CHAPTER FOUR

AVA

Fridays at WAM weren’t exactly chill, especially not after a leaderboard update. The marketing floor still buzzed with low conversations and side glances at the digital dashboard across the room—Luke’s name still shining at the top, same as yesterday. It wasn’t anything new, but it still hit Ava a little different this time. She hadn’t come this far to play second fiddle, especially not to some guy who seemed to float through the office like he didn’t need to try.

She adjusted her seat, eyes flicking over the numbers again—hers weren’t bad. In fact, they were pretty damn good. Just not “top of the chart” good. Yet.

She pushed her chair back and stood, heading to the restroom—not because she really needed to, but because her mind wouldn’t stop spiraling around that damn board. Maybe a few minutes alone would help her breathe. But as soon as she pushed the restroom door open, voices floated through the air—light, chatty, and just loud enough to make her pause.

“She’s good, no doubt,” one voice said, echoing slightly against the tiled walls. “But my money’s still on Luke. That guy is fire. Did you see his pitch numbers this week?”

Another voice chimed in with a laugh. “I’m telling you, it’s that jawline. Clients probably say yes before he even opens his mouth.”

A third woman scoffed. “Nah, don’t downplay Ava. The girl’s been on it lately. If anyone’s gonna shake Luke from that top spot, it’s her. She’s focused.”

“She’s too soft, if you ask me,” the first voice said again. “Doesn’t talk much. Kind of... forgettable.”

Ava’s cheeks burned. She stayed perfectly still behind the stall door, breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. Well… maybe she was. But it wasn’t every day she got a front-row seat to what people really thought of her.

“Still,” the third voice said, a bit more gently, “she tops the charts too. She just needs to believe it. Girl’s got talent.”

That was enough.

Ava quietly slipped out, walked back to her desk, and tried to shake it off. But their voices followed her ringing in her ears, stubborn and clinging. She hated being shy. Hated how it made her blend in when all she wanted was to stand out. However, the third person's words gave her solace, settling in her chest like a tiny anchor. It didn't fix everything but knowing someone out there was rooting for her strengthen her resolve in winning the competition.

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

LUKE

Luke glanced around the marketing floor as he stood by the coffee machine, waiting for his cup to fill. The usual hum of conversation buzzed around him, but today, it felt just a little different. His name was still at the top of the leaderboard, and while it wasn’t anything new, it seemed to carry a bit more weight this time.

As he stirred his coffee, he caught the eye of a woman from HR who gave him a bright smile as she passed by.

“Good luck, Luke! You’re killing it,” she said, her tone full of enthusiasm.

“Thanks, Linda,” he replied with a polite smile.

Next, Jenna from the finance department waved at him, flashing a playful grin. “You’re on fire this week. Don’t let anyone catch up!”

Luke gave her a nod in acknowledgment. “I’ll try my best.”

By the time he made it back to his desk, Rachel, another member of the finance team, was standing nearby, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“Luke,” she started, a bit shy. “I just wanted to say... you’re really impressive. I’ve been following your pitches, and I can’t help but admire how you do it.”

Luke paused, offering his usual half-smile. “Thanks, Rachel. I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” she said, clearly flustered as she turned to head back to her desk.

As Luke settled back into his work, he noticed Ava across the room, her gaze flicking briefly to him before she looked away, as if she was trying not to be obvious. He didn’t quite catch what was going through her mind, but it was clear she noticed the attention he was getting. There was no visible tension in her expression, though just a quiet observation, like the rest of the office.

Luke couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she was thinking about the leaderboard too, especially since she was often so focused. But that was something he could figure out later. For now, the office carried on with the usual flow of chatter and work.

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

AVA

Ava couldn’t help but notice the smiles, the casual compliments, and the way some of the women on the floor looked at Luke. It wasn’t unusual—after all, he was Luke Reed, hottest guy in the company, top of the leaderboard, and most people had a soft spot for him. But she wasn’t exactly fazed by it. It was just... the office. She focused on her work, her attention flicking to the board for a moment before returning to her screen. She wasn’t in the mood to get worked up over someone else's success, especially not after a day filled with so many distractions.

As the workday came to a close, Ava grabbed her bag and headed out, her thoughts lingering on the conversations in the restroom earlier. She found herself feeling... different. Motivated. Maybe the week wasn’t a total loss after all.

She stepped into her apartment, the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla welcoming her home. Christine was in the living room, already in her sweatpants and busy texting someone.

"Hey, girl, how was your day?" Christine asked, looking up briefly.

Ava shrugged, tossing her bag on the couch. "Same old. You know how it goes. How about you?"

"Oh, the usual," Christine said with a grin, clearly not paying much attention to the details. "But hey, we’re still going to Kayla’s party tonight, right? I’ve already picked out my outfit. You’re going to love it."

