Page 71 of Seeds of Malice

I wait for her to speak.

She finally asks, "What does that mean, Dax?"

I order, "Check your email."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I wait a few moments until she says, "Orientation?"

"Yeah, but you're not going."

"I'm confused."

I chuckle again. "Don't be. All you need to know is I just created a week for us to be together. Your father will have no choice but to let you stay home. And he won't be breathing down our necks. So what do you think about that?"

Silence fills the line, and I start to get nervous.

Does she not want it?

But then the excitement rings in her voice, and she praises, "I can't believe you figured this out."

"Don't worry, baby girl. I told you, you have to trust me. When are you going to trust me, by the way?"

"I do trust you."

"Okay. Then know from now on, any problem that arises, I will fix."

"Just like that, huh?" she asks.

I confidently reply, "Yeah. That's what I do."

Humor laces her voice. "Good to know."

I demand, "Now, go tell your father you're staying here. I'm coming over to get you the minute he leaves."

I hang up the phone, happier than I've felt in at least a week, knowing everything in Ivy Ford's life is about to change—starting today.

12

Ivy

"Ivy," my father says before he walks out the door.

"Yeah?" Things have been tense between us the entire week. He gives me a worried expression. "What is it?" I ask.

"I don't like you staying here by yourself. Please don't see that boy while I'm gone," he begs.

I sigh. "Dad, I'm starting college. You saw the email from my professor. I have an orientation project."

He doesn't speak.

I add, "You don't want me to lose my ability to go there, do you? I'm sure the Carringtons aren't going to pay for me to go if I flunk out before school even starts." The guilt I can't escape grows.

I feel horrible lying to my father, but he's made sure I've stayed away from Dax all week. A few times, I caught him having chest pains, so I've abided by his rules so I don't agitate him in any way.

He sighs. "No, I don't want you to lose your education. It's another reason you should stay away from Dax."

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