The waiter comes with our drinks and then food. We both get busy talking about the real estate market and our plan for the year. Ivy was looking forward to the challenge again, it was always interesting and fun. It was his livelihood but her hobby.

The food was great, Tony always new nice places to eat. She didn't notice the time or the way he refilled their glasses. Ivy was feeling a bit hot and tipsy.

​​

"Sorry Tony, just going to nip to the ladies room excuse me".

Ivy got up and he stands also. He's a gentleman and she really should settle down and play it safe with Tony or someone like him but she has been burned by the safe guy he turned into a power-hungry toad instead.

Her head gets a bit muddled thinking of the past. Ivy nearly thought that she could hear Cole talking as she walked past a private room so she kept walking to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, she washed her face and tidied herself up a bit. When a group of girls enter. They are all in short dresses with far too much makeup and doused in perfume.

"Did you see the handsome guy"?

"They are all handsome and extremely rich".

"Yea but the one in the armchair is especially tasty".

Ivy listened to these young naïve girls as they try to catch themselves a man. She smiled as she thought they still probably believe they will get the Cinderella lifestyle and happy ending they want. Whereas those sorts of men just want arm candy.

"What was his name".

"I'm not sure but he is hard to approach I'll stick with Cole, he looks like he could keep me in handbags for a while".

Ivy rolled her eyes, seriously who teaches these girls she thought. Can they not buy there own bags and have some self-respect. This time Ivy had heard them say Coles name. So it was his voice she thought.

"I'm going to try the old fall on his lap approach".

"Yea, you should it worked for me on the guy I'm with. He even took me away last weekend to Paris".

Sounds like the kind of party private room full of playboys. Ivy was done and she left and so do the girls. Ivy was a bit tipsy so she slowed down behind them.

They opened the private room door and as they entered Ivy could see inside the private room. At a glance, she can see Cole and... Noah. Why are they together? Typical all playboys stick together she sneered. Ivy thought she was wrong to think that the other night was special.

Ivy kept her head high and walked to her table, finding her table again Ivy smiled at Tony.

"Can I take you home?".

"Please, I had an enjoyable night and as you can see I got carried away and kept you talking all night".

"It was my pleasure".

Tony stood and had Ivy's coat in his hands. She turned and he puts it on her shoulders for her. She looked up and Noah is standing before her.

"Ivy".

Ivy was momentarily stunned but regained her senses quickly. She smiled at Noah and nodded at him, her tone was distant and courteous.

"Mr Adler".

Ivy tried to put some distance between them by calling him by his last name. But he looked angry.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr Adler this is my friend Tony.. Tony Mortimer".

Tony reaches out to shake Noah's hand, but it's left hanging. Noah still has his eyes on Ivy, it made her feel uneasy.

"It was nice seeing you again Mr Adler, we have to go why don't you go back and enjoy the atmosphere in your private room".

Ivy turned to leave with Tony but Noah grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the restaurant.

"Ivy... Ivy are you ok. Let her go, you'reulling her too much....you'll hurt her".

Outside the restaurant, Noah pulled her by her hand and Tony shouted at Noah to let Ivy go. Ivy didn't want Tony to get hurt, he's too kind to try to save me she thought. But she had already entered the devil's layer once so now she was not sure what he wants with her.

"I'm ok, Tony thanks for today and dinner. We will catch up again next week".

"If your sure.... Good night then Ivy. Mr Adler I expect you will take good care of Ivy".

Noah sneered at Tony as he walked away.