Ava’s POV
It has been exactly one week since Ethan proposed to Ivana. The company had become unbearable for me, and I just had to resign. I had been looking for some other company that would not just retain my salary rate, but would also appreciate the value of my work. It would sound funny, but my success now was also going to be my revenge, and I didn't intend to take it lightly on Ethan, especially for how he ditched me. Going through my phone randomly, I came across an email that hid in the spam session. Strange. I had made myself available for top positions online once, and I'm getting to see this email now? “Glint,” I whispered the company’s name only for Mrs Cordelia to clear her throat from the entrance of my room. “May I come in?” She asked politely. “Of course,” I quickly put my phone aside to pay attention to her. She was carrying a medium-sized box, but from the look on her face, I could tell that she was unsure of the content. “I didn't place any order, though,” I furrowed my brows. “It's not from you, Ava. His was the parcel I went to get on the day my father died. Miss Ivana called not too long ago, and she said that it was for you.” I nodded for her to leave it on the vanity. “Did she tell you what is inside?” “No. She just said that I should make sure it gets to you.” “Alright, then. You may leave.” I glanced at the box with uncertainty. If the package was meant for me, why was I getting it now even though it has been more than a week since my dad's death. Also, why would Ivana care to send me a package if not because it could be the end of me. I quickly picked my phone up and went through the invitation from Glint. After my research, it turned out to be a nice and well renowned company, which always came after Ethan's company during the award of recognition event that is held annually. The email dated three days ago, so I could not possibly look desperate if I showed up at the company today. I quickly changed into a corporate gown, black heels to match, and tied my hair up to a bun. “You are most welcome, Miss Ava Scott,” the men at the security post bowed slightly. Stunned wasn't enough to describe how I felt. Perhaps, the Scott's legacy went before the faces of each Scott, but this… this felt a bit different. All the staff welcomed me as if my presence here wasn't new or as if they had been pre-informed that I was going to be coming today. “Please, Ma'am, you may take a seat,” the man in his late twenties spoke politely after whim I assumed to be his secretary walked me to his office. I shook my hand before I did and instructed that two cups of coffee should be brought. “It's really not necessary,” I tried to dismiss the offer, but he insisted. “So, you are welcome to one of the high ranked companies in New York and I'm pleased to announce to you that you just found a huge favour in the sight of the CEO,” he smiled. “I'm sorry, but are you not the CEO? I mean, you make it sound like you are two different persons,” I smiled with slight uneasiness. He leaned further into his chair with a blank smile. “Well, the outside world doesn't know this yet, but consider the evidence of how well you are welcomed into Glint. I am only a humble servant to the CEO himself. Nothing more.” With that, he offered to show me around when he saw how disappointed I was in hearing that he wasn't the CEO. Not that it mattered, but I just felt disappointed. I couldn't help but notice that the company had so much resemblance with that of my dad's, which made it even more difficult for me to forget about my father's betrayal. “Here,” he placed a large envelope into my hands. “It contains properly documented files of your allowances, your salary, and the benefits you'll be getting while working in the company. We hope you like what you see and you'll come back when you've made up your mind to join us officially.” “Don't you think you're forgetting something? Like an interview or something?” I couldn't hide the astonishment this time. “You brought your father's company for five years straight, Miss Ava Scott. Those years are proof of your competence,” he smiled. “Besides, this phase just began. Stay tuned for more.” I glanced from the envelope to him, with my jaw slightly ajar. Really, what was going on? He led me back to the office where I didn't spend so much time before I left the premises to go back home. ‘This phase just began. Stay tuned.’ The words kept ringing in my head until I got home. I tossed the envelope close to the box before deciding to take a shower, only for me to come back to see that I had missed several calls from Ethan. “We need to talk,” his text read, and although he has been an asshole since the past weeks, I still couldn't deny the urgency in his text. I scoffed. Perhaps, he had just realised what kind of devil Ivana could be, and it was too late because I wasn't going to welcome him back no matter how much he begged. I picked the envelope up to go through its contents, but an abrupt knock made its way to my door. “I'm sorry, Ava. Mr Ethan said he's here to see you.”Ava’s POV A week and a few days had passed with Peter finally leaving, and as expected, Rosalie was acting a bit weird around me. It wasn't as if I blamed her for it, I just wished she'd be happy for him because honestly, what happened to him was something to be really happy for.What used to be Peter's office was now mine, and while it came with all the comforts of working in my own space, it came with James winking or kissing my forehead each time he used the door that connected both offices. Gratefully, he wasn't a huge fan of PDA as I wasn't and that helped to conceal what was going on between us until it became official. That's if it'd ever be official.“Hey,” I greeted Rosalie carefully as I walked into her office. “Are you alright?”“I just miss him, Ava,” she surprisingly sighed, which I wouldn't lie, I never believed she'd even look at me when I walked into her office. “We meet on some evenings, but you know, having him close all the time once and having to deal with our sch
