With You

(One year ago)

“You can't be serious!” Luke exclaimed in astonishment, staring at his grandfather. The older man had just cut off Luke’s allowance and threatened to disinherit him as well.

Graham Wright leaned back into his giant chair and stared back at his grandson challengingly.

“I am. I've tried to be reasonable with you and overlooked your shenanigans countless times but this is the height of it. Crashing your car in a racing contest… what were you thinking??!”

Luke grimaced, the weight of his grandfather's disappointment settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew he had pushed his luck too far this time around. He was drunk to stupor when he entered the race. The countless parties, the lavish spending, the sexual escapades, the dangerous car racing - it had all caught up with him.

“I will not sit back and watch you destroy my legacy, or worse, your life.” Graham stated.

He had turned a blind eye to Luke's actions, especially after the death of his son and daughter-in-law, Luke's parents. They died in a plane crash some years ago and Luke went haywire, choosing to express his grief in extreme ways. Now, Graham regretted not handling his grandson's actions earlier.

“So you're giving me an ultimatum, Grandfather?” Luke asked, his voice filled with desperation.

Graham sighed heavily and nodded, “Yes, Lucian. I'll give you one more chance to prove yourself and if you fail, I'll leave everything to charity.” He wasn't growing any younger and his grandson needed a reality check.

Luke searched his Grandfather eyes, finding nothing but fierce determination and knew he was defeated.

“What do I have to do?”

***********************************************************

(Present)

Beep beep beep

“Argh! Turn that off!” Ava groaned, covering her head with the pillows.

Ava's roommate, Christine, walked into the room sipping a coffee, “Good morning to you too, Sunshine. Aaaaand the alarm is for you.”

Ava murmured a sleepy ‘Good morning’, rolled to her side and slammed the alarm clock shut. She was not a morning person, and it didn't help that she slept really late, working the previous night.

Christine chuckled, “Come on, you'll be late for work if you keep staying in bed. Made breakfast already, go freshen up.”

“What could I ever do without you??” Ava asked softly.

Ava and Christine met in college and became best friends. Their friendship was surprising as they were polar opposites.

Ava was a shy and petite beauty, standing at around 5'7 with glossy eyes that sparkled when she got excited. She had auburn hair which shone in the sun. She always wore a soft smile, making her look innocent but alluring. On the other hand, Christine was a tall brunette with a slender yet athletic physique. She eluded confidence and was known for her no-nonsense attitude.

Despite their differences, Ava and Christine formed an unbreakable bond and had remained best friends years later. Christine was now a self employed nail technician and Ava worked as a marketer for Wright AutoTech Motors, a renowned motor manufacturing company.

"Exactly! Now get up quickly before you go to work late." Christine replied, laughing as Ava stumbled to the bathroom.

Less than an hour later, Ava was fully dressed and seated at the kitchen table eating her meal. She yawned, making Christine's eyes narrow.

“How many hours sleep did you get last night?”

“Only two. I had to finish up the work Ken gave me yesterday. The others weren't available.”

Christine rolled her eyes. “Of course they weren't! Ken is just a sexist pig. And you make things worse by being a total pushover.”

“No, I'm not.” Ava argued weakly, earning a glare from her friend. They both knew that was a lie. Ava's biggest flaw has always been the need to please others.

“You know I'm right. Just try to decline sometimes especially when your comfort will be compromised.”

“He's my boss…”

Christine interrupted, “Team manager.”

“Still my boss. But I'll have a talk with him today about the workload.” Ava promised which seemed to appease Christine temporarily. She glanced at her wristwatch and shot out of her chair.

“I've got to run now, Chris. I'll come over at the salon after work.”

“Alright. Bye! And do not be too nice.” Christine admonished.

Ava grabbed her things and rushed out, “Noted, mum. Love you. Byeeee!!”

Christine shook her head, knowing Ava most definitely did not note anything. Ava was too nice for her own good, and people often walked all over her. Christine hoped Ava would stop caring so much about what people thought of her.

***********************************************************

Ava hurried down the busy New York street, her heels clicking against the pavement as she weaved through the early morning crowd. She clutched her tote bag tighter, mentally reviewing her to-do list for the day. Marketing reports. Client calls. Try not to cry if Mr. Ken raises his voice again.

She slipped into the sleek glass building just as the security guard gave her a nod.

“Morning, Ava.”

“Good morning, Henry,” she smiled, her voice soft but warm.

As she walked past the lobby, a few women from other departments were gathered by the coffee machine, chatting and laughing.

“Hey girl! Love that outfit!”

Ava turned and smiled, waving briefly. “Thanks,” she replied shyly before hurrying toward the elevators. It was always like this—brief moments of friendliness, and then she was back in her world. The one where she was the only woman in her department, always tiptoeing around egos.

When the elevator doors opened, she took a steadying breath. Another day.

Ava worked in the Marketing Department and her specialization was digital marketing. Her ideas were sharp, creative, and bold—but her voice? Not so much. The department was dominated by men, and most of her colleagues had years of experience in motor tech and sales. They talked over her in meetings.

“Hey, Ava. Right on time,” said Mark, one of the nicer guys on her team.

She gave him a small smile. “Hello, Mark. How was your weekend?”

Before he could respond, the door to Mr. Ken’s office creaked open. Ava’s stomach dropped. That scowl. Always meant trouble.

“Ava,” he barked. “What’s the status on the Smith account?”

Ava straightened in her seat. “I sent the full report to your email two days ago, sir.”

He frowned, clearly caught off guard. “And you didn’t think to remind me?”

“I assumed you’d—” She stopped herself. “I’ll make sure to follow up next time.”

Mr. Ken let out an exaggerated sigh and muttered under his breath, “Women,” before turning and walking back into his office.

The room fell quiet. Some colleagues glanced at her. Others pretended to be busy. Ava stared at her screen, blinking hard to stop the sting in her eyes.

I will not cry. Not today. Not because of him.

***********************************************************

Across the room, Luke sat at his desk, fingers frozen above his keyboard. He’d watched the exchange in silence, jaw tight.

Luke had started working in his grandfather's company a year ago as an ordinary employee, with his identity hidden. No one knew he was the owner's grandson and he enjoyed the anonymity. His grandfather had given him an ultimatum a year ago—become responsible and learn the business, or get cut out of the will.

When he first joined the company under his new name—Lucian Wright became Luke Reed, using his mother's maiden name which no one would recognize—Ava had been the first to smile at him. She’d offered him a bottle of water on his first day and welcomed him warmly, unlike the others. He remembered thinking she was pretty, in a soft kind of way… quiet eyes, kind face. But it didn’t take long before that image faded.

She let people talk down to her. She apologized too often. Let Ken treat her like a doormat.

Pretty or not, Luke didn’t like pushovers. He'd seen enough fake charm in his world to know that silence wasn’t always strength. It annoyed him, honestly. She had potential, but no fire.

He turned back to his screen, forcing himself to focus.

He wasn’t here to make friends. And definitely not to save some shy girl who didn’t know how to stand up for herself.