Chapter 2

I watched Sean's wife walk towards us and I could see the way his eyes brightened the moment he saw her.

For a moment there, I wished it was me that he was looking at with all that admiration but I knew it was wrong so I immediately tried to get the thoughts out of my head.

"Sean honey, I was waiting for you in the car, you said you just wanted to see someone." She said to him before turning to look at me.

"Good afternoon." I greeted her, the butterflies in my stomach had died down and I could have sworn that all I could feel was my heart clenching.

"Who is she?" She asked as she continued to stare at me.

"Esmeralda, this is Ava, don't you remember her?" He said to her and she frowned as if she was trying to remember who I was.

"My best friend's little girl." Sean said to her once again and I sighed heavily.

The moment he said the word - little girl, I felt a pang in my chest.

I guess that's how he sees me.

To him, I'm just a little girl.

I tried to hide the sadness in my heart as I continued to smile at the both of them.

"Oh that little girl?" She suddenly exclaimed and I sighed once more.

Could they stop calling me a little girl?

I'm already in my twenties, I'm a grown woman!

"Yes." Sean seemed happy that she remembers me and I frowned.

What does it matter if she remembers me anyways?

"Ava dear, you're so big now." She said to me with a smile on her face.

"Do you remember me?" She asked and I almost laughed.

How could I forget her?

She's married to the man of my dreams, it would be impossible to forget her.

"Of course, you're Esmeralda." I said to her and she giggled.

"Why don't you join Sean and I for lunch?" She suddenly suggested and I raised my brows.

If she wasn't here then maybe I would have jumped on this opportunity to be with Sean but I can't.

I might have a secret crush on the man but I know when to not intrude on people's life.

However, even before I could refuse the offer, Sean accepted on my behalf.

"Of course she will, it's been a while since we've seen each other." Sean said happily and soon I found myself walking along side the couple, out of my office building.

"Let's get pasta." Esmeralda suggested as she led us to a restaurant which wasn't far away from my office building.

We sat down at a table for three and I felt like a child once more.

I felt like I was sitting at the dinner table with my parents, except these people weren't my parents.

This was a man I was in love with and his wife.

"I'll go and take the order." Sean said to us, then he got up from where he was seated and went to the counter to order.

I watched him leave and my eyes remained fixated on him until Esmeralda called my name.

My heart jumped when I heard her call my name and I feared that she might have caught me staring at her husband.

Fortunately, she didn't.

"So tell me, are you enjoying your job so far?" She asked me.

"It's my first day." I answered with a small smile.

"Oh, really, is that so?" She said, sounding apologetic.

"Forgive me for asking then, I had no idea." She apologized and I smiled at her.

"Why did you choose to come to New York anyways?" She asked.

"From what Sean tells me, your family is well to do over there in Los Angeles, so why didn't you just take over the company or something?" Esmeralda asked and I sighed softly.

Why did I leave los Angeles?

I didn't want to be under my parents radar so much.

I get that I'm the only child but sometimes I want to be able to make my own decisions without having someone decide for me.

I want to be an independent woman, but how can I be that if my parents do everything for me?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.

If anything, I'm grateful that I have parents like them but sometimes, it can be too much.

All these thoughts were in my head and I was trying to figure out a way to explain it to Esmeralda that she would understand me, but Sean showed up at that moment, saving me from her questions.

"Stop interrogating the young girl, it's what young people do these days."

"They always want to try new things out." Sean spoke up for me and even though it wasn't something as big as saving me from the enemy like princes would do for princesses in movies, it still felt like he was my knight in shining armor.

"Isn't that right, Ava?" He asked and I nodded immediately.

"The waiter would bring our food soon, why don't we talk while we wait?" Sean suggested and I smiled.

"So are you in touch with Penelope?" Sean asked and I nodded my head in response.

Another reason why I can't pursue my feelings for this gorgeous man in front of me?

He's not only my father's best friend.

He's the father of my best friend - his daughter, Penelope.

"I am." I answered.

"Does she know you're in town?" He asked.

"No, she doesn't." I said as I shook my head in response.

"I'm sure she'll be excited to know that you're here." He said to me with a small smile. I was about to say something but the waiter had arrived with our meals, so I shut up.

"Here are your meals." The waiter said, interrupting our conversation as he served our meals on the table.

"Bon appetit." The waiter said to us before leaving our table.

"How did you know I was in New York city though?" I asked curiously.

I mean why did he show up at my office unannounced?

"Ah right, your father told me." He said and my eyes widened.

"He did?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, Esmeralda and I were actually on our way to.." he was saying something then he paused and looked at Esmeralda who was pretending not to be paying attention to what we were talking about.

"Some place, when I received a call from him, informing about your job." He finally completed his statement and I sighed softly.

"Typical dad behavior." I mumbled quietly to myself.

"He sounded really worried about you so he suggested that you come and live with me, pending the time that you'll get your own apartment." Sean suddenly said and I found myself choking on my spaghetti.