ALEXANDER“Tell me.”“The test results are out, sir. It's been confirmed that the child she was carrying is not yours,” Matthew said over the phone.I closed my eyes briefly in relief, which was immediately followed by cold anger. Sara nearly succeeded in her plan to hold me hostage with the welfare of an innocent child.“She thought I was a fool,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Matthews.The level of calculation required to orchestrate this deception was quite impressive, if I must admit.I needed to put that woman in her place for good. No child meant no obligation, and no obligation meant Sara would finally face the consequences of her actions.Matthews's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. “There’s a second update, about Ms. Winters.”My attention sharpened instantly. “Go on.”“She’s been digging into Blake finances and financial dealings as of late. Our source at First Capital confirms she's been making discreet inquiries about specific transactions dating back eightee
AVAMy cheek throbbed the same rhythm with my heartbeat as I walked away from the hospital.How much more could I take? I walked into this situation willingly, eyes wide open, calculating the costs against the potential gains. I believed getting close to Blake again would help me reclaim what belonged to my family. But so much had happened so far that I didn’t even see it coming. Sara's vindictiveness and Blake's violence for example.Maybe there was another way to get my assets back that didn't require subjecting myself to Blake or Sara.The beach ahead of me was empty, save for one solitary figure standing at the edge of the water. I almost turned in another direction, but it wasn’t like Alexander owned the ocean after all.I headed towards the beach but stopped several yards away from him. The waves crashed over the water just as the cool breeze aided my stinging cheek.I didn’t look at Alexander and made sure my eyes were on the horizon where water met sky.I could see him studyin
AVAHis offer wastoo good to be true and too dangerous to ignore. I“Why would you want help me with that?”He answered, “Because unlike you, I've been honest about my feelings from the beginning. And I wouldn't let a woman I love suffer at the hands of someone like Blake when I have the power to stop it.”Love. He loved me…?The word landed like a stone in still water, and it sent ripples through everything I thought I understood about us.I stared at him and there was only raw sincerity in his eyes, which scared me more than any threat could have.The truth was…I did feel something for Alexander.But I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge it or name it or trust it. Even now, standing here soaked to the skin with the taste of him still on my lips, I was afraid to admit how deep it went.“We should…” I swallowed hard, “We should find somewhere to dry off.”Alexander still kept his eyes on me for a while longer before he nodded, although made no move to lead us back toward the vil
AVA“What!”Three steps brought him within arm's reach of me.“You heard me,” I replied, feeling strangely detached from the chaos swirling around us.His adam's apple bobbed under the collar of his shirt. “Have you been playing me this entire time?”I laughed. “Don't act like an innocent puppy, Blake. I was only playing your game. The one you taught me when you fucked another woman behind my back for months.”Charles made a strangled sound from somewhere behind Blake.Isabella didn’t really seem surprised because I already told her happened.“You want to know the secret Sara was threatening to expose? I'll tell you myself. I slept with Alexander the night of your father's wedding.”Blake's face went instantly pale.I turned to Isabella with a pang of genuine regret even though I was satisfied to have let that out.“I'm sorry you had to hear this. But that was the same night I caught Blake making out with a married woman on the terrace. I had to leave because I couldn't take it. I got
AVAI woke up slowly. Then there came the pleasant ache in my muscles.I opened my eyes to find Alexander watching me, his head propped on one hand, dark hair deliciously mussed from sleep and other activities.The morning stubble along his jaw gave him a rougher edge than his usual polished appearance.“Jesus,” I gasped, jerking slightly. “You scared me.”“Sorry.” He smiled but he didn't sound sorry at all.His touched my waist from under the sheets and his thumb traced idle circles on the bare skin above my hip bone.“How long have you been watching me sleep like some kind of gorgeous creep?” I asked, my voice still rough with sleep.“I don't know. Fifteen minutes, maybe.”His eyes traveled over my face with shameless appreciation. “You talk in your sleep.”“I do not,”I answered quickly.“You do. Something about dolp
AVAI slid my sunglasses from my face, hooking them into the neckline of my blouse as I approached the reception desk.The woman behind it smiled at me.“Good morning. How may I help you?”“I'm looking for Annalise Morris. Does she still work here?”The receptionist's smile tightened slightly. “Is there a particular issue I can help you with?”“No issue. I'm a friend of hers.” I returned her smile. “You can just let her know I'm around.”As the receptionist made a call, I turned to survey the lobby.Annalise and I used to be good friends and business partners before Blake's manipulation drove a wedge between us.We worked at the company together and until Blake stepped in and suggested I stepped back to focus on my health. He also kept planting seeds of doubt about Annalise's, which escalated over months until I was convinced my best friend was undercutting me.
