AVAThe air in the car was pensive. And I stared straight ahead at the road as we drove home.After we had had our argument last night and I'd let it slip that I didn't love him anymore, it had been complete silence ever since, and when we got home I slept in the guest room.This morning was no better.I wasn't in the mood to argue and neither was he. I told him I was coming in to work, he had only huffed and stalked out the dining room, leaving his breakfast unfinished. And now, we were both in the backseat of his car, heading to the company. Suddenly, his phone rang beside me, drawing me out of my musings. I watched him fish the device out of his suit jacket.“Chloe,” the caller ID displayed in big, bold letters on the screen. My anger began to bubble immediately.Blake cast a surreptitious glance my way, before turning away to pick the call.“I told you not to call me so early in the morning. What do you want?” He spoke in soft tones.A woman's high pitched voice could be heard on
“You've got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He dumped me by the side of the road, threw bills at me, all so he could walk arm in arm wirh Chloe?“I'm actually being very serious right now.” Lily said behind me.“Every woman here would give left arm to take Chloe's place.” she sighed dreamily. “And what's not to envy? She's beautiful and has the boss wrapped around her finger.”Lily must have confused my silence for interest because she continued with her chatter.“Don't tell anyone, but I once walked in on them getting naughty,” her voice dropped to a whisper and she blushed.“They're so cute together, aren't they?”I stared at the closed office door, wondering if Blake was having his wicked way with his plaything right then.“How long have they been together?” I asked, working hard to hide my anger.Lila tapped her chin repeatedly as though she was deep in thought.“A little over two years. I think they're planning a wedding. Isn'
AVA“No. Absolutely not!”“You're yelling,” I hissed.“I don't care,” he grabbed me by the shoulders, sounding separate, “Listen, Chloe means nothing to me. You're the one I'm gonna end up with. I love you.l“You're hurting me,” I squirmed. His fingers were digging into my skin and I tried to pull way but he was stronger than I was.“Didn't you hear the part where I said I loved you? Come on, baby. Don't throw away everything we've got because of someone inconsequential.”He tried to kiss me but I avoided his touch.“Don't you even think about it. You disgust me, Blake.”Shaking free of his grip, I threw the door open and exited, slamming the door shut noisily. My hands flexed with the urge to drive a fist into the wall but I held on to my temper. Going off at the slightest provocation wasn't going to earn me anything but a bad reputation.It was after I walked out of that office I realized how exhausted I was. Ever since Charles's wedding, I never knew peace of mind. Was this what my
Out of the frying panAVAI shot Lily a warning glance the moment the word “strippers” left his mouth. Did he just refer to us as strippers? Now I was even angrier than how I was earlier that day when I saw saw Blake walking in with Chloe. This was worse. And thatbitch named Melinda. Of all the things Melinda could have thrown at me today, she just had to send us to these degenerates.“Well?” The bearded one – Alan, I assumed because I read his file briefly – slouched deeper into his leather chair and waved his empty glass at us.“Don't just stand there. Pour us a drink,” his eyes were especially on me, raking over me in a way that made me want to shower for a week.“Who the hell do these people think we are?” I grunted through clenched teeth. My hands were already curling into fists when Lily's fingers wrapped around my wrist.“Just play along,” she whispered tightly. “For the contract. We need this.” I could hear the tremor in her voice as well, which meant she was just as disgusted
ALEXANDERI noticed a figure falling from just above me as I proceeded towards the stairs. Out of fast reflexes I rushed closer enough to catch them before they landed fatally ok the ground.It was a woman. She grabbed my arm tight and breathed heaving against me.When I looked at her face, it was Ava.I was genuinely curious to find out what she was doing in a club because I really didn’t see her as one to enjoy indulgence in these kinds of please. I helped steady her on the ground next to me but she kept holding on tight to my arm.“Let go,” I said.It seemed as though she didn’t realize she was clinging to me with so much ferocity. Embarrassed, she loosened her grip on me, her hands brushing against my jacket as she stepped back.She looked shaken as she forced herself to speak.“Alexander, you have to help me. Lily is still up there with those men!”My jaw tightened, “What men? What happened?”“There’s no time to explain!” Ava’s voice cracked with desperation. “They’re dangerous,
I was still shaken from the events of the past hour. Alexander’s assistant had called us an Uber, making sure we would reach our destination in one piece.Lily faced the window, probably deep in her own thoughts. I covered her palm and squeezed lightly, hoping she could sense the love I was trying to communicate.“I’m sorry,” I whispered.Lily turned to face me with a small smile on her lips.“I’m sorry, too. This shouldn’t happen to anyone.”I was tired and bruised, but my heart responded to her kind words. “You’re an angel, Lily,” I said.In response, Lily sat closer and gave me a hug. Right then, I felt so lucky to have met her, and I was grateful too. It was so strange that I would meet someone this kind hearted in just a matter of a few hours. And there was another part of me that hated the fact that she’d faced this situation because of Blake’s spite against me.“What do you think they’re going to do to those guys,” Lily asked.I shrugged. “They’d probably get arrested. Maybe th
Morning at the office felt different today, for some reason. It was like a ray of hope sat at the bottom of my gut, telling me that today wasn’t going to be as bad as yesterday. Amazing what a good dose of rage and pain medication could do for a girl's perspective.Lily ambushed me at the elevator, “How are you holding up, warrior princess?”I snorted at the nickname. “Shouldn't I be asking you that? I'm not the one who pulled a heroic save yourself moment yesterday.“Please,” she waved off my concern. There was a dinging sound, and the elevator doors opened up. As we continued walking towards the office, she continued, “Everything still rings pretty vivid in my head, you know, but I’ll get over it in time.”Feeling that twinge of guilt and appreciation again, I warped my arm over her shoulder and massaged it. “Thank you.”“That's enough thank yous already, Ava. Just want to be sure you’re fine too.”“Takes more than a couple of sleazebags to put me down. Although I might need a new l
ALEXANDER“You have a meeting in Singapore tomorrow at three with the CEO of Yali Enterprises,” Johnson rattled off as we strode through the parking lot.The pulsing neon lights of Tropicana tonight were a welcome sight after the endless meetings I had today in Paris. At least we'd sealed that deal, hence, another empire added to my collection. When I went in, I found that my boys were already holding court at our usual spot. The circle looked like a collection of men who collectively controlled enough wealth to buy a small country.“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Connor drawled with an insufferable smirk dancing on his face.I slid into my seat. “Just expanding the empire, gentlemen. Paris has fallen.”David arched an eyebrow as the waiter materialized with our usual—champagne on ice.“I take it the French surrendered gracefully?”“Don't they always?” The deal was a risky one alright, but then again, I built my fortune on calculated gambles.“To Alexander,”
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
SARAAlexander scooped Sara into his arms and carried her out of the door. Her face was contorted with pain and fear, her fingers clutching desperately at his shirt. And then they were gone, leaving me standing motionless in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the crimson puddle at my feet.I couldn't process what had just happened. One moment Sara had been threatening me as she laid claim to Alexander and his future. The next, she was screaming, bleeding and collapsing.“Ava?” Isabella's gentle touch on my shoulder made me flinch. “Are you alright?”I nodded mechanically, unable to form words. The kitchen was now filled with people; Blake was hovering uncertainly in the doorway, Charles was already on his phone arranging something and staff appeared with mops and towels.“Come on,” Isabella said, guided me away from the blood.I looked down and realized there were droplets of red on my shoes. I let Isabella lead me to a bathroom where she dampened a cloth and handed it to me.“What