Chapter 48 The Woman Who Said No

Chapter 48 The Woman Who Said No
Ivy

I think I might actually be getting good at this lying thing. Yesterday, I was just a girl scared of her own shadow, but today, I felt like I was standing on top of the world. 

I walked down the long, cold hallway of the mansion and my shoes made a loud clicking sound on the floor. It used to make me jump, but now I liked it. It sounded like I was important. I reached the big wooden door of Alistair’s study and I didn't even wait to breathe before I knocked.

"Come in," Alistair’s voice came from inside, and it sounded a bit thin, like he was tired.

I opened the door and saw him sitting behind his huge desk. He looked older today. His face was a bit grey and he had a blanket over his legs, but his eyes were still sharp. They looked at me like he was trying to see through my skin.

"You look different today, Zara," he said, and he leaned back in his chair.

"I feel different," I told him, and I sat down even though he didn't tell me to. "The board meeting went well."

"It went better than well," he said, and he gave a small, dry laugh that turned into a cough. "You had those old men eating out of your hand. I didn't think you had it in you to be so... bossy."

"I wasn't being bossy," I said, and I felt a little spark of something hot in my chest. "I was just being right. They liked the idea of the community centers because it makes the company look like it has a heart."

Alistair watched me for a second, and then he pushed a folder across the desk toward me. "Since you are so smart now, tell me what you think of this. It's an investment for a new factory in the valley. It will double our production by next year."

I opened the folder and looked at the numbers. I didn't know everything about big business, but I knew how to read a map. I saw where the factory was supposed to go.

"This is where the old park is," I said, and I looked up at him. "And the school is right across the street."

"It’s a perfect spot," Alistair said. "The land is cheap and the roads are already there."

"But it's going to be loud," I said. "And the trucks will be dangerous for the kids. Plus, the people living there will have no place to go for fresh air."

Alistair sighed, like he was talking to a child. "Money doesn't care about fresh air, Zara. Money cares about more money. This is how the real world works."

I felt my heart beat faster. Usually, I would just nod and say 'yes sir' because I was scared. But I wasn't scared today. I thought about the families in that valley, people like me who didn't have much.

"Perhaps, Alistair we could explore alternative solutions for this particular investment," I suggested, meeting his gaze directly.

Alistair froze. He looked at me for a long time, and the room got very quiet. I thought he was going to get mad and yell at me, or maybe tell me to get out. But then, a slow smile grew on his face.

"Alternative solutions?" he repeated, and he sounded almost happy. "You are challenging me in my own office?"

"I’m just saying we could put the factory on the other side of the hill," I said, and I pointed at the map. "The land costs a little more, but we won't have to deal with the protests from the parents, and we can keep the park. In the long run, it saves us money on lawyers."

Alistair laughed then, a real laugh this time. "You really are something else. You used to be so quiet, so easy to bend. But now you’re growing some steel in your back."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked.

"No," he said, and he reached out to touch a small gold frame on his desk. "It’s a strong thing. It’s what this family needs. Lucian is... well, Lucian is Lucian. He has his own way of doing things. But you? You have a different kind of fire."

"I just want to do a good job," I said, but I felt a bit sick because I knew I was playing a part. I wasn't really a Hale. I was Ivy, a girl who was supposed to be gone.

Alistair turned the gold frame around so I could see it. It was a picture of a woman with dark hair and a very bright smile. She looked beautiful and a bit wild.

"Do you know who this is?" he asked.

"Your wife?" I guessed.

"Elena," he said, and his voice went soft. "She was the only person who ever told me 'no' and meant it. When I first met her, she told me I was a greedy man with a cold heart. I hated her for it at first. Then, I realized she was the only one being honest with me."

He looked at me, and for a second, he didn't look like a scary man. He looked like a man who missed someone very much.

"You reminded me of her just now," he whispered. "She had that same look in her eyes. Like she was ready to fight the whole world just to save one little park. She was independent. She didn't let anyone tell her who to be. Not even me."

"She sounds nice," I said, and I felt a lump in my throat.

"She was a headache," Alistair said, but he was smiling. "But she made me better. I see a lot of her in you lately. I thought you were just a pretty face to show off, but you have her spirit. It’s a dangerous thing to have, but it’s also the only thing worth having."

"I'm not trying to be a headache," I said.

"Yes, you are," he replied. "And I think I like it. Keep the folder. Work on your 'alternative' plan. If you can make the numbers work, I’ll listen."

I stood up, and I felt like I was walking on air. "Thank you, Alistair."

I nodded and walked toward the door. As I was leaving, I saw Lucian standing in the hallway. He was leaning against the wall, watching me. He looked like he had been waiting.

"You were in there a long time," Lucian said, and he walked over to me. "What did he want?"

"We were just talking about business," I said, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

"You're smiling," Lucian said, and he looked worried. "My father doesn't usually make people smile. He usually makes them cry or want to run away. What did he say to you, Ivy?"

"He told me I remind him of his wife," I said quietly. 

Lucian’s face went pale. He stepped closer and took my hand. "That’s not good, Ivy. If he’s letting you in, it means he’s planning something. He doesn't give anything for free. He’s trying to pull you into his world."

"Maybe," I said. "But he’s also listening to me. I'm making changes, Lucian. I'm going to save that park in the valley."

Lucian shook his head. "You’re playing a dangerous game. You’re supposed to be hiding, not becoming the star of the show."

"I'm tired of hiding," I told him, and I pulled my hand away gently. "For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm not just a piece on the board. I feel like I'm the one moving the pieces."

I walked away from him and headed toward my room. I could feel his eyes on my back, but I didn't turn around. I felt a thrill running through my veins, a scary, cold, exciting feeling. Alistair thought I was like his wife. He thought I was a partner. He didn't know I was a girl with a secret that could ruin everything.