Chapter 6 - Evening Function

Nicholas went out from his car Saturday night and looked towards Ivanna’s house and smiled delightfully when he recalled how he and Warren ganged up on her to spill the beans with regards to the call she received from her friend two weeks ago.

“Oh, darn,” Warren said with fake resignation when he checked his phone. “We’re supposed to attend the Lee’s party but we need to attend my nieces’ ballet recital, where one plays a tree and the other a fox. I don’t think I can get out of it. Perhaps Nico can.”

“I’ll take you,” Nicholas offered casually. “My family is actually invited so it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Ivanna looked at them weirdly.

“I’m not a charity case,” she stated. “Why are you, two so set to make sure I have a date? I don’t need one.”

“I know Mrs. Lee very well,” Nicholas insisted. “She’ll never stopped until you find someone.”

“Which I can totally ignore if I want to,” she snapped. “I don’t need a date and certainly not you.”

Nicholas pretended to be hurt and Warren guffawed. “I think you, two will surely be entertaining to watch at the party,” Warren mused with a grin. “Now, I hate my sister for forcing me to go see that ballet recital. I much prefer this incoming recital from you, two.”

And, that was how he found himself walking towards her front door. He remembered the glance she gave to Warren before she caught him off guard by flashing him a brilliant smile to which his friend had on a weird and strange expression. Nicholas tried to decipher the thought but place it on the back of his head as he rang the doorbell. And he didn’t leave her alone for the past two weeks, trying to gain her affection with the bet on his mind.

He waited patiently as he heard Gunther barking from the inside and Ivanna’s soothing voice. He heard her unlocking her door and he prepared himself to put on his best smile.

What he wasn’t prepared of was the site that greeted him when Ivanna finally opened the door.

“I was hoping you had changed your mind and I’ll be on my own,” she remarked as her greeting as she stepped onto the deck and close her door, securing the lock. She placed her key inside her clutch bag and looked back up at him. “Shall we go?”

Nicholas knew his mouth dropped open and he then closed it. He looked her up and down several times, looking elegant and beautiful in a metallic dark blue halter V-neck jumpsuit with wide pants where she finished it off with silver heels, minimal jewelry and her hair up with some loosen that framed her face.

“Wow!” He finally said admiringly. “You look beautiful.”

Ivanna looked slightly surprise but quickly regain her composure.

“Thank you,” she said softly. She looked towards his car. “Shall we go?”

“Sure,” he replied as he led the way. He opened her car door and waited for her to completely settle inside before closing and walking around to his side. He started the car but stole himself another glance towards her and a smile swept his face. “My parents will be totally ecstatic to meet you. I told them that I’m picking someone up.”

“Don’t tell me that I have to act around your family as well,” she commented.

Nicholas grinned.

“Don’t worry,” he assured, loving the way she smells. Fresh and citrus scent. He also loved her make-up. Smoky eyes, light pink blush and lipstick. Hell, he loved everything about her and this thought suddenly bothered him. “Shit!”

His car skidded a little to the left, but Nicholas quickly gain control.

“I’m planning to get at the venue in one piece,” Ivanna commented sarcastically.

“Sorry,” he said. He then grinned. “You’re too distracting. How was I to know you would look that hot?”

Ivanna shot him a dark look and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re a jerk, you know that?” She snapped. “Don’t make it my fault. Weren’t you a former Marine? Wasn’t control one of the things you learned along the way?”

Nicholas laughed.

“I think you and I will get along just fine at the party,” he answered.

“You wish,” she returned. “I’m abandoning you in the middle of the party and find myself an isolated spot and have some wine. I’m sure the party will be full of guests and no one will notice me. Then, after an hour or two, I’ll be going home. You don’t have to drive me home. I can get an Uber.”

“Not a chance,” he insisted. “You’ll be please to know that I’m going to be a doting gentleman once we step inside the venue. I’m going to make your time there miserable. Do you think I already forgotten what you did at the coffee shop?”

“You’re just too sensitive for my taste,” she remarked with a smirk.

Nicholas threw her a challenging look as he slowly maneuvered his car into the driveway of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He stepped on the brakes gently and opened his car door after unbuckling his seatbelt. He nodded his thanks to the valet as he took his number and looked towards Ivanna, who smiled and chatted with the person assisting her up the stairs.

“Thank you, Ray,” he heard her said politely when she reached the main door. She turned to Nicholas and looked at him. “You ready?”

“You seemed confident,” he stated as he gestured for her to go in first.

Ivanna flashed him a quick smile as they entered the elevator and he pressed the floor to the party’s venue.

“I know how to pretend when I have too,” she answered calmly. She flicked some hair off her eyes and put on a brilliant smile. “I had enough years to practice on that, believe me.”

Nicholas was about to ask her what she meant but was not able to because the doors opened to a very crowded and loud venue. He reached for her hand and gently clasped it, making sure she won’t get separated, his instinct in him setting into his mind.

She looked back at him in surprise but quickly turned to understanding at his action. It was one trait that Warren had warned him about. She can read people and most of the time it is very accurate.

“Hello, Auntie Serena,” Ivanna greeted brightly.

Serena Whitman-Lee turned around and her face glowed.

“I made sure that Michelle will make you say yes,” Mrs. Lee said triumphantly as she gave Ivanna a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “And, Matthew even bet with me that you wouldn’t be coming. Dear, it looks like you’ll be really buying me that bracelet I saw at Stanley’s.”

