Chapter 10 - Jackson Montgomery Visits Ivanna

Ivanna continued staring at her bedroom ceiling since she woke up the following day. She replayed her conversation with Nicholas Alonso last night. She closed her eyes and mused over that she said yes to go out with him but frankly told him not to be demanding and expectant.

She turned when she heard her phone beep. She reached for it and turn on the screen to see a message from Nicholas.

“Morning, beautiful,” the message started. “I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing day. Just want to be the first person to make you smile before starting your day. Don’t forget to have some coffee and breakfast.”

She smiled slightly and press the reply button.

“Good morning,” she wrote. “Thanks for the message. I’m sure it’s going to be.”

Ivanna then placed down her phone and closed her eyes, covering her head with the comforter.

“What did you get yourself into, Ivanna?” She muttered when she heard the beep of her phone again. She threw the comforter off her and sat up, stretching her arms. “Just give it a chance. If it’s not going to work out, then it’s not going to work out.”

She stood up and proceeded with her usual morning routine, taking a long hot shower and doing her skin care essentials using some Korean products she purchased at a beauty store. She always prides herself with this regimen, which deemed effective to her. She then went to her closet and mused over what to wear. She finally settled on a black and white plaid-fitting pants, plain blue top and she pulled out the matching blazer. She slipped into her comfortable maroon loafers and reached for her hair dryer.

“Where’s my phone?” She muttered as she went back to her room. She proceeded to make her bed and grabbed her phone and saw that she has three messages from Nicholas. “Clingy much.”

Ivanna shook her head, smiling as she went out from her room, carrying her bag as she read through his text.

“I’m about to have breakfast,” she typed as she turned the coffee maker on and reached for the loaf she stored and prepared herself some pesto, tomato and egg sandwich. She filled Gunther’s bowl and scratch his head. “Are you getting ready for work?”

She served herself a cup of black coffee and pulled out a bar stool at the kitchen counter and started eating her breakfast. She stopped every now and then to reply at Nicholas’ messages. After finishing her meal, she placed her plate and mug inside the sink and run the water for a few minutes before going to the ref to check the meal she prepared for dinner later with her friends.

Ivanna closed her eyes for a while as she debated to invite Nicholas over tonight.

“We just started,” she reasoned as she closed the door and proceeded to brush her teeth. She then grabbed her bag and went through the door, leading to her office where she found John getting in from the other door. “Hey. You’re in early.”

John nodded as he sat on his chair and turned on his computer. “Had breakfast with Des before driving her to the airport,” he answered. “She’s attending a marketing summit in Switzerland, all sponsored by her company. You want anything from there?”

“Chocolates will be fine and some cheese,” Ivanna replied with a smile. “Des is lucky to be in that company.”

“She is,” he agreed as he reached for a file beside him. “Anyway, I have something to ask of you.”

“What’s that?”

He looked at her for a while in silence. “I’m sure you knew we celebrated our tenth year, right?” He started and proceeded when she nodded. “Well, I’m planning to follow her there this weekend. I’m going to surprise her.”

Ivanna clutched her heart.

“You’re going to propose?” She asked excitedly.

John grinned and nodded. He reached inside his bag and took out a small pillbox and showed her a small square-cut amethyst ring.

“It belongs to my mom. This was her engagement ring before and I asked if I could give this to Des,” he explained with a smile. He looked at her calmly. “So, I was wondering if I can get an advance from Mr. Miller’s project? I was hoping we can spend three or more days there.”

Ivanna remained silent, calculating on her mind.

“I’ll tell you what,” she said as she pulled out her wallet and producing her ATM and credit card. “I’ll sponsor the hotel for the first two days as my engagement gift to you. Then just pay me back once the Miller project is done.”

“You sure?” John asked intently. “I don’t want to impose that.”

“John, we’ve been together since this office started and I’d be more than willing,” she insisted lightly. “Besides, I’m really expecting Des to say yes or you might pay the hotel also.”

John laughed and gave her a quick, thankful hug.

“Thanks. I’ll return these later,” he said gratefully. He then looked at her. “So, who’s that new guy?”

Ivanna looked at him in surprise.

“Nicholas?” John stated.

“Oh,” Ivanna answered then remained silent, don’t know what to say.

“So, you’re dating?” John asked again lightly.

She smiled slightly as she straightened up and reached for her bag. “We haven’t been on an official date yet but I guess it’s like that?” She replied.

John chuckled.

“The girls were talking about it yesterday,” he said with a grin. “And, from the way their conversation was heading to, they’re going to support you all the way. As for me, well, if that guy hurts you, he’s going to hear a lot from me.”

“You, guys had always been supportive,” she commented sarcastically.

“We’re protecting our boss, of course,” he chuckled.

She shook her head as she headed to her table and looked down when her phone rang. “You’re one determined asshole, you know that, right?” She said when she answered, knowing that it’s Gabriel. “Do you honestly think I don’t know your wife’s number?”

“Grandpa wants to see you,” Gabriel said seriously. “He’s actually on his way there already. Iva, I’m begging you. Please give him time. I don’t know his purpose there, but he’s determined.”

Ivanna gripped her phone when she heard a slight sound of a car pulling up her driveway.

“He’s here already,” she quipped and ended the call.

She went out from her office and headed out the main door, just in time for Jackson Montgomery, looking tall and healthy despite being in his eighties, coming out from the car door that his driver is holding for him.

Jackson firmly hold his cane and turned to look at her, his eyes, the same shade as hers still sharp.

“I do hope you’re not here with the Clover contract,” she stated calmly as she went down the steps. She stopped at the hood of the car and looked at him calmly. “What’s going to be your reason?”

Her grandfather looked down at her sharply, that could make those surrounding him moved but not her.

“Try inviting me inside so I can tell you the reason why I’m here,” he said firmly. He nodded at his driver and gestured at the shopping bag being carried. “This is for you.”

Ivanna crossed her arms.

“How long will you stay if I’m going to invite you in?” She asked, ignoring the bag.

“You’re a perfect addition to Mont-Corp with that attitude of yours,” he commented. “But, I’m not here for that. I’ll go as soon as I finish the cup of coffee that you’ll be serving me.”

“Fine,” she agreed. “But, it’s going to be a small cup.”

She led the way inside, straight to the sunroom, assuring her dog to remain calm and made her grandfather coffee in a regular cup. She placed the coffee in front of him and sat across, looking at him calmly.

“Your grandma will love this space,” he commented as he took a sip from his cup. “She’ll probably chose another tile pattern but she’s definitely going to love this.”

“Well, unfortunately, she won’t be standing here so let’s cut to the chase,” she answered sarcastically, tapping her fingers on top of the table. “Why are you here? Yesterday it was your son and grandson, bothering me. Will I be expecting your daughter-in-law and her minions tomorrow?”

“You need to curb your tongue a bit,” he noted firmly as he set his cup down and took something inside his jacket pocket and slid some folded documents towards her. “What can you tell me about this?”

Ivanna looked at the paper furiously, about to assume that it’s the Clover Empire contract again but halted when she realized it was a different type of paper. She unfolded the paper, a total of three pages and looked through the columns containing dates, description, figures and unknown locations.

She went back and forth, her eyes skimming the pages before finally looking up at her grandfather.

“Someone’s embezzling millions from your company,” she stated as she placed down the papers. She turned one page towards him and pointed to one transaction line. “This one just got transferred a week ago.”

Jackson nodded as he took another document from his pocket.

“You’re quick as I have been told,” he stated.

“I’m sure Mr. Mitchell is never late in his correspondence with you,” she returned sarcastically. She smirked when he looked at her in surprise. “As you said, I’m quick as you have been told. What do you want me to do?”

“I need to know who they are,” Jackson said firmly.

“How did you get this?”

“Francis Cunningham from Audit knows where his loyalty lies as well as a few more,” he answered calmly. “He started noticing the discrepancy since it appears to be every month.”

“The pages here showed that it’s been going on for three years already,” she commented as she studied the paper again. She remained silent, her eyes scrutinizing and shook her head. “Whoever this is, has become greedy.”

Jackson nodded.

Ivanna looked up at him and folded the papers. “I’ll call dad’s friends and see if they can check about this,” she finally said as she stared at his cup. “It’s going to take some time since we need to be careful. Whoever this person is, he has one good tech guy, who knows the ins and outs without being detected. It took your guy three years to discover.”

“Then, I’ll wait,” he said. “But, I hope they make it fast.”

He stared at her for a few minutes before finally reaching down and took something from the shopping bag he brought with him. He placed a square, leather jewelry case in front of her.

“What’s that? An advance payment?” She asked sarcastically.

“It belongs to your grandmother which was given by my mother when we got married,” he explained as he opened it towards her. “She had this set aside ever since for you.”

Ivanna looked down, her mouth slightly opened at the shocking items shown to her. One drawer contained a majestic South Sea pearls and diamonds necklace with matching earrings. The other has a Gold and Diamond “Valenciennes’ Necklace, a stunning Diamond Pendant this time with a matching ring and some casual and simple jewelries ranging from earrings to necklaces, rings and bracelets. She looked away, calculating in her mind that the box in front of her estimates to millions.

“If I had known how notoriously rich your family was, I would have gladly accepted my fate,” she said calmly. She stared at her grandfather. “I can’t take them. That’s too much.”

“Ivanna, this belongs to you,” he insisted. “I wondered before when she started setting aside these things but didn’t asked her. Now I know why.”

