Chapter 46
Cleo
Cleo paced her office.
She’d been useless on site this afternoon and came back early. Everything was in place, but her mind couldn’t concentrate on a single thing other than doing everything in her power to win Ivy’s trust back.
She’d spent the entire day before and all morning today putting everything in place. Her credit card had taken quite the hit, but if it meant getting the love of her life back, then Evan was right, she had to do whatever it took to fight for Ivy.
She looked at the clock: 5:29 p.m.
“You're going to wear a hole in the carpet if you don’t stop your incessant pacing, Cleo!” Lana shouted from her desk.
Cleo walked to the doorway. “You’re sure it’s not too much?!” Cleo turned back to see her office, almost unrecognizable from how it had looked first thing this morning.
“It’s perfect. She’s going to love it, trust me, Toni helped come up with this, so we’re definitely on the right track.” Lana told her as she stood up from her desk and walked to stand beside Cleo. “Everything went well with Lucas?”
“Yeah, I hope she’s not upset about that part,” Cleo said, almost to herself. “I’m trying to win back her trust, not go behind her back for anything.”
Lana’s phone vibrated on her desk, and she glanced briefly at the screen.
“She’s on her way,” she said to Cleo, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Go into your office, breathe, and remember, you’re doing whatever you need to do to fight for her.
Though, when she sees this and hears what you have to say, I doubt it’ll take much more than a kiss.
” Lana gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and went back to sit at her desk.
A few minutes later, Cleo heard the buzzer of the front door alerting Lana that someone was outside.
It had finally been installed last week, much to Lana’s delight.
Cleo’s heart dropped to her stomach. Ivy.
She was here. After what felt like the longest time, Cleo would hear her voice. Wow, how she’d missed that voice.
“Thanks for coming, I know you probably just wanted to go home after work, but I swear it’ll be worth it,” Lana said. Cleo could hear the excitement bubbling in her throat as she spoke. Their footsteps getting closer to Lana’s desk, and Cleo’s office door.
“It’s fine, Lana, honestly. Is it anything like the other place I loved? The rustic-industrial feel it had going on seemed absolutely perf...” Ivy’s voice suddenly stopped. She was standing at Cleo’s office door, hand over her mouth and eyes wide at the sight before her.
Cleo had decorated her office ceiling with fairy lights, ensuring they matched the constellation that Ivy wore on her necklace.
She had also bought a telescope from the shop on Main Street that she’d noticed on the day she first met Ivy, though she had probably ended up paying far more for it because there wasn’t enough time to shop around this morning.
Laid out on the floor was a picnic just like their first date, a ridiculous number of containers nearly covering the entire blanket.
Cleo held two pieces of paper in her hands, and she waited for Ivy to look at her before she started talking. It felt like the longest three minutes of Cleo’s life.
“What... what’s going... what?” Ivy stuttered, shock and confusion and hurt mixed in her eyes.
Cleo cleared her throat softly, and took a breath.
“Firstly, I’m sorry that Lana asked you here when you thought I was out of the office.
Originally, I hadn’t meant to be here until tomorrow afternoon, but I couldn’t concentrate on the site visit so came back to the office early.
” She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want Ivy’s trust in Lana to be shaken now either.
She waited, watching Ivy’s face for any flicker of a reaction.
The smallest of nods let her know Ivy was ready for her to proceed.
“Second,” Cleo held out the first piece of paper to Ivy, who warily took it, “this paperwork states that I have relinquished all control of the private and professional works yet to be completed by myself for both Jackson Copeland and Copeland Conglomerate, respectively. They have each provided payment to me for the work I have completed to date, but the remaining work has been transferred to a contact I have with my old firm, Wright and Aster Designs. I no longer have any ties to that company. I no longer have any ties to that man.” Ivy gasps as she looks up from the paper, and the hurt instantly dissolves into tears.
Cleo watched as Ivy processed what she’d just heard Cleo explain.
She knows that Ivy will understand the implications that decision could have for Cleo’s business.
Cleo took a small step closer to Ivy, her body moving of its own accord, not able to fight the pull toward her any longer.
She stops only a single step away. She can smell Ivy’s perfume; she smells like home.
Cleo’s arms ached to reach out to her, to wrap around Ivy and hold her close, but she knows that Ivy has to be the one ready to make the leap.
Another small nod. Cleo held the second piece of paper in both hands as she began again, “Third, I spoke with Lucas today.” Ivy’s face turns slightly to the side, questions mounting in her mind, but Cleo’s grateful she doesn’t ask any.
Instead, she nods again, allowing Cleo to continue.
“I explained everything to him. All of it. You were right about the location being perfect, it would have been amazing. After a lot of convincing though, I managed to get him to be open to changing direction.” Cleo held out the second piece of paper to Ivy, who took it.
“This is the franchise paperwork that states you could be joint owner of the flagship shop on Main Street with Lucas.” Ivy gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth as she read the paperwork as fast as her eyes would let her.
“The cost is slightly less than that for setting up your own franchise at the other site because it’s a joint venture, but also because it’s the flagship store that had to be taken into account, which is why it’s near the cost of a standalone franchise.
Your day-to-day role wouldn’t change too much, and you keep the staff you have, the customers too, your family.
You can work out the finer details of percentage of profits with Lucas if you’re ready to sign the paperwork and transfer the payment to make it official.
” Ivy looked up at her, tears in her eyes and a small smile starting at the edge of her lips.
“You don’t have to choose that route if you don’t want to.
You can still look for another location if you want.
I’ll help you find the perfect one if this isn’t what you want.
I didn’t make the choice for you, but I made the choice available for you.
I hope you don’t feel like I went behind your back or overstepped, I just wanted to make things right after it was my fault you missed out on the other site. ”
Cleo barely got the last part out before Ivy’s arms were wrapped around her neck, and her tear-soaked face was buried in Cleo’s neck. She wrapped her arms around Ivy’s waist and held on for dear life.
“I’m so sorry, Ivy. I’m so sorry about all of it. I should’ve thought, I should’ve known.” Cleo tried to continue, but her throat closed and the emotions she’d been fighting all day came spilling out.
“I’m the one who should be sorry, Cleo,” Ivy said, moving her head to let Cleo’s drop onto her shoulder.
“I should have trusted you.” Cleo felt Ivy’s hand run up and down her back, soothing her gently.
“I didn’t give you a chance to explain before I ran off, that wasn’t fair of me.
You deserved a chance to explain. I’m so sorry. ”
They stood there quietly for a few minutes, wrapped in the safety of each other’s arms for the first time in weeks.
The hurt ebbed away with each passing breath and heartbeat.
Cleo kissed Ivy’s neck where her head had been laying on Ivy’s shoulder.
Slowly she lifted her head and kissed Ivy’s cheek, then moved across.
They each sighed with relief the moment they found each other’s lips.