Chapter 1 - Son of a bitch!

I stormed into the office building, my heels echoing on the polished marble floor. The scent of fresh coffee and polished leather smelled in the air, but it couldn't hide the taste of betrayal on my tongue.

The receptionist's eyes widened as I slammed my palm onto the desk.

"Where is he?” I asked, my voice low and commanding.

The receptionist, a petite blonde haired woman with a sharp gaze, stammered, "I... I am s-sorry, ma, how may i ...”

I leaned in, my voice dripping with annoyance.

"That lying, cheating, son of a…” I spat out the words . "Tell me where Austin Rail is, or so help me...” My words hung in the air with the promise of an incoming chaos.

I kicked off my heels, the soft thud of my feet on the cool floor an opposite to the anger growing inside of me. I picked up my shoes, my long hair dangling behind me.

The whispers and gasps followed me, but I didn't care. I was a woman on a mission, fueled by fury and a broken heart.

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped in, my eyes flashing with wrath as I pressed the button for the 2nd floor, My fingers trembled with rage.

The doors slid shut and it began ascending, I felt a rush of satisfaction, staring back at me is my reflection from the mirrored walls, my eyes blazing, cheeks flushed, and my chest heaving with each breath I took.

The elevator pinged open and I stepped out into the modern workspace.

The click of keyboards and conversations filled the air, it sounded like white noise to me. I was focused on one thing, Confronting Austin.

The staff stared as I marched towards his office, my bare feet stumping the tiled floor. The air was filled with tension I could feel their eyes glued on me.

His assistant, a poised woman with a sympathetic smile, tried to stop me…“ ma, I…”

“Don’t!” I cut her off in anger, “I don't need an appointment. I need to see Austin. Now!”

The assistant's eyes turned to the closed door, and she nodded, her expression apologetic. “go on in.”

I threw open the door, and Austin looked up from his desk, a look of surprise quickly evolving into a charming smile. But I wasn't buying it. I walked towards him, my eyes glowing with accusation.

"What a pleasant surprise, ava” he said.

“I laughed, the sound bitter and raw, “you think this is pleasant?”

Austin rose from his chair, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Ava please, calm down.”

“You think I can calm down?” I asked, my voice rising, “you think I can calm down after this?” I launched the brown envelope I was holding into the air, and it floated, suspended for a moment, before the contents scattered to the ground

“Who is she, Austin?”

Austin's eyes followed the photos as they scattered across the floor, his expression unreadable. He took a step forward, his voice low and soothing. “Ava, let me explain.”

“Explain?” I laughed, "What is there to explain? You have been cheating on me, Austin. With her.” I kicked at the photos, and they slid across the floor.

"Ava, wait. Just listen to me”. his hands placed on my shoulder.

I tried to shake him off, but he held firm.

He locked his eyes onto mine, and he whispers,

"Ava, please...listen” with his breath brushing my skin, "You know I love and care about you,those?” He said, pointing to the pictures scattered on the ground, “they mean nothing …..Ava I don’t care about any other lady….look at me,I love you so much Ava” He went on and on about how he never cheated since the last time.

His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke, the words tumbling out calculated, for a moment, I lost answers to the reason I was there, my anger and hurt gave way to consideration I heard the desperation, the longing, and the genuine remorse in his tone, and it pierced my anger.

I looked in his eyes and saw a sort of focused sincerity and then, in a moment that made my heart flutter, he pulled me closer, his lips crashing down on mine.

Every furious thought, every rehearsed accusation, dissolved into the heat of his mouth.

The taste of him was intoxicating, and i felt myself drowning in the familiar scent of his cologne.

But reality had a way of intruding, my anger and hurt was bigger than my desire.

I pushed against Austin's chest, breaking the kiss and stepping back my chest heaving with ragged breaths.

Austin sighed, his shoulders sagging, like a weight had been lifted off them. “Ava, she is just a friend.”

“ friend?” I spat, “don’t insult my intelligence, Austin. I saw the photos. I saw the way you looked at her. Oh please, not on the weekend you clearly told me you spent with your mother!.”

Austin took another step forward, his eyes locked on mine, like a magnet drawn to metal. “Ava, please. Just listen to me.” His tone a low command.

I raised my hand, and he stopped, his words dying on his lips. I could feel the regret radiating off him.

“Not anymore,” I said, my voice cold. "I have had enough of this. It is over, Austin.”

For a moment,He just stood there quite, the only sound was the soft click of the keyboard outside.

His face paled, his eyes flashing with desperation. “Ava, don't do this. We can work through this.”

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “You had your chances, Austin. You blew it. Now, it's over."

And with that, I turned and walked away,my jaw clenched as I fought the tears, leaving Austin standing alone in his office.

My chest feels like it had been ripped open, lungs burning with every breath. I thought I was enough. I thought I could fix him, make him see me. But I am just a Band Aid on a wound that won't stop bleeding.

