Both lovers nodded. Jesse gave Ivanka’s shoulder a squeeze. “We can do this. We love you, Ivanka.”
Nodding, Ivanka put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway onto 28th before turning onto Ortega and heading downtown toward her parents’ house. No one said a word, and Ivanka hadn’t any idea how to properly prepare her lovers for her parents. No idea how she’d have done this with just a single partner of the opposite sex, she’d never brought a date home when she was younger. Nor had she bothered to introduce her lovers to her parents.
But this was different. Actual love existed between the three of them and anyone who saw them could tell it was genuine—even if Ivanka kept a distant look on her face and hid her emotions, acting in the opposite manner Lila did.
Once they pulled into the parking space by her parents’ mansion, Ivanka turned toward her lovers and offered a weak smile. Both Jesse and Lila returned it with more love in their eyes It warmed her heart to know she had the full support of her triad. She only hoped her parents behaved.
She swallowed hard, unlocked the car and got out.
Lila and Jesse followed suit, both of them coming to each side to flank her.
Ivanka looked first at Lila, then at Jesse. “Ready?”
They nodded their approval.
Letting out a sigh, Ivanka started up the steep driveway toward the steps. The door opened before she could put her foot on step one and a butler dressed in a black suit bowed and extended his arm.
“We don’t need that, Franklin. It’s just me and mine.” She said the words with as much pride as she could muster through the fear acting up in her stomach.
“Very good, ma’am.” He stepped back from the door.
Each step up felt like leading her lovers to hell, but Ivanka forced herself up. Behind her, Lila and Jesse followed until they reached the top, were let inside and the door shut behind them.
Ivanka felt both of them take one of her hands in theirs before her mother came into the parlor. “Ivanka, so nice of you and your friends to join us. We’re out on the terrace.”
“No you’re not, Mother.” Ivanka rolled her eyes. “Dad’s in the study reading the stock pages and you were supervising in the kitchen again.”
“Dear, now?” Her mother cocked her brow.
Dressed in black pants and a gray cable knit sweater that probably had some huge name attached to it, Mrs. Buranich stepped forward and extended a hand. Her red hair held some gray at the edges and despite her desired image, she refused to color her hair. “I’m Ivanka’s mother, Jane Buranich.”
Jesse offered his hand to shake first. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jesse.”
“Charmed.” Ivanka’s mother offered a pleasing smile.
“I’m Lila.” She offered her hand once Jesse let go and Jane turned to face her. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Jane’s smile diminished. “Pleasure is mine. Shall we go sit for a pre-dinner cocktail?”
“That’d be lovely,” Lila answered first, something that made Ivanka’s stomach do a flip-flop. Her mother hated not being the one to start and end conversations. Always in control.
Her mother grimaced and nodded. “Follow me then.”
Not even a warm welcome to her only child.
Half an hour later, with one cocktail barely finished by anyone but Mrs. Buranich, who had two, a record for her in one sitting, the foursome moved to the formal dining room and all sat around a long table Ivanka always wanted to burn. Families should sit closer together, she always said.
Her father usual response was this was a show of status.
Ivanka smirked in disgust.
Finally, the man about town, her father, made his appearance. Glass of wine in hand, he looked like the businessman playing royalty as he took his place at the head of the table. Dressed in one of his black business suits, his blue eyes set off the lack of hair on his head and his light complexion. He set a hand on his wife’s, nodded at her, then motioned for wait staff to serve the meal.
Everyone ate in silence, the food impeccable as always. Ivanka may have hated how her parents behaved, but at least they retained good taste in food.
Jesse and Lila seemed to know their manners, eating with the proper forks and using napkins—not that Ivanka had any doubts, but her parents echoed high society.
When the meal had been finished, dishes were cleared and her father stood, simply motioned for his wife to join him in the study. That meant port for the ladies, whiskey for the men.
And of course, his daughter would get port.
