Gloria's smile never wavered, her eyes shining with a sincerity that Ava didn't believe for a second. "If you don't want me here, Ava, that's fine. But know that I care deeply about Luke's wellbeing. I only want to help, to support him through this difficult time."Ava's expression turned venomous, her lips curling into a snarl. "I don't care," she spat, her voice low and deadly. "Get the fuck out, Gloria. You're not welcome here. You're the last person Luke needs right now."Gloria's eyes widened, but she held out a bouquet of flowers, her hand trembling slightly. "Okay, I'll leave," she said, her voice soft and placating. "But please, Ava, accept these flowers. I brought them for Luke, to brighten up his room and lift his spirits, maybe, just maybe if you put this flower beside his bed, he would wake up."Ava's gaze fell on the flowers, and for a moment, Gloria thought she saw a glimmer of softening. But then, Ava's face twisted in anger, and she snatched the bouquet from Gloria's h
Gloria turned and exited the room, leaving Ava seething with anger and a deep sense of betrayal. The door had barely closed behind her when Stanley entered, a look of concern etched on his face."What did Gloria want?" he asked, approaching Ava with a gentle stride. “Why was she here? I hope she didn’t threaten to hurt you. You should have called me earlier.”But Ava didn't reply. Instead, she let out a heavy sigh and fell back, her body trembling with emotion. Her eyes, red-rimmed from tears, seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words. Stanley caught her, holding her upright as she struggled to regain her composure. Her chest rose and fell and her breath ragged. "Ava, are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress. “You look pale. Breathe, Ava.”Ava nodded, her eyes welling up with tears once more. "I'll be completely okay if Luke wakes up," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the steady beep of the machines surroundi
Thompson stormed into his office, slamming the door behind him. He kicked his desk in frustration, feeling a surge of anger and helplessness. He couldn't believe the director had suspended him and refused to give him the warrant.As he stood there, seething with frustration, his eyes fell on his phone. A message from Ava flashed on the screen, asking if there were any updates on the case. Thompson felt a pang of disappointment and guilt. He couldn't reply, not now. His director had just asked him to leave the office, and he couldn't risk being seen as disobedient.He slumped into his chair, feeling defeated. He had been so close to cracking the case, and now it seemed like everything was falling apart. He couldn't even communicate with Ava, the one person who truly understood what he was going through.Thompson rubbed his temples, trying to ward off the headache that was forming. He felt like he was hitting a brick wall at every turn. The director's suspension, Gloria's cunning, and n
Enveloped in the sterile glow of the office lights, Ava mechanically signed document after document, her mind a thousand miles away. Stanley, her trusted assistant, stood opposite her, his eyes scanning the papers with a practiced intensity. "Ava, we need to discuss the Richardson merger," Stanley said, his voice crisp and detached. "The numbers are looking good, but I have concerns about their market share." Ava's gaze flickered up, her eyes focusing on Stanley with a hint of disinterest. "What's the bottom line, Stanley?" Stanley hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "If we proceed, we're looking at a potential increase in revenue of at least 20%. However, there's a risk of diluting our brand identity." Ava's expression turned calculating, her voice dripping with a detached curiosity. "And what's the worst-case scenario?" Stanley's face turned grave. "We could lose up to 30% of our market share if their brand doesn't integrate smoothly. But, Ava, I have to advise you, this merger
Gloria's eyes gleamed with malice as she leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Now that Luke is out of the way, we have the perfect opportunity to strike. Ava is vulnerable, and we can't let that go to waste."Her man, a burly individual with a scar above his left eyebrow, nodded in agreement. "I've been thinking, Gloria. We can't just take her out. We need to make a statement. Show everyone what happens when you cross us."Gloria's smile was cold, and calculating. "I like the way you think. Kidnapping her would be perfect. We can use her as leverage to get what we want. And with Luke out of commission, no one can stop us."The man rubbed his hands together, a cruel glint in his eye. "I'll start making arrangements. We'll need a secure location, and a team to grab her. We can't afford to mess this up."Gloria's gaze turned icy. "We won't. I'll make sure of it. Ava will pay for what she's done, and we'll come out on top."The room fell silent, the only sound the quiet hum
Ava and Stanley sat at a cozy table by the window, surrounded by the warm ambiance of the restaurant. They perused the menus, finally deciding on their meals. Ava opted for the grilled salmon with quinoa and steamed vegetables, while Stanley chose the hearty beef burger with sweet potato fries.As they waited for their food to arrive, Ava leaned back in her chair, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, Stanley, I've been thinking... maybe you're the one who's hungry, not the baby."Stanley chuckled, shaking his head. "Ava, you know I'm just looking out for you and the little one."Their food arrived, and Ava took a bite of her salmon, closing her eyes in appreciation. "Mmm, this is delicious. You should try some, Stanley. It's good for you."Stanley laughed, taking a bite of his burger. "I think I'll stick with my burger, thanks. Besides, I don't think quinoa is going to give me the energy I need to keep up with you."Ava grinned, teasingly. "Oh, Stanley, you're so easy to wind up. I'm
Amelia's voice was laced with urgency as she said, "There's a problem, Officer Thompson. I need to talk to you."Thompson's expression turned serious, his eyes scanning the surrounding area before nodding curtly. "Come in," he said, stepping aside to let her enter.As Amelia stepped inside, Thompson's eyes darted around the hallway, checking for any signs of surveillance. Satisfied they were alone, he closed the door behind her, his movements swift and quiet.Inside, Amelia's eyes widened as she took in the chaotic state of Thompson's apartment. She forced a smile, trying to hide her distaste, while covering her nose with her hand. "It's... quite a cozy place you have here," she said, