âWhatâs with the attitude? You should be rolling out the red carpet for guests as the host, especially since Mara and Balfour are childhood sweethearts no less. Youâre coming off a bit stingy here.â
Ivy barely lifted the corners of her mouth. If she wanted to play the grumpy hostess, that was her prerogative. Who said you had to greet guests with a grin plastered on your face? Besides, not all guests deserved her warmth.
âSorry, smiling just isnât in my DNA. Have you two come for a particular reason?â
Ivy tilted her chin up, a silent cue for Mara to spill the beans about her companion.
âOh, this is my dear friend Olivia. Weâve known each other for years overseas. Sheâs staying in town for a bit-partly to keep me company.
I already mentioned to Balfour weâd drop by. Maybe it slipped his mind to tell you? We had it all planned out, so I brought Olivia over to your place.â
Maraâs words were laced with the insinuation that she and Balfour had their little secrets, but Ivy wasnât taking the bait.
Balfour had been her shadow lately, barely leaving her side.
Even if they wanted to meet privately, it wasnât happening on her watch. And even if they did, so what?
By now, Ivy knew his heart was with her, and another woman entering the scene wouldnât change a thing.
Observing Ivyâs nonchalance after hearing Mara, Olivia realized this woman was far more complex than she imagined.
But no matter how challenging the opponent, Olivia was confident she wouldnât be outplayed. She prided herself on understanding the male psyche all too well.
âCome on in,â Ivy invited.
At that moment, Balfour emerged from the bathroom, shirtless as he often was at home. Ivy, hearing the commotion, stepped forward to intercept him.
âWhatâs up? I heard some noise. Whoâs here?â he quipped.
Ivy placed her hand on his abs, gently pushing him back, âPut a shirt on first.â
Meanwhile, Mara, hearing Balfourâs voice, made her way towards them. Balfour caught sight of someone approaching and quickly ducked into his bedroom to slip on a T-shirt.
Seeing Mara at the door, he was taken aback, âWhat brings you here? I thought you were out painting the town red with your friend?â
Mara cast a look at Ivy, who was standing there, and feigned the familiarity, âI told you about this visit, remember? You didnât forget this, Balfour, did you?â
Balfour frowned. He surely couldnât recall such a conversation.
Regardless, he could never forget that his sisterâs death was tied to him in some way.
âYou shouldâve given me a heads-up. Dropping by unannounced catches people off guard.â
Especially since Ivy didnât know Olivia, and he himself was hardly acquainted with the girl.
Although Balfour occasionally flew out to visit Mara, he never meddled in her social life and thus didnât recognize her friends.
Olivia, ever the extrovert, was instantly taken with Balfourâs appearance. She was internally lamenting again that it was such a shame that a handsome and wealthy man was already taken.
She stepped forward and offered her hand.
âHey there. A pleasure to meet you for the first time. Iâm Maraâs good friend, Olivia.â
When she saw Ivy, there wasnât a flicker of surprise. She behaved as if sheâd known her all along and didnât even bother with introductions.
Ivy, arms folded, watched and smiled thoughtfully.
Even though Olivia was all warm and friendly, Ivy wasnât worried about this woman having any designs on Balfour.