The five of them sat in the study, filling large, plush straight back chairs while a fire roared in the fireplace. Lila and Jesse still flanked Ivanka, giving her courage and strength to deal with her parents once they started in. And she hoped they wouldn’t, but reality was what it was.
Once the waiter brought in a tray of glasses, he’d served Jesse first, then Ivanka’s father, then her mother, Lila. Finally, he handed a glass of port to Ivanka.
“James, I’ll take a whiskey, neat.”
He started to open his mouth to argue, but a quick glance from Ivanka had him nodding.
“Very well, ma’am.”
“Since when do you drink hard liquor? You know that’s—”
Ivanka pinned him with a stare. “Don’t start your shit, Dad. I’m a grown woman”
He opened his mouth to say something, but found his glass of whiskey instead. Taking a sip, he set the glass down then turned to his daughter. “I see we’re outgrowing the nest.”
Ivanka rolled her eyes. “Outgrown. Aren’t you going to ask about my lovers?”
He blinked, turned first to Jesse. “Son, you got a name?”
“Jesse, Mr. Buranich.” Jesse didn’t bother with extending his hand. Ivanka’s stomach roiled with annoyance at her father’s lack of courtesy. Not even an introduction at dinner, the man had such a stick up his ass.
“Nice to meet you, son. I understand you’re seeing my daughter. Do you have a job?”
Jesse nodded. “I’m the senior accountant at my firm, Lawson, McDermott and Cheshire.”
“Good, steady job in that, yes?” Mr. Buranich nodded, raised his glass and took a sip.
Jesse took a sip of his whiskey, eyeing Ivanka from the corner of his eye.
She wanted to reply, say something, do something but this was the way things had to work first. Her father set the tone of things. Just like always.
Except that his behavior pissed her off.
“Dad, aren’t you going to ask about Lila?” Just after she finished her statement, James brought her whiskey and set it on the table beside her chair.
Her father blinked. “Oh yes. The lesbian of the group. How do you do?”
Lila snorted. “I’m not a lesbian, I’m bisexual. And very well, sir.” She raised her glass of port to her lips, closed her eyes and took a sip, the smile on her face indicating her clear enjoyment of the feel of the alcohol going down her throat. “You must be very proud of your daughter to find her confidence at taking such a different turn than you envisioned.”
He lifted his whiskey to his mouth, took a sip, all while eyeing Lila. His gaze roamed from Lila to Jesse, both of whom leaned comfortably back in their chairs while Ivanka sat at the edge of hers, practically on pins and needles.
“I have faith in her intelligence, which is why I wish she’d grow up and come home.”
“I have—”
Lila held up a hand, silencing Ivanka.
Ivanka huffed.
“Your daughter has a successful job, all the love in the world and is going after her dreams. What more could a father possibly want of his daughter?”
By now Ivanka’s mother had shifted uncomfortably in her chair, crossing one leg over the other before taking a sip of her port.
“A fair life where she has no want or need for anything. A life like we have here.” Her mother cocked her head to the side, giving Ivanka an odd look.
Ivanka’s stomach sank. “I’m trying
the best I can without help, thank you very much. And you call this a life? The house is immaculate but does Mother live? Do you do anything anymore outside the house other than mock the rest of the word and read your boring old stock papers?”
Her father scoffed, “I have no need for such unimportant things. Raising you—”
“Is something you forgot how to do once I was born, wasn’t it?”
“Daughter.” Jane’s tone held more worry than ire. Ivanka saw the frustrated look on her mother’s face. It didn’t surprise her to find disappointment in her mother’s eyes, along with contempt. But for who?
“You’re at least not a spoiled brat. You however, have my headstrong behavior and if I’d have known that would have rubbed off on you and to some extent, your mother…” He sighed, took another sip of his whisky, looking all too falsely regal in the wingback chair before he straightened his posture.
“Dear, what your father means to say is—”
“Hush, Jane. I can handle this. Drink your port, dear.”
