Chapter 242: Fear

The dinner went on smoothly with Joshua who had taken up the job of feeding Ivy to her full. He made sure she ate well while they shared the same plate and spoon much to Ivy's dismay.

The entire time while they ate Joshua did not allow Ivy to leave his embrace. She had to eat her food sitting on his lap which Joshua enjoyed very much. He was liking how close their bodies were that he could almost hear her rhythmic heartbeat. It was as though his lap was made exclusively for her to sit.

After dinner, Joshua took up the job of cleaning the dining table while Ivy was watching TV in the living room. Since Aria had called her the previous day, she would not be calling her that day. As she changed the channels, she came upon a news channel that was still telecasting the Military Chief, General Moore's death. Though a few days had passed since his death, the police had failed to produce any evidence or find the culprit. Even the members of Intelligence who were working on the case in secret had failed to produce any results.

Ivy halted seeing the news and she frowned. Her hands were itching to take up this case. But she knew how risky it was. Max had warned her not to take any new missions right now as they did not have a platform to tell about it to the public. Even Noah had warned her to stay low for some time. So she gave up her idea reluctantly.

Joshua had finished cleaning. All he had to do was to throw the used dishes in the dishwasher and clean the table slightly. And lo he was done.

He stealthily walked behind Ivy and on observing that her concentration was completely on the news that was being telecasted, he bent forward and bit her ear stupefying her. 

"What are doing?" She whispered, her breath hitched when he licked her ear lobe. It was too sensual for Ivy and she tried to wriggle her way out of it.

Joshua let her go and jumped over the sofa neatly and sat down beside her. He then pulled her by her shoulder closer to him as he too started watching the news. "What are you watching?"

Ivy, who was trying to control her erratic heartbeat, failed to answer her making his lips raise a little. He loved the way she reacted to his touch. It made him want to touch her all the more. 

He suddenly had a thought that how comfortable they were with each other even though their relationship had just started. They were behaving as though they were in love with each other for long. Nobody felt weird or uncomfortable and he was genuinely happy seeing how this was going. It felt as though everything in his life was going to be peaceful and beautiful from now on.

Ivy suddenly remembered something. Her gaze turned to him and he too turned to her when he sensed her intense eyes on him. His eyebrows raised wondering what she had in mind.

"Umm. After your relationship ended with Amber," Ivy paused to see if he was comfortable with her starting this conversation. When he did not say a thing nor did he give any reaction, she continued. "Did she try to contact you at any time?"

Joshua understood what she wanted to ask and what her concerns were. "I never contacted her even once. However, she tried to contact me a few times. But I did not want to speak to her. So, I rejected her. She even waited near my company to find a chance to approach me. I ignored her and since then I haven't heard from her."

"If she tries to contact you now or in the future, will you talk to her?"

"Maybe no."

Ivy twisted her body such that now she was fully facing him and Joshua had to release her shoulder much to his dismay. "Why?"

"I don't know. I never felt like speaking to her. She left me and that was it."

"But why do I feel that you want to talk to her at least once? You want to ask her why she left you, why she hurt you. You want to hear her speak those words. Am I wrong?"

Joshua was silent. Whatever Ivy was saying was the truth. He wanted to ask her a lot of things, but he was unable to face Amber. He knew he was being a coward. However, he did not have the courage to speak to her.

"Joshua, listen to me. If she calls you again next time, speak to her."

"But.." Joshua tried to interrupt her. However, Ivy did not allow him to.

"Listen to my words first. Please."

Joshua sighed in defeat. He did not have any other choice anyway. "Okay."

"Speak to her. I can see that she still bothers you. You still think about her occasionally. It's best if you get a clean breakup from her. I promise you, you will feel happy and light-weighted. Trust me."

Joshua thought through her words and felt her to be right. He was surprised when she had read his mind correctly. It was true that he thought about Amber sometimes. It was not because he had feelings for her once upon a time, but because he wanted answers from her. He wanted to know why she left him. He wanted to know if what he had assumed the reason for her to leave him matched with hers or not. It kept bugging his mind even now and he realized how much the woman affected him. Ivy's suggestion made him open his eyes and he finally made a decision.

"Fine. I'll talk to her if she contacts me."

"Thank you."

Joshua hugged her and kissed her forehead lightly thanking the Gods for bringing such an amazing woman, who right now was in his embrace, in his life.

"By the way, what does this Amber girl do?" Ivy queried. Her voice came out muffled as she was still hugging him.

"She is a jeweler designer. I think you might know her. Have you heard about Amber Jones? She is the owner of the jewelry brand AJ."

"Oh my God lord. That woman is Amber? That explains it then." Ivy exclaimed in surprise. 

"Why? Do you know her?"

"Not exactly. I had to cover one of my ex-colleagues work once as she was sick. It was an interview with Amber. I did not like her in the first meet itself. Sorry to say this. She has a very haughty character. Very arrogant and rude."

"No offense taken. She means nothing to me now."

"I hope so," Ivy mumbled softly but Joshua heard it nevertheless. He hugged her tight to console her. She did not have anything to worry about as he would allow no one to come between them. But he had one fear, the fear that even Noah had. It was the fear of losing her after she learned the truth of her father. Irrespective of what the future held, he would never allow Ivy to leave him. Never.

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