AVAI kicked off my heels at the door and sighed as my feet met the cool floors of Alexander's penthouse. After three months of practically living here, it still felt strange to call it ‘home,’ although Alexander’s been pushing for me to make it official.My phone buzzed with a text from Annalise, which was a follow-up to our strategy meeting that afternoon.****Board meeting confirmed for Thursday. Blake is requesting to address directors privately beforehand. Red flag?***I typed back quickly. ***Definitely. Can we get someone in that meeting?******Working on it. Dinner tomorrow to finalize?******Perfect. My place, 7pm.***I set the phone down, glancing at the clock.Alexander's flight from Tokyo would be landing soon. After a week away, I wanted to surprise him with dinner—something simple but thoughtful. The refrigerator yielded ingredients for his favorite pasta dish.I pulled my hair into
I got a vacation, which made me happy, but not as happy as having Alexander beside me. He was out at a business conference.Three days into my supposed break, I finished reviewing all the board presentation materials twice and fielded endless calls from Annalise about last-minute details.I was now at Silverpine Beach, and the reason I was here was currently not answering her phone.I dialed Granny's number again as I drove up to her cottage. Still no answer and that was not unusual because sometimes she was just asleep.I parked outside, walked up to the house and took the spare key still inside the conch shell by the door.“Granny?” I called, dropping my bag in the entryway. “It's Ava.”On going in, I noticed it looked like no one was home“Granny? Are you here?”When I got no answer and she was nowhere around the house I began to feel uneasy. I even glanced into the garden through the back
“Grandma…” I crouched back down beside her, sighing.“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it but Blake and I broke up months ago.”“Nonsense,” she drowned. “Didn’t you two only have a small fight last week?“It wasn’t a small fight, granny. Blake is a cheat. He cheated on me and lied to me for years. We broke up. Alexander and I are together now.”Grandma's eyes narrowed, turning to Alexander.“So because you both had a rough patch you left that poor boy for this one? Is that what happened?”“No, that's not—““This new generation treats relationships like disposable cups, but I expected better from you, Ava Marie.”Grandma called my middle name, which was something she did when she was very angry. We were officially in dangerous waters.“Blake comes here every other Sunday. He did tell me you two were having issues and were trying to work things out. He says he was giving you space for a while to breathe and the next thing you do is get another man?Blake! I gritted my teeth. Just to wh
“A few more steps,” Alexander said beside me.I was blindfolded, walking side by side with him, my hand in his, while I could hear the distant hum of the city.“If you're leading me to some murder dungeon, I'm going to be very disappointed,” I joked, with my hand outstretched in his like a tightrope walker.He laughed. “Your morbid imagination is concerning.”“You're the one who insisted on the blindfold, Morrison.”His hands settled on my shoulders, positioning me in his preferred spot.“Okay, we're here. Ready?”I nodded with anticipation.The blindfold slipped away, and I blinked against the sudden flood of light. Then gasped.We stood in a glass dome atop what must have been one of the tallest buildings in the city. The world below us looked so miniature under us. Trees looked like moss, cars looked like beetles and people looked like invisible dots. The fading sunset painted the sky in watercolor strokes of amber and violet. It was almost like being in the sky in a transparent ai
AVA“Right...Blake.” I scratched my head, suddenly remembering the man I left in my apartment.“I didn't think he'd still be there. He showed up drunk off his ass and started to make a scene in the hallway, then I had to let him use the bathroom before he would throw up everywhere.”“And you let him stay?” Alexander asked.“I was going to send him away after he cleaned himself up. Actually, this whole mess is because of him. He's the reason I called you.”Alexander frowned slightly. “He sobered up enough to tell me you were in France with some woman, not Tokyo. He said if I didn't believe him, I should call and check.”The annoyance on Alex’s face thickened even further.“Blake knew about your father's setup with Angelina, but I still don’t understand how that’s even possible. Him and your dad…”“C’mon let’s head back,” he says, taking my hand.“I can’t believe he had the audacity to make himself at home at my house.We walked the four blocks back to my apartment.I unlocked the door
