Ivy’s pov
"Hello, Harper," Margaret, Father’s secretary, greeted, while tapping rapidly on her keyboard.
She was in her early thirties, a few years older than I was. Dark circles marred the under of her eyes, her black hair was tied up in a ponytail, while her shoulders drooped forward.
"Hey Mags," I stopped by her desk, my lips pulling up in a small smile that I hoped consoled her. "Here you look like you need this more than I do,"
Her black eyes glistened, filling up with tears as they landed on the cup of coffee I slid across her desk.
"You’re a life saver," She sniffled, snatching up the cup. "You should be careful, he’s furious. I got yelled at already this morning."
I glanced at the heavy black door that I used to dread walking through when I was younger, looming down the hallway and though my legs itched to turn around and run off, I gave Margaret a thin lipped smile.
"I can handle it. I’ll try to stall the conversation for longer if you want a bit of time to rest? Natasha kept you up again?"
"Yeah," she nodded, snatching a tissue from a box nearby to dab at her eyes. "Thanks Harper,"
"Anytime,"
Father’s office took up most of the top floor. Its floor-to-ceiling glass overlooked Wisteria, the city sprawled out under him. Dark wood panels lined the walls and there was a massive desk of polished mahogany that dominated the center of the room.
When I walked into the office Father stood by the window, with a carton colored shirt and pants to match. He had his back to the door, hands clasped behind him as he stared down at the city. His grey and white hair were all swept back with gel, Italian style.
My palms grew clammy with each step I took in, the black Chanel bag in my hand feeling heavier by the second. My black pumps were a little too loud and my body trembled slightly.
"Nice of you to finally join us, sister."
My head whipped away from my father to see Jake sitting on one of the two chairs before my father’s desk, one leg crossed showing off the Mickey mouse printed socks he wore under his grey suit.
I felt rather sorry for Mickey Mouse, he didn’t deserve to be associated with Jake. The image of him and Angel, yesterday in the office burned so bright in the back of my head that tears stung the corner of my eyes.
I tore my eyes off him immediately.
"Good morning, Fath-"
"Save the pleasantries and take a seat," Dad grunted, turning around to face me. His green eyes were always so cold, I fought the shiver that ran through my body when his gaze swept over me briefly while lowering myself into the second chair.
The black leather felt cold through my Burgundy saffron wrap dress. My fingers adjusted their grip on the coffee cup because it was about to fall.
I struggled so hard to keep a blank look on my face. Showing emotion was a sign of weakness before my Father and considering he was handing over the company in a little over a hundred days, I could not be seen as weak.
He finally ambled to his chair behind the desk and sat.
"We have a problem."
My fingers tightened in my lap until the knuckles went white.
"The Knight brothers are back."
That had my knuckles relaxing immediately. Who? My eyes widened and my gaze flicked involuntarily to Jake. He met my eyes with a slow, knowing smirk, eyebrows raised as if to say see?
No way. But they had been gone for years. Everyone in the business world thought they had left Wisteria for good. Heck, my father had been extremely happy that they had because it gave room for Kingsley and Co to grow in those five years.
The Knight empire was suffocating other businesses and companies in the Finance sector because they were greedy people who wanted to own anything and everything.
My eyes flickered back to father. "How? There hasn’t been any major announcement or news of their return-"
"Those monsters don’t need social media or press releases," Father cut in, his eyes narrowing in disappointment
"You’re hilarious, sister. The Knight brothers announcing their arrival? There’s barely any information about them online, why would they do that?"
My throat tightened. So how then did Father know for certain that they were back? I would ask how he knew, but the words died in my throat. I pressed my lips together instead, nails digging harder into my palms. The last thing I needed was to make him angrier.
Father’s next words were even more terrifying. "They’re after Kingsley & Co. Everything I have built... it could crash to the ground if we’re not careful."
A shiver raced down my spine. The Knight brothers were the monsters of Wisteria. There were rumours of their empires built in blood, the companies they tore apart, anyone who stood in their way crushed without mercy.
I swallowed. "I’ll set up a meeting with the legal team so we can-"
Father waved a dismissive hand in the air, shaking his head. "No, Jake will handle that. We need information on them first. That is what you will do."
"But I have always worked with the legal team-"
Jake let out a chuckle and shifted in his seat, turning toward Father with that smug smile.
"Dad, you know how sensitive Harper is. She’s too... delicate for matters this urgent. I don’t think it would be right to entrust such an important task like gathering information to her. " His gaze slid to me again, dripping with disgust.
"I would be more than happy to take the role instead and make you proud like I always do."
Heat flared up like a volcano in my chest. My jaw tightened as I met Father’s eyes directly, my voice steady and clear.
"I’ll do it, father. You should trust your instincts. You know I would do a perfect job."
Father cocked his head to the side, narrowing his eyes at me. "Will you do whatever it takes?"
"Whatever it takes." I replied curtly. Whatever it took to make sure Kingsley and Co. didn’t fall into the hands of my greedy brother.
A frown creased my forehead as I processed the words. "If we’re not using the legal team, how...How am I to gather information?"
A wane smile curled on Father’s lips and the thick lump in my throat grew bigger. I swallowed hard to mutter because I knew whatever Father would be something I never expected.
"What exactly do you want me to do, Father?"