Chapter 2493
“What’s with the attitude? You should be rolling out the red carpet for guests as the host, especially since Mara and Balfour are childhood sweethearts no less. You’re coming off a bit stingy here.”
Ivy barely lifted the corners of her mouth. If she wanted to play the grumpy hostess, that was her prerogative. Who said you had to greet guests with a grin plastered on your face? Besides, not all guests deserved her warmth.
“Sorry, smiling just isn’t in my DNA. Have you two come for a particular reason?”
Ivy tilted her chin up, a silent cue for Mara to spill the beans about her companion.
“Oh, this is my dear friend Olivia. We’ve known each other for years overseas. She’s staying in town for a bit-partly to keep me company.
I already mentioned to Balfour we’d drop by. Maybe it slipped his mind to tell you? We had it all planned out, so I brought Olivia over to your place.”
Mara’s words were laced with the insinuation that she and Balfour had their little secrets, but Ivy wasn’t taking the bait.
Balfour had been her shadow lately, barely leaving her side.
Even if they wanted to meet privately, it wasn’t happening on her watch. And even if they did, so what?
By now, Ivy knew his heart was with her, and another woman entering the scene wouldn’t change a thing.
Observing Ivy’s nonchalance after hearing Mara, Olivia realized this woman was far more complex than she imagined.
But no matter how challenging the opponent, Olivia was confident she wouldn’t be outplayed. She prided herself on understanding the male psyche all too well.
“Come on in,” Ivy invited.
At that moment, Balfour emerged from the bathroom, shirtless as he often was at home. Ivy, hearing the commotion, stepped forward to intercept him.
“What’s up? I heard some noise. Who’s here?” he quipped.
Ivy placed her hand on his abs, gently pushing him back, “Put a shirt on first.”
Meanwhile, Mara, hearing Balfour’s voice, made her way towards them. Balfour caught sight of someone approaching and quickly ducked into his bedroom to slip on a T-shirt.
Seeing Mara at the door, he was taken aback, “What brings you here? I thought you were out painting the town red with your friend?”
Mara cast a look at Ivy, who was standing there, and feigned the familiarity, “I told you about this visit, remember? You didn’t forget this, Balfour, did you?”
Balfour frowned. He surely couldn’t recall such a conversation.
Regardless, he could never forget that his sister’s death was tied to him in some way.
“You should’ve given me a heads-up. Dropping by unannounced catches people off guard.”
Especially since Ivy didn’t know Olivia, and he himself was hardly acquainted with the girl.
Although Balfour occasionally flew out to visit Mara, he never meddled in her social life and thus didn’t recognize her friends.
Olivia, ever the extrovert, was instantly taken with Balfour’s appearance. She was internally lamenting again that it was such a shame that a handsome and wealthy man was already taken.
She stepped forward and offered her hand.
“Hey there. A pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Mara’s good friend, Olivia.”
When she saw Ivy, there wasn’t a flicker of surprise. She behaved as if she’d known her all along and didn’t even bother with introductions.
Ivy, arms folded, watched and smiled thoughtfully.
Even though Olivia was all warm and friendly, Ivy wasn’t worried about this woman having any designs on Balfour.
