"We''re busy here," Ss said, without looking at the door.


    0


    4


    He shielded Aaliyah''s face with his body, so that whoever it was wouldn''t know


    she was crying.


    When the neer didn''t leave, Ss turned, slightly annoyed-until he saw it was Ivy.


    "Ivy. I didn''t know it was you."


    Ivy paused for a moment, her eyes widened. "Yes..."


    "Give us a moment, please. Aaliyah is gathering herself," he said.


    Ivy hesitated, then nodded briefly before leaving the room.


    Once she was out, Aaliyah lifted her head. Her tears had stained his white shirt. "I


    hope that wasn''t weird," she sniffed, her voice hoarse from crying.


    "What?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Me crying in your arms, your wife walking in."


    "Oh, Ivy''s cool," he smiled. "She''d never think anything weird. So, what''s the n now? he asked, picking up from where they stopped.


    "I don''t know," Aaliyah said, dabbing her eyes with the tissue in her hand.


    Ss watched her, sympathy churning inside him. "You''ll have to say something eventually."


    "I have tried, countlessly-indirectly, but you know, it''s the same-dismissals, threats."


    Ss smiled, watching as she blew her nose daintily. Their friendship had blossomed barely three months after they broke up. They might have been a terrible match as a couple, but they were superpatible as friends.


    "Thanks again for the job. I really appreciate it." She gave him a shaky smile.


    "You''re wee," he replied warmly. "You know I''m here for you. When you decide to tell your parents, let me help."


    "It''s not that easy, Ss," Aaliyah said, squeezing the tissue and disposing it. "You''re an independent man. I''m not-at least, not yet." Her mouth pressed in a thin line, and he suspected she was going to cry again.


    Ss pulled her closer, rubbing a hand around her back. "It''s okay. You''ll get through this."


    "I really hope so," she whispered. Then she pulled back abruptly. "You can''t tell anyone, Ss."


    Her intensity took him by surprise. "Of course."


    "I mean it," she said, her eyes turned serious. "Words can''t get out about it. Not even to your wife."


    He hadn''t told Ivy anything deep about himself so it was easy to ept Aaliyah''s request. "Definitely ma''am."


    "Thank you," she said, her expression softened.


    She walked to her bag and pulled out another tissue, this time to wipe the tear stains on his shirt. "I can''t let anyone know I cried," she teased.


    Ss chuckled. "I doubt people would believe a whole Aaliyah Salvatore cried."


    She hit him yfully and finished wiping. "Alright done," she smiled. "Now leave, let me adjust my makeup."


    "Take care, Aaliyah," Ss smiled.


    "I appreciate you," she murmured.


    Ss left Aaliyah in the room and was about to look for Ivy when his phone rang.


    He brought it out of his pocket and saw it was Thomas calling.


    +28


    He walked into a nearby empty room before answering. "Hello."


    "Hey, Si. How are you?" Thomas said.


    "I''m good. You?"


    "Good too," Thomas replied, hesitating. "I''m sorry about yesterday."


    "Yeah. It''s okay," Ss said calmly.


    "I''m sorry for talking about Ivy like that," Thomas mumbled. "I got so stressed with everything going on."


    Ss heard the sincerity in his brother''s voice and sighed. "I understand you. It''s okay, really. How are you holding up?"


    "Terrible," Thomas admitted. "Wade sent Sonia Raj an official request to ess


    the leaked information, but there''s no response yet."


    "I''m sure she''ll respond soon," Ss replied assuringly.


    Thomas paused again before asking. "How''s Ivy?"


    "Good. We just finished our photoshoot some moments ago," Ss exined.


    "Oh great," Thomas sounded pleased. "Has she released her statement yet?"


    Shoot! Ss hadpletely forgotten that Ivy still had to release a statement to debunk Mason''s


    im "No, she hasn''t. Thank you for reminding me I''ll inform Rachel. Well probably handle it tomorrow.


    "Alright then," Thomas said softly. "As an apology, I''d like you and Ivy toe to


    my house for dinner. You know, me, you, her and Rosie. What do you think?"


    Ss didn''t even have to think about it. "Definitely."


    "Great!" Thomas eximed. "Is 8pm cool?"


    "Yes," Ss smiled.


    "Alright then. See you tomorrow," Thomas said.


    "Yeah. Bye." He hung up.


    Before Ss forgot again, he quickly texted Rachel telling her to arrange an interview for Ivy''s public statement.


    When he was done, he pocketed his phone, stepped out, and began searching for Ivy. When he couldn''t find her, he just assumed she''d gone to wait in his car. He found her there, pressing her phone.


    "Ivy." Ss called. She looked up. "You didn''t tell me you wereing to the car." "Yeah," she replied emotionlessly.


    He overlooked her t response. "Let''s go home," he told Victor, who started the


    car.


    Ivy said nothing, her eyes glued on her phone. He sat still, waiting and watching


    until he couldn''t stand her silent treatment anymore.


    "Is something wrong? You''ve been acting weird all day."


    "Have I?" she asked without looking up.


    He sank into his chair, confusion fuming inside him. He sighed when he noticed


    she''d removed the Cartier wristwatch and diamond


    ne.


    If there was one thing he knew about her, it was that whenever he offended her, she''d reject his gifts.


    But what had he done this time?


    He racked his brain, trying to think of his mistake, but nothing came up. "Did


    somebody offend you?" he asked.


    She huffed.


    +28


    Her attitude annoyed him. "Forget about it then."


    She turned away, he turned too, annoyed by her silence, but still puzzled.


    "It was the hug in the room," she finally said softly.


    He turned to her. "What hug?"


    "You and Aaliyah," she frowned.


    "Oh that," he breathed. "It was just a hug. I was consoling her. She-" He stopped, remembering his promise to Aaliyah.


    Ivy waited for him to continue, and when he didn''t, she said, "Okay." Visibly angry.


    "I was consoling a friend," he said, and then a thought crossed his mind. "Are you jealous? Did you think I have something with Aaliyah?"


    "What? Not Her denial was swift.


    Despite her firm voice, she was blushing hard. Don''t tter yourself What if someone else had walked in? They''d instantly know this marriage is fake."


    Ss wanted tough out loud. She was lying and for some inexplicable reason the thought ddened his heart "Alright he chuckled, deciding not to push it. "Thank you for looking out for us."


    She nodded, turning away.


    After a moment, Ss spoke again. "So, have you picked a travel destination?"


    Ivy ignored him, crossing her legs.


    He looked at her and shook his head. She was being stubborn as usual. "Well, if


    you don''t pick a destination, I''ll pick for you," he teased, hoping it will get her to


    talk.


    Still, she said nothing.


    He gave up. "You have an interview tomorrow and then dinner with Thomas and Rosie."


    "Time?" she finally asked.


    "In the morning," he replied just as Victor pulled into the premises.


    Ivy left the car, and without another word, disappeared inside.


    Ss watched as she marched, alighting from the car too. His phone rang and he


    reached for it. "Hello Thomas."


    "I think it''s time we fuck Mason up!" Thomas''s voice was hard and it terrified Ss.


    "What? What happened?


    Thomas hissed. "It''s Mason. He''s suing Ivy for hurting his mother!"


    Ss''s heart pounded. Fucking Mason again.