AVA
I've been working restlessly in the company ever since I took responsibility.
The part that annoys me the most is how close the former manager had been to wrecking this company. I have had to fix so much.
If I hadn't intervened, my dad's sweat would have crumpled in the hands of one of his most trusted staff.
Sitting in the office all day, my mind keeps going back to my daughter. These days I barely have time for her and it hurts me so much.
I don't want to be the kind of mother that neglects her daughter because of her work. I want to be actively present in her life, I hate to admit it but I'm almost becoming a workaholic mother. I miss Lissa.
Ever since she came into my life, I've never gone a whole day without her until I started working here.
I've even called Isabelle twice each hour to know how she was doing. With the thoughts of my daughter taking over my senses, I started packing my stuff. My life used to be carefree and fun with the love of my life, but now it was nothing but memories. I need Lissa to know that I love her and that I would do anything for her.
FLASHBACK FIVE YEARS AGO.
"Hey!" I shouted when Ryan swept me off my feet, chuckling while looking at his face which I just decorated with flour. I really love baking, especially with him.
"Put me down!" I begged, pouting at him
"Not a chance Mrs. Ryan Howard." He firmly said, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my neck
I gulped at the sudden contact. Before I could find the right comeback, I was placed on the bed in our room with him hovering above me.
"What. are you-?" the words were cut by the sudden capturing of my lips with his.
I raised my hands, intending to run my fingers through his hair when his big hand held mine firmly above my head, while the other fondled with my breast. I nearly moaned out loud at the contact.
He suddenly stopped causing my eyes to shoot open to find him lying on the other side of the bed facing me.
"Why did you stop?" I asked him. My eyes were threatening to water. Does he not love me?
"Believe me, love. It's taking every bit of my self control to not take you right now. But I don't want to do that just yet," he paused, staring intently at me.
"I want to know you better first," he stated firmly.
END OF FLASHBACK.
If he really knew me after saying that, he wouldn't have believed them, if he came to know me as he had planned our marriage wouldn’t have fallen apart.
I was not used to driving in the dark, that's also one of the reasons I was leaving early. Don't get me wrong, my driving skills are superb. I'm just not ready to lose my precious life. I think I should bake apology cupcakes for Lissa, I've spent more than half a day without her. It's been a long time since the last time I baked anything...
There were so many memories with Ryan attached to almost every baking item be it sugar, flour or even the damn pan.
Soon, I found a grocery store. I parked my car in front of it and walked inside.
I was fond of making mental lists of what I needed whenever I entered into any store and thankfully, it always paid off.
When I was leaving the store, a lady mistakenly ran into me, causing the bag I was holding to fall.
"I'm so sorry, let me help," she apologized, bending to pick up the bag
I let her pick it up, besides it's her fault, I wasn't the one typing off on her phone instead of keeping her eyes up.
"Here, sorry for-" She stopped half way through her sentence when she saw my face.
"Ava!?" She gasped.
"Helena!" I exclaimed, excited to see her.
I and Helena are very close, despite the fact that she was Ryan's cousin. She was the only one who kept in touch with me for a year after my divorce with Ryan.
"I've missed you, silly!"
"I've missed you too, how have you been?" I asked
"I've been fine... with a kid and all." Did she just say kid? I didn’t know she had a child.
"You have kids? Like, you're actually married?" I asked in disbelief, with my mouth agape, "And got never informed me?"
"I didn't say married, miss, let's-go-into-conclusion." She said, rolling her eyes.
Taking my free hand in hers, we walked to the parking lot of the grocery store.
"I'm not married, okay? At least not yet," She explained, “But I have a son with my boyfriend and we are planning to take that step soon.”
Realization dawned on me and I formed an O shape with my mouth,
"Well, just inform me when the wedding bells ring." I said, winking at her and she laughed.
"I definitely will, and by the way it's nice meeting you after so many years."
"Same here. I thought about calling you but I just couldn't, not after all that had happened" I explained sadly.
"I understand, but if there's anything you need to know, it's that I don't believe them one bit. I mean, I've known them very well and I'm sure it's more likely a set up."
"I'm glad to hear that, but it just doesn't change anything. What had happened was something I just didn't expect. Neither was the way everyone reacted to it, especially Ryan."
She let out a sigh and faced the ground,"I understand and I hope they all find out soon."
I wanted to ask her about Ryan, but decided against it, knowing who Helena is, she'll tell me on her own. I'm sure she'd tell him that we met, I know how chaotic it'll be. Ryan doesn't even want to know the truth about anything, he practically hates me for nothing.
Do I hate him? No, I don't, I just can't find it in me to hate him... no matter how much I tried. I used to have a happy normal life and it was snatched away from me in one night.
I slipped into my car after giving her my home address and telling her to visit soon. I drove with my mind deep in thoughts back home.