Yeah, way to go dad. Relegate mom to below you status in front of my lovers. “Bastard even disrespects mother in front of my lovers.” Ivanka almost covered her mouth but instead, met her father’s hard stare with one of her own.
The look her father gave her could have bored through steel, yet he kept an even tone when he spoke. “I’m very proud of my daughter when she acts right. I simply want the best for her. Having multiple lovers isn’t something we’d ever conceive of.”
“Then,” Jesse leaned forward, clasping both his hands together, “what’s the issue?”
He leered at Jesse, set his glass down and steepled his fingers together. “Dear boy, the issue is that old money doesn’t behave in a manner befitting of anything less than perfection—”
“No,” Jesse cut him off, “it hides all the dirt. Except what you have here is a pretty clean daughter. Tell me, Mr. Buranich, where’s your dirt?”
“Jesse.” Ivanka reached for him but he waved her off. She couldn’t allow him to continue if she ever wanted to see her parents again. Of course, her father’s behavior just in the few moments they’d been together had been off putting.
Her lover turned toward her, anger in his eyes, ““No, I want to hear it. I want to hear why he’s been condescending to you, to Lila and even to his fucking wife.” Staring back at Mr. Buranich, Jesse waved a hand dismissively. “You’re going to tell me this is how the rich behave? I’d ask the question, sir, what are you ashamed of?”
“Jesse!” Ivanka slammed her glass down, stood, “Now!” She stood in a huff, annoyed that her lover would overstep a boundary. No, she shook her head. “Enough.”
Her father clapped his hands. “The three of you can’t even seem to function together. Have you no control over things, dear daughter? Haven’t you learned a single thing I’ve taught you? I swear you were brought up better than this. Hence, the weird relationship with a lesbian and a jock who barely passes for anything but a damn—”
“Don’t say it.” Ivanka glared at her father. “Don’t you dare say it. Lila, Jesse, come. We’re going. If you cannot be happy, then fuck my inheritance. I’ll make the money my own damn way.”
“You think you’re going to raise the funds needed to operate this absurd charity idea you have on your own? You know you’ve got connections with us. Your name--”
“Is for losers if you truly cannot support the way I am, Dad. And on that note, don’t ever contact me again.”
Lila set her glass down and stood, Jesse behind her.
Ivanka spun on her heel and ushered her two lovers out. She grabbed the handle of the door to the study and slammed it shut, ignoring her mother’s loud sobs. Fuck her parents. Fuck them to hell. She had no use for them if her father wouldn’t act like a human being.
Hell, they weren’t even old money.
They’d come into that wealth through her father’s hard work yes, but he got lucky.
Ivanka pushed past her two lovers, feeling humiliation and shame along with furious rage at her father’s incredulous behavior. And Jesse, instigator that he was, she should have known. Fuming, she stormed into the waiting room, threw open the front door and made her way to the car, grabbing her purse on the way out.
Keys jammed into the lock, she opened the driver’s door, threw herself into the seat of her Mercedes and waited for Jesse and Lila to catch up.
When both of them reached the car, Ivanka waited a beat. “Well?”
Quickly, both slid in the car and shut the door. Ivanka put the car in reverse, pulled onto the street and hauled ass back to Lila and Jesse’s.
Who the fuck was she kidding? She just walked out on her asshole parents, her male lover made a scene and now what did she have?
Tears stung the backs of her eyes as she drove them back home. Pulling up to the driveway, she put the car in park. “I’ll see you guys sometime later, perhaps.”
Lila reached for Ivanka’s shoulder.
Ivanka waved her off. “Not tonight.”
“Okay.” The sadness in Lila’s voice only added to Ivanka’s depression.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I just can’t stand by while that bullshit occurs. Call us, Ivanka.” Jesse got out of the car, shut the door.
Before either could say anything else, Ivanka put the car in drive and sped past Ortega until she hit the next right, made her way back to the Bay Bridge and headed to her apartment in Oakland.
Fuck all. Fuck her life, indeed.
