Chapter 22

Ivory was determined to catch him off-guard, for that reason she had taken the elevator to the floor below hers and used the stairs for the remainder of the journey. Her eyes spotted Felix, tapping his pen against the counter dreamily, she laughed silently, taking light slow steps until she was close enough to him.

"Good Morning!" she exclaimed with such enthusiasm that Felix, being utterly caught off-guard slid down from his chair in reaction. Ivory couldn't contain the laughter swelling up from her belly. Her left hand reaching to her chest, it had been a while she had laughed that hard.

"Did I anger you?" Felix questioned as he rose from the floor, dusting his clothes off.

"No, in fact, you have made me happy." She responded. Felix's eyes widened exceptionally.

"Then why do you punish me?" He demanded dramatically.

"Oh, stop whining," she responded, handing him a cup of coffee and some donuts she had picked up from the bakery.

"Isn't this how abusive relationships start? First, you torture me and then you bribe me?" He gazed at the snacks longingly. Last night he had been unable to sleep, his mind held captive by Zoey. He kept replaying their conversations over and over in his head until sleep was no longer a choice.

"What are your lunch plans?" She questioned ominously. Felix gazed at her blankly. Usually, it was him begging her to have lunch with him.

"What?" she prompted. He'd gone silent, a suspicious expression taking hold of his features.

"I am afraid," he muttered convincingly.
Ivory rolled her eyes. "Fine, I guess you don't want to see Zoey then," she responded teasingly, moving towards Raiden's office.
Felix all but skated over his table and ran in front of her blocking her view, kneeling in front of her, and placing his hands on his ears. "I am sorry. Have mercy!" he begged, hands in prayer pose.
Ivory resisted the urge to laugh and instead raised her head higher. "Since you have realized the error of your ways, I shall forgive you," she commented, the laughter bursting through as Felix stumbled to his feet.

"So about Zoey..." he whispered.

"I was going to meet her for lunch, however, I am giving my lunch date over to you." Ivory explained, adoring the extra light in Felix's eyes. He immediately pulled her into his arms.

"You are the best!" he released her almost as soon as he hugged her.

"I know." Ivory responded playfully, telling him the time and place.

"Wait!" he drew her attention back at him. "Did she say anything about last night? Did she have a good time? Does she want to see me again?" Felix questioned, his eyes immediately stricken with worry.

"There is a reason I am giving up my lunch date to you. I think it speaks for itself." Ivory responded and headed off into Raiden's office.

"Good morning." She muttered, Raiden was blissfully unaware of her presence. She smiled, not at all expecting a response, and set off to work.

"You and Felix, you seem quite close," Raiden commented, having been alerted by the commotion they had created outside. He couldn't hear the conversation between them but he'd noted Ivory's carefree expressions. Expressions he hadn't seen her display around him.
Ivory seemed to consider his question. "I guess we are," she responded casually. Her words doing nothing to comfort him. He swallowed back any further questions or comments he had on the subject.

"From next week you will officially be starting your new post." He commented. The final preparations of her promotion in motion.
Ivory's eyes lit up. It had taken her years to finally be appreciated for her hard work. "Really?" she questioned. "Which department am I under?" she questioned, part of her dreading the response.

"You will be in my department." He responded. "I haven't reconciled to letting you go," he muttered, not intending for her to hear. "There is an empty office along the corridor of this floor, I am getting it ready for you." he continued, her happiness contagious. However, he felt strange. It seemed as if she really wouldn't mind being away from him.

"Thank you." she had no other means to express her gratitude. She had so much to thank him for. He had believed in her when no one else dared to, for that he would always have her gratitude.

Felix entered at that time, interrupting them. " Mr. De Ville, someone is here to see you." He commented softly. Before Raiden could question who it was the office door pushed open and an older woman entered carelessly.

"There is no need to ask his permission." She responded hotly. Ivory and Felix both shared a similar blank expression. Raiden rose from his seat and came around to face the intruder.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" he questioned as his arms went around her in an almost formal embrace.

"Can't I come to see my son?" she questioned as if his inquiry was ridiculous.

"You are welcome anytime," he responded, leading her to a seat. Felix had disappeared and Ivory was left to covertly spy on the woman who had raised Raiden. Their relationship seemed formal which indicated to Ivory that Raiden's success was a family trait. She immediately blocked the two out and focused on her tasks.

Raiden seated himself and waited for his mother to speak what was on her mind. He knew she had a motive for coming to visit him. He noticed that she had turned to stare back at Ivory a few times.

"Do you really need two assistants?" his mother questioned, her eyes still on Ivory.

"I don't have two assistants," he responded casually. She swallowed, taking the time to consider her next line of attack. "Why do you have a female employee in the same space as you?"

"It's more efficient," he responded matter of factly, finding it funny that his mother was growing impatient.

"Is there something I should know?" she questioned openly, her features serious.
Raiden eased back into his chair and cocked his head to the side as if seriously considering her inquiry. "Not that I can think of. Of course, if there is something mother wishes to know please don't hesitate to ask."

She swallowed her responses, gave one last look at the girl in the corner, and then turned her attention back to her son just in time to see the look in his eyes as they glanced at the girl. His eyes switched back to his mother and the light she had previously seen extinguished.