RYAN"Hey, Ry." The blonde I came home with last night called me.Why can't most of these ladies understand the meaning behind a one night stand?She was rubbing her hands on my chest, when I peeled them off in disgust.Ever since my divorce with that evil wretch, I have found it hard to feel anything for any woman. I'd go to strip clubs thrice every week and pay for the best among the girls to go home with me.I'm usually rough with them. There is a reason it's called having sex not making love. The reason behind it was to ease off pent up energy, no strings. I always make it clear to the girls before they come home with me. I don't want them developing useless, worthless, pointless feelings.My attention was brought back to the blonde beside me. She wasn't even that good and here she is acting all lovey-dovey around me. I hate it when they become clin
AVA It was Friday today, Isabelle was off duty today and was just about to leave Melissa and I. I planned on going shopping with Lissa as I noticed she has outgrown most of her clothes. It has been a while since when last we both went out to spend quality time. I don't even remember the last time I took her to the park, I've been so busy with work. We were in the sitting room, on a couch with her between my legs, watching some kids show as I tried tying her hair up in a bun. "Mama?" "Yes, Lissa, Mama's listening," I said, finally succeeding in tying her hair up in a loose bun. Smiling, she said, "Me want cake!" I smiled back at her, nodding my head, I understood why she craved it. I rarely baked anything but for her I'm willing to go back to my old self. I never got the chance t
AVA I've been finding it quite difficult to sleep at night especially this night. I guess my irregular sleep routine was gradually having an effect on me. Walking into the kitchen, I decided to make coffee and take it with the few cookies Isabelle left in a plate near the sink, when I saw a black bag in the sink. I can't remember putting any black bag in the sink, besides no bag was used during my baking session earlier today. I walked to the sink and tore the bag open to reveal packs of different kinds of contraceptives. My breath became heavy and my mind hazy. Whoever put it there must be aware of the reasons behind my broken marriage, this being one. The night my marriage with Ryan began to crumple. FLASHBACK THREE YEARS
AVAI woke up this morning with a malicious headache.You know the type that makes you feel as though you've been hit on the head and when you try to move your head, the pain is transferred to the other side of your head, making you shut your eyes and hold your head.Slowly, I searched for the aspirin in the first aid kit that I keep in one of the cupboards in the kitchen.After I had taken the medicine, I began making breakfast. I decided on eggs for Melissa and pancakes for Helena and I.Thinking of Helena, I really needed to keep my cool if she asks me about Melissa."Good morning, Ava" Helena greets me, moving towards the kitchen."How was your night?" I asked her, smiling."Better than ever, your bed was soft and comfy." She said, yawingSmiling at her, I nod my head and faced the food
AVA"How do I look in this?" Helena asked me for thehundredth time.I never knew shopping with her would be so much fun.I mean how hard is it to just pick one wedding dress, just one and get the hell out of here.My eyes are hurting terribly from the constant white dresses she puts on for me to check out.Right now, I can't even tell which of the whites is more beautiful or worse and my head aches from looking at one thing for three hours seated at one place."It's beautiful" I admire her, the dress is flare and wide like the type in one of those animated movies Melissa tries to imitate.She sighed "I don't really like it, it's kind of heavy." Here we go again."Of course it is, that's why it's a wedding gown," I told her, rolling my eyes. She's such a drama queen."It r
AVAShould I tell her?"Ava!!!" I heard Helena yell, startling me as the phone slipped out of my hand but I was quick enough to catch it."Ye-ye-yes," I stuttered, raising my head to look at her. She was looking at me with so much concern."I've called you so many times, what were you thinking? ""Nothing really," I said, looking around at anything but her."Wow, you look beautiful in that," I said, trying to change the subject."Of course, I look beautiful in anything especially when you're not here," she said, rolling her eyes"Are you OK?, you look lost, besides I'm not even putting on a wedding dress,"I immediately looked at her and noticed that she really wasn't putting on a wedding dress."I'm fine, what I actually meant was that you'
AVAAnd soon, I came face to face with the stranger who had saved my life and that of Melissa three years ago.He was still stunned on seeing me and stopped in his track."You know Luke? " Noah asked, bringing me out of my train of thoughtsI nodded my head and cleaned the tear on my face as I smiled at Luke.He still looked the same just a little more older than he had been the first time I saw him.The tattoos on his body were still visible around his neck as the long sleeved shirt he was putting on failed to completely cover it up.He was still well built and I just noticed the striking resemblance between him and Noah.He looked few years older than Noah, his blue eyes were beautifully defined with thick brows.His stature was just a times two of how
AVAIt was Sunday morning. I and Melissa were alone at home and I think we are the only two in neighbourhood that weren't in church.Standing up from the bed, I moved to the bathroom. I needed to take my bath before Melissa wakes up.There were many things to do around the house.I had to get the laundry done, the bathroom floors scrubbed, and also teach Melissa some new shapes, it's been long since when last we did that.The kitchen was pretty clean and so were the utensils, thanks to Isabelle.After I was done taking my bath, I threw on a blue tank top over a black shot.Holding up my hair in a messy bun, I walked out of the bedroom carefully so as to not disturb Melissa even though she was quite a heavy sleeper.She'd lay on the bed like a log of wood and may make no move if the house were to be o