Chapter 39 - Call from Valarie

Ivy signed the discharge papers and carried Max's belongings while Kira supported him till the hospital entrance. They hailed a cab to Max's residence as they discussed the press meet.

"What the hell was that Ivy? Where did you get those questions from?" Max asked, trying to sit comfortably in his seat. Kira was sitting beside him while Ivy sat in the passenger seat. ​​

"From nowhere. I just decided to ask them on the spot." Ivy shrugged. She knew she was in for a long lecture from Max. She had not asked any of the questions from the list he had given her.

"Those questions were just brilliant Ivy. Well done." Max exclaimed from behind. Ivy immediately turned back to look at him surprised. She had never expected Max to be happy with her performance at the press conference. Kira giggled looking at Ivy's face.

"Are you serious?" Ivy asked, looking at Max's face trying to find out if he was in fact serious or joking.

"Yes Ivy. I am serious. You were good."

"I know I am good. Still, thanks for the compliment."

"So, how was your meet with Joshua?" Max asked changing the topic.

"Who is Joshua?" Kira looked at Ivy and Max for an answer.

"Just a random guy who is helping me in my new story." Ivy scorned.

"Hmm, is he handsome?" Kira leaned forward in her seat waiting for Ivy to answer.

"I don't know. I didn't look at him thoroughly and I only met him once."

"So, you want to meet again?" Kira asked at once, finding the loophole in Ivy's previous answer.

"I didn't mean that."

"Ohh. Then, what was the meaning?" Max joined. He couldn't deny he was having fun looking at Ivy's fl_u_s_tered face. It was not every day that he got to tease her. It was always her who did the teasing.

"It's just.. I was just..Umm." Ivy stuttered.

Max and Kira burst out laughing instantly listening to her stutter. Ivy realized at once that they were pulling her leg. She gave a look that said,' Ohh, you are so dead.'

"Coming to the point, did Joshua agree to help you?" Max changed the topic before Ivy turned on her destruction mode. If this mode is turned on, then nobody could win Ivy in her games. She was the master of pulling others legs.

"Yes, he did. Although there is not much he can do, as all the information regarding the case has been erased, he told me he would do his best."

"We have arrived." The driver stopped the cab after driving for twenty minutes. They had already arrived at their destination.

"Come on Maxy, let's go home." Ivy got off the cab.

Max rolled his eyes, annoyed at the nickname Ivy had given him. He knew he had triggered Ivy by making fun of her a few minutes back. He slowly got down with the help of Kira. His ankles were still painful, so he limped whenever he had to walk. In addition to that, he also had to use a walking stick.

They got inside the elevator and waited for it to reach the second floor. Ivy looked at Max leaning at the back.

"So, Maxy I have a party tomorrow. So, I was thinking of wearing a maxi. What do you think?"

Max gave her a death glare, while Kira laughed out loud.

"Kira darling, I have the video of Vanessa asking you out. My hands are itching to do something about it." Now it was Max's turn to laugh. Kira shut up at once and gave her a look that meant, 'You tell somebody else about it, then you are dead.'

Somebody at the agency had spread a rumor that Kira was a lesbian. So, a few women, who had hidden their s_e_x_u_a_l preferences, had expressed their liking to her, Vanessa being one among them. Kira still could remember the time when those women had told her that they had taken a liking towards her. It took a lot of time for her to make people see the truth. She even had to resort to kissing a guy in front of them just them make them believe her.

The elevator opened and they walked to Max's apartment. He pressed his fingerprint for at the door lock and the door opened at once. Ivy's phone rang at that moment and she excused herself to receive it.

"Hello."

"Hello, am I speaking to Ivy West?" It was a woman on the other side.

"Speaking. May I know who is this?"

"I am Valarie Evans. I want to meet you if you are free today."

"Is it anything important?"

"Yes it is. It is very important to you as well as to me." Ivy raised her eyebrows hearing the woman's vague answer.

"Sure, where shall we meet?"

"I'll text you the address and time. Thank you."

"Not a problem."

Ivy then went inside Max's house and saw Kira and Max perched on the sofa. The TV was switched on and Max was changing the channels.

"Who was it Ives?" Max asked, without leaving his gaze from the television.

"Some woman named Valarie Evans. She wants to meet me. She says it's important."

"Maybe she has something to say to you, some news to give you," Kira said, munching on a cheese ball. She was holding a jar of cheese balls in her hands.

"Maybe." Ivy walked around and plopped on the sofa beside Kira. She too started eating the cheeseballs.

"Don't you guys have work to do?"

"Nope. Our Boss is right here and he has given us a holiday." Ivy replied giving Max a wink.

"When did I give you a day off?"

"Right now," Kira replied, making Ivy smirk.

"You. You.." Max did not know what to say.

"Yes we. We." Ivy imitated his voice.

"So what time is it now?" Kira looked around for her phone.

"I think it's almost noon. Why?" Max answered.

"I am a little hungry. So, I want to prepare lunch." Kira stood up and went inside the kitchen.

"Let me help." Ivy followed suit while Max remained in the hall.

"So, tell me more about this Joshua?" Kira asked chopping some spring onions.

"There is nothing to tell about him. I told you before."

"Are you sure there is nothing to know about him?"

"I just know that he is ranked in the top three ric_h_e_s_t businessmen in our country."

Kira whistled. "If he is on the list, then his pictures will be on the Internet. Let me see. What was his name again?"

"I think it's Joshua Martin."

Kira typed his name and opened his images. "Wow, so handsome."

Ivy leaned in to take a look and indeed he was quite handsome. She had not noticed his features before. But looking at the man's pictures, she realized that he could put the Greek gods to shame.

"What are you thinking Ivy? Concentrate. Remember, he is a playboy and not worth your time." She chided herself.

At that moment, her phone indicated the arrival of a message. It was from Valarie. She had texted her address and the time of their meet.

"What does she want to meet me for? I'll get my answers soon." She spoke to herself as she continued to wash the vegetables.