Forbidden Embers

The acrid scent of the smoke still clung to Ava, a harsh reminder of the fire that took her parents. At eight, her world was a scary, gray place. A cruel twist of fate left her alone, an orphan in a world that didn't make sense anymore. A warm hand touched her shaking shoulder. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up at a strong man. He seemed so strong, unlike the weakness she felt. His kind face showed he understood. "Please don't... don't... Please don't kill me too," she whispered, her voice small and scared. Lucas Antonio,a man in his late thirties, a name whispered in boardrooms with reverence, a titan of industry, knelt before the small, broken child. The man who commanded vast energy empires, whose decisions swayed markets, found himself humbled by the profound grief etched on Ava's face. He recognized the hollowness in her eyes, a mirror of the despair he had once known. He gently lifted her into his arms. Her small body trembling against his. "I promise, little one,"

"No, you can't love me, I am too old for you, you deserve better. You deserve more than I can offer." He said as he gently caressed her face, a shadow crossed his face, a hint of something sad and resigned. The next morning, sunlight streamed across Ava’s face, forcing her eyes open. "Ugh," she moaned, instinctively reaching for her forehead. A dull throb pulsed behind her eyes. She squeezed them shut, trying to ward off the pain, but it was no use. She pried her eyelids open, wincing at the brightness.Her gaze drifted around the room, landing on a Lucas's picture hung on the wall. Suddenly, memories of the previous night surged back. The alcohol, the laughter, the impulsive words tumbling from her lips. A hot flush crept up her neck. "Oh no," she whispered, burying her face in her hands. "What have I done?" The thought of facing Lucas again twisted in her stomach.Ava bolted upright, throwing the covers aside. Her bare feet hit the cool floor as she scrambled for her phone on the

The voice startled her so badly she almost jumped out of her skin. "Brother Lucas! Hi. I- I was just over at Helen's."" Who was that guy that dropped you off at home. I'm not comfortable with you being driven home by a man. You're still a child, and it's important that I know who you're with. Also, it is very late , what if something had happened to you? I was worried sick. Lucas thundered."Thank you for caring, but I'm growing up and learning to be independent". I'm fine, really." Ava said with tears in her eyes. Besides, you have someone else in your life that you should be giving all the care to now. Please don't bother about me anymore." She turned and walked quickly to her room, the door banging shut with a loud thud.*****On the morrow, her alarm jolted her awake. Remembering her new job, she leapt out of bed and rushed to the shower.Having dressed quickly, she made her way out of the house in a hurry, but when she was just about to reach the sitting room, the rain sta

The sun, a harsh glare, pried Ava's eyes open. Lucas's arm lay heavy across her, his slow breaths filling the quiet. Her cheeks burned. Last night's images flickered: laughter, soft words, a tangled mess of limbs. "Oh no," she whispered, her fingers pressed to her forehead. A nervous giggle escaped, then died. She looked at Lucas, asleep, a soft smile on his lips. He looked peaceful. "I love you," she breathed, the words barely there. Her cheeks heated. Wow. Just wow. Then, fear hit. How do I face him? She threw back the blanket, the sheets crumpled on the floor. A dark stain, clear against the light fabric, made her stomach clench. Oh no. "Crap," she hissed, barely a sound. She paced, her eyes searching for a way to hide it. Think, Ava, think. "Damn it!" she muttered, grabbing the stained blanket, holding it like a shield. She backed into the bathroom, eyes wide with panic and shame. The lock clicked, loud in the silence. The shower water burned, a desperate attempt to wa

Lucas's grip on the steering wheel intensified the moment he spotted Mateo. A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw."What's he doing here?" Lucas muttered, not taking his eyes off Mateo. "Does he know Ava works here?"Sophia sighed. "Why are you so mad? It's good Ava has someone who cares about her." She placed a hand on Lucas's arm. "Mateo's a good guy. He'll look after her."Lucas scoffed, shaking off her hand. "Look after her? I can look after her just fine.""As what, Lucas?" Sophia's voice rose. "You're her brother. That's it. You can't control her entire life. You can't protect her forever.""I can try," Lucas snapped, his gaze hardening. "And I'll start by making sure Mateo stays away from her." He reached for the door handle.Sophia's hand shot out, grabbing his arm. "Don't do this, Lucas. Don't make a scene. Ava doesn't need you interfering."Lucas twisted, his eyes burning into Sophia's. "She doesn't need me? She's my..."She's your what? Answer me!" Sophia exclaimed."She's