“I’m sure Mom didn’t asked for this,” she said stiffly. “Besides, if Chelsea and Heather find out about this, I might be putting some traps to prevent them from coming here.”

“It’s their mother who will bequeath the family heirlooms to them,” he answered as he took one ring which carries the rarest diamond in the world, a pink diamond in a square cut surrounded by small diamonds. “This was my gift for her when she gave birth to your father.”

Jackson looked back at her.

“Please don’t hurt her by refusing these,” he said calmly. “Just this one time. You even don’t have to wear them. You can even give them back when we’re no longer here. She’s expecting that when I go back home later, I’ll be giving her some good news.”

“You do know how to used that card, don’t you?” She muttered as she fingered the case lightly before her fingertips run through one necklace. Suddenly her eyes caught something on one of the case’s corner and she frowned at her grandfather. “Like seriously?! Do you think I won’t be discovering this?”

Ivanna carefully removed a small device and showed it to her grandfather.

“Impressive,” she commented as she dropped it in his cup. “What the hell is that doing there? How much is this case worth?”

Mr. Montgomery looked at her calmly. After a few seconds, he opened a small secret compartment and pulled out a velvet pouch. He untied the string and slowly pulled out the contents.

Her mouth dropped opened as her grandfather carefully laid out a huge emerald gemstone in front of her, which she cannot tell how big, a rare Imperial Jade and a blue diamond, which she knew costs nearly four million per carat.

“Now you know why I had that tracking device,” he explained. “These three has been handed down as early as the 1800’s in our family. Being the eldest in my generation, my father gave this to me when he was on his deathbed. These gems are only to be used as a collateral in case something will go wrong in the family.”

“Why did you bring it here?” She asked intently.

“Because I know that this is the safest place that I could leave these in,” he simply answered.

Ivanna gripped the edge of the table as her grandfather explained the history of the gemstones, how it helped the previous Montgomery generations. He pulled out ancient-looking pieces of paper and she marveled that it was well kept and she skimmed quickly at the contents.

“Are you trying to punish me for being hard on grandma?” She asked quietly. She stood up and walked away from the table, clenching her fists. “You can’t let me keep them for you. What if I will lose them?”

“You’re not stupid to do that,” he countered as he carefully packed them again and returned to the compartment. “Do you think I didn’t do any thorough research on you, sweetheart? I know what you do before and I’m sure these will be safe here.”

“What I do before has long been forgotten,” she replied. She turned her back on him and looked out the window, calming herself. She turned back to him a few minutes later. “I think your time is up.”

Mr. Montgomery nodded as he stood up, holding on to his cane.

“Help me find the person responsible and I can get them back as soon as you can,” he said firmly. “Right now, you’re the only person that I can trust to have these things. I trust Damon and his children, but I don’t trust the people surrounding them.”

Ivanna finally nodded and she escorted him back to his car.

“Your grandma’s birthday is coming up,” he stated as the driver opened his car door. “Are you still planning to continue ignoring her? You might add more years on her if you’ll see her.”

“I’ll call Gab the day before,” she answered.

“You do know how to get on his nerves,” he said with a smile.

Ivanna watched as the car pulled away from the driveway just in time for Diane to walked up.

“Don’t tell me he was here with the contract as well?” She said with a grin.

“Worst,” Ivanna answered, shaking her head. “He asked for my help.”

Diane gave her an understanding look.

“Take as long as you want,” she assured.

“Thanks,” Ivanna said as they walked towards the steps. “I won’t take long. I just need to call dad’s friends and ask them to check.”

Ivanna went back to the sunroom and retrieved the shopping bag her grandfather brought and went back up, heading to the door next to her room. She took out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

She looked around the almost empty room except for one top of the line advance desktop computer, screen monitors of the security cameras around her house and a Brabus SV12 Safe by Stockinger that is five feet tall and one foot deep. She input the code and with her fingerprint and iris scan, the safe slowly opened. She placed her phone on loudspeaker as she waited for the call to be answered and she looked at the contents inside.

“Checking in, Ivanna?” A voice came from her phone.

She grabbed her phone and placed it to her ear.

“Not quite,” she replied as she placed the jewelry box in one empty compartment and closed the safe. She sat on the chair and pulled out the papers her grandfather gave and turned on the computer. “My grandfather was here a while ago and asked for help to looked on some things going on at Monte Corp.”

“How serious?” The voice barked.

“Serious to them, I guess,” she replied as she run the papers through the scanner and she quickly sent it. “Just had them sent. Think you can check it out?”

“I’ll see about it,” a gruff reply came. “When do you need it?”

“The fastest you can give me,” she answered firmly. “The sooner it will be over, then.”

“I’ll call you within an hour.”

Ivanna shook her head with a smile as she pocketed her phone and she looked at the security monitors for a while before finally deciding to go back to her office.