CHAPTER 8- CONCEAL

AUTHORS POV

AVERY pushed herself off Aaron Hardwood, her lover, and collapsed next to him. They both lay on their back, staring at the ceiling that had patches of discoloration with chipped paint revealing drywall in some areas.

"I don't think I can ever get used to this; you are wonderful, Av." Aaron breathed.

"Well, you never will if you stop wearing that lousy thing on you." She sat up putting on her bra.

He smirked, he loved her feistiness. He sat up and stared at her. "Why don't you just marry me Av?"

"I'm not ready yet." She put on her blouse.

"We both know that's not why."

She looked at him squarely. "Fine, if you'd like to know, I can't live with a middle-class man, look at this place. It would collapse half a year into the marriage."

He walked to her and held her by the shoulder. "Again, that's not the issue. I know you, Avery."

She snatched her shoulder away like a little brat. "You don't know shit about me." She easily slid her feet into her worn-out flats. Everything infuriated her, why did she have to live in abject poverty?

He grabbed her hand and spun her around when she tried to maneuver him. "Is this about your ex?" She had only one ex and that was Gavin.

"No, and yes. Can't you see how he takes care of Sydney, Aaron? Sydney has everything good to talk about. And me? The only good thing I can think of between us is the amazingly good s*x.!"

"You aren't Sydney Avery and neither am I that bas- Gavin. I pay your gas bills."

She scoffed. "Big deal."

"I convinced my father to hire you."

"I've never had such a great job before!"

He frowned. "My point is, I love you and I'm doing my best."

She didn't doubt that. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She felt like mustard smeared on a hotdog.

She held him by his chest and put a little distance between them. "I want a thousand bucks."

He stared at her lips, filled with desire. "I don't have that now."

She smirked and kissed him hard. When his hand began to move up her skirt, she pushed him away. "Send it before I reach home, if you don't, consider this over."

When she walked out of the apartment, her shoulder slumped. She would do anything to get her revenge on Sydney, even though it meant sacrificing someone she loved.

She didn't have enough money for gas so she had to walk home. She wrapped her hands around herself, people stared at her like she was some sort of rag doll. Didn't they recognize Avery White, the most popular girl in Rother High School? That was years ago, years before, her father got ruined. She didn't go to college; she took a job as a cleaner at a cheap motel in Compton, where she met Aaron.

Avery used the public telephone. "Hello, Dad, it's Av." She grimaced slightly when she heard the sound of men chorusing, "FULL HAND!"

"Oh, one sec-" the noise dispelled after a while. Auxanger spoke quickly, "What's it baby?"

"Are you gambling and drinking again, Dad?"

"A little game with some old friends hurts no one."

Avery sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Have the landlord come?"

"The bastard threatened to come with pitchforks tomorrow."

"I'll send the rent money..." She paused and reckoned. "I'll pay the rent bills myself." He would have gambled it away if she gave it to him."

"Thanks, darling, I thought I'd sleep with the pigs tomorrow night."

"Not when I'm alive." She looked at the poster of Gavin and Sydney pasted on the telephone booth. Why do they have to live such a happy life and she was suffering? She felt like ripping them apart. Her plan was finally beginning to work. It was only a matter of time.

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"Mr. Reed, you have a five-thirty phone call with Miss Freeman in ten minutes." Archer followed Gavin as he headed for the elevator. One step for Gavin was two steps for his freckled PA.

"Reschedule the meeting for four twenty-five tomorrow." The employees in the elevator, quickly stepped out for Gavin to walk in. Whenever he was in a bad mood, everyone, including the newbies, knew it was better to avoid him.

"But Mr. Reed-" Archer stopped walking when Gavin turned to look at him. He adjusted his glasses and swallowed. "What if she calls?"

The glass elevator was closing. "Let it ring."

Gavin pressed the button leading to the first floor. He was dressed in a sleek, sophisticated Charcoal Grey three piece with shiny oxfords. He stared at the luxurious skyscraper next to his "empire" as he descended. He thought of how successful he was, how he managed to be better than his father within such few years. Everything he did for his family. He did for Sydney and how she never appreciated him for once.

He stepped out of the gliding doors; a bodyguard held an umbrella over Gavin's head, shielding him from the rain drizzles as they walked to the Rolls-Royce.

"Get out of the car, I'll drive."

Logan got out of the driver's seat, and Gavin threw him a bundle of dollars for his fare. He got into the car, revved the engine, and peeled away into the busy street.

He looked at the numerous skyscrapers standing like spires of churches along the streets of Beverly Hills. He thought of the time his father disowned him, how he went down on his knees to beg the "big men" for money. The first two years of his marriage were like running into a spider web. He took the chance and borrowed a loan to go to college.

Education had never been his strong spot. He loved sports. He started reading books about successful men and how to establish a business. He'd spend more time in libraries than in lecture halls.

Gavin pulled to a stop in front of Avery's house. The hardwood stairs creaked as he walked into the front porch. If someone had told him Avery would reside in such a deplorable place twelve years ago, he'd have told them they were hallucinating.

He pressed the doorbell, and it made a loud screeching noise that wanted to tear his eardrums off. Avery burst through the doors.

"I've told you not to ring the-" Her throat hung when she saw Gavin.

Avery pressed a button and the sound ceased. She straightened her hair with her palms and smirked up at him. "I wasn't expecting you, come in."

She made way for him to enter but he disregarded her. "I'm fine here."

Anger boiled in her but she concealed it with a carefree grin. "The week's running out.

"I noticed," he scowled. "Avery, I can't just divorce Sydney."

"You don't have any choice, Gavin." Her fist clenched and unclenched.

She noticed the tiredness in his eyes. She thought maybe being bitchy wouldn't get her what she wanted. He looked like he needed a woman who would say yes to everything he said. She had made Sydney do the opposite. The only way to get what she wanted was to give him what he wanted.

"I have to tell my kids. If I divorce Sydney without telling them, they'll be hurt. At least, your inconsiderate heart should feel a bit of mercy towards them." He ran a hand through his hair, stressfully.

She pretended to think. "Fine Gavin, but I won't wait more than a month."

He stared at her in surprise and she frowned. "I'm doing this because I don't want Sydney to turn their minds against you. If I were you, I wouldn't leave them in her custody."

Gavin didn't say a word to her. Sydney wouldn't go to that extent to torture him. He still had a bit of trust in her. Without saying a word, Gavin rolled up his sleeve, glanced at his Audemars Piguet, and walked out of Avery's front porch.

Avery watched, with contempt as he drove into the sunset.