"Have dinner with me tonight." she immediately demanded, rising from the seat. "I won't take no for an answer, I'll have Felix remind you." and she was gone, fighting the urge to gaze at the girl one last time as she exited.
Raiden was the last to leave the office, all he wanted was to go home and spend the night unwinding with Ivory. He eased into his car, his phone vibrating in his pocket, he fished it out. It was Felix, sending him a reminder that he had dinner plans with his mother. He dropped his cell onto the passenger side, mildly irritated. He considered cancelling on her, checking the time on his wristwatch he realized it was too late. She was probably already waiting for him. Raiden picked up his phone from the passenger seat, His mind conflicted, in the end, he sent a text to Ivory informing her would not be going over. His mind fleetingly wondering whether she would feel anything close to disappointment.

Ivory checked her phone almost instantly, reading the message from Raiden and feeling somewhat deflated. Perhaps, it was for the best, especially since her mother had refused to leave. She hoped he was having a better evening than she was going to, but in the same breath, she hoped he didn't enjoy it more than his time with her. It was selfish, she knew that. Not to mention their interactions weren't meant to build compassion.

***
Raiden entered the restaurant looking forward to the night's end. He spotted his mother immediately and walked over to her. She stood up as he approached, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. They took their seats. "I hope you don't mind, I ordered for the table," she revealed as the waiters began bringing food in. He shook his head, he had guessed as much already. Something can't be a surprise if it's wrapped up in routine.

"Is there something you wished to speak to me about?" Raiden took a sip of water.

"Have you decided on your future?" she spoke freely.

"My future is stable," he responded absent-mindedly while he picked into his food.

"You know I don't mean financially," she answered, clearly annoyed.
Raiden barely paid attention to her. This conversation was one he had been hearing countless times, there was no effect.

"I have been too busy to sustain any relationship at this point. I recently acquired my company, there are lots to do before it's stable again." he scooped food into his mouth.

His mother scoffed. "Are you really trying to lie to me?" she questioned hotly. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"That girl-" the words held so much disgust that he was momentarily surprised. "You can't fool me. There is clearly something between you two." She had the slightest suspicion but him concealing all reactions spoke volumes.

"Mother." his tone was a warning.

"I saw the way you looked at her," she whispered intensely as he floated back on his chair, his appetite lost.

"You saw me for all of five minutes today, I think you're overestimating your observational skills." he countered.

"Then assure me that she will never be a part of your life." she had held onto his hands now.

"Mother, she works for me," he said attempting to pull his hand away but her grasp tightened.

"I mean in your personal life, promise me." She urged him, but he couldn't respond. He had no trouble bluffing and bending the truth but when it came to promises he made it his duty to always keep his word, he couldn't be like his father. The word promise was too binding and while he knew his relationship with Ivory would sooner or later come to an end he didn't have the heart to confirm it to his mother.

"What's the use of such a promise? She is my employee. They all get tangled in my personal life, just look at Felix." he commented, knowing that she was growing increasingly insistent.

"She's no good for you. You need someone of your status, of our family's status." she began. Raiden rested his fist on the table, exhaling deeply.

"Family status?" he echoed. "Where was our family status when your husband abused his wife and children? Where was this family status when he left us for his mistress?" Raiden questioned vigorously. "I would prefer not to find someone of our family's status," he muttered, knowing these words would momentarily quell her rantings.

"Our guest has arrived." She muttered, without looking at him. Raiden did a double-take. Guest?
His eyes turned cold. "Why are you here?" he questioned as Naomi took the seat next to him. His every instinct urged him to relinquish his seat and leave.

Naomi smiled at him, clearly unaffected by his tone. "Your mother invited me." She responded sweetly.
Raiden turned his gaze on his mother, waiting for her explanation. "I reached out to Naomi to extend my condolences and she had expressed her willingness to be in your good graces again. I thought of helping you move past your misunderstandings." She responded.

"There are no misunderstandings between us," Raiden responded.
His mother sighed. "It's my wish that you could reconcile." his mother whispered. Raiden gazed at Naomi, sitting, smiling, and at ease.
Raiden scoffed. "Reconcile?" he muttered the word as if it were his first time hearing it. "Her husband's body isn't even cold in the ground and you are talking to about reconciling?" his words acidic.

"I didn't love him, Raiden." Naomi placed her hand on his, Raiden immediately drew his hand back.

"You loved something about him enough to marry him." he spat venomously. "You have what you wanted, why bother me?"

"Raiden." his mother interjected. "Our family would prosper if you two reconciled." she tried to urge him.

"Is money all you think about?" he questioned, directing it to them both.

"Money marries money, that's how it's always been in our family," she responded.

"And we are all happy aren't we?" he questioned sarcastically. "I have created my own path, made and conquered my prospects without anyone's influence or aid just so I would not be roped into any familial commitment. I will decide when and with whom to settle with. But I can tell you both that it won't be the widow of a man I respected and who hasn't been dead for a good week yet." He pushed back on his seat, pulled out his wallet, and dropped cash on the table.

"Dinner is on me tonight." he turned and left.