New secret

New secret
  “Who’s Nate?” Zoe's face turned red. 
  “Let’s not drag this longer than it is, okay pretty? Get some clothes on, we are waiting on the couch,” he shot her a forced smile and left the room. 

Some minutes later, Zoe stepped out dressed in a dotted blouse and her shorts. Her hair was barely combed, almost like the combination of sex hair and one of those lazy moments. 

Her eyes darted to Ivy, baffled by the elegant woman she recognised from TV commercials centered around cosmetics. There was no doubt that the famous Ivy with flawless skin, hair, and body was seated in her living room, but why had she come suddenly? Zoe debated in her mind. 
  “The famous Ivy… Ivy Hart?” Zoe bit out.  
Ivy scoffed almost invisibly, scanning the lady in front from her ruffled hair to her toenails. 
  “Sit,” Ivy ordered, disgusted that Zoe might have slept with Nate. 
  “Not because you're famous means you can order me around—”
 “Look, not even the last thing I want to do is talk to you or anyone from your caliber after discovering a whole lot lately.” Ivy let out firmly. “Sit, we have to talk…” she added. 

All along, Alvin had been scanning the area and the girl in front of them. Staying speechless and mysterious as always. 

“You know Nate, right? Nate Hart?” Ivy asked. 
Zoe slumped on the single seat rolling her eyes. 
  “I don't understand, everyone in NY knows the fuck you both are,” Zoe said casually. 
  “You know damn we what she means, don't play dumb…” Alvin lashed out, barely smiling like he had been doing. 
  “Nate- Nate and I didn't know each other like that,” Zoe stated. 
  “Look, Zoe Tallen,” Alvin began while her eyes widened a little given that he had mentioned her full government name. “It's not that to send as your landlord to throw you out or your boss to fire you so you can become jobless or even get your brother arrested for being a nuisance in the area… need I go on?” Alvin paused as she scratched her neck and finally spoke up. 
  “I was sent to Nate by someone to seduce him. He used to swing by the nightclub I work at before he passed. All I had to do was get a name out of his mouth when he was drugged,” she stopped, her mind racing as well. 

Ivy and Alvin shared a shocking gaze and turned back to Zoe. 
  “A name?” Ivy asked, still shocked at the revelation. 
  “Why was Nate drugged or why did you drug him?” Alvin choked in, more interested than he had been while his brows knitted. 
  “I'm not the one drugging him. I'm only paid to do so. I have no idea what it is but it's definitely a hard drug,” she expounded, barely looking at their intimidating eyes. 
  “So… what's the name?” Ivy pressed. 
Zoe shook her head slowly, looking terrified. 
  “I can't say,” she said, fiddling with her fingers. 
  “Why not?” Ivy searched Zoe with her intent gaze. 
  “I can't say it... I just can't say it—”
  “Okay, you won't?” Alvin asked, pulling hod cell phone from his pocket, typing away. “I'll just phone the DA’s office right away, I'm open to testify against your brother. Every patriotic citizen wants a hardened criminal like him sent to jail—”
  “I want to, okay? I just… can't. They'll kill me and I don't want to die,” Zoe admitted as tears crammed the corners of his eyes. 

Ivy debated in her mind, and a lot of questions rattled around in her mind. It was heartbreaking to constantly learn something new about Nate that she never imagined. She heaved a deep sigh and spoke up. 
  “Zoe, I can protect you. Look, my husband was murdered and I want justice for him—I need the truth. I'm not here to take your source of livelihood or jail your brother, I just want to get clues and I'll be out of your hair,” Ivy explained in a softer tone that made Zoe contemplate her decision but the condition to exposing the truth was one, instant death. 
  “I know that you're being nice to me but I can't. They'll know and they'll find me. I'm only keeping my end of the bargain,” she admitted as she rose, hugging her arms. 
  “No pressure, Zoe!” Ivy and Nate rose. “Telling us the name that would lead us to someone would help us, but considering your condition, we won’t bug you. At some point in our lives, silence isn’t the best route when help presents itself.” Ivy straightened, staring at Zoe’s frightened face. 
When they walked in here, Zoe was engrossed in an orgasm and now she was on the verge of tears and fear of what they had no whiff about. 
  “If you ever change your mind? Here’s my card,” Ivy said, handing her a silver business card.

Zoe silently took it without a word. Although Alvin would have preferred forcing the name out of Zoe’s mouth. 

With that, they headed out of the house. 
Reaching their car, Alvin gently grabbed her wrist propelling her to face him. 
  “We could've pressed on it,” Alvin pressed. 
  “Oh, there was no need to scare the girl...” Ivy fired back as she retracted her arm. 
  “Ivy, I have a strong feeling that the name is associated with the bad guys Nate worked with that ruined the company’s finances,” Alvin pointed out as his hands rested on his waist. 
  “I know, I thought that way too but Xoe is too terrified to say the bane and we can't force her. Her life is at risk here—I’m black but all I know is that the bad guys are lurking somewhere,” she added and heaved a sigh. ‘
Without a word, Ivy entered the car and sat quietly as if reflecting. 

Alvin gathered himself and joined. He could tell that everything was weighing down on her and he wanted to do was make her forget Nate. He didn't deserve Ivy’s genuine love, Alcin thought inside. 
  “Ivy,” he let out softly, placing a hand on the side of her face. 
  “Don’t try to make me feel better, Vin!” she interrupted him softly. “I thought that I knew Nate but… we are not even halfway through the list and this is happening? He really was involved with a bad organization?” Ivy let out, her face soaked with her tears. 

Alvin hated to see her that way, he hated to see her suffer. He gently craddled her face. 
  “It's justice for you and not Nate. I will be by your side through this rough ride, and I will burn every memory of Nate that he lied about. I'm here Ivy, do as you please…” he said to her with definition in his tone, raspy and firm and he consumed her lips with a hot sizzling kiss that caught her off guard.