk while others sent her a look of delight, honored on her behalf.
Her assistant's finger was pressed against the earpiece that sat in his left ear. He mumbled a few words in response to what he was being told. He leaned in towards his boss, gaining her attention. "Miss. There are people downstairs who are trying to come up and see you. They claim that it's urgent. Should I have Mrs.Maria send them up?"
She pondered the thought for a minute before nodding. "Send them up." She agreed. Her assistant nodded his head before mumbling to the earpiece again. She moved away from her employees and towards her office, hoping to make it there before her guest does. Releasing another sigh of annoyance, she opened the door to her office, slipping in, her assistant following closely behind. A small knock on the door made both of their heads snapped towards the sound. "Miss? I've brought your guest up. May I enter?"
"Come in." She ushered as she sat in her chair behind her desk. Her eyes widened and her breath got caught in her throat as she eyed who was walking into her office. Despite there being three faces, she could only keep her eyes on the one in the middle. "Zachary? What are you doing here?"
Zac smiled softly at her. "Hey, Iv. I know it's been a while, but- we need your help."
"Mika, please excuse us," Ivy said as she turned towards her assistant. He gave her a curt nod before stepping out of the room. "Zac, it's been over four years. What could you possibly need my help with after all this time?"
"Ace." The name made her blood boil in her veins and her face turn red.
Ivy harshly bit her bottom lip as she searched for the right words to say. "He-" Ivy turned her head while clearing her throat. "He wants to see me?"
Zac hid a smirk. She was still affected by him. Ivy and Ace have years of history with each other. No one could replace him in her eyes. Ace was forced to move on because of the bond to his mate. They were together almost six years when his father forced him to cut all ties with Ivy. Ace's eighteenth birthday he lost the love of his life for a bond that he couldn't control, nor did he want. They've been friends since they were in diapers and that friendship soon grew into a romantic relationship. They were forbidden to be together as friends, let alone as lovers.
Ivy was born as an enemy to Ace, yet that didn't stop them from breaking every rule written to prevent the two from being together. Ivy was born to love blood, to have an animalistic thirst for it. She was a vampire. Ace saw past the enemy and found the love of his life. They forced themselves to learn to control themselves around each other. They were each other first for everything. No one could compare.
Zac wasn't sure how to answer the question, he didn't want to break her heart, but he needed her help. "Ever since that day, he's been forbidden to speak of you." Zac whispered.
Ivy released a bitter laugh, "I should've known better." She shook her head, trying to not allow her emotions to get the best of her. "So then what about him?"
Zac took a deep breath. "He found his mate, bu-"
"Get the fuck out of my office." Ivy's ocean blue eyes were now a glowing red. She was fuming with anger. "Did you really come here to ask me for help or did you just come to rub in my face that Ace already met his stupid mate?" Her voice was in a low hiss.
"Well maybe if you would've let me finish my damn sentence, Allan, you would've known where I was going with the conversation." Ivy huffed out air. Zac's eyes were charcoal black, his wolf was in full control now. She knew that she had to back down. "She rejected him." A pang hit Ivy's chest, feeling Ace's pain for him.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Who would be stupid to reject him?"
Hazel tilted her head back with a blank expression. "Watch what you say."
Ivy's face lit up in amusement. "Why? Is it you? Are you that stupid?" Her eyes fluctuated between blue and red, she was trying to hold herself back. Zac's hand found Hazel's thigh, preventing her from getting up. She huffed out air as she folded her arms over her chest. "So that's your mate?"
Zac ignored the question. "I'd watch that tongue of your, Ivanna." Ivy's eyes widened when Zac used her full name. "She isn't stupid, Ace tried to force himself on her and she wasn't tolerating that so she rejected him."
A tch sound escaped Ivy's lips as she leaned back in her chair, not believing that Ace would do something like that. "You know. Ace's father made a deal with him. If he couldn't find his mate by the time he was 23, Ace could be with whomever he wanted," Zaqc paused as he watched Ivy's eyes shoot open. "Including you."
Before Ivy could respond, Hazel had to excuse herself because of a phone call. Lucas followed, not enjoying the awkward tension that lingered in the room. "After you left, Ace refused to find his mate. He refused even leave the house, in fear of actually meeting his mate. You wouldn't understand the pull that you get when you see them. It's inevitable. You can't fight it no matter how hard you try to. That was Ace. For the first time in four years, he let his wolf run freely in the woods and he met his mate. It seemed like all the pain that he's felt the past couple of years vanished, and the only thing clouding over his mind was her."
Ivy was listening intently to him. "What I am saying is if Ace finally is mated with someone, the pain will go away. Poof. Vanished. Just think about it." Zac pulled a small piece of paper out of his coat pocket. "Call me when you make up your mind."