DEALS, DESIRES AND DANGEROUS RETURNS

“Get your things ready.” Ethan's voice cut through the office like a sharp blade.

Ava looked up from her desk. “Sir?”

He didn't look at her. His eyes were locked on his phone screen. 

“There’s an emergency in Chicago. Our business associates at Vynex Group are threatening to withdraw from the merger.”

He paused. “And you're coming with me.” 

Her pen dropped from her fingers. 

“Now?”

“Yes, Now.” He didn't make any negotiations, he commanded. 

As Ava gathered the scattered files on her desk her mind travelled back to the previous night of their entangled lust and desire, when their eyes met.

“Focus, Ava.” He murmured but her heart was already betraying her.

However, she decided to keep her eyes on business, get paid and sort her father's medical bills, who's currently diagnosed with liver cancer. Ava's father has been the only reason she works herself to the bone.

*****

The conference room was filled with polished elites and the creme de la creme of Chicago. Everybody gleamed and shone in their perfectly tailored suits. 

These men are those who made empires rise or fall with just a single signature.

Ava followed Ethan behind, hands trembling and beads of sweat that ran down her cheeks even in the cold atmosphere of the conference room.

The eyes of these men flickered on her, wondering why he brought the lady with him.

“This is Ava Sinclair, my secretary, she'll be in charge of handling the reports from this meeting." Ethan introduced her to the board members without looking in her direction.

She bowed slightly, sliding some paper reports across the table distributing it to everyone in the room. Her hands trembled but she had forced herself to act with dignity.

“Hey, are you certain these numbers are correct? The last quarter's margin was not this gene…” A bald looking man with a non-stable Russian-English accent said, fixing his eyes on her.

Everywhere suddenly went still, she froze, wishing the ground should open up and swallow her. She knew that she may get fired if anything went wrong with the reports.

He hadn't planned to defend her but when he saw her hands trembling under the table. He didn't know when he cut the man off mid-sentence.

“Yes, they are correct. If you have any doubts, ask me, not my secretary.” He answered. His voice was firm, cutting the silence in the room like a blade.

He felt her eyes on him but he couldn't look back not when he made her forget the lines between professionalism and something else.

The bald man cleared his throat. “Of course, my apologies." 

Ava's lips curved into a little smile, she was happy and felt important that her cold ass boss had defended her in the presence of society's elite and important people.

Another man spoke. “There's one more concern before we proceed.” He slid a folder across the table toward Ethan. “The name ‘Lucas Hale' surfaced in our rival firm. This could be a conflict of interest.”

The room went still. 

Ava remembered her ex-boyfriend’s name. He also had the name Lucas Hale. 

“Iiisshh…” She shaked her head, her boyfriend wouldn't be a Hale; or so she thought.

Besides there are about a thousand and one people on the planet with the same name. 

Ethan had dreaded the mention of his brother's name. His worst nightmare.

“I'll review this personally.” Ethan said firmly, “It won't interfere with our agreement.” 

The meeting continued, Ethan was persistent, talking through deals and proposals with sharp instinct. However, Ava was captivated as every bit of gesture from him screamed power and control.

Everything was finalized, more deals bagged for the Halenito group; more work for Ava Sinclair.

It was time to go back to NYC.

Ethan stopped, looking at Ava with his dark olive eyes. 

“You look stressed.”

“Uh…y…yes sir.”

“Buckle up though, you've got lots of work to do tonight.” 

For some reason he had wanted her closer to him.

“Tonight?!” She shouted without knowing, she immediately placed her palm over her mouth to stop herself.

“Do I need to make a repetition of what I had just said.” He snarled.

“No. But sir, I need my rest as well.” Ava retorted, she didn't know how she did it but she definitely talked back to her boss.

He moved closer to her, she took a step back almost falling onto the floor.

“Don't let my defense for you earlier cloud your judgement. And I would add an extra f*e to your paycheck.” Ethan said and walked away.

 “Extra pay?” Ava thought she remembered her sick father whose hospital bills are piling up for her and decided to take the risk of spending another night at the Hale's Mansion.

Just then a thin voice so bright that sounded like a sweet- venom came through.

“Ethan! You didn't tell me you were in Chicago.” 

Ethan and Ava turned. A slender woman dressed in a cream colored silk gown, exposing her cleavage that shimmered under the light.

The camera flashed across the streets. Of course she's Miranda Dobrev, a model and a public figure as well as Ethan's girlfriend. Her beauty was striving, almost unreal; with her jet black hair. Even Ava was captivated by her beauty.

“Miranda,” Ethan said flatly. “What are you doing here?”

She tilted her head backwards. “Oh! I had a shoot for Ludemon magazine.” She smiled, giving Ethan a side hug not acknowledging Ava’s presence.

Miranda put her hand through Ethan's without waiting for permission. “Anyways, you could've told me you were flying out, I would have joined you.”

Ethan removed her hand calmly. “This is business, Miranda.”

“Walk to the car, Ava.” Ethan commanded Ava.

Just then Miranda's attention shifted to Ava, she hadn't noticed her earlier.

“Who's she?” She asked.

Ethan blinked, “she's my secretary.”

“Ouu…isn't she looking too archaic for a secretary of a billion dollar CEO?” She let out a mocking laugh.

Ava obeyed. She was burning with envy as Miranda’s voice rang in her ears.

“Obedient isn't she?” She said, “Tell me Ethan, do you train all your staff this way?”

There was no response from Ethan.

Ava left Ethan and Miranda to talk. Miranda hadn't decided to follow them home and for that Ava was grateful.

*****

The jet landed safely in NYC close to midnight. They both stepped down, exhaustion written all over Ava's face.

A car pulled up a few minutes after they landed and drove them straight to the Hale's Mansion. Before they got out of the car, Ethan looked at her.

“Let's not mix business with pleasure.” He tapped her thigh and got out of the car.

Ava's body shook, she felt cold within seconds not because of what he had told her but his soft touch on her thigh. 

“Helen would show you…” 

“Dear brother.” A familiar voice interrupted him inside the sitting room. A voice familiar to both Ethan and Ava.

They both turned their neck to see who had called out.

Ethan has dreaded that voice, that face, that attitude and that aura. Ava had never in her wildest imagination thought to m

eet her past mistake, pain and heartbreak sitting proudly at the Hale's Mansion. Lucas Hale, her ex boyfriend and Ethan's alienated brother.