Ivy and Steph sat at a small table, hidden in a far corner of the new Italian restaurant on West and Third. The atmosphere was very homey and comfortable, and Ivy had taken an immediate liking to the place. She knew Nelson would find it too common and not up to his standards, but for Ivy, it was perfect.
The waiters were sweet and very friendly; coming by the table every few minutes to make sure everything was okay. She smiled, watching them scurry around, laughing to each other before they entered the kitchen again, shouting in Italian as soon as the door shut behind them. She loved this place and knew she'd be a frequent patron.
Steph had not stopped talking since they'd gotten there and right now she was rambling on about her latest conquest in the sack. Ivy was eternally amused by her friend's unwillingness to settle down. Steph had never stayed in a relationship long enough to form any attachments, but Ivy figured that when the right guy came along, it wouldn't take very long at all for Steph to fall head over heels.
"So, tell me," Steph said, pouring herself some more wine, "Who's the guy you're going to be promoting this time? Is it someone new?"
"No," Ivy replied, "not new.... exactly."
"Well, who is it?" Ivy mumbled something and Steph looked at her, frowning. "C'mon, it can't be that bad. Just tell me who it is."
"Justin Timberlake."
Steph nearly dropped her glass of wine and her mouth fell open, forming into a small O. Ivy braced herself for the hurricane that Steph would let loose at the news. What she didn't expect though was laughter. She stared in surprise and then exasperation as Steph let out a loud bark of laughter, followed by a fit of giggles that had her holding her sides.
"Oh...my...God..." Steph gasped, "I thought you were actually serious for a minute there. That was a good one."
"I am serious." Steph's bubbly laughter died away and her eyebrows rose in bemusement. Ivy rolled her eyes. "Justin Timberlake is my client now. Johnny called me today and said he requested me. Steph, I couldn't turn it down. I got a twenty-five percent raise out of it."
"I can't believe it," Steph snorted. "You're going to promote the man you hate more than anything. This is something I'm not going to miss."
"I can do it. I'm a professional."
"Yeah, we'll see what happens the first time Mr. Personality pisses you off. You know that he always finds a way to get to you."
"Maybe, but for that kind of money, I'll find a way to deal with the spoiled brat."
Ivy was determined to find some kind of middle ground for her and Justin to work with. She knew that she could do her job, she just had to keep from getting so irritated by him. As their conversation turned to other things, it wasn't long before Justin was pushed completely to the back of her thoughts.
"So...." Steph smirked and looked at Ivy expectantly, "How come Nelson isn't here with you?" The sneer that accompanied the mention of Ivy's fianc�s name didn't surprise her at all. Nelson and Steph didn't get along. She thought he was a stuffy, uptight, mama's boy and he thought she was a dim-witted bimbo. Ivy frowned at Steph and found herself immediately covering for him.
"He's got a big project he's working on right now. He couldn't leave."
"He's always got some big project." Steph took Ivy's hand and her features softened. "When are you going to realize that his work is more important? Honey, he just doesn't give a shit about anyone but Nelson Cramden and I, for one, am sick of seeing you sit by and let him do that to you."
Ivy sighed. She knew Steph was right but, for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to break it off with him. She looked down at the ring on her left hand and frowned. It was a pretty ring. Not the one she'd wanted, but pretty just the same.
She'd met Nelson in college and they'd hit it off right away, both having the common goal of high maintenance careers and not wanting children right away. They'd studied together and gone out to eat, discussing everything they could think of. It hadn't come as a surprise when he'd asked her to marry him, but Ivy was wondering now if she really wanted to be tied down to a man who couldn't even be happy about her raise.
They let the subject drop and moved on to other things, talking excitedly again and drinking more wine. By the time the two women left, they were giggling like two schoolgirls and Steph decided they should go dancing. Ivy didn't really want to, but when Steph thrust out her bottom lip and begged her, she couldn't say no.
They hailed a taxi, nearly falling over each other as they climbed in the back seat. Steph gave him the name of some upscale club and Ivy sank back into the seat, letting her head swim from the wine they'd had. When they pulled up in front of the club, Steph paid the driver and practically dragged Ivy from the back seat. The line was long, spanning down almost a block and a half, but Steph knew the hulking man at the door and with a few quick words, they were inside.
The music was loud. Too loud. It vibrated through Ivy's body, throbbing and beating, like a heartbeat. She followed Steph to the bar, squeezing through the tightly packed crowd. They positioned themselves in front of the bartender and Steph shouted out the orders. Ivy couldn't even think, much less be able to talk. By the time she got her drink, Ivy was finally adjusting to the noise, bobbing her head and tapping her foot to the beat.
"Well, whaddya know."
The shouted words were almost muffled by the music, but Ivy heard them loud and clear. Her eyes went wide and she set down her drink before turning around.
"And what brings you here, Icy?" The use of the nickname he'd bestowed on her made Ivy go rigid. Justin stood there, smirking at her and Ivy wanted nothing more than to just disappear. Of all the clubs in LA, why did they have to come to the one he was in?
"I don't believe we've met," Steph interrupted, holding her hand out, "I'm Stephanie Sloan." Justin switched his gaze from Ivy to Steph and, immediately, a smile broke across his face. It was the one he reserved for his fans and Ivy thought that his teeth looked like knives, glittering in the flashing lights.
"I'm Justin."
"Oh, I know who you are." Justin's smile changed to a sheepish grin. He always acted like he was embarrassed when he was recognized, but Ivy knew he ate it up. Before he could say anything, Steph continued. "I think that you'd better run along, honey, before your ego decides to pull up a stool and order a drink."
Ivy snorted, her eyes going wide at her friend's bluntness. She nearly choked on her drink and she had to swallow hard to get it down. The look on Justin's face was one of shock and anger. He couldn't believe someone actually had the audacity to speak to him that way. Ever conscious of his appearance though, he pressed his lips together and nodded slightly before spinning and slipping easily back into the crowd. Ivy knew that the last thing he heard was their loud hoots of laughter, following him.