Austin's words still echo in my mind “I love you.” Love? This? This is destruction!….I am tired of being the one who is broken, tired of being the one who is left, I am done being hurt.

As I stepped out of the work space, memories of the evening before, flooded my mind. The girl in the picture, Austin's supposed friend, had stopped by my studio. Her smug smile and pitying gaze still lingered in my mind.

"You think you are special, don't you?" she had said, her voice dripping with condescension. "you are just a temporary distraction. Austin and I have something real going,remember how he said he was with his mum last weekend,yeah, that was me."

Her words had cut deep, but it was the photo she had left behind that had sent me over the edge. A photo of her and Austin, smiling and laughing together, with a timestamp from the weekend.

The weekend Austin had said he was visiting his mother.

I am just a fool who keeps giving chances.

The elevator ride down was a blur. I could not shake the feeling that I had been living a lie. The reception was still buzzing with the aftermath of my outburst, but I didn't pay attention. I was lost in my own world, replaying every moment and every conversation.

As I pushed through the glass doors, the cool air hit me like a slap. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. But it was no use. Austin's words, the girl's words, they were all tangled up in my mind.

My phone buzzed in my hand. Once. Twice. Five times. Then a string of texts. I didn’t need to look to know the script.

Ava, please.

You’re overreacting.

Let me explain.

She means nothing.

I can’t lose you.

The old Ava would have cracked by now. Her resolve would be softening, her heart reaching for that familiar, painful hope. The old Ava lived for the peace Austin’s apologies built,but not anymore. I just needed to get away from here, from him.

I barely remember stopping a taxi.

“Where to, ms?” the driver asked, his voice gentle.

I rattled out my address, trying to compose myself. But as the car pulled away, the dam broke. I buried my face in my palm and cried.

The driver's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. Worried and concerned. I looked away, ashamed. I didn't want anyone seeing me like this.

The city blurred past as I sobbed. Austin's face kept flashing in my mind his smile, his lies, his kiss. I felt like I was drowning in my own tears.

The taxi stopped at my apartment. I fumbled for cash, handed it over, and stumbled out of the car.

“You okay, ms?” the driver asked, his voice low.

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. He nodded and drove off.

I watched the taxi disappear, feeling lost. Alone. Then I turned and walked into my apartment, ready to face every bit of my reality.

As I stepped in the soft glow of the setting sun cast a warm orange light over the white walls and flowery decor. The art frame I had painted few months back, sat firmly on the wall.

i took off my heels, the cool floor a welcome relief to my sore feet. The sound of silence enveloped me, a stark opposite to the chaos that had erupted earlier at Austin’s office.

I walked to the bed room, my eyes still welling up in tears as I collapsed onto the bed.

Sitting on my bed locker was a tiny sketched frame of Austin I had made on our trip to the states,where he was smiling like he knew what love meant.

I had always look to it on bad days. but today, it was a day for the frame as I snatched it up and smashed it on the floor.

Event of the day replayed in my mind like a bad movie, it all felt like a cruel joke. I buried my face in a pillow, my body shaking with sobs.

I cried until i had no tears left, my body exhausted but my mind still racing. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, the pillow still clutched in my arms.

The hours passed, and the sun dipped below it horizon, casting darkness over the room.

I groggily opened my eyes, disoriented. The room was dark, and i realized i had slept for hours. Before me, is the remains of the frame I had broken which reminded me of my dilemma.

Almost lost in thought, the sound from my stomach jolt me back to reality.

I was weak and hungry, I haven’t had a proper meal for the day, I sluggishly went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

While at it, I found a bottle of sleeping pill from months ago in the kitchen cabinet, I was given at the hospital few months back when I complained of Insomnia, surprisingly I didn’t use any of it. I spent that weekend at Austin’s and I slept very fine, love effect I guess.

Now is the time of need, As soon as I finished my meal,i took out a pill and swallowed with large quantity of water.

Then quitely lay in bed, several thoughts running through my mind.

Few minutes later, I got knocked off, I didn’t dream. I simply ceased to exist for hours, a blessed night, temporary peace from the screaming in my heart.

*****

The following morning When the first light seeped through my blinds, it didn’t feel like a new day. I was still stuck In yesterday.

Suddenly I felt a sharp, electronic vibration against the wood of my nightstand. My thoughts aren’t even formed yet.

The buzzing was an offense. It felt like an intrusion yet a sickly, hopeful warmth flooded my veins.

It must be Austin, I thought.

It was him. It had to be. He had let the storm settle. He had crafted the perfect, heartbreaking apology. He was calling to take it all back, to explain it all away, to pull me from this cliff edge with the sound of his voice alone.

My body moved before my mind could warn it, I am a puppet on the strings of a two year habit. Heart hammering against my ribs, my finger moved with a desperate eager clumsiness as i fumbled for the phone.