HELLO! SOMEONE IS WATCHING

The door to the elevator opened with a chime when Ava stepped out of it, breathing heavily.

The sound of her heels on the marble floor as she tugged at the hem of her skimpy skirt. 

“Those malicious eyes.” She muttered beneath her breath, forcing a smile on her face as she walked past her colleagues. “Urrgh…”

She wondered what Ethan would say, if he saw the way they looked at her.

She could practically hear their thoughts saying: “what is she doing living with the Hales?”

“For fucks sake,” Sophia Forbes the PR director, said loud enough for everyone to hear her. “What is she doing with Hales?”

Just as Ava had predicted.

The air felt suffocating for her.

A few workers laughed but she kept walking, she didn't stop to explain anything or give away anything.

When she reached her office, she felt relieved that she had passed those bunch of questioning eyes.

“Tough morning.” Caroline's voice came as loud and cheerful as ever.

Ava groaned. “Don't get me started, please.”

“You heard Sofia, right?” 

“Everyone did.” Caroline sighed.

There was a good amount of silence that stretched between them.

“Ava,” Caroline called her.

“Are the rumors true?” She asked with a hushed tone.

Ava opened her mouth, she tried to talk but no words came out.

She folded her arms, her gaze falling. “Yes, they're all true.”

Caroline gasped.

“It's temporary.” She paused. “I think.”

“Mr Ethan had offered to cover my father's hospital bills… I had no choice, care.” Ava said as tears rushed down her eyes.

Caroline frowned. “That's…”

“Desperate?” She cut her. “Yes I know, and I was desperate to save my dad… He was dying of cancer, what would you have suggested I do!” She yelled.

Caroline moved closer to her, touching her shoulder. “Hey, I didn't mean it like that.” 

She had been the only emotional support Ava had at that moment and she needed the best of it.

“I know, I'm just tired, Care.” She sighed, drying her face with a tissue.

Only the sound of the humming air-conditioning could be heard as another round of silence dragged between them.

Just then Ava spoke, almost to herself. “The weird part is, a donor that came through a couple of days back.”

“That's a good thing, then.”

“It is. But, the strange thing is…Mr Ethan said he hadn't found a donor yet.” She paused.

“The hospital said the offer came from a ‘Hale.’”

“If not him, Do you think it's Lucas?” Caroline added.

She shook her head. “He doesn't know anything about my father's health.

“And you're sure about this?” Caroline gave a more thoughtful expression. “From what I've heard about Lucas, he's quite cunning and dangerous.”

“I'm positive.” Ava answered.

Their conversation drifted into hums of unanswered questions.

“I would be going to visit my dad, though. I need to know the scheduled date for the surgery.”

Caroline nodded. “You want me to come with you?”

“No, it's fine.” She said softly. “I'll text you later.”

At the hospital, Ava arrived in the hospital hallway, the scent of anti-septic filled her nostrils as she walked down towards her father's room.

When she reached for the door, her steps halted.

There he was.

Lucas Hale. Sitting besides her father, legs flipped over the other as he went through the patient file like it was his right.

“Lucas.” She called him.

“Oh! Ava Sinclair.” He said when he looked up. “You never told me your dad was sick.”

She inhaled and exhaled. “What are you doing here?”

“...Came to see how the old man has been holding up.” He shrugged. “Considering I might have helped save his life.”

She whispered. “You?”

Her belly churned. Lucas never helped without wanting something in return.

He took a step closer. “Relax, I never said I was the donor. I just…you know, made some calls.” 

She stared at him, mouth wide open and eyes almost popping out of its socket.

She couldn't tell if Lucas was really trying to help her or make her worry.

“How did you…?” Before she could finish her sentence.

Her phone rang. ‘Mr Ethan’ flashed across her phone screen.

“Hello, Mr Ethan.” She answered as soon as she picked her phone. 

“Where are you?” Ethan's voice came from the opposite end of the phone.

It sounded concerned.

Ava blinked, startled. “The hospital.”

His silence was heavy, like he already knew.

“Did Lucas say or do anything to you?” He queried.

Her heart skipped. His voice wasn’t cold this time. It was low. 

“About the donor? Yes he did.” 

Another silence.

“Damnit…Ava, do not let him get close to you.”

“Is there a problem Mr Ethan?” Ava inquired. 

Her eyes blinked continuously. 

“What could be going on?” She said in her head. 

“Be careful around him, He didn't just help your father, he did it for you.” Ethan's tone was flat and defiant.

Her breath caught.

“Go back to the mansion. I’ll be there soon.”

The line went dead.

Beads of sweat ran down her cheeks as she stared at Lucas with discern.

For the first time, she didn’t know who she should fear more.

The brother she once loved.

Or the one she was beginning to fall for.

She hadn't kept her phone down for a long time, when it buzzed again.

One new message.

Unknown ID. The message read.

“Fucking both brothers now…Huh?”

She froze. Her phone nearly falling from her hand.

“Ava?” What is it?” Lucas asked with a concerned tone, noticing the change in Ava's face.

She said nothing. Her hands trembling and heart racing faste

r than someone in a marathon.

Her expression twisted into confusion. And something else. Fear.

Because whoever sent the message wasn't guessing.

They knew.