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“Wow, it’s a pleasure!” Denise smiled and stretched out her right hand for a handshake.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Ivory stood up and shook Denise’s hand in a friendly manner. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“I hope they are good things,” Denise smirked and took a seat.

“Sure,” Ivory chuckled and also took her seat beside Denise.

“Thanks for always being there for Ella. You are a great friend.” Ivory’s sparkling eyes conveyed the genuineness of her words.

“Yes, she is!” Ella reaffirmed. “I am so lucky to have her in my life.

“Aww!” Denise batted her long lashes playfully. “You guys are making me blush. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Ella and ivory chorused.

.....

“By the way, Ivory, you look stunning and it makes me wonder if the gods reserve a special kind of beauty formula for just your family. I mean, take a look at Leon’s handsome unique features and compare them with your captivating beauty. It makes me feel like I’m beauty deficient.

“Hahaha! Oh, Denise! You are so funny.” Ivory coughed slightly due to her laughter outburst.

“Now you see what I am talking about, there is never a dull moment with this lovable mama bear of mine.” Ella complimented amidst laughter.

“Thank you! Thank you!! I live only to entertain.” Denise bowed animatedly like someone wrapping up a hilarious show.

“Okay, Denise, let’s go back to business. Take a look at this,” Ella turned her laptop screen towards Denise’s direction. “What do you think of this new app sketch design that my sweet sister-in-law just made for our company?”

Denise’s eyes widened and she hurriedly tapped on the laptop, analyzing the application.

“My goodness!” She gawked from Ivory to Ella and back to Ivory. “You designed this! How? I thought you were a supermodel!”

Both Ivory and Ella burst out laughing again.

“Supermodel? Me? Nah! I’m not caught off for that.” Ivory shook her head while she dabbed her misty eyes.

“I am proud to say that Ivory is a software engineer and she will be graduating from college in a few months.” Ella proudly blew Ivory’s trumpet.

“Wow! This is amazing!” Denise took Ivory’s hand and shook it vigorously. “Beauty, check! Brains, check! Sophistication, check!”

“Aww! Thanks, Denise.” Ivory beamed from cheek to cheek.

“So, did you prepare this back in school?” Denise asked while she kept checking out the newly sketched design plan for the APB fashion brand marketing app.

“No, I just concluded the sketch when you walked into the office,” Ivory responded.

“Huh!” Denise stared quizzically at Ivory and then at Ella, who seem engrossed all of a sudden on her phone.

“What I’m trying to say is that I’ve been here working on it for the past three hours, while Ella was busy attending to some clients. Once I’ve gotten her approval to develop the app, I will take it back to school for the proper work. It should be ready and functional in two to three weeks.” Ivory concluded her explanation with a smile.

“Wow, Ella, this is amazing!”

Denise turned in Ella’s direction, smiling. However, her smile began to fade as she saw the terrified look in Ella’s eyes.

“Ella, what’s wrong?” Both Denise and Ivory asked simultaneously.

While Denise and Ivory were speaking earlier, an anonymous contact sent a viral video to Ella’s phone.

When she viewed the content of the video, the color drained from her face. She instantly recognized Tom. Also, based on the bone of contention between Tom and the handsome man he was choking at some point, Ella concluded that this man must be Fred.

Ella slowly raised her face but was unable to say anything. The horror on her face was enough to explain that whatever she was going to say would be bad.

“Ella, speak up! You’re scaring me!” Denise stood up and walked across the desk to Ella.

“What happened?” Denise quizzed calmly.

“Did something bad happen to your mum and sister?”

“Did something bad happen to Leon?”

“Wait a minute, did Leon find out about the p...” Denise quickly cupped her mouth and turned her face in Ivory’s direction.

“She knows Denise,” Ella suddenly found her voice. She saw the terrified look in Denise’s eyes. She could read Denise’s thoughts and this made her chuckle amidst the sadness.

“You have not spilled my secret, yet. I already told Ivory about my pregnancy. So, calm down.”

“Phew!” Denise breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, what’s the problem?” Ivory asked in a tense voice.

“It’s Tom,” Ella replied

“Who is Tom?” Ivory asked perplexed.

“Which Tom? Denise asked alarmed.

“Your Tom,” Ella answered and stood up to meet Denise’s frightened gaze.

“What happened to my Tom?” Denise asked in a panic.

