4

Ava's POV

It Was back at the office, but the words the person had said to me kept on lingering in my head.

Just immediately, my email chimed in with a new message.

Subject: Dinner. Tonight

From: Liam Carter

I stared at the message again and again.

Dinner?

I shouldn't go.

I should ignore it.

But at the end, my fingers typed the word. Okay

*

Evening came too fast.

I spent too long deciding what to wear. It wasn't a date Ava! It wasn't anything. Probably just dinner. Probably for work. Probably because Liam has something again to warn me about.

Still, I found myself wearing a black dress that clung a little too well, heels that added enough height, and makeup that made my eyes sharper and my lips darker.

I told myself, it was just to look professional. I told myself it had nothing to do with the way Liam Carter made me feel.

Lies.

I arrived at the restaurant just as the sun dipped below the city skyline. It was the kind of place with dim lighting and hushed voices, where important men made important deals over expensive wine.

I spotted him immediately.

Liam sat in the back, dressed in a black suit, his presence effortlessly commanding.

His gaze met mine. I swallowed and walked toward him, forcing my expression into something neutral. “I assume this isn’t a business meeting.”

Liam leaned back. “Sit.”

I did.

He ordered something for us to eat, and after I had slowly eaten halfway, he spoke.

"Who called you?"

I froze. How the hell did he know?

"How did you…" I opened my mouth, then closed it.

"Answer me."

"I don't know, it was just an unknown number," I said silently.

His jaw clenched.

I swallowed hard. "Liam, what's going on?"

"Did they say anything?" He asked.

I hesitated at first. "Well, they just told me to be careful of him. Don't know who they were referring to."

His entire body tensed. He sat back exhaling slowly.

"Was this the first time?" He asked.

I nodded.

He studied me for a long moment. Then he reached out to a small box next to him and slid it across the table.

A new phone.

I stared at it. "What…"

"You'll use this from now on," His voice left no room for arguments. "Your number has been compromised."

I blinked. "Compromised? Sir, please can I know what's going on?" I had to ask, curiosity burning inside of me.

"Sir?" He scoffed. "You don't have to call me that, Liam is fine."

"You can't just give me a new phone and tell me my number was compromised without telling me the reason."

"I can, he said smoothly, lifting his glass of whiskey to his lips. "And I will."

"Do you really think I'm just a game to you? I had to ask because I was already losing it.

His jaw tensed. "No. This is about keeping you alive."

Cold fear gripped me.

“Ava, listen to me carefully. From this moment on, you don’t answer unknown calls. You don’t go anywhere alone. You use this phone. And if anything feels off, you call me. Immediately.”

"Why?"

His gaze locked into mine. "Because you have just been marked."

"Let me have your old phone." He ordered while I frowned. "Why?" I asked.

"I need to find out who is behind this," He said. I hesitated for a minute before finally handing it over to him.

*

The drive back to my apartment was tense.

Liam insisted on taking me home himself, his car moving smoothly through the city streets. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching as the lights blurred past.

This morning, I was just another woman going to work, dealing with office gossip and impossible deadlines. Now, I was sitting in Liam Carter’s car with a new phone and an order not to be alone.

Marked.

I didn’t even know what that meant.

Liam hadn’t spoken since we got in the car, his grip firm on the wheel, his focus locked on the road ahead.

I hated how aware I was of him.

The way his suit hugged his body, the way his fingers flexed slightly as he drove.

“You’re quiet,” Liam finally said, breaking the silence.

I turned to him. “What do you expect me to say?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “That you understand what I told you back there.”

By the time we reached my apartment, the unease had settled deep in my bones.

Liam parked in front of the building, but he didn’t move to get out. He just sat there, watching me.

Waiting.

I gripped my bag, my fingers tightening around the strap. “Are you expecting an invitation inside?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “I’m expecting you to lock the door behind you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I think I can handle that.”

He didn’t respond.

I exhaled and reached for the handle. But before I could step out, his voice stopped me.

“Ava.”

I turned back, and for the first time tonight, there was something raw in his expression. Something that almost looked like concern.

“Be careful.”

I nodded once, then stepped out, shutting the door behind me.

Liam didn’t drive away immediately.

He waited, watching as I entered the building and disappeared behind the doors.

Only then did his car pull away.

*

I slowly walked, and the first thing I noticed was that my lights were turned on, and right there, something was sitting on my counter.

A single. Black envelope.

Slowly I reached out for it, my fingers trembling as I slid it open.

Inside was a single piece of paper.

No signature. No name. Just one line written in elegant, sharp handwriting.

Liam can’t protect you forever.

My hands clenched around the paper, my breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps.

Someone had been inside my apartment.

They had walked through my space, leaving this for me to find.

The phone Liam gave me was still in my bag.

I grabbed it, my fingers shaking as I dialed his number.

It barely rang once before he answered.

“Ava?”

I sucked in a breath. “Someone was in my apartment.”

Silence.

Then, his voice was low. Lethal.

“I’m on my way.”

The line went dead.

I was scared. I was scared to death, and I admitted it at that moment.

I needed Liam.

~

It took only a few minutes and Liam had broken my doors, rushing inside. I had my shoes off and my makeup off as I curled up in the corner of my living room. Immediately he came in, I rushed up to him, hugging him tightly and so did he.

"I'm so scared. Am I going to die?" I asked, tears threatening to fall.

"You're never going to die, not when I'm here!"

"Pack your bags, I'll be taking you to my place," He said while I sniffed. He took the letter from me before gesturing at me to pack my things which I immediately went to do.

It only took me 30 minutes to pack my things in a rush before walking out. He was kind enough to help me with my bags while I followed behind.

After he had put my bags in the truck, he entered the car before driving off.

I didn't say a word, and neither did he, but I could feel the tension that was growing between us.

We finally got to his place and I could see why he was the third richest man in the country. Jis mansion screamed entire luxury and it was so beautiful.

"If you need anything, Rose will assist you with that," He said, leading me to my room. "You'd be staying here for now," He said, opening the door of a room. "And my room is just next to yours. Sleep well tonight; you can unpack tomorrow," He told me and was about to walk out when I finally spoke.

"Liam…" I said silently.

"Hmmmm."

"Thank you," I smiled while he went back. It was the first time I ever saw him smiling and his smile was so captivating.

My eyes slowly trailed down to his lips as I gulped into nothing. I didn't know when I stepped forward and kissed him shortly.

Oh my goodness. I kissed him!

I expected him to push me away, but he didn't, and when I finally came back to my senses, I withdrew myself, biting my lips nervously.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

I wasn't able to finish up my sentence before I felt his lips on mine. This time, it was a real kiss. Liam devoured my mouth completely.

A moan escaped my lips as I wrapped my hands around his neck. "What did you do to me, Ava." I could hear him whisper as he trailed kisses on my neck, then to my chest and my stomach.

A spark ran through my spine. I had never felt this way before. Not with anyone. Not with Daniel.

"Oh… Liam," I moaned.

He slowly shut the door behind us as he removed his glasses. That move only made him look so sexy.

"You asked for this, Ava, and I'm not so patient." He smirked before connecting our lips back together.