Ivanna laughed as she greeted her husband.

“Sorry, Mr. Lee,” she apologized. She then turned to Nicholas and looked up at him with a smile. “Mrs. Lee, as ordered by your daughter, I would like you to meet my date, Nicholas Alonso.”

“Dear Lord,” Mrs. Lee said, putting one hand on her heart dramatically as she looked them up and down. “Oh, why haven’t I thought about this before?”

“There you go again, Auntie Serena,” Nicholas teased as he gave her a peck and shook her husband’s hand casually. “Your matchmaking tactics won’t be working on me. I just managed to meet her somewhere and asked her out.”

“Trust me, he didn’t have an easy time,” Ivanna interrupted with a smile. She looked around the venue. “Looks like everyone will be having an enjoyable night here.”

Mrs. Lee smiled proudly.

“Please enjoy,” she said, squeezing their arms and gave them meaningful looks.

Ivanna placed down her glass of wine and checked her watch three hours into the party since she arrived with Nicholas. She pushed her chair back and looked towards him and her friends.

“I’ll go the ladies room,” she said softly. She took her purse and stood up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She made her way carefully towards the ladies room, looking through the faces she met along the way. She entered a surprisingly almost empty room and occupied the stall at the end.

A few minutes later, she heard the door opened and came in some laughing and chatter.

“Hey, careful, Sissy,” one voice said with a laugh. “How many glasses did you already have?”

“A few,” the woman named Sissy replied. “Hey, did you guys notice that someone who we haven’t seen for quite some time is here?”

“I think I know,” another female voice answered. She snickered. “The one and only Ivanna Gatchalian.”

Ivanna stopper her hand mid-air to open the cubicle when she heard her name.

“Did you see the man she brought with her?” One asked pointedly. “How much do you think he’s worth? Am I sensing that she’s back spawning her web again? The last time I heard, her victim was dear Carson Johnson. Good thing that poor man came to his senses.”

Ivanna squared her shoulders and confidently walked out from her stall and proceeded to the lavatory counter, ignoring the group to her right. She washed her hands and gently wiped them.

“Well, hello, Ivanna.”

She turned and gave them an expectant smile. “Oh, it’s you, Sissy,” Ivanna said calmly as she checked herself one last time on the mirror and pick up her purse. “You look stunning. That color definitely suits you.”

Sissy gave her a nasty smile.

“Spawning your web again, Ivanna?” She challenged.

“Well, you know what they say,” Ivanna said with a dramatic sigh. “One tends to do what she’s good at to satisfy her ego. See you, ladies.”

Ivanna then took off and smiled inwardly in triumph when she heard Sissy reacted at the not so subtle insult she received from her. She shook her head, chuckling at the thought of those ladies back at the room that she nearly collided with someone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she apologized, looking up and then her expression changed.

“Ivanna, it’s good to see you here.”

Damon Montgomery stood tall and striking in his dark suit in front of her. He reached out but stopped himself when Ivanna took a step back.

“You look well, Mr. Montgomery,” she replied calmly. She looked at the man standing in front of her, surveying him from head to toe.

“Well, your manners certainly haven’t changed since we last met,” a sneering remark came.

“Mrs. Montgomery,” Ivanna acknowledged flatly. She looked at her evenly. “What’s the point, right? Either way, we still won’t like each other.”

“That’s good to know,” Mrs. Montgomery answered.

“It was nice chatting with you,” Ivanna finally said. “I’ll be taking my leave. You know how this type of party will bore me out.”

“Ivanna -,” Mr. Montgomery called but Ivanna ignored him.

“Iva,” Michelle called out, rushing to her friend with an anxious look. “I was on my way to the ladies room to tell you that your-.”

Ivanna placed a hand on her friend’s upper hand lightly. “I know,” she said with a smile. She gestured her head towards their direction. “I bumped into them when I went out. They’re the second group actually. Sissy Lennon and her minions were inside the room, too.”

“Did your father spoke to you?” Michelle slowly asked.

“Yes,” Ivanna replied quietly. She shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about it. Let’s just leave it be. Anyway, I’ll get myself an Uber. I’m not heading back to the table. Please tell the others I’m sorry that I’m taking my leave now.”

“I’ll wait with you outside,” Michelle offered as she walked beside her. “You don’t have to brave this on your own. Also, Nicholas joined some of his friends for drinks at the bar. I don’t think he’ll notice.”

Ivanna smiled as she and Michelle made their way to the exit.

“Anyway, I need to pack my things as well for my trip tomorrow,” she added as they entered the elevator and she pressed the button for the Ground Floor. “I’ll be back in three weeks. Let’s have dinner at my house when I return.”

“You just can’t stay around, huh?” Michelle asked jokingly.

“If I have my way, I’m not going,” Ivanna said truthfully. “But, Mrs. Portman always gets her way, so, here I am packing for a three week trip and will be meeting her and Mr. Portman in Indonesia. She got our itinerary and just sent it a while ago.”

Michelle’s eyes widened when Ivanna showed her the itinerary on her phone.

“Oh wow!” She gushed as she looked up when the elevator sounded, signifying that they’re on the ground floor. “I so love your job. Did you get an Uber already? Let’s have a quick coffee before you go. I’ll text the others.”

Ivanna nodded as they headed to one of the hotel’s coffee shop.