Page 79 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

“Do you think they’ll accept?” He finishes typing something and swivels his chair to face me and his perma-scowl makes an appearance. “You look like you’ve been in the woods.”

“What?” I look down at my faded jeans and vintage Nirvana tee. “I’m just casual.”

“You have a leaf in your hair.”

“Seriously?” I run my fingers through my hair, and it falls to my lap. “I do think they’ll accept, it’s lower than ask but all cash and a quick close.” My phone vibrates in my pocket right as Con’s alerts, too. I ignore it thinking it’s probably a text in our group chat.

We talk for a few more minutes about my plans for the camp. How I plan on telling Ivy about it, surprising her with picnic on our dock. A nostalgic way to begin our future together.

We’re interrupted by Helen knocking frantically on the door.

“There’s a hoard of photographers downstairs.” She looks at Con, “Lilith’s friend is completely surrounded. Saul’s trying to get to her.”

Con and I are out the door and at the elevator in the blink of an eye. He keys in a passcode that bypasses all the other floors and sends the elevator directly to us. The two minutes it takes for us to reach her are the longest in my life.

When the doors open to the lobby, we have a direct view of the plaza in front of the building and between VI security, Nelson Security, and the photographers, Ives is nowhere to be found. As soon as we exit the doors, the photographers nearest us turn and start yelling questions.

“Levi, are you upset about your stepsister’s affair with your dad?”

“Are you in open relationship with Ms. Bane?”

“How does it feel to be lied to and cheated on?”

“Connor, are you sleeping with Ivy, too?”

The crowd parts, and I see the unmistakable white blonde of Hoodrat’s hair as she muscles her way through the crowd with a team of her guys around Ivy. She elbows one photographer when he asks a particularly nasty question, and his camera falls to the ground. Her other hand clutches Ivy’s protectively.

We both rush to the girls, standing in front of them and trying to shield them from the rest of the paparazzi shouting ridiculous questions. Saul opens the door for us as we follow the girls inside. Everyone is looking at the spectacle outside and staring at Ivy.

“I don’t know why everyone is staring and not working,” Con’s voice booms across the lobby. Everyone goes back to work, but there’s plenty of sideways glances at Ivy.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tuck her in beside me. I know if I full on hug her she’ll probably start crying, and she wouldn’t want that, so I only push as far as I think is comfortable for her.

As soon as we’re in the elevator, we all turn to Ives, but she looks completely confused as to what just happened. All four of our phones buzz or alert with a text message which can only mean it’s from Griff. He would be the one to know what the fuck is going on.

Con pulls his phone out first while Lilith wraps Ives in a hug. He lets out a string of colorful obscenities and lets me take his phone. It’s a string of texts from Griff.

Griff: Jennifer sold a story to every tabloid that would listen

Griff: You guys to need to make sure Ivy doesn’t use the front door at VI. A bunch of paps are on the way there to ambush her

Griff: WHY THE FUCK AREN’T YOU ANSWERING ME?

Griff: On my way

He attached a link with the headlines.

A DAUGHTER’S BETRAYAL.

SLEEPING HER WAY TO THE TOP.

ARE THE VOLKOVS NEXT?

“That fucking worthless cunt.” I want to throw the phone against the wall, but Con reads my mind and wisely takes it back.

“Oh God.” Tears fill Ivy’s eyes. “My mom?”

I give a slight nod.

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