Ava felt a slight knot in her stomach. Parties weren’t really her scene. The loud music, the people. She wasn’t into that. But Christine had been insistent. “Come on, Ava, you never go out anymore. We need this. Plus, you can get some air, unwind. You deserve it after this week,” Christine had said when she first mentioned the idea.

Christine wasn’t wrong. Ava did need to get out of her head for a while.

“I guess. I’ll be there,” Ava replied, her voice low. She wasn’t exactly excited, but the thought of relaxing with friends did seem appealing.

Christine grinned, clearly relieved. “Great! You’ll feel better. And don’t worry, it’s not one of those crazy, loud parties. It’s just... chill. Kayla’s boyfriend is throwing it, and you know, it’s mostly old friends from uni. Some familiar faces.” She paused, her eyes lighting up. “And, uh, I heard that David's going to be there.”

Ava looked up, surprised . David. He was someone she remembered well from university, a guy who had always been kind to her but someone she never really thought much of beyond friendship. He’d fancied her back then, though she’d never reciprocated those feelings.

“David, huh?” Ava said with a nonchalant shrug, even though her mind raced a little at the thought of seeing him again. “I didn’t know he was still around.”

“Oh, he is. He’s a good guy, Ava. And honestly, you could use some fun tonight. Just relax, okay? It’ll be good for you. And if David’s there, well... you never know,” Christine teased, winking at her.

Ava let out a small laugh, brushing off the comment. “Yeah, yeah. I’m just going to get through tonight. One thing at a time, right?”

“Exactly,” Christine said, moving to her closet to pull out an outfit. “Now, get some rest ‘cause we'll start preparing soon.”

Ava lay on her bed for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling while soft music played from her speaker. She wasn’t exactly dreading the party, but she also wasn’t buzzing with excitement like Christine was. Still, something about the weekend, the slight shift in her emotions after that restroom talk, and Christine’s contagious energy made her feel... lighter.

By the time the clock crept past 6 PM, Christine was already shuffling around the room like a stylist on a deadline.

“Okay,” Christine announced, flinging a couple of dresses onto Ava’s bed. “You’re wearing something cute. Not dramatic. Just enough to say, ‘Hey, I’m here, and I might smile at you if you’re lucky.’”

Ava sat up slowly, raising a brow. “That’s oddly specific.”

Christine grinned. “Trust the process.”

They settled on a simple, sleeveless burgundy top that brought out Ava’s warm skin tone, paired with dark jeans and hoops. Casual but elegant. Just the kind of “trying without trying” look Ava could stomach. Christine, of course, had gone full P*******t board—slick ponytail, leather pants, and a sparkly black crop top that could turn heads in low light.

Ava stood in front of the mirror, brushing through her hair as Christine dabbed lip gloss onto her mouth.

“You nervous?” Christine asked, leaning over Ava’s shoulder with a teasing smirk.

“Nervous? No. Why would I be nervous?”

“Because David might be there. And because you haven’t been out in months. And because I’m cute enough to make you feel underdressed.”

Ava rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “Well, I’m cute enough to pull off effortless. So we’re even.”

Christine laughed. “See? I knew you had sass somewhere in there.”

They packed light—phones, lip balm, house keys, and a bottle of red wine as their entry ticket. Christine grabbed her jacket while Ava slipped on her flats.

As they stepped out into the evening air, Christine bumped her gently. “Tonight’s going to be good, Ava. You don’t have to dance. You don’t have to talk too much. Just... be.”

Ava nodded, a little warmth blooming in her chest. Maybe she did need this. A soft night with old friends. Familiar faces. Laughter without pressure.

And maybe—even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud—just maybe, she was a little curious to see David again.

An hour later, Ava stepped into the soft-lit living room, her arm looped through Christine’s as they eased their way into the party.

Laughter trickled from the kitchen, low music hummed from a Bluetooth speaker in the corner, and warm bodies swayed in easy conversation around them. The vibe was mellow, intimate—just enough energy to feel alive, but not enough to overwhelm her.

Christine was already scanning the room, probably looking for Kayla or one of their old classmates. Ava, on the other hand, took a breath and just… observed. The familiar chatter, clinking glasses, scattered memories. It felt oddly like stepping back into a different version of herself, one with fewer guardrails.

She adjusted her grip on her drink, letting her gaze drift across the room.

And then she saw him.

He wasn’t loud or surrounded by people. Just off to the side, drink in hand, talking with someone she barely recognized. But he wasn’t really paying attention to the conversation.

Because he was looking at her. Right at her.

Her heart stuttered. That sharp jawline, that piercing eyes, that quiet confidence…

It was Luke.