CHAPTER THREE

AVA

The soft hum of Ava’s laptop fan mingled with the low Afrobeat playlist spilling from the home speaker. Her fingers moved quickly over the keyboard, her brows drawn in tight focus. The world outside her screen barely existed. It had been two weeks since the company announcement, and Ava had barely taken a full breath since.

The front door clicked open.

Christine stepped in, her arms full of takeout bags and an iced latte. She kicked off her heels at the doorway and scanned the living room, her eyes landing on Ava who was still dressed in her work blouse and glued to her laptop.

“Have you been like this since you got back from work?” Christine asked, setting the bags down with a dramatic sigh.

Ava didn’t look up. “Define like this.”

Christine snorted. “Like... borderline possessed. Obsessive. In need of sunlight.”

“Huh huh,” Ava replied, distracted.

Christine dropped the bags dramatically on the desk. “Girl. It’s Thursday. You didn’t even notice I brought your favorite.”

“Grilled chicken salad?” Ava finally looked up, eyes hopeful.

Christine smirked. “Plus pasta. Because I knew you’d forget to eat again.”

Ava leaned back, stretching her arms over her head. “You’re an angel.”

Christine flopped onto the bed, kicking off her heels. “A starving angel, thank you very much. I just finished a back-to-back fitting session with clients who think ‘deadline’ means ‘maybe sometime next year.’ So don’t even get me started.”

Ava chuckled softly and closed her laptop just enough to make room for the food.

Christine stretched like a cat and lay back. “You need to stop staring at numbers and start living a little. Which brings me to my next point…”

Ava gave her a skeptical look.

“There’s a party tomorrow night. Kayla's boyfriend's house. Chill vibes, decent music, actual human interaction. We’re going.”

“No, we’re not.”

Christine threw a pillow at her. “You can’t keep hiding behind PowerPoint slides forever, Ava. One night won’t kill you.”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure you are,” Christine muttered. “That’s why your shoulders are as tight as my old jeans.”

She got up and walked behind Ava. “You need to chill, even if it’s just for an hour. I’m giving you the deluxe Christine Spa Treatment, whether you like it or not.”

Before Ava could protest, Christine was already rolling up her sleeves.

“Lie down,” she commanded.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. You’re stiff as a stick and twice as grumpy. Turn around.”

With a dramatic groan, Ava gave in, lying flat on the bed. Christine dug her fingers gently into her shoulder blades, and Ava couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips.

“You’re seriously tense,” Christine said, pressing her thumb into a knot. “You need a break.”

“I don’t have time for breaks,” Ava muttered, muffled by her pillow.

There was silence for a while, broken only by the sounds of fingers kneading muscle and the occasional creak of the bed frame. Then Christine glanced over Ava’s shoulder, catching the open tab on her screen.

“Why do you keep checking that update thingy?” she asked. “You refresh it like it’s a livestream of the royal wedding or something.”

Ava didn’t respond right away.

Christine squinted. “Okay, I’ve seen this name before. Luke Reed. He’s always either directly above you or below. Is he, like, your rival or something?”

Ava’s breath hitched slightly.

Christine gasped. “Wait—is that a blush? Ava?”

“No!” Ava said, a little too quickly.

“Oh my God, it is a blush. Who is he? Is he hot?”

“Christine…”

Christine flopped down dramatically beside her. “You’re not denying it. That’s it. Spill. Is this some workplace enemies-to-lovers thing? Are you guys trading spreadsheets and steamy glances?”

Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “He’s just competitive.”

Christine grinned like the cat who got the cream. “Mmmhmm. That’s what they all say.”

She stood up and stretched. “Okay, I need to go freshen up now. And we're so going to that party tomorrow.”

Ava chuckled as Christine left the room. Christine was like a dog with a bone, never backing down when she set her mind on something. But then, Christine was right. She needed a break and a small party wouldn't hurt.

Ava sat back up and stared at the screen again. The update had refreshed.

