Chapter 214
Standing Before Love
Ivy Jameson suddenly found the scene difficult to bear. I was handling some subsequent work in the United States before rushing back. How could so many things happen without my knowledge within such a short time? Tony was staring at her with an increasingly annoyed look and she walked to his front while extending her hand.
There was a bag in her hand and it had a logo of a pharmacy printed on it.
âI noticed that you seemed to be having some gastric discomfort during the meeting today. It so happened that I was passing by a pharmacy and I bought some medicine for gastritis,â she sounded concerned. It seemed like she only had eyes for him while completely ignoring the woman standing behind him.
Myra was astounded, but she did not stop what she was doing. Instead, she merely regarded the woman in front of her in silence.
Almost everybody knows that there are no female assistants on Tonyâs office floor. However, this woman looks like an elite staff member. I heard her saying that she noticed Tony was having gastric discomfort. I can immediately guess that she must be holding a high position in Hart Group. That is why she has the right to enter Tonyâs office. However, the way this woman is gazing at Tonyâ¦
Myra increased her strength instinctively.
Tony felt the increased pressure on his shoulders. He maintained a blank façade across his face, but his eyes now twinkled with a smile.
Ivy observed everything quietly and she tightened her grip around the bag in her hand.
âDirector Hart?â She persisted by holding the bag of medicine out toward Tony. âYou should have some because you have two more consecutive meetings in the afternoon.â There was a trace of intimacy in her tone. After working together for years, the two of them had a tacit understanding when it involved working together. She glanced at Myra triumphantly.
However, Tony closed his eyes as though he was enjoying Myraâs massage. âMy stomach is fine. Take away the medicine,â he answered calmly.
âDirector Hart!â Ivy seemed to disagree with him. âHealth is the most important thing. Old Madam Hart would be devastated if she learns that you are not taking good care of your health again.â
Myra stopped moving. It looks like she is not just an elite staff member from the Hart Group.
Tony finally opened his eyes when he felt Myraâs hands stop. He looked at the determined woman in front of him while frowning deeply. âMiss Ivy, is there anything else?â
Ivyâs back stiffened straight away and she glanced at the woman who was behind Tony. She secretly inhaled before smiling at him. âRegarding the two meetings in the afternoon, one of them is the discussion of the financial proposal for the Hilliville project whereas the other is the solution management for its remaining real estate. For both meetings, the Finance Department has succeeded in securing capital integration from Jameson Group. The rest of it should be a walk in the park.â
âThank you for the hard work.â
It was clear that Ivy explained so much just to highlight her contribution to Tony, but she received nothing more than an indifferent response from him.
Therefore, her gaze immediately changed when she looked at Myra again.
Myra was younger than Tony by 10 years and since she had a petite face with delicate features, she looked as though she was merely in her early 20âs. Ivy was slightly shocked at that point. I canât believe that Director Hart fancies such a young woman.
I donât recognize her, but she looks oddly familiar. I canât help but feel upset as I see how intimate they are with each other.
Then, Ivy looked down at the fast food in front of Tony and she seemed shocked. She looked up at the two of them, who were in front of her, and she exclaimed, âDirector Hart, was this your lunch? Should I head downstairs to buy something more substantial for you?â
After saying that, she glared at Myra viciously with a tinge of unhappiness. I donât have to guess to know that she bought this for Tony.
Myra felt uncomfortable when Ivy glared at her. Sheâs staring at me as if Iâm serving Director Hart with bacteria and viruses. Hence, Myra moved to clean up the desk, but Tony pressed his lips together in response. He grabbed onto her hands and his gaze turned icy at this point. âMiss Ivy, you may leave if thereâs nothing else.â
Ivy clenched her fists, which were at her sides, tightly.
Due to her relationship with Lisa, he had always been courteous toward Ivy. She was eager to excel, so she managed to procure the position as Finance Director based on merit.
She had been staying by Tonyâs side for as long as the Hartwell Group had existed.
Previously, I have always assumed that Tony is cold and distant in nature. That is the reason why Iâve stayed by his side in silence all this while. Iâve never paid attention to Gemmaâs advances, but I never expected another woman to be by his side when after being apart from him for merely 3 months!
Ivyâs nails were digging into her palms and she almost drew blood. However, she knew that Tony hated women who did not know when to retreat. Therefore, no matter how upset or unsatisfied she was, she remained calm on the exterior. Finally, she turned to leave his office.
Once she left his office, she stood outside the office door while biting hard on her lip. Then, she knocked on Leoâs office door frantically.
Leo just had his lunch when he opened the door for Ivy. He noticed that she looked rather upset, so he asked in surprise, âDid Director Hart reprimand you? Why do you look so upset?â
Ivy did not reply to him; instead, she marched into his office while wearing a dark expression. âSince when did the woman next to Director Hart appear? Why didnât you inform me?â
He was astounded, but he had a mysterious expression. âWhy should I inform you? This is Director Hartâs private matters. We have no right over those matters.â
âLeo!â Ivyâs gaze flashed menacingly. She turned to stare right at Leo who had an unreadable expression. âYou clearly know that I-Iâ¦â
Her cheeks flushed red, but the color drained from her face swiftly. Ivy looked as if she had recalled something because she was frowning deeply now. âThat woman has an unknown background and sheâs from a shabby family. She isnât particular about anything. I canât believe that she bought some fast food from the streets for Director Hart! She is most probably a gold-digger and thatâs why sheâs with Director Hart. However, Director Hartââ
âHowever, Director Hart is in love with Miss Stark.â Leoâs gaze was still mysterious when he smiled faintly. âMiss Stark doesnât have an unknown background. She is the daughter of the Stark Family from Bradfort City, so sheâs not from a shabby family either. She bought street food for Director Hart because I told her that he is about to have a meeting soon. That is why she bought some food from a random shop nearby in a rush. Besidesââ
He noticed that Ivyâs expression soured further and he felt bad for her. He turned to walk to his desk.
âBesides, hasnât Director Hart finished the meal? The quality of the meal isnât solely dependent on the food itself because the person bringing it to him is important too.â
âDid you say that she is the daughter of the Stark Family?â Ivy looked utterly upset at that point. She caught onto Leoâs explanation earlier and she squinted at him. âI recall that the Stark Family has two daughters. The older one is married to the Chase Family whereas the younger one is single. Is she the younger one?â
âThe older one,â he answered indifferently.
âWhat?â Ivyâs voice subconsciously rose. The older daughter of the Stark Family is already married. If sheâs with Director Hart right now, it means thatâ¦
âThatâs right. Miss Stark has already divorced Director Chase from the Chase Group.â Leo looked at the normally smart but muddle-headed Ivy when it involved Tony. A trace of complicated emotions flashed through his eyes when he sighed softly. âIvy, I will be honest with you. Director Hart will never be interested in any other woman apart from her in this lifetime. It is best for you to⦠give up as soon as possible.â