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Ava’s POV

The office was silent except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock hung on the wall. The city lights flickered through the large glass windows, casting long shadows across Liam Carter’s pristine desk. I was the last person in the office as usual. And everything again sucks! Stacks of paperwork cluttered my space, but exhaustion didn’t really matter. Not fucking when there were deadlines to meet and a job to hold onto.

I reached for the next file, flipping through the pages absentmindedly until a misplaced folder caught my eye. It was tucked under a stack of routine reports, but its label made my breath hitch. Confidential.

I was curious to at least glance through it,, and ye,s, for a curious person like me, my fingers moved before I could stop them. Not my fault! The moment I opened it, my heart almost jumped out of my chest, so hard I feared it would give me away. The documents detailed an unethical deal, one that could ruin Liam Carter if it even came to light.

I swallowed hard before proceeding to read, read, and read. Oh my goodness! This was it. Proof of the corruption and greed I had always suspected. For 3 years, my colleagues and I had endured long hours, impossible demands, and thankless work while Liam basked in luxury. Fuck!

~

The next morning, after heaving a long sigh, I stepped into his office. Liam’s. Holding the folder with a grip so tight my knuckles turned white. He barely acknowledged my presence, typing away on his laptop with the same indifference he always showed me. So arrogant!

“If this isn’t important, please use the door. As you can see, I’m quite busy, He said, his eyes still roaming around the screen on his laptop. I scoffed silently. So silent I could bet he never heard me. Without too much hesitation, I dropped the file on his desk. “Then I think you have to see this.”

Liam and I had always had our differences. Not after I argued with him in front of other of my colleagues, I could bet I was the only one who could ever want to confront him like that again. He hated me so much and wanted to find a replacement but unluckily for him and luckily for me, he couldn’t. Haha. And then I ended up having a stack of paperwork and going home late at night.

Liam finally looked up, his piercing blue eyes locked into his mind. But he immediately looked away. Slowly, he picked up the file and flipped through the pages. His expression remained unreliable, but I caught the slight tension in his jaw, the way his fingers tightened around the pages. “Where did you get this?” He finally asked. A little smirk at the corner of my lips.

“Does that matter? What matters is what I want in return for keeping it quiet,” I said. Mostly calm. Silence stretched between us. The air was thick and his gaze sharp enough to cut. Then to my surprise, he smirked. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ava.” He smiled.

“So you are,” I spat out irritatedly. Leaning back in his chair, he studied me like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve and that's what I wanted. Not to see him look at me like a weak person. “Let me guess. You want a raise? A promotion?” He asked while I scoffed. His tie was loud and clear. Does he take me too cheaply?

“No. Better treatment for my colleagues. Reasonable hours! Fair pay,” I listed without hesitations as I watched his smirk fade away. “You think blackmailing me will change anything?” he asked. "I think you don't have much of a choice Liam Carter." For the first time, uncertainty flickered in his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. He exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers against the desk.

He stood up and I shivered a little, but not obviously. “You have no idea what you’ve just done, do you?” He asked, walking close to me. A chill ran down my spine but I refused to let it show. "Then I guess we'll find out." I folded my arms.

His gaze darkened a little as he slowly walked close to me. I didn't want to move but I found myself moving backwards until I felt my back hit the wall. After another long pause, he nodded.

‘Fie. But don’t think for a second this makes us equals,” He said. I turned to leave, my pulse racing victory tasting bittersweet on my tongue. As I reached for the door, I heard him make a call, his voice low and sharp.

“Find out everything about Ava Davis.”

I had successfully won this but it was obvious I just made myself his next target.

~

I finally heaved a sigh of relief after walking out of his office. Funny enough, today was my birthday and I had to deal with this too.

It was my birthday and for once, I allowed myself to be excited. Between the stress of work and the weight of my responsibilities, I rarely took time for myself, but tonight would be differned. My boyfriend, Daniel, had promised me a special dinner, and my best friend, Lila, had been acting secretive, hinting at a surprise.

After clearing my desk, I finally walked out of the overwhelming company of Liam Carter. When I reached my apartment, my heart warmed at the dim glow of candles flickering through the window. A surprise indeed. A smile tugged at my lips as I unlocked the door, anticipation dubbing in my chest.

Then I heard it.

Soft moans, heavy breath, the unmistakable rhythm of bodies moving together.

For a moment, my brain refuses to process it. The sounds didn’t belong in my apartment. Not here. Not today.

I stepped further inside, my breath catching in my throat as I rounded the corner to the bedroom. The sight before me shattered everything.

Daniel’s body pressed against Lilia’s, their limbs tangled in the sheets. Her nails dragged down his back, his hands gripping her hips, guiding her as she arched beneath him,

My world is titled. The laughter, the whispered secrets, and the moments I had trusted were now reduced to nothing.

Lila’s head tilted back, a breathy moan escaping her lips. Daniel groaned. “You feel so good, baby.”

The bile rose in my throat. My hands trembled as the realization settled, the pain sinking deep into my chest. My boyfriend. My best friend. My birthday.

Then, as if sensing me, Daniel’s eyes snapped open. For one second, everything was still.

Then Lila gasped, scrambling for the sheets. Daniel’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

I stood there, frozen, my heart hammering in my ears.

Then without a single word to them, I turned on my heel and walked out, slamming the door behind me. The night air was cold, but it couldn’t numb the fire raging inside me.

Happy birthday to me.