Chapter 2000
After unsuccessful attempts to reach her daughter, Tessa racked her brain and remembered a classmate Ivy used to mention from time to time.
Ivy was always a bit of a loner, and in all the years Tessa had known her, she couldn’t recall her ever bringing home any friends.
There was, however, this one classmate Ivy had mentioned a few times, someone Tessa suspected might have actually been close to her daughter.
Hurrying to Ivy’s room, which was left in a bit of a mess since Ivy had dashed off in a hurry, Tessa rummaged through her belongings and found an old yearbook hidden beneath a locker.
Ivy had only gotten her first cell phone after college graduation, so Tessa was certain all her old contacts would be scribbled in that yearbook.
It took a while, but Tessa finally found the classmate’s number and dialed, “Hello?”
The response on the other end was a mix of confusion and surprise, “Who is this?”
I’m Ivy’s mother. I was wondering if she is with you. If so, can you put her on the phone?” Tessa’s tone was more of a demand than a request.
Back in college, this classmate knew all about how poorly Ivy’s mother treated her, often siding with her half–sister to bully her. The classmate’s tone chilled immediately, “Sorry, she’s not with me.”
That’s impossible! You’re her only friend. If she’s not with you, then who is she with?”
The classmate, now realizing Ivy had left the Dunhill family homestead, felt a wave of empathy for Ivy, thus getting a sicker feeling for Tessa, “You can’t even take care of your own daughter and now you’re asking me? If I were Ivy, I wouldn’t acknowledge you as my mother either!”
With that, the classmate hung up the phone and promptly blocked Tessa’s number.
Still worried about Ivy, the classmate sent her a quick text: [Your mom called me. She seems to be looking for you.]
Reading the message and recalling the call from Tessa, Ivy sensed something was off.
Whatever, Tessa was plotting, Ivy knew it couldn’t be anything good.
Frustrated by the dead end with Ivy’s classmate, Tessa was at her wits‘ end.
After a long thought, she remembered a piece of news she had seen online. She pulled out her smartphone, searching for a photo, but all she could find was a statement from “the Harris Group.”
If Ivy was connected to this company, perhaps they would know where she was.
Following the address on her GPS, Tessa found “the Harris Group” headquarters, an imposing and upscale building that took her breath away, “Wow, that girl has really made some connections, huh? Look at this place, it’s enormous!” She exclaimed.
After marveling at the building, Tessa couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride.
After all, Ivy was her daughter, and if she was involved with some high rollers, eventually she should be contributing to her own retirement fund, right? Strutting into the lobby, Tessa approached the receptionist with an air of entitlement, “Where’s the CEO? I need to speak with him.”
The receptionist, who had been with “the Harris Group” for years and seen all kinds of folks, barely glanced up, “Do you have an appointment?”
‘An appointment? Why would I need one?” Tessa was already imagining herself as the mother-in–law to the company’s CEO, not giving a second thought to the receptionist as she turned and marched towards the executive offices.
