Ivy looked at the mansion in front of her and idly wondered if this Hiram Lodge was a good businessman. She walked up to the front door and rang the bell. The door was opened by someone that she hadn’t seen in years. Ivy smiled “Smithers! How have you been? It’s been far too long.” The man known to many as Smithers looked at the redheaded girl in surprise. He hadn’t seen her in several years. Smithers smiled “Mistress Ivy? It’s been years. How are you and Master Zachary doing? I trust that all is well?” Ivy smiled “Life has been interesting lately. Zach is enjoying his teenage years. I’m glad to see him grow up. He’s done so much already. I now own a resort in France that has an excellent Academy attached to it. It’s called Beauxbatons. You should visit the next time you have a vacation.”
Smithers smiled and bid Ivy entrance “I have been well, Mistress. The Lodge family are good employers.” Ivy smiled as Smithers went off to find Mr. Lodge. She walked into a study and sat down in an armchair. Ivy calmly lit a Rocky Patel Quarter Century cigar and looked up when the door opened. Mr. Lodge walked in and greeted Ivy warmly “Ms. Renaldi, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Thank you for meeting with me today. Please, call me Hiram.” Ivy smiled “The pleasure is mine, Hiram. I hope that our meeting can go well today. By the way, please, call me Ivy.” Hiram Lodge smiled “Very well, Ivy. I am rather curious, though. You look to be my daughter’s age and yet you enjoy cigars. How did that come about?”
Ivy sighed and frowned slightly “Smithers, could you tell this story? I need to go contact Zach. Please excuse me.” Ivy got up and left the room. Smithers watched her go and shook his head “Ivy has led a hard life. What most people see in regard to Ivy make them envious. Young men for the attractive young lady at the head of a business empire that many say controls the world. Young women for the ease of having many boyfriends. What most do not know about Ivy is how she got to this point. Ivy has raised her younger brother since he was 2. Ivy believes she was about 5, she is not certain about her age. She was kidnapped when she was roughly 8 and turned into a human weapon. She eventually found the ones who tortured her and dealt with them in a..... permanent way. She is very protective of her younger brother, as he is the only family she has. Their parents have never cared about their well being. I was employed by Ivy to tend the Renaldi siblings estate when she was 6. She had inherited her Grandmother’s fortune and business empire. As to Ivy’s cigar smoking, she was given a special pass when she was 10 due to her.... current employment and what it entailed.
Ivy walked back in at this point and smiled weakly. Smithers helped her into a chair. Ivy smiled “Thank you, Smithers. Zach is alright. He’s currently leading a team of junior detectives chasing my former adversary, Carmen Sandiego.” Mr. Lodge looked surprised while Smithers just smiled. Ivy grinned “Zach and I used to chase Carmen all around the world. Smithers would occasionally help when I would be to sick to chase her. Smithers almost caught Carmen once. She later sent me a photograph of that incident. It’s on my mantle next to photos of Zach as he’s grown up.” Ivy got a watery look in her eyes “This meeting has been fun, Hiram. However, my main reason for visiting Riverdale is to find two friends of mine. They helped raise Zach during my.... absence. Perhaps you know them....” Ivy was interrupted by a loud door slamming. She jumped up and tackled Hiram to the ground behind a couch. Ivy jumped over the couch and pointed a pistol at the door.
Smithers returned and led a group of teens behind him. Ivy lowered her weapon and holstered it. Smithers smiled “Not to worry, Mistress, they may be teenagers, but, they mean us no harm.” Ivy went back to Mr. Lodge and helped him up to his feet “My apologies, Hiram. A side effect of my ordeal is PTSD along with bad sleeping habits. I react to every noise even though most can’t see it.” Hiram smiled “It’s alright, Ivy. By the way, where did you learn to tackle like that? It reminds me of my days serving overseas.” Ivy got a dark look “Cambodia. I was tasked with taking care of a particularly troublesome warlord.” The teenagers looked surprised, a girl with dark hair spoke up “Daddy? Who is this and what is she talking about?” Hiram turned to his daughter and smiled “Veronica, I’d like for you and your friends to meet Ivy Renaldi. She and I were meeting to discuss a business deal.”
Ivy smiled and extended her hand, Veronica took it warily “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lodge. Who are your friends?” Veronica introduced Ivy to her friends “This is my boyfriend, Archie Andrews. The gentleman next to Archie is Reggie Mantle. Some other friends will be here soon.” Ivy laughed uproariously “Ms. Lodge, I have no reason to go “boy chasing” while here. Mr. Andrews is of no interest to me romantically.” Archie looked slightly put out at Ivy’s statement, Hiram let out a chuckle. Reggie put on his most suave smile “So, since old carrot top doesn’t look to be your type, how about taking in the town with a real man?” Ivy cocked her head slightly “I’m sorry, but, I have a date tonight with a very good friend of mine. Jason Blossom.” Reggie looked like he had just been slapped.
Smithers walked back in escorting two people that Ivy had wanted to see for a very long time. Ivy ran to Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones and enveloped them in a big hug. Jughead and Betty smiled and each hugged her back. Betty was the first to speak “Ivy! How have you been? How’s Zach?” Ivy grinned “Zach is well. He’s planning on visiting here in a few days. He has to finish chasing Carmen this time.” Betty and Jughead smiled while Veronica, Archie, and Reggie looked surprised. Ivy smiled at her two best friends “How is operation lovebird going?” Betty and Jughead blushed. Betty answered “It’s going very well. Juggie has been very loving. How is your love life going?” Ivy smiled slightly “I have too many dates. Each one has been very nice, though.” Hiram looked at Ivy “Would you be willing to continue our meeting tomorrow at 10? Feel free to use the study to catch up with Betty and Jughead.” Ivy smiled “Thank you for this, Hiram. I think tomorrow sounds excellent.” Hiram and Smithers smiled at the three teens and left the room. Ivy sat back down across from Betty and Jughead and smiled. She loved being with her friends again.