âI know everyone around here. Just tell me who youâre looking for, maybe I can help ya out!â The man blocked Ivyâs path as she tried to sidestep him. âHey, lady, hold up! Donât be so cold. Iâm just trying to lend a hand here! Why the silent treatment?â
Ivy, finding herself cornered, reluctantly engaged in a verbal dance. âIâm meeting someone, my date actually. Would you mind stepping aside?â
She thought her request was polite enough, but for some reason, the man bristled, âAnd whoâs this date of yours? Do tell.â
âSorry, thatâs none of your business,â Ivy replied, not keen on entertaining his advances.
Yet the man remained an unyielding obstacle.
With a sigh, Ivyâs patience wore thin. âSir, what will it take for you to let me pass?â
âWant to leave, huh? Simple.â He casually grabbed a glass of wine from a nearby table and held it out to her. âJust down this drink, and youâre free to go.â
Ivy eyed the proffered glass with no intention to take it. While she wasnât adept at drinking, managing a single glass of wine was within her capacity. However, after a couple of bad experiences, she was wary.
Who knew what might be spiked into that drink? She was not naive enough to believe that itâs as straightforward as having just one drink.
Once she takes the first drink, there will be a second, a third, until sheâs completely intoxicated!
âNo thanks, I donât drink,â Ivy said, lifting the hem of her dress to step around him.
Nash, that was his name, reached out and yanked her back. âNot so fast, Miss High-and-Mighty. Itâs not that easy.â
âAh!â Unaccustomed to high heels, Ivy stumbled from the push, about to make a scene in front of everyone.
Just as she braced for embarrassment, a man appeared behind her, his arm snaking around her waist, steadying her with a firm grip. âAre You okay?â
Ivy regained her balance and turned to see a familiar face that left her speechless.
The man who had come to her aid, Nolan Harris, looked coldly at the interrupter. âThis lady is a friend of mine. You got business with her?â
The man who had been so forward with Ivy suddenly shrank back, shrugged, and slunk away with his glass of wine.
Once the rude interloper was dispatched, the heroic Nolan turned to Ivy with a smile and concern. âYou alright? Did it scare you?â
Meeting Nolanâs gaze, Ivy felt an inexplicable sense of inferiority.
Why was he here?
Observing her silence, Nolan spoke again, âWhatâs the matter? Donât you recognize me after all these years?â
âIâ¦I do,â Ivy stammered, suddenly realizing she seemed too eager. She promptly lowered her head.
âOf course, I do, Nolan.â
Memories flooded Ivyâs mind the day Nolan stood as the freshman representative, addressing the new students while she looked up at him from the crowd, captivated by his radiant presence.
From that moment on, Nolan had been a light in her life.
Ivy often found herself gazing up at that light, but like the shy person she was, she never had the courage to reach out and touch it.