Chapter 9 - A Look into Ivanna's Past 2

Damon Montgomery nodded at his longtime secretary, Debbie Smith as he walked into his designated floor. He stopped when she handed him the mail.

“Mr. Gabriel is waiting in your office,” Debbie said softly. “Would you like me to bring you coffee?”

“Sure. Thanks, Deb,” he said as he entered his spacious office and saw his son, sitting on one chair, facing his table and going through his Ipad. “I hope this is not a problem that you’re here so early.”

Gabriel looked at his father, who so much resembled him and shook his head.

“Actually, I called Ivanna,” Gabriel started as he placed his Ipad down. “She’s back from her vacation. Did you know she was with the Portman’s?”

“Isn’t it your job to let me know?” Damon mused.

“Yeah. Well it’s hard to keep track especially the lengths she goes to for her privacy,” Gabriel answered in exasperation. “Honestly, why am I the one doing this? Why can’t you just hire someone to do the job? I have enough here already at Mont-Corp.”

Damon looked at his son, who is a few months older than Ivanna.

“I think you very well know the answer to that,” he pointed out.

“I’ve been calling and texting her since office hours started and she hasn’t returned any,” Gabriel explained patiently. “We’re on good terms alright. But, she has set some boundaries and stubbornly refuses to bend to any of my wishes. I think we both know who can handle that attitude far better than me. She’s a carbon copy of you.”

“I think you’ll have more success than me,” Damon replied. “Add that strong-willed attitude her stepdad instilled in her. He made sure that she’ll be strong once they’re gone.”

“Mom’s starting to suspect,” Gabriel added quietly. He smiled when Debbie entered, bringing his father’s coffee. “She’s been calling me and showing up at my doorstep. My wife is having a laugh, because she knows that I will be caught in time if I’m not careful.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Damon assured firmly. “Get Ivanna to sign the contract with Clover Empire. We both know that we need her tenacity and her temper to deal with this project.”

Gabriel groaned.

“Why do I have to be the first-born and only male, anyway?” He grumbled as he stood up. “You really had a ridiculous tradition, you know that? Why the hell won’t you amend that? Chelsea can take over.”

Damon grinned at his son’s sarcastic remark.

“I’m sure your sister will be so much willing but will still hand every responsibility to you,” he commented as he turned on his Macbook. “I believe in you, son. We just need one more person to get through this.”

Gabriel nodded and he took something from his pocket.

“I had these printed for you,” he said. “Thought you’d love this.”

Damon watched his son went out before he looked down at the pictures of his daughter, who is a replica of her mom except for the eyes. It is his. That dark, emerald eyes has always been one of the strongest Montgomery family trademark. Heck, even his children with Valerie didn’t even inherited it.

He leaned back on his chair and could still recall the shock he received when Amelia’s lawyer called him up to let him know that she was on her deathbed. After twenty years of not hearing anything from her, disappearing without any trace, there she was asking him to talk.

Consumed with anger, which he knew his wife had something to do with, he refused even that time when Ivanna came, begging on her knees.  He closed his eyes as memories flooded back on his affair with Amelia Fisher up to the day that his mother finally confessed a secret that she had been keeping.

“Ivanna Gatchalian is a Montgomery,” Julia said seriously. She laid out a piece of paper, the DNA result that stated 100% matched on the paternity test she had secretly initiated. “She was legally adopted hence she carries the Gatchalian family name. But she’s a true Montgomery blood.”

“When did you know about this?!” He had demanded. He couldn’t believe what he is seeing and hearing. “Why the hell did you kept it from me, Mom?!”

Julia Montgomery looked at his son.

“Because Amelia begged me to,” she simply answered. “I wanted to tell you when she gave birth but she threatened that she will disappear of I will. I can’t let her do that. You should know that we must keep track of all Montgomery’s no matter what it takes!”

“Mom, twenty years,” Damon yelled hoarsely, clenching his fist. “And, I had her thrown away like dirt. You could have told me!”

And, he remembered that fateful day when Ivanna found out, who she really was. It was also that day, Damon Montgomery discovered that the family’s trademark and personality was completely inherited by her. She is somehow a very close replica to most Montgomery’s first-born male. Since then, he has been trying to gain her forgiveness, which she strongly ignores.

