She chewed her lip as she realized she had made another decision without talking it over with Gabe.
Deciding she’d meet Gabe on his way inside, she locked their door, and in the elevator, she moved her flight. Her mother would be thrilled.
A silver car revved into the parking garage and then backed out. Ivy frowned. That car looked like the same one she saw leaving Julien’s office, and wasn’t it a sliver car she saw the night Quinn walked her to her door? She was just nervous about telling Gabe the news, letting her imagination run wild on her.
She jumped at the firm hand on her shoulder.
“Ivy, hey, come with me. I need to drive over to Gabe.” Cole glowered at her, pulling her towards him.
“Cole! What’s wrong?”
“Gabe’s not himself, Ivy.” Cole glared at her.
“Where is he? He just texted he was coming home with pizza.”
“Yeah, he’s in a bad state. You know how his migraines come on.” Cole pressed down on her shoulder, and Ivy took two steps back, shoving his arm off.
“Should I get his meds?”
“Come on, we don’t have much time.”
Ivy hesitated. She didn’t trust Cole. Shortly after getting Cole to agree to the sponsorship while working late one night, he barged into her office, closing the door. She glanced away from Cole now as the memory played in her mind.
“Cole, is there anything else you need? I’m just typing up your requests,” Ivy said.
“I came to see if you wanted to go for a drink.”
“With Gabe?” Her hands were still on the keyboard.
Cole put his hands on her desk, knocking files and papers to the side. He leaned down, so he was in eye contact with her. “No, with just us.”
“Cole, I’m still working here,” Ivy said. “Maybe another night.”
Cole reached across her desk and yanked on her arm.
“Let go! What are you doing?” Ivy pulled her arm away, but Cole was too strong, and he gripped her arm tightly, twisting, so Ivy stood out of her chair to try and get more momentum.
“You are with the wrong Arthur. Gabe is a loser, Ivy. He’s going to do nothing for you. I have money. I have wealth. You wouldn’t have to work every day. Give me a chance.”
Cole pulled her over the desk. Ivy wasn’t sure what he wasn’t going to do but planting her feet, she pulled away from him, walked around her desk. She opened the door. “I think it’s time you leave now, Mr. Arthur.”
She held her breath, hoping for once she wasn’t the only one in the building, hoping he would stop there and not escalate this any further.
“Fine, you fat cow. Have it your way.”
She closed her door, then laid down, sobbing on her chaise. God, he was awful.
Ivy never told Gabe what happened, but every time they got together, Cole piled on the comments about her weight and job and seemed to put Gabe down more. But two weeks before the job that cost Jordan his life, Cole had shown up at the condo, telling her he was sorry. She didn’t believe him but accepted his apology, thinking it would have been worse on Gabe somehow if she hadn't. Since then, Cole had shown up occasionally with pizza or beer, or sometimes they went out for drinks. She tried to bring Gabe along. He seemed genuine in his apology, but Ivy would often catch him looking at her and see him almost sneer at her.
Cole always wanted what Gabe had.
“Look, Ivy, I know I’m not the nicest to Gabe, okay? I can’t help it, but he’s my brother and in trouble. Will you come?”
“I’m going to call him.” Ivy pulled out her phone.
“We really don’t have time for that.”
Cole grabbed her hand, hurrying to his SUV.