There it was—1st: Luke Wright. 2nd: Ava Williams.

Again.

A soft sigh slipped out as she reached for her cup, now cold.

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

LUKE

The glow of the dashboard on Luke’s phone illuminated his face as he scrolled through the updates, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the numbers. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips when he saw his own score—first place. It was close, just a handful of points separating him from Ava, but he had done it. He had edged her out, just by the slightest margin. A competitive edge stirred in him.

He wasn’t surprised that she had been keeping pace. Ava had been a consistent force, always there, always pushing herself. Her determination was undeniable, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration for her.

He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head, letting out a long breath. There was something about Ava, something that made this competition between them feel different. It wasn’t just about numbers and points. He hadn’t expected her to make it this far, but now, he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d surpass him by the end of it all. There was no mistaking it—she was driven, and that was something he respected.

A soft chuckle escaped him as he set his phone down. It wasn’t often that anyone got under his skin, but Ava had managed to do just that, without even trying. He didn't even know her well as they didn't interact much at work. But there was something about her determination that resonated with him. He admired it. Respected it.

Luke leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs, tired from work. He had been working endlessly for the past two weeks now and his name topping the charts was proof of his hardwork.

Then his mind wandered to other things. To other distractions. A few weeks ago, he would’ve just called up one of the girls he casually saw from time to time. But today? Today, the thought of just being alone wasn’t as appealing.

The buzzing from his phone pulled him from his thoughts. The name on the screen brought him back to the present—Sophie.

Sophie was a reminder of the old Luke. The carefree one, the one who didn’t care about anything except the next thrill. She’d been part of his life during a time when his choices didn’t matter, a time before everything had shifted.

For a moment, he thought about ignoring her. He didn’t need to relive those days. But the invitation lingered, tempting in its familiarity. He hadn’t let go of all his past habits, not completely. Sophie was a part of that.

He clicked her contact and stared at the screen. He could tell her to meet him at some low-key spot, keep it casual, like they used to. But something gnawed at him, a feeling that maybe this wasn’t enough anymore. He wasn’t sure why, but he had a hunch that there was more waiting for him than just Sophie’s empty company.

He grabbed the phone again, dialing another number instead—a number he hadn’t called in a while. The line rang twice before a familiar voice picked up. “Yo, man. What’s up?”

Luke almost smiled at the sound of Kade’s voice. It had been years. He’d cut Kade out of his life the moment he’d been sent to Wright AutoTech, knowing his old friend wasn’t the best influence. Still, there was a familiarity in the voice that took him back.

“Not much,” Luke replied, leaning forward again, his hand running through his hair. “Just been busy.”

“Same here,” Kade said, with a light laugh. “It’s been a while though. You still alive, man?”

Luke chuckled, “Yeah, barely. So, what’s new with you?”

Kade didn’t waste time. “I’m alright. Hey listen, I’m throwing a little get-together tomorrow night. Nothing big. Just a few people. You know, some familiar faces.” His tone shifted slightly, the hint of something more casual in his voice. “You should swing by. Come hang out. Let's catch up.”

Luke considered it for a moment. A party. He hadn’t been to something like that in a while. “Tomorrow? Sounds good. I could use a break.”

“You got it,” Kade responded. “Keep it on the down-low though, alright? You know how things can get.”

Luke smiled slightly. “Yeah, I get it. Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll be there.”

The call ended shortly after. Luke sat back, a small sense of relief washing over him. It wasn’t Sophie, and it wasn’t anything too complicated. Just a party. A chance to clear his mind for a night.

But as the phone sat quietly on the desk, his thoughts wandered back to Ava. He couldn’t help it. The numbers. The way she’d focused. The way her eyes had narrowed in determination. She was more than just a colleague. She was a challenge.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Maybe that was what he needed—some kind of distraction. Sophie might’ve been easy, but Ava… Ava was something else entirely.

But tonight, he had to let that go. Tomorrow night, he would lose himself in the chaos of Kade’s party, and forget about everything for a while.