Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux Latrivia Nelson (best selling autobiographies .txt) 📖

switch, he walked out of his office with his suit coat over his arm and his tie loosely hanging around his unbuttoned Brooks Brother Oxford.

“Carol, do you want to walk out with me?” he asked his new assistant. She looked up from putting the last of her files in the drawer.

“Yeah.” Carol closed the file drawer and stood up. Grey watched amazed at her height. Six feet exactly. “I’ll only be a minute.”

“Take your time.” Grey yawned put his coat on.

“I hate walking out alone.” Her short curly red hair bounced with life as she slipped on her coat. Smiling at him, she slipped on her gold wire rim glasses. “I can’t see at night,” she said winking at him with her bright green eyes.

“I’m not the best driver at night myself,” Grey said smiling in his gentle, playful manner.

Grey had noticed Carol around the office. In fact, he had hired a white woman on purpose and often played with the thought of having an affair with her just to calm his nerves about Nicola. He was not fascinated anymore by color. He had experienced more than his share of all types of women, but still Carol’s demeanor entertained him mildly.

Recommended by a good friend with the alumni association at his alma mater, Carol was fresh out of college with a hundred ideas and endless energy. Grey liked that she always wore sleek, smart little outfits that accented her long slender figure. And occasionally, she would tease him with low cut blouses that revealed her milky white breasts. She was nice eye candy for the clients and intelligent. Not a bad mix of assets to go far in the firm, but he was sure that his mother would disapprove of not hiring a sister. She was constantly on him about helping shatter the corporate glass ceiling.

“So what are you getting into tonight?” Carol asked as they entered the elevator.

“I just want to go home and get some rest,” Grey said looking at his watch again.

“Me too.” She bit her lip. “My family is a big supporter of your father.”

“Really.” Grey wondered where that came from.

“Yep. They even worked the polls in his last election.” She became more confident, finally turning toward him. “I personally think that the Henderson men are a true asset to Memphis…especially you.”

Grey realized that he was in a compact elevator with a woman he didn’t know in the middle of the night. Maybe he should use some caution, just in case he wasn’t reading her right. “Well, thanks. That is really nice.”

“This job is a great way for me to get some experience in my field, and I’m great with numbers.”

“I know. I reviewed your transcript. It was impressive.” The elevator opened, but Carol stepped in front of him.

“But…the plus was having a chance to work with you.”

Grey stalled in his response. “Well, Carol. I don’t know what to say. Thanks.”

“I’m sorry. I know that this is forward.” She laughed nervously. “But I had to let you know that I’m very intrigued with you, to say the least.” She pulled her hair behind her ear. “And I would love to spend more time with you outside of the office.”

Carol moved closer to his wool dress coat and smelled his cologne, but Grey was stiff as a board. He watched her with a stoic look on his face. He looked her straight in her eyes without so much as a blink. It was very disconcerting for Carol, who desired more than anything to know if he was the least bit interested in her.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea, Carol.” He finally broke his silence after much internal debate.

“You probably have a girlfriend, huh?” Biting her lip, she began to show signs of embarrassment. She could have sworn that since day one, he was interested.

“A fiancée actually.” The thought even disturbed him now. “But if I didn’t…” He let his words drift off hoping that she would get the point. He hated to embarrass her.

“Well, the invitation is always there,” she said getting off the elevator when the door-ajar alarm started to sound. “Goodnight, Mr. Henderson.”

“Goodnight,” Grey said walking to his car. Watching to make sure that she got in her car and out of the basement safely, he followed behind Carol’s blue Volkswagen Jetta out into the busy streets of downtown allowing the calming sounds of Coltrane to ease his mind.

With very little effort, Grey redirected his thoughts from what he could have been doing with Carol to his pregnant fiancée asleep safely in her apartment. Carol’s offer had made all of the fantasies seem unreal and unconventional now. He was definitely one who loved to chase but not to be chased. He felt cheated out of his birth right as man to pursue the prey.

Ivy would have never approached a man with such a precarious offer. She would have made the man come to her, and when he did finally come to her…he would still have to fight like hell to win her. It was because of all of those things that he loved her so much and that he found her so desirable. She continued to be the ultimate chase.

Getting onto the expressway, Grey picked up his cell phone and dialed Ivy at home. After a few rings, her voice mail answered. So, he decided to pay her a surprise visit. He would spend the night with her and hold her in his arms. He would embrace her warmly and feel what he hoped to be his children kicking in the night. For once, he would forget about their shortcomings and enjoy a peaceful evening with the woman he truly loved.

**

Nearly a half an hour later, Grey pulled into her apartment complex and walked to the door. He had a key, so there was no need to knock, but he did so out of respect of Trina. Greeted by Ivy, she opened the door in her