ALEXANDERTwelve missed calls. All to Ava. All unanswered.I jabbed the call button again, sitting restlessly at the back of the car as we drove through the night’s traffic. The same result…it would ring, then go to voicemail. I saw my own reflection in the tinted car window. My eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles. I didn’t even sleep on the flight home.“Can't you go any faster?” I snapped at the driver, who glanced at me in the rearview mirror.“Traffic's bad, sir. There's construction ahead.”I swore under my breath and then checked my messages again. Ava had called me yesterday, around the time when I was unconscious in that room. Which meant Angelina must have had my phone.What the hell did she say to Ava?After that call, Ava sent me a barrage of texts.***Where are you? Who was that? Are you in France? Alexander, answer me. Who are you with?***All that I couldn’t reply because I was busy being drugged and unconscious.I tried calling again. Voicemail.“Fuck!” I slammed my
Crossing the line.ALEXANDERTokyo business, done and dusted. I was ready to head back home to Ava. It’s only been a few days, but I missed her so much already. Matthew was already on his system trying to book my flight back home, while I gathered my documents from the conference table.While I slipped them into my briefcase, my phone vibrated in my breast pocket.It was dad. I wondered why he was calling, we’ve not spoken in weeks.Our last conversation didn’t ended well because he made his disapproval of Ava abundantly clear. To him, her previous relationship with Blake made her unsuitable for the family. But I didn't care and I took my stand, prioritizing my own happiness.I accepted the call anyway.“To what do I owe this surprise?”He answered, “I see you've decided that communicating with your father is optional these days.”I moved toward the window, gazing out at Tokyo's skyline. “We've both been busy, and given our last conversation, I assumed you needed some time to adjust t
AVA“Why won't you try to understand my point of view? It’snot fair, Ava. Not fair.”I tried to pull away. “Blake, you need to go—“His face started to look drained of colour and he suddenly doubled over with a strangled noise from his throat like he was going to retch.“Don't you dare throw up in my hallway,” I hissed at himHe gagged again, clutching his stomach and eyes wide with the panic of imminent vomit.“Shit.” I grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet, then dragging him inside myBlake was leaning heavily against me and breathing heavily as we headed towards the bathroom which suddenly felt like it was miles away.As soon as we got there, Blake lurched towards the toilet and collapsing to his knees in front of the bowl and began throwing up like and animal.Holding my noise from the stench that immediately permeated the the air, I turned away. The re
“I don't want any relationship with you beyond necessary company communications. I hope you respect my wishes.”“Ava, please. I know I made mistakes, terrible mistakes that I can't take back. But I'm trying to be better.”I maintained my distance, arms crossed. “This isn't about your personal growth journey, Blake. It's about consequences.”“I recognize that. I threw away the one person I loved most. And I regret it every single day.For a moment, I could almost see the true cost of his actions reflected in his expression. But I was no longer the woman who would sacrifice herself on the altar of his redemption.“I can't help you feel better about what you did,” I said. “And I won't absolve you, either.”“That's not what I'm asking for.” He reached for my hand, stopping just short of touching me when I pulled back. “I just want another chance to show you who I
I got a vacation, which made me happy, but not as happy as having Alexander beside me. He was out at a business conference.Three days into my supposed break, I finished reviewing all the board presentation materials twice and fielded endless calls from Annalise about last-minute details.I was now at Silverpine Beach, and the reason I was here was currently not answering her phone.I dialed Granny's number again as I drove up to her cottage. Still no answer and that was not unusual because sometimes she was just asleep.I parked outside, walked up to the house and took the spare key still inside the conch shell by the door.“Granny?” I called, dropping my bag in the entryway. “It's Ava.”On going in, I noticed it looked like no one was home“Granny? Are you here?”When I got no answer and she was nowhere around the house I began to feel uneasy. I even glanced into the garden through the back
AVAI kicked off my heels at the door and sighed as my feet met the cool floors of Alexander's penthouse. After three months of practically living here, it still felt strange to call it ‘home,’ although Alexander’s been pushing for me to make it official.My phone buzzed with a text from Annalise, which was a follow-up to our strategy meeting that afternoon.****Board meeting confirmed for Thursday. Blake is requesting to address directors privately beforehand. Red flag?***I typed back quickly. ***Definitely. Can we get someone in that meeting?******Working on it. Dinner tomorrow to finalize?******Perfect. My place, 7pm.***I set the phone down, glancing at the clock.Alexander's flight from Tokyo would be landing soon. After a week away, I wanted to surprise him with dinner—something simple but thoughtful. The refrigerator yielded ingredients for his favorite pasta dish.I pulled my hair into