Page 73 of Ivy's Venom

She doesn’t like to take it and leaves it for days she feels almost immobile. Charlotte had every opportunity to take those pills and Mom trusted us enough to never actually track them.

Charlotte could’ve been the one to bring Ivy the Oxy and Charlotte herself could’ve been taking them. It makes me so fucking sick that I didn’t see it.

As I’m slowly piecing together the life of my sister before she died, I am learning more and more about the family I was surrounded with daily and the things I’m learning are heartbreaking. Charlotte severely bullied Amelia, Charlotte took drugs, and Dad slowly drank himself to death for years.

Ivy: Science.

I stand staring at my phone, trying to think of anything else to ask her, something to continue the conversation, but my mind is still trying to wrap around the inner workings of my dead sister’s mind. I slide my phone back into my pocket and proceed to bring lunch back to Mr. Greene.

The old community center in Whitsborough has been changed into a shelter for abused children and Travis Greene runs it. Behind that building, Vincent Greene built the HQ for his business and that way they work closely. I sometimes see Ember Greene go between them when she’s visiting her husband and his brother.

This family is tight and they keep a lot of information just to their inner circle, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to be in that inner circle. Dad tried to get in there but apparently those walls are impenetrable. I want to learn how to be that successful, to have that drive and make something of it. The more time I spend working for Vincent, the more I love it, and the cars are an added bonus.

Some of these cars are rare, like only a hundred ever produced or custom factory paint job, and I fucking foam at the mouth for all of them. I heard Vincent tell Travis that his son Saxon doesn’t have a love of cars, Ivy loves them but doesn’t want the business, and his only hope of passing on the family business was Dahlia, who likes her Princess Barbie car, so he feels there’s a chance.

I want to tell him to take a chance on me, that I love everything about this business, and I would love to be his protege. I’m just waiting to prove myself. I look up to the man because he’s a straight shooter and works fucking hard. He’s not a CEO that sits and lets everyone else work for him, he’s driving all over the country and even other countries for these classic cars.

I bring lunch into the boardroom and find Travis, Emmett, and Ember in deep conversation with Vincent.

“Sorry guys.” I mumble and drop the bag on the table.

“Neil Jones.” Ember smiles at me, Ivy could be her fucking clone.

“Hello Mrs. Greene.” I nod.

“Oh shit, no, don’t do that. Call me Ember.”

“Okay.” I nod, not happening.

“Thanks for checking in on Ivy and Saxon this weekend.” Vincent adds.

“No problem,” I nod.

“Saxon is taking a liking to you, even if he does think you want to bone my daughter.” Ember’s eyes are twinkling with humour but I’m choking at her words.

“I… no… it’s not… shit.”

They all begin to laugh at my stuttering and coughing and Emmett leans back in his chair.

“Ivy is complicated,” he scratches the hair on his chin. “She looks like she’s hard to reach because her outside is built really strong, but it’s a facade, she’s soft as a marshmallow and just needs someone to love her right.”

“Like someone we know.” Travis coughs into his hand.

“Yeah,” Ember smacks the back of Travis’ head, “my daughter is like me.” She looks up at me, “she’s loyal, in everything, even if it means she takes the fall. She’ll do it happily.”

Her eyes bore into mine and I begin to feel the tentacles of doubt settle in. Is she referring to Charlotte’s death? How did Ivy take the fall if it was her fault?

I nod because I have nothing to say that would work in my favour and besides, I’m not looking to disrespect anyone.

“Thanks for grabbing lunch, Neil.” Vincent smiles.

“I checked in on your dad today,” Ember looks at me, “he’s asking for you.”

“Thank you.” I nod and start for the door.

“Parents aren’t perfect,” her voice hits my back, “we know that better than anyone, but if they are willing to make their lives better and turn themselves around. That’s something to admire.”

I don’t reply any further and step out of the boardroom, releasing the breath I was holding. I don’t want to talk about my dad right now and seeing him would only piss me off more. He found solace in alcohol while the rest of his family struggled without him and he was okay with that.

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