Damon studied the pictures where she is posing with a beautiful background during her vacation in Bali. Most were of her alone but there were three pictures that she’s with a foreign man, linking arms and looking content. He remembered that night when he and his wife bumped into her at the Lee’s party. He knew she was seething but she still kept her composure.

“You raised a very good daughter, Amelia,” he whispered. “It’s unfortunate I wasn’t there.”

He placed the pictures in his drawer and called up his driver.

“Have the car upfront,” he said when the driver answered. “We’re going somewhere.”

Ivanna looked up in surprised when John returned to the office with Warren and Nicholas behind him, bringing some paper bags from a Chinese restaurant.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as she stood up.

“I was just dragged here,” Warren quickly answered, motioning to his friend.

Nicholas gave her a smile. “You mentioned a while ago that you’ll be having a meeting the entire day,” he explained as he held out the bags he’s carrying. “So, I thought I’ll bring over some lunch in case you won’t have the time.”

“Grace already called for delivery,” she said calmly.

“Well, the more the merrier, right?” Warren piped in with a grin. He turned and gave Diane a wide smile. “Hello, Diane. You look pretty today.”

“We’re working, Warren,” Ivanna quipped sternly, which Diane gave a frown towards him.

Warren rolled his eyes before giving Ivanna a wink that made her smile.

“Just show us where to lay the food out so we can have them ready,” Nicholas commented calmly. “We can eat at that sunroom of yours. Will that be fine?”

Ivanna exhaled tiredly as she pointed at one door at the back of her office.

“It leads right through the sunroom,” she said calmly.

She looked back at her staff when the two gentlemen went through the door, chatting about a basketball game. “At least we have food all through dinner,” she commented as she sat back on her chair and looked at her laptop. “Alright, where were we? John, how are those fabrications going at Mr. Miller’s house? Did we order enough materials? He might react on the 10% increase in case we haven’t.”

John nodded.

“I was able to place the remaining orders before the increase,” he assured, rifling through the folder he is holding. “Check was also given two days after and delivery will be Monday next week.”

“Mr. Miller’s so stingy that he’s almost asking everything to be free or cheaper,” Lea commented quietly. “He called up a while ago and asked if we can still move the wall of the Master’s Walk-in another four feet.”

Ivanna shook her head, smiling.

“Those type of clients will be the one making us lose our sanity and patience,” she agreed. She looked at her screen. “Tony’s south is so far on schedule as well as The A House and The Children’s Center expansion. Think it’s okay to get another project for the office? I’m meeting Lance tomorrow and I’m sensing it’s a project.”

“Perhaps two more,” Diane replied. “Although we’re still waiting feedback from Square Enterprise on the two buildings we bid on. That will be more than enough for the office.”

Ivanna nodded as she reached for her phone and frowned at the missed calls and messages. She placed it back down without reading the messages.

“Are you considering Clover Empire?” Diane asked quietly.

Ivanna looked at the folder, sitting on top of her desk, which she refused to open. She shook her head and stood up, carrying her Macbook. “We don’t need Clover Empire,” she said firmly as she placed her Mac on her desk and moved the folder on top of a filing cabinet. “I know we can handle them but we know how they are as a client. They’ll be demanding most of our time and I don’t want to abandon our other projects. I don’t care if they’ll pay us more.”

“Oh dear,” Grace suddenly blurted out. She looked up and smiled wryly. “Damian just texted. He’s on his way here with his wife bringing lunch as well.”

“Oh, Lord,” Diane groaned as she stood up.

“Do we know any who is nearby?” Ivanna asked tightly, going out from her office and groaned when she heard the doorbell, knowing it’s the lunch that Grace had ordered. “I’ll call Michelle, Sam and Conrad and asked if they’re nearby. We have too much food.”

“I’ll go check the guys and see if they need help,” Grace offered after she accepted the delivery.

Ivanna nodded when she heard her phone rang.

“Hello,” she answered.

“About time you answered,” her half-brother, Gabriel said on the other end.

“One more call and I will have this number block,” she returned lightly. She went back inside her office and sat on one chair. “I already told you that I’m not signing that contract. You heard me. Besides, I’ll just be in a foul mood everyday if I’ll be working on that.”

“You really can’t be that stubborn,” Gabriel commented. “You’ll be working with me.”

Ivanna let out a laugh.

“Sure, Gab,” she answered dryly.