Ava's POV The moment those words left my mouth, I became very responsible for a wild side of James I didn't believe I'd ever see. At first, he took us to his room all without breaking the kiss. I took off his tie completely white he started to undo my zip.“James,” I moaned as the tip of his fingers trailed down the centre of my back. After pulling the fabric of my shoulder so that my cleavage was now fully exposed to him, he threw me to the bed. That was the only time he had parted his lips from mine so I took the opportunity to breathe. Breathe as though I'd never be given the chance to breathe again. “Ava,” he whispered as he undid the remaining buttons of his shirt. I so badly wanted to do it myself, but since letting him do it gave me the time to admire his body and the wetness of it, I sucked my index finger slowly while keeping the gaze between us firm before answering.“Yes, James.”I was crawling up to him now with no sense of shame or guilt. Jeez, it sounded so terrible, b
Ava's POV I couldn't look anywhere but my palms. As much as I'd love to pick the details of his shirt as I always did, and his new hairstyle, the one he had on on the day of the promotion, and all other things that made him look so divine, I couldn't. His eyes were all over me as if he didn't mind what I'd think of him, more like, he didn't care what I'd think of him. With that, I pretty much knew that I'd explode if my gaze met his now.“Where are we going?” I cleared my throat.“To grab your favourite cup of mojitos, then I could show you my place,” he leaned closer towards me before swallowing a lump in his throat. “That's… if you want, though.”“Of course, I'd love to,” I replied immediately, watching the uncertainties in his eyes fade instantly. “And thanks for the mojito,” I blushed, rubbing my stomach as I'd really need one at the moment.He was too excited that it kinda embarrassed him to keep his gaze glued to mine, so he turned to face the window which kinda reflected him b
Ava's POV It doesn't matter what Rosalie saw or what she believed. I made sure not to give in to her conclusions, especially when she could be very wrong about it. The tension from earlier had slowly vanished just as it usually did any time I was with her, I was laughing at her jokes and hoping that the break would linger a little bit.I barely spoke with Peter when I got back to the office again. I couldn't imagine what it must be like for him especially if Rosalie was correct about his feelings for her. Well, I just hoped that wherever he was going wouldn't stop them from seeing each other.“I'll let you know when I'm done and you can come over,” I assured Rosalie who was starting to nag me about not showing up.”I'll freshen up quickly and that way, you can also meet mum,” I tried a different bargain this time.“I'll say you and Mrs Cordelia are really cool now,” she blushed. “You calm her mum now,” she pointed out as though it was something entirely new.“She has done a lot for me
Ava's POV I waited patiently for Peter to come out so I could ask him about his meeting with James. I wouldn't usually do it, but I couldn't help the way his tone turned sharper when I spoke about Peter. I just couldn't get the tension off of me.“Hey,” he called out carefully, when I hadn't realised that he was back.“Hey,” I shot him a quick smile and a bit of a relaxing sigh. “How did it go?” I asked while trying my best not to sound nosy as I did.“Great,” he flashed me one of his very confident grins except that I saw through it this time. Something was off. “He just wanted to know about your performance and he seemed pretty impressed by it,” he assured me.“And that's the reason you look troubled?” I pulled a chair out for him to sit. “Come on, what's wrong?”“I think I have a lot to talk to Rosalie about,” he sighed.Just then, I recalled how excited she was to tell me about her and Peter when we resumed, but we never got the chance to discuss it. Damn! I felt so horrible beca
James’s POVFor the past week of watching Peter and Ava in the same office, there was no better conviction that this was a bad idea. I couldn't possibly yell at him because he couldn't keep his hands to himself, and there was no way I planned on sending him out when things with Ava… I didn't know what exactly it was. She's fine one minute and the next is history.“Mind telling me how your work experience has been?” I raised a brow while watching every angle of her body.“It's been great,” her voice beamed with satisfaction and excitement when she spoke. I couldn't help but wonder if it was because she worked with Peter or I had decided to make the workspace a bit convenient for her by taking a break. “Peter has been very helpful, and kind,” her brows furrowed from excitement as she spoke again. “He's been nothing but gentle, and he—”“That's good to hear, Ava,” I cut in, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “Learn as much as you can because he might be leaving soon.”“Wait. What?” Her m