Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (books to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

calmed himself. There was no need to shit a brick now. The harm had been done. There was also no need for formal introductions. They both knew each other quite well.

“How are you, Lt. Agosto?” Grey said offering his hand when he was brought to the booth. It was the only sensible thing to do. Shake his hand. Be a man.

“Please, we’re not at work, call me Nicola,” Nicola said shaking Grey’s hand and instantly recalling Grey from the many late night meetings at city hall. Ivy failed to mention she was engaged to the Mayor’s son.

“Alright. Well, call me Grey,” Grey said noticing the platinum Rolex on Nicola’s wrist. How could a cop in Memphis afford something like that on his salary? “I see we share the same taste in jewelry.” Grey extended his arm to reveal the same Rolex on his left arm.

“And women,” Nicola said adjusting himself as he took a seat.

There was a silence at the table as the waitress handed Nicola a menu. Grey fumbled with his glass while Nicola fumbled with his coat. Each shocked by the other’s involvement. Both expecting something other than what they had discovered. Tired of the obvious tension, Nicola spoke.

“So, I’m told that you wanted to meet me.” Nicola’s eyes were fixed on Grey.

“Yes.” Grey made eye contact and locked his vision on Nicola. “I figured that we should meet and come to an agreement on some things concerning the child and Ivy.”

“Yeah. That’s what baffles me. How can we come to an agreement about an issue that is yet to be an issue? She’s still pregnant.”

Grey’s arrogance flared in the midst of him trying to put in words his newest frustrations. “You already know without me telling you that this is a very complicated situation.” He said forcefully. “Ivy is going to marry me, and yet she may very well be having your child.”

The returning waitress interrupted Nicola. “Could I have vodka tonic, please? Heavy on the vodka,” he said giving her the menu. “Thanks.”

“Either way, I am here to ask you to relinquish your rights as the father should the child actually be yours.” Grey saw no reason to beat around the bush. Besides, he wasn’t even sure if Nicola was interested in retaining his rights.

“Uh huh,” Nicola said sipping his water. “What in the world would make you think that I would do something like that? I’m not some teenager and neither is Ivy.”

“I realize that, but you two also are not together.”

Nicola saw where this was going. Nowhere. He leaned forward. “You didn’t come in here to be my daddy did you?”

“Excuse me?”

“My daddy… You didn’t come in here to delegate, dictate shit to me?”

“No.” Grey looked him square in his eyes. “I’m not your fucking daddy. But I am Ivy’s fiancé and no matter what you have done, that won’t change. So, I’m here to talk to you like a grown man face-to-face about what’s gonna go down. You have a say in this,” Grey said turning on his political charm. “I just want to make sure that we’re both clear about where we stand.” He sat back for a moment and neutralized the situation. They were in a public place. There was no need for barbaric theatrics.

Nicola calmed down and followed suit. He could see that Grey had an angle. Now, he had to figure out what it was. “You want me to back down and let you lead a normal life…no outside interference.” Nicola was impressed with his aggression, and respected his request, but he couldn’t grant it. “Is that about right?”

“Basically.” Grey saw no intimidation in Nicola’s eyes and was glad to meet a worthy opponent. His blood rushed but the challenge excited him. “Relinquishing your rights will give you the green light to return to your normal life…no Ivy…no baby…no drama.”

“Well, I can’t do that.” Nicola shifted in his seat. “If the child is mine, I will have an active role, and if not then I will leave both of you the hell alone. In fact, it will be all my pleasure.”

“I see that you’re not open to discussions with this,” Grey said nodding at the waitress as she set his grilled salmon in front of him.

“Not at all,” Nicola said smiling. “What are you so nervous about anyway? She loves you.”

“Mr. Agosto, do I look nervous to you? If so, please look again, because I’m not. It’s just that I want us to have, as you said before, a normal life. Ivy may have been a one-night stand to minute pump. Besides, third wheels aren’t considered normal, and I think you but to me she’s a hell of a lot more than a two- we both know that right now that’s what you are.”

“Well, it’s a good thing that I’m not looking to tag along for the ride.” Nicola looked around the room. Who was this guy suppose to be?

“That is very good to know, because you are not invited.” Grey sipped on his drink again and crossed his legs. “What is going to take? Money? A promotion? What? I’m sure that it is obvious to you by now that I have an abundance of resources at my disposal. This is the opportunity for you to write your own ticket in this city. Just name your price.”

“Look, I don’t know what Ivy has told you about me, but I’m not the kind of man that backs down from his responsibility at the simple request of another man. And I really don’t have time to play mediator in you and Ivy’s juvenile love games. So, I won’t be cooperating with either of you, unless I’m getting what I want. Besides, I don’t recall when this became all about you. And as far as you resources...I’ve been writing my own ticket for a while now. So you unless you’ve got a tight little pussy under those pants, you can’t do a damned thing for me.”

Grey was lost for words