Chapter 44: I have a headache coming
Ivy was on her way to meet Sal when her phone suddenly buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw his name.
Sal.
She opened the message.
Something came up. I won’t be able to meet today.
Her expression shifted instantly from cheerful to confused.
She read the message once.
Then again.
And again.
What could have come up so suddenly that he had to cancel?
Lost in her thoughts, she stared at the screen, completely unaware of the eyes watching her from the front.
Benny, seated beside the driver, kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
What’s with her now? he thought. Why is she staring at her phone like someone just asked her to donate a kidney?
Ever since the "food shop incident," Benny had been extremely cautious around her.
On the outside, she looked delicate and harmless.
But he knew better.
Not after she had casually pushed him toward a group of hyperactive kids who made him run around like a terrified mouse.
"Madam... are we going the right way?" Teddy asked carefully, noticing the unusual silence.
Normally, Ivy would be talking nonstop, asking random and often irrelevant questions. But now she was quiet, and that alone was suspicious.
"Uh"
Ivy blinked and looked up, only to find both men staring at her with curiosity.
That was when she realized she had been too absorbed in her thoughts.
"Ah... about that," she said, clearing her throat. "I think we should head back. I suddenly don’t feel like going anywhere."
Benny’s jaw nearly dropped.
Head back? Just like that?
"I think I have a headache coming on," Ivy added, placing a hand dramatically on her forehead as she leaned back against the seat, looking completely drained.
The car fell silent with Teddy and Benny exchanging a look. Neither of them said a word. But their expressions clearly said the same thing.
We don’t believe you.
And just like that, the car took a sudden U-turn, leaving Nico and Percy in the car behind completely baffled.
"Wait... why are we turning?" Nico frowned, gripping the seat as their driver followed suit.
Percy leaned forward, squinting at the car ahead. "Did Madam forget something?"
"Or remember something," Nico muttered darkly.
Both of them exchanged a look.
"Should we be worried?" Percy asked.
Nico didn’t even hesitate. "Always."
***
Meanwhile, Xander arrived at the top floor of Globe International. The moment he stepped out of the elevator, Mona approached him.
"Sir, Miss Nora is already waiting in your office," she informed.
Taylor, who had been walking beside Xander, froze.
"WHAT?"
Mona pressed her lips together, while Xander’s expression remained completely unreadable as he continued walking toward his office.
"Why did you let her in?" Taylor snapped, clearly displeased. "You should have waited for us."
"I’m sorry, sir," Mona replied quickly. "Before I could stop her, she walked straight in."
Taylor’s eyes darkened as he glanced toward the office where inside, Nora—Ivy’s half-sister was already waiting.
***
[Inside]
Nora had dressed carefully for the occasion. Her makeup was flawless, her clothes fitted just enough to highlight her figure.
She had always been proud of her beauty. And in her mind, a man like Xander would be no exception.
No man could resist someone like her.
Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, she scanned the office, her eyes gleaming as she took in the atmosphere of power and luxury. It was everything she admired.
"Just you wait, Ivy," she murmured to herself with a smirk. "I’ll make sure Xander leaves you once he falls for me."
She swayed her leg slightly, already picturing the scene she desired—herself standing beside Xander, while Ivy was left broken and humiliated.
Just the way she liked it.
Click.
The sound of the door opening snapped her out of her thoughts and Nora immediately stood up, a bright smile spreading across her face as Xander walked in.
"Mr. Emerson, you’re here," she said, her voice turning soft, almost giddy at the sight of him.
Dressed sharply in his suit, he looked every bit as powerful as she had imagined.
But Xander did not even spare her a glance. He walked past her without a word and took his seat.
The smile on Nora’s face faltered and for a moment, embarrassment crept in. Still, she quickly recovered.
From what she had heard, Xander was always like this—cold, distant, intimidating. But she firmly believed that no man, no matter how aloof, could resist a woman’s charm for long.
"I apologize for showing up unannounced the other day," she said politely, forcing her smile back. "But today, as you suggested, I took an appointment to meet you."
She watched him expectantly. He still hadn’t looked at her properly.
Confidence flickered in her eyes.
He just hasn’t noticed me yet.
"Invading someone’s office could land you in jail, Miss Nora."
Xander’s voice finally cut through the silence. And when he finally lifted his gaze to meet hers, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
His eyes were cold and unforgiving that instantly left Nora froze.
The word echoed in her mind.
"J... jail?" she repeated, her voice faltering as an unfamiliar sense of dread crept in.
Nora’s fingers curled slightly at her sides as she tried to steady herself. The confidence she had walked in with was already beginning to crack.
Xander leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her as if he could see right through every layer she had carefully built.
"Yes," he said calmly. "Jail."
The single word landed heavier this time.
"I don’t entertain uninvited guests," he continued, his voice low and controlled. "And I certainly don’t tolerate people who think they can walk into my space and play games."
Nora swallowed, forcing a small laugh that came out weaker than she intended. "I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I only came here to—"
"To what?" Xander cut her off sharply.
Her words died in her throat as his eyes hardened further, his presence alone making the room feel smaller.
"To impress me?" he continued, his tone almost mocking. "Or perhaps you believed I would be easily swayed by appearances?"
Nora’s breath hitched as every word felt like a direct blow.
"I..." she tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Xander did not look away.
"Let me make one thing very clear, Miss Nora," he said, his voice dropping another degree, colder, sharper. "I am not a man who is impressed by desperation dressed as confidence."
Her face paled.
"And if you ever think of using my time to entertain your delusions again," he added, his gaze unwavering, "I will make sure today’s warning turns into something far less pleasant."
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