Page 178 of Thorns of Malice

Ivy: What is it?

Me: Can you tell him to please reconsider and take my call?

Ivy: It would help if you told me what this is about.

Me: I can't tell you right now. Please help me out and do it.

I wait for her reply.

Me: Please.

Ivy: Okay.

Over an hour passes. I keep my focus on other business matters, but it's hard. There's so much on the line right now. Years of putting things together and being patient for everything to fall into place is finally occurring.

I finally get a text.

Matt: You get five minutes, maybe less.

31

Ivy

"Kristen, are there any bottles of the Seducing Ivy wine in the house?" I ask.

She grins. "There are several pallets in the wine cellar. Dax hasn't allowed anyone to drink it though."

My butterflies take off. He really did share the first bottle with me. It's another thing he's done that warms my heart.

Kristen arches her eyebrows.

I snap out of it and say, "Great. Can you bring a few bottles up and put them in the chiller? We're going to have some guests tonight."

She hesitates. "Do you think Dax will be upset?"

"No. But let me confirm," I say, not wanting Kristen to feel uncomfortable.

I pick up my phone and text him.

Me: Can we take a few bottles of Seducing Ivy wine out of the cellar tonight for our dinner party?

Dax: Sure, baby girl. Whatever you want.

I show Kristen the text messages, chirping, "All good!"

"Fantastic. I'll make sure a few bottles come up and go into the chiller."

"Thank you."

She leaves the room.

I study the dining room, loving how everything looks. There's a bouquet of Seducing Ivy on the table. Kristen found candles in the kitchen that match the ones in the restaurant.

I leave the dining room and overhear one of the workers in the hallway, whispering, "The press is everywhere. It took me ten minutes to get past the gate."

My gut sinks. Reporters have swarmed the gates of the estate ever since Matt's press conference and the breaking news about Avery's and Professor Dyer's arrests.

Why does Dax want to speak with Matt?

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