“Was he involved in a car accident?”

“Was he attacked by a mafia gang?”

“Did a crazy b**ch shoot him in the chest?”

“Denise!” Ella cupped Denise’s mouth with her hand. “You watch too many movies. Calm down!”

Ella was tempted to laugh but she knew this would infuriate Denise. So, she pulled Denise into her arms and hugged her tightly to stifle her laughter.

“Just tell me what is wrong, Ella,” Denise forcefully freed herself from Ella’s hold. The suspense is killing me.”

In response, Ella handed Denise her phone and stood very close to her in case Denise had a meltdown after watching the video.

Ivory, who could wait to be told the outcome of whatever happened to this mystery Tom stood and walked over to Denise. She stood beside her and watched the video with her.

“Isn’t that Tom, Leon’s best friend,” Ivory queried in horror.

“Yes, he is!” Ella nodded her head. “Also, he happens to be Denise’s fiance.”

“Oh, no!” Ivory frowned.

Denise start to hyperventilate as the video clip climaxed. Her body stiffened and her heartbeat skyrocketed. The horror in her eyes was replaced with an unquenchable fury as she thought of all the nasty things she would do to Fred.

“Denise, calm down.” Ella tried to be the angelic voice of reason in her ear.

“Both Tom and his brother are in the wrong,” Ivory pointed out angrily. She was too pissed over two brothers fighting for one lady and in the process, tainting the poor lady’s good name.

“Tom was wrong when he kept pushing Fred to talk even when Fred begged him to stop. While Fred was wrong when he voiced out that last statement in public.”

“Ivory, shhhh!” Ella’s eyes flared at Ivory’s input. She was unintentionally making the whole situation worse by stating the obvious.

Unfortunately for Ella, Ivory was one person that voiced her opinion without fear or favor. She didn’t care who or what it was when it came to giving a critical opinion. She was known to always say what was on her mind and apologize later.

“I’m just saying that no lady should be talked about or fought over in that manner. There is a better and more civil way to resolve a dispute over a lady.” Ivory protested adamantly.

Ella’s jaw dropped at Ivory’s stubbornness. She was simply fanning the flames to Denise’s fury and Ella could see that Denise was nodding her head in approval to Ivory’s words.

Also, the vengeful glint in Denise’s eyes worried the hell out of Ella as she imagined what Denise planned on doing.

“Denise...”

Denise raised her hand, thereby shunning Ella. She gave Ella a signal: I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Her eyes were misty and slightly red as she handed Ella her phone and walked away from her reach.

“Thanks, Ivory, for your candid opinion,” Denise spoke in a low but firm tone. “Those two arrogant fools are going to get it got from me.”

Then she turned to an alarmed Ella and said in a pleading voice.

“Ella, please don’t get yourself worried over this. I will deal with Tom and Fred in my own way. Also, please, don’t get yourself involved in this, even when Tom comes pleading to you.”

“Oh, Denise!” Ella tried to approach Denise but she took two steps backward.

“Ella, please, just do this for me. I need your words that you will not meddle even when things turn ugly.”

“Hmm!” Ella breathed out a sigh of frustration. Her eyes drooped and slowly rose as Denise approached her.

“Please,” Denise’s misty eyes started to shed tears. “You know that I can do this and more for you.”

“Okay, mama bear.” Ella pulled her into her arms and stroked her back tenderly. “You have not given me any other options. I promise I will not meddle.”

“Thanks,” Denise sniffed.

“Aww...” Ivory, who had been standing and watching the two friends was moved by the show of emotion. She moved closer to them and threw her hands around the two friends.

—————–

At about 9:30 PM, a sober Tom strolled lazily into his house. The top of his shirt was slightly unbuttoned and his tie hung loosely from his neck. His suit jacket was thrown over one side of his shoulder and his shirt was poorly tucked in his trousers. His hair was slightly disheveled and his body reeked of alcohol.

When he stepped into the sitting room, he was slightly shocked to see Denise still dressed in her work clothes.

She was seated on one of the single couches that was facing the sitting room exit door. Her hands folded across her chest and her right foot was continuously tapping on the floor.

.....

Immediately, Denise caught sight of Tom, she sprang to her feet and charged toward him.

“Where the hell are you coming from at this time is the day?” She quizzed in her most horrific tone