AVABack. I was back at LEDGE Enterprises. I hadn’t set foot in here for months now, because, of course, there've been so many issues. But today I could feel the change in the atmosphere compared to the last time I was here, working as an intern in my parents’ company. Everyone seemed to respect me. They were so polite, cautious and courteous, and I must say it was surprising to see.I almost let out a scoff when the security guard leapt from his chair on seeing me, fumbling to open the gate without asking for ID.“Ms. Winters! Welcome back.”The elevator operator smiled with obsequious eagerness. Since when did we even have those?“Which floor, ma'am?”“Executive, please,” I said.The elevator glided upward, and I was wondering what would be waiting on the other side. I didn’t plan to be here yet until Annalise’s and my plan was done with. But l’ was here because of Bl
AVABack. I was back at LEDGE Enterprises. I hadn’t set foot in here for months now, because, of course, there've been so many issues. But today I could feel the change in the atmosphere compared to the last time I was here, working as an intern in my parents’ company. Everyone seemed to respect me. They were so polite, cautious and courteous, and I must say it was surprising to see.I almost let out a scoff when the security guard leapt from his chair on seeing me, fumbling to open the gate without asking for ID.“Ms. Winters! Welcome back.”The elevator operator smiled with obsequious eagerness. Since when did we even have those?“Which floor, ma'am?”“Executive, please,” I said.The elevator glided upward, and I was wondering what would be waiting on the other side. I didn’t plan to be here yet until Annalise’s and my plan was done with. But l’ was here because of Bl
BLAKEIn the hallway, I stood in Ava’s towel, staring at the door as my clothes hit me square in the chest, before falling to the floor at my feet. I stared at the closed door, my fists clenching involuntarily.I didn't want to do this.I never wanted to be a part of this scheming and manipulation and definitely not the sad, desperate man I was becoming.But what choice did I have when she was slipping through my fingers like water?Alexander’s father contacted me three weeks ago, saying, “I believe we have a mutual problem”.Two days later, we met at his club. And over some scotch, he outlined his proposition.“My son is infatuated with your ex, and she’s an unwanted decision of his that we both know won't end well.”I should have walked away right then or told him I wouldn't be his pawn. But then he gave me an envelope with photos of Alexander and Ava having such fun together it just annoyed me.“I've arranged a situation that will create doubt in Ava’s mind about my Alex. As well a
“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