Chapter Five
The next morning, Ivanka woke up, thanks to puppy kisses and Donna’s need to be walked. Taking him outside down Madison Street, she looked up at the bright sun and saw only darkness. Yes, the sky was mostly clear, with large fluffy clouds scattered about, the breeze was light and it had started off a little chilly, but it was warm enough that she only needed a light sweater while taking her dog for a walk around the lake.
Half an hour later, she’d headed back toward her apartment and headed him up the stairs when she heard her phone ring.
“Fuck off.” She picked it up and hit the ignore button. She’d barely glanced to see Lila calling her.
Yeah, figures. The heart of their triad, scratch that, her former triad, had to call and attempt to…who the hell knew what? Ignoring her would definitely send the message, but wasn’t Ivanka clear after she sped away last night?
She had to call them and end things later today. It was the only way she could apologize for her behavior last night. But…
Damnit, Jesse wasn’t wrong in calling her father out. She only wished she’d have done it herself. But the man made her feel inferior at every turn. First, not appearing to greet them like a father should, then instilling his no talking during dinner rule, despite having new company that was actually important for him to know about—if he cared about his daughter.
Then Jesse called him out on what she’d hated about her father for years. His subjugation of her mother and women in general.
Her mother had been the strong one in the family, the backbone when he lost his first few jobs. She’d been the one to work tirelessly while he rebuilt his company from ashes.
She’d been the one to come home and raise Ivanka while he spent countless hours being a businessman and not a father.
Fuck him for what he was worth.
But she had her pride.
Except that pride wouldn’t get her the cash she needed to host the benefit she wanted to throw in hopes of raising the funds to get a sanctuary established in Africa or the trip back to see her lion.
Busying herself with house chores only distracted her for so long. Despite not having been home most days to clean, her apartment stayed mostly tidy. A few dishes, light dusting, walking the dog once again, and she’d been done.
A glance at the clock told her it was only just after two.
Yeah, her stomach had that dreadful feeling again. If she avoided making the call to Lila and Jesse any further, guilt would gnaw at her and eat her a
live.
She sat down on the couch, waited patiently for her bloodhound to jump up beside her and rest his large head in her lap. Reaching for her phone, she checked it. No missed calls.
At least Lila had the courtesy to give her space.
But this wouldn’t work. It couldn’t. She’d made an ass out of herself, her parents had helped and no one in their right mind would want to be with her after that terrible encounter.
She sighed, flung her head back against the back of the couch and sighed again. Rubbing Donna’s head, she sought comfort in her thick fur.
Staring at her phone, Ivanka had one thing to do.
Time to end this.
* * * *
Lila and Jesse agreed to meet but they insisted Ivanka come over. It was important to them.
Meant they had a home advantage. They could throw her out for her behavior, humiliate her further and then what?
She didn’t know.
It took her about half an hour to drive into the Sunset district, pull the car into the space beside Lila’ and Jesse’s driveway and sit in her car for a whole ten minutes before getting out.
The shade had been drawn up on the large front window, letting in plenty of sunlight into the front room and if Ivanka had to guess, the house had the same welcoming feel it always had, would always possess as long as Lila and Jesse occupied it.
She forced herself out of the car, up the driveway and to the top of the steps. Ivanka stood there for another minute before knocking on the door.
It opened with a creak to reveal Ivanka’s fantasy image. Lila stood before her wearing heels and a short, frilly black negligee that covered her beasts but emphasized their ripe, fullness while the bottom of the lace hit the tops of her creamy thighs. If she bent over, she’d give Ivanka a perfect view of a round ass and a ripe pussy.
Ivanka swallowed hard. “What—”
Lila grabbed her by the wrist and practically yanked her inside and into her arms.
“I’ve missed you so much, baby.” Lila flung her arms around Ivanka and held her close. If Ivanka listened hard enough, she swore she heard her soon-to-be former lover sobbing.
Three Times Lucky: Five Sizzling Tales of Three-Way Love Page 15