Ava's POV"Oh my God! "I gasped.My eyes stayed locked on the screen behind us, frozen, watching James Hayes casually using the leg press machine in the background of the viral gym video.The crowd murmured, the host leaned back with a smug smile, and I could hear the producers whispering excitedly off-camera. A scandal was good for ratings.I sat frozen, and I couldn't breath. Nathaniel just sat there with no reaction, no assistance."Ava?" the host prompted again, sweetly, but with mischief underneath. "Do you have anything to say about this?"My throat was dry. I tried to speak, but all I could do was stare at the screen. I felt every eye on me, including Nathaniel’s. His hand was still on mine, but it wasn’t the same gentle pressure from before. It was rigid. Like he was deciding whether to keep holding on or let go."I... I didn’t know he was there," I finally said. My voice was cracking. "I didn’t s
Nathaniel’s POVBy the time the article headlines started trending, I already knew my mother would call. But shockingly it was my Father, first thing in the morning. He didn’t waste time with greetings."This is a PR mess," He said, with annoyance in his tone. "James Hayes being manhandled by you, videos of Ava alone in the gym, emotional headlines? You guys were alone for just few hours and already causing more trouble.""It wasn't our fault. It just happened unexpectedly.""I don't care about that. Just fix it. We need damage control immediately."I looked at Ava, and could see her drop her spoon; her expression showing anxiety, guilt, and oddly, something softer like she felt bad that I was caught up in her mess."I’ve already blacklisted James Hayes," I replied. "He won’t get a foot into any business remotely associated with Hargrave.""You did what without consulting me?" Jessica screamed in the background
Ava’s POV"James Hayes." I replied Nathaniel, trying to figure out what he was about to use the name for.I watched as Nathaniel repeated the name and ended the call, his whole body looked tensed up. The room was quiet, I didn't say a word, he just stared out the window like he was thinking or brain storming.I started staring at him, observing him like I had never seen him before. Then my mind went to those words he said;>"You're not Ava Collins anymore. You're Ava Hargrave."I started picturing the way he looked when he lifted James? His eyes, he was cold, calm and protective. The way he looked at me after and grabbed my hand to take me away? Like I was something worth defending. Like I mattered. My cheeks started turning red.But then his other version of him slipped back in with a warning and brought me out of my day dream."Next time you leave this room without telling me, don’t expect me to fi
Ava’s POVThe week after the interview felt like a slow-motion car crash. Not because Nathaniel and I were fighting, we were way past fighting. We were in full Cold War mode.Jessica handled PR related issues while forcing us to post lovey-dovey pictures and videos.Nathaniel buried himself in meetings, calls, Hargrave press statements. I spent the week touring the hotel for pictures and videos, editing content, posting curated photos of myself looking stunningly beautiful, rich, and doing daily Lives that somehow pushed my following to almost 15 million on youtube.I was really the most-followed woman in the country. I started receiving a lot of offers from companies and events, but I decided to leave those in the background when he walked past shirtless. I didn't mind sharing.(You’re welcome, ladies.)But even with the social media glow-up, we hadn’t talked. Not about the interview. Not about James. Not about
Ava's POV"Well, well," he smirked, stepping closer. "If it isn't the little fox who thought she could outsmart everyone."I froze staring at my ex James Hayes standing in front of me. The last person I wanted to see right now and he was blocking the way to my room like he’d been waiting."I must admit, you're dressed up like a princess... pretending you're something special."I was dressed in my exercise ware so what about it screamed 'I'm a princess'?I wondered. I stepped back instinctively to avoid being close, but he moved closer, his presence suffocating me."I should've known," James sneered, his voice low. "You know...I always thought you were a little fox. Hiding behind that innocent act. And look at you now... snagged yourself a billionaire."I clenched my fists, my throat tightened and I couldn't say a word. My body remembered every cruel word, every shove, every bruise I received from him in the past. "Figured you’d spread your legs for a rich boy and call it love.""James,
"Then let's go in." Nathaniel took the lead and went inside.I stood at the threshold of the VIP suite, hesitant, unsure whether I was stepping into a honeymoon or a hostage situation. I peeped inside, seeing Nathaniel tossing his blazer onto a chair like he owned the entire hotel. Maybe he did. Who knew with him and the Hargraves."You gonna stand there all night or... you planning to sleep in the hallway?" he asked, loosening his tie without looking at me.I stepped in slowly, my eyes scanning the luxurious suite. It was stunning. Nothing below my expectations. It was the kind of room that screamed romance with the roses on the bed and all over the floor. Unfortunately, steamy romance was the one thing missing from our arrangement.I stood silently and watched as Nathaniel disappeared into the bathroom without another word. All I could think of was the fact that Nathaniel kept behaving as if he hadn't disappeared for a month. As if he hadn't just casually returned to my life with a