“Iva, I don’t have your temper,” he insisted firmly. “Think about it again. We all know here that you can handle Clover’s demanding style. We desperately need you especially this poor ol’ half-brother of yours. And, it’s a partnership or alliance. Mont-Corp will not be taking over SA IG. Dad made sure of that.”

“Gab, you know that I care about you but my answer is still no,” she said with finality. “And, you can tell your dad that he doesn’t have to come here because I won’t give him the time.”

Gabriel sighed heavily.

“You’re really stubborn. I’ll try another day,” he replied softly. “Anyway, it’s Grams birthday next month. She’s hoping that you’ll pay her a visit.”

Ivanna clenched her fist.

“I’ll think about it,” she stated.

“Which means no,” Gabriel responded hardly. “C’mon, Ivanna. Stop being so hard on them. They’re in their eighties already and they’re hoping to see you. Why don’t you drop that pride of yours just this once and see them?”

Ivanna stood up from her chair.

“Yeah?” She challenged tightly. “I’ll drop this pride of mine if your Mom and sisters get off my back, Gabriel. If you can make them do that, I might consider making amends. That’ll be the day. I’m ending this call now, which will be your last because I’m blocking this number.”

She looked at her phone and pressed the block button and stuffed it in her pocket.

“Damian’s here,” Diane called and then looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t want calls or visit from any Mont-Corp people,” Ivanna scoffed angrily. She clenched her fists tightly and started to calm herself. “How dare Gabriel tell me to drop my pride and go see the grandparents. Does he even know what he’s saying?”

 Diane gave her an understanding look.

“I didn’t ask for this,” Ivanna added.

“You can handle it,” Diane assured. “Come on, let’s have lunch. Damian only bought one cuisine but bought too much dessert. Luckily, we need the sugar to get us through the day.”

Ivanna smiled as they went out from their office and went through the door that leads to the sunroom. She looked surprise when she saw that the table is nearly full of the food brought in.

The table was set for nine persons using the plain white plates she had left on the counter. Ivanna approached the table and saw seven types of dumplings, sizzling tofu, fried chicken, soy chicken with noodles, pork crackling, Chinese fried rice, stir-fry vegetables, steamed fish, beef with broccoli and a large various tempura basket brought by Damian. She noticed the desserts brought by Damian and she chuckled.

“I don’t need to cook for the next two days with all this,” she commented. “Wait, I’ll have the coffee prepare.”

After a few minutes and some picture taking, they finally sat down and started to eat.

“Thanks,” Ivanna said as Nicholas, occupying the seat beside her, placed each type of dumplings on her plate. She then served herself a small portion of fried rice, tofu, vegetables and reached for the thigh part of fried chicken. “It’s good to see you again, Damian, Gigi.”

Damian West grinned as he dipped the tempura in its sauce.

“It’s been a while,” he agreed.

Nicholas helped himself to more noodles as he listened to the exchange of conversation on the table between Damian and Warren, arguing over a basketball player. He took a bite from the crackling and took a drink of soda from his glass.

“So, Iva, who’s that guy in Bali?” Damian asked openly.

Ivanna threw him a hard look but Damian only raised one eyebrow.

“You, two looked good together,” Gigi added with a smile.

“Oh, come on,” Warren interrupted lightly. “That guy’s a loser. I’m much more manly than him. Tell them, Iva. I’m the best.”

Ivanna was about to answer when her phone rang. She looked at it and a frown crossed her face.

“Excuse me for a moment,” she said as she pushed her chair back and stood up. She went out to the garden to take the call. “Hi, Auntie Flo.”

Nicholas followed her with his eyes as she sat down on one chair outside.

“Who’s Auntie Flo?” Warren asked.

“Who do you think?” Damian returned as he leaned back on his chair and stared at Ivanna for a while. He looked at Diane. “Who called her?”

“Her brother called right before lunch,” Diane answered softly. “Something to do with her grandma’s birthday, which is coming up. But, that’s not all. Guess who came this morning?”

Nicholas looked at Diane in surprise.

“Don’t tell me that Damon was here?!”

“What?” Warren exclaimed.

“Yup,” Diane answered as she looked at Ivanna. “Damon Montgomery came here around ten and brought with him a contract for Clover Empire.”

“So, she still remained adamant about it,” Damian commented meaningfully. He reached for a tempura and popped it into his mouth. “Did Damon give details on how big the project will be? It’s going to be a big boost to the office.”

Diane met his gaze evenly.

