Useless men Lauren thought. She looked between all the men surrounding her the smaller of the men that tied her up seemed to be the weakest link. Slowly she shuffled towards him, reaching his legs she bumped into him on purpose and looked up. She even managed a tear to slide down her cheek, she thought the damsel in distress look would work on the young athletic man.

Teo felt a nudge at his leg and glanced down, it was Lauren she had made her way over to him and she looked up at him giving her best performance. Teo of course felt nothing for her. Ivy had saved his and his mother life, and she had given him a home, a family and a job. He had no way to thank her properly and he certainly wouldn't help those who meant her harm.

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Teo didn't know the plan but he didn't want Lauren rubbing up against his leg any longer, he lifted his leg and kicked her away he then moved to stand by Thomas's side. Thomas gave him a nod and they both stood to attention waiting for the show to begin.

Noah glared at the man in front of him. He was slightly smaller in height than Noah and not as broad as Noah was. Noah could tell he was slim and he didn't work out. Noah had lifted weights for many years and had honed his fighting skills to where he hadn't been beaten since he was eighteen. The man in front of him had no mission of escaping should he chose to take him on.

Noah found the man utterly spineless as he watched him take a slight step back, Noah smirked there was no escape. Cole had used the last dirty and underhand tactic he could in order to get Ivy's attention and Noah wouldn't let it continue further. He didn't want this man to sully his lover's eyes any further.

Noah chillingly smirked at Cole as he spoke, "Thomas hold him."

Cole hearing those words took another step back but only felt the cold touch of glass from the window behind him. He had no escape and without Ivy here he had no one to plead to that would listen. Did Ivy send Noah here to deal with him?

He still held on to a glimmer of hope that she may come through the door and shout his name, saving him from the situation ahead. He of course knew Noah as a businessman and he also was aware of his underground reputation of torture, killings and horrific beatings.

Thomas smiled, "Gladly" he replied. Thomas then took off his suit jacket handing it to Teo before rolling up his shirt sleeves as he walked towards Cole.

Teo had never witnessed anything like this before but if it meant saving Ivy from further hurt he wouldn't bat an eye at what was about to go down. He thought Thomas had never made such a menacing face before. Teo held Thomas's jacket and stood tall with his new family, ready to face and do what was required of him.

Thomas swiftly took Cole down in one move. Cole was now on his knees in front of Noah with his arms being held behind his back by Thomas.

Noah then walked to Victor's bar and poured himself a drink of whiskey, he recognised it as one of the bottles he had from Ivy's grandparents. He remembered that day beside the lake when he first declared his intentions towards Ivy. Her grandparents asked him to take care of her, his anger rose and he clenched the glass tumbler in his hand. He downed the whiskey shot and poured another one.

Noah then walked to where Aiden had now placed a chair, he took off his jacket and sat down, and he leaned back as he spoke, "Aiden."

Aiden brought held his Epad in one hand as he then walked towards Cole. Aiden set the Epad on the floor in front of Cole.

Cole glanced at the document that filled the Epad screen in front of him, "What is this?"

"The first document is your resignation and the other is you signing Ivy's house back to her father," Aiden replied.

Cole laughed humourlessly. His situation was going from bad to worse. He knew he had no choice but to sign the below documents but his pride made him resist, he didn't want to give in just yet. If he gave up his job and Ivy's home, how would he ever see her again? He couldn't start from scratch again, he had nothing without her.

Seeing Cole processes the new information before him, Aiden answered his thoughts, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, it is completely up to you." Aiden smiled hoping for the latter.

Cole glanced around the room before he held Noah's gaze, "Have to hold me down? Can't take me on yourself?"

Noah wouldn't be baited by him, Ivy wouldn't want him to dirty his hands with Cole's blood. He answered coldly, "If you don't sign it… You don't need your hands then do you?"

Cole felt a chill run up his spine from Noah's cold words. He was frustrated and his body itched to swing at Noah.

Lauren sat on the floor taking in the scene in front of her, she laughed at how pathetic Cole looked.

Hearing the laughter Cole looked in Laurens direction, she was baiting him for a reaction and he knew it, she always did this. Cole then glanced at a photo that hung on the wall just above the fireplace. The photo was of Ivy and her mother and father, she looked so innocent and happy.

He had corrupted that and had made her unhappy, he took her company and now her family home. Cole hung his head and looked at the Epad before answering, "I will sign it!" His voice was low and sounded defeated.

Lauren continued laughing behind the duct tape. She had never seen Cole look so miserable.