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CHAPTER TWENTY
Last Updated:
2025-05-21 17:31:35
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With You CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
AVALuke pulled up in front of the apartment and came around to open her door. She stepped out, and they stood close, the night air cool between them. She glanced up at him, heart still full from everything that had happened. The restaurant. The talk. The kiss. But something still tugged at her. “I never told you how I felt,” she said quietly. He tilted his head, watching her closely.“I love you, Luke,” she whispered.A small smile curved his lips. “I know,” he said. “You wear it all over your face.”She gave a breathy laugh, but it felt good to say it. So she said it again. And again.“I love you.”He cupped her cheek. “I love you too.”Their lips met, slow and sure until a small cough broke them apart. Christine stood by the entrance, eyes wide with excitement and a bit of confusion.Ava blinked. “Christine.”Her roommate raised a hand. “Don’t mind me. Just… wow.”Luke chuckled. “Hi, Christine.”“Hey,” she said, then looked sheepish. “Sorry for blowing up at you that day. I though
With You CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
AVAAva didn’t tell Christine everything. She couldn't. Not because Christine wouldn’t understand, but because she wasn’t ready to put words to all that had happened. She needed to clear up things with Luke first.She arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early, hoping to get her thoughts in order. But Luke was already there, seated near the corner window, looking like he had been waiting longer than he admitted. He stood up to pull her chair before sitting down. Always the gentleman.The waiter approached, took their orders, and left them with silence.Ava sat upright, eyes fixed on the table for a moment before lifting to meet his. “Lucian,” she said.He blinked. “Luke,” he corrected gently. “It’s what I go by. Always have.”She nodded, lips pressed in a tight line. “So I overheard Ken that day. In his office. He offered you the position, the one meant for me and you didn’t say anything.”He looked down, then back at her. “I didn’t accept it. You didn't stick around to hear my respo
With You CHAPTER FORTY
AVAHer breath hitched. The room went silent for a moment, before a few murmurs of congratulations began to ripple through the office. It was all happening too fast. Too soon.“No, wait—” she began, her voice trembling. She shook her head, standing up. “I can’t—I can’t take this. I… this is a mistake. Or a joke. I’m just—”“You’ve more than proven yourself, Ava,” another voice interjected. It was one of her colleagues. “You’ve excelled in marketing, even under pressure. Your work speaks for itself. You’ve demonstrated leadership, even when you didn’t ask for it. And you’ve done it with integrity, with humility. You’ve earned this.”Ava’s chest tightened, and she felt her eyes well up. “But I—”“We’ve all noticed,” someone else piped in “even if you’re shy. You’ve managed this team when it mattered most. You’re the highest-performing marketer. Your experience speaks volumes. And the fact that you’ve done all of this as a woman in a male-dominated industry? It speaks even more.”Ava sto
With You CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
AVAKen had been on edge all morning, and Ava knew it. Everyone in the department could feel the heavy, suffocating weight of his misplaced rage. He snapped at everyone, especially her when they asked clarifying questions. He kept sending her on errands they weren't in her job description, belittling her. She did everything he asked. Still, he rejected every effort, dismissed every solution. And each time she returned to her desk, more work had piled up, none of it hers. Some of it was even Ken's work which he dumped on her without so much as a sentence of instruction. The walls were closing in.The others in the office saw it too. Mark, Nelson, even the interns. It was obvious. But no one said anything. They had already reported to the HR without any effect. The day became worse.Ken had sent her to compile a report with barely any guidance. She did it anyway. As best as she could. She even stayed late working on it. And this morning, when she presented it, Ken grabbed the file, sca
With You CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
LUKEHe hadn’t expected to see her. Not so soon. Not like that.One moment he was walking his grandfather out of the office, and the next, Ava stood there looking like a deer caught in headlights. For a split second, he thought he imagined her. Her hair was pulled back, like she did when she was nervous or unsure. And her eyes were wide, like her flight mode had been activated. She looked like she’d bolt the moment he blinked.But she didn’t. Instead, she bowed slightly, greeted them both quietly. She turned, probably to flee, and that’s when Graham, with his usual sharp instinct, stopped her. “You wanted to see Lucian?” he'd asked, and she’d nodded.Luke didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. His mouth was dry, his heart loud in his chest. It was surreal—her, coming to him. Ava never made the first move. She was soft-spoken, reserved. He always did the reaching. The chasing.He'd simply held up a hand and gestured for Ava to follow him. She did, hesitantly. He opened the office door, waited
With You CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
AVATwo days had passed, and the shock hadn’t faded. If anything, it had deepened, turning into a dense fog of confusion and guilt.Luke Reed. Lucian Wright. CEO. Billionaire. The man she had once shared special moments with. And yet, he’d stood on that stage with calm assurance, speaking with grace and command. There was no arrogance, no smug reveal. Just quiet power. And she'd been sitting there, breath shallow, heart racing, feeling like a fool.She had to talk to him. Not just because she misjudged him but because she needed to say the words that had been lodged in her throat since Ken pulled her aside after the event and told her what had really happened that day, how Luke had taken the fall to protect her. She’d been so wrong. About everything.It was Jake, oddly enough, who’d encouraged her at work. Even after she’d turned him down, he’d been kind. Supportive. Christine had given her an earful too, reminding her that running from things never solved anything.So now, standin
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