“Ivanna doesn’t let personal feelings get involved in making decisions for the office, Damian,” she said calmly. “Sure it’s a big boost but we don’t need Clover Empire to further the status of our office. It might be our Achilles heel if ever.”

“Looks like, Ivanna is training you well,” Damian admired.

“Do you know her father personally?” Warren asked again.

“Not her father but her mother,” Damian replied with a small smile. “I was fourteen when I first met her mom. I work every school break at the shop to earn some money and she came in with the South Palm Resort project. Pop was impressed with her presentation and then said yes to take the project. Her mother was a really spectacular person.”

“So, you knew about her and Damon?” Nicholas asked quietly.

“Damon Montgomery is a coward and a jackass,” Damian replied heatedly. “He turned Amelia’s world upside down by making her fall in love with him! After everything she did for him, he made her life hell.”

“Those weren’t the details my mom said before,” Warren said.

“They have to fabricate the story,” Damian explained. “They’re Montgomery’s remember that. They practically ruled this state for decades. They can’t let a mere slip of a woman ruined their image. Yes, they both love each other but he should have known better. He never really defended Amelia to death. If he did, he would know all the threats and lambasting she received from his family. They destroyed her credibility and character.”

“But, I thought he gave her up because his wife was pregnant, carrying Gab,” Diane said.

“True,” Damian said. “But, will it stop him if he truly loves her? He’s the lone heir of their empire. You know very well their stupid tradition that it will only go to first-born male. Even if his sisters are there, he is the only one who gets majority shares of Mont-Corp. The rest are given to the siblings.”

Nicholas looked back outside and saw Ivanna sitting up tensely.

“Looks like a heated discussion,” he mused softly.

“Mrs. Portman is the only person who she listens to since her mom died,” Damian said patiently. “She sort of became a mother figure to her and trying to appease Ivanna’s anger with the Montgomery’s. I tell you this, Ivanna is not a hateful person but there’s a valid reason why she does.”

After a few minutes, Ivanna returned inside and gave them a tight smile.

“Sorry about that,” she apologized as she sat back on her chair.

“Everything okay?” Nicholas asked, looking down at her with concern.

Ivanna reached for some stir-fry vegetables. “Apparently, I have a big-mouth and a conniving of a brother,” she grumbled as she chewed on her food. She frowned as she remained silent for a while. “He put our call on loudspeaker and his dad was there.”

“And, Damon called Mrs. Portman after?” Damian asked.

She met his gaze and rolled her eyes. “What else is new?” She countered tersely. “That’s the only thing that he can do. Tell on me and hoping I’ll have a change of heart.”

“Have you?” Warren asked.

“I hate her sermons, honestly,” she admitted. “But, the one Aunt Flo gave is a nightmare.”

Damian laughed.

“So, you’ll patch things up with your grandparents, then?”

Ivanna smiled. “They’re old, so it gives me no choice, right?” She said sarcastically. “Looks like I’m unblocking Gab’s number and give him a call.”

“That’s good to hear,” Grace piped in. “He’ll be psyche to hear from you later.”

Nicholas hid a smile when Ivanna gave them a weird look.

“I didn’t said I’ll be unblocking it today,” she mused as she reached for some noodles. She gave them all a grin. “I’ll call him next month, probably the day before Gram’s birthday. Just a little revenge for what he did. I know that preparations will be completed already but Gab cannot ignore his grandparents wishes.”

“You do know how to ruin a perfect preparation,” Damian chuckled.

“I’m not at par with them, believe me,” Ivanna answered. “Give me a slice of that cheesecake, John. I’ll have the coffee poured.”

“I’ll help you,” Nicholas offered as he stood up. He gave Warren a dark look when he snorted that made Damian gave him a meaningful look. He followed Ivanna to the kitchen counter and studied her and to him she still looked a bit tense. “Are you really okay?”

Ivanna looked at him with a slight smile.

“I’ll be,” she answered softly as she arranged the cups on two trays while Nicholas reached for the cream and sugar. She slowly poured coffee on each cup except for the two where she only poured hot water and placed a tea bag on the saucer for each. “Damian and his wife don’t take coffee.”

Nicholas added as he took one tray and went back to the table.

A few hours after into the early evening, Nicholas sat up straight when he heard the front door opened.

“You’re still here?” Ivanna asked in surprise as she went out with Gunther on leash.

He nodded.

“Thought you might need an extra mouth for the remaining food,” he answered with a goofy smile.

Ivanna gave him a funny looked as she locked the door. “You’re such a weirdo, do you know that?” She quipped. “I would never think you would say that. Warren probably given his antics.”

Nicholas grinned as he stood up and walked towards her. “Why do you think we’re friends?” He asked lightly. He reached for Gunther’s leash and her dog happily walked to his head, looking up at him and wagging his tail. “I’ll walk with you.”

“We usually circle five blocks up,” she stated as they walked down the steps and turned right towards the sidewalk. She put on her cap and zipped her jacket up. “We will be meeting along some of Gunther’s buddies, aren’t we buddy?”

Gunther gave a short bark that made Ivanna ruffle his head.

“You walk him every night?” He asked.

“Every other,” she answered as she stuffed her hands inside her jacket pocket. “But, if I can’t due to the schedule, we go to the dog park on weekends. He loves it there and I would have a hard time bringing him back home.”

“So, it’s just you and Gunther at your house?” He questioned. “Aren’t you scared? I mean, I survey your place out of habit and it has many entry points.”

Ivanna looked up at him.

“Dad had locks installed on all doors and windows,” she answered. “He made sure of it when we moved here. He also had some CCTV’s installed which had just been upgraded two months ago.”

They walked for a full hour before going back to her house. While Nicholas gave Gunther his food and set up the table as Ivanna reheated some the food from lunch.

“Why are you really here, Nicholas?” Ivanna quietly asked as she placed down the vegetable and beef dish. She went back to the counter and took an opened wine bottle. “You’re practically here the whole day. Is that how you really apologize to someone?”

“Ivanna,” Nicholas started when she sat down. He reached and clasped one hand tightly when she tried to pull back. “Listen. This time there’s no bet or anything. I want to get to know you and I want to go out with you.”

“You seem pretty fast,” she commented.

He poured wine on both of their glasses.

“Not as fast as that guy in Bali,” he mused with a smirk. “Do you know that Warren kept rubbing that on my face?’

“We both know that it’s just a fling. Besides, I’m not an easy person to be with, Nicholas,” she answered as she finally pulled her hand free. She looked away for a while and breathed out calmly. “I’m pretty sure that Warren told you my background as well as some things you heard from Damian a while ago. I have issues which I’m not planning to face. It’s going to be toxic.”

“You think that’s going to bother me?” He asked bluntly. “I’m interested in you not with them. Those three weeks that you weren’t here was a nightmare.”

Ivanna remained silent and served herself some food.

“Are you really scared to be in a relationship?” He asked again when she didn’t say any. “Was your last relationship so painful?”

She gave him a hard look and he sensed that he had hit something.

“I believe it’s none of your business,” she snapped.

“Fine,” he answered. “I’m not going to ask or comment about it. But, I’m serious with what I’m telling you. I like you, I want you to be my girlfriend and I want to take you out on dates. But, let me tell you that I’m not a patient man. Come on, we’re not teenagers anymore that I’ll try some tactics just to get you.”

“My schedule’s already full until next week,” she answered.

Nicholas took a drink from his wine.

“Then, I’ll work around your schedule,” he argues with a smile. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily, Ivanna Gatchalian. Remember that I’m a soldier and I always focus on my mission.”

“Are you saying that I’m a mission?” She scoffed lightly. She crossed her arms. “Are you sure that there’s no bet, Mr. Alonso? You know that I can easily find out about it.”

He shook his head as he reached for her hands. He held them tightly and smiled at her sincerely.

“No bet,” he promised. “You can ask my big mouth of friend because he’s terrible at keeping secrets.”

“I don’t know, Nicholas,” she finally said but she didn’t pull her hands back, which he took as a good sign. “I’m really not thinking about having a relationship for now.”

Nicholas squeezed her hands lightly.

“Can I ask to you trust me on this?” He asked.

Ivanna finally turned her complete gaze at him and it took his breath away. Those dark intense emerald eyes are something he’ll never tire staring at.

“I’m not going to be a burden,” he promised with a smile. “I’m someone you can lean on to. I can promise you that. It’s time to come out of your shell, Ivanna. You gave that guy a chance and I deserve it too.”

“Alright,” she finally replied. “But, don’t be too demanding.”

Nicholas brought both of her hands to his lips and kissed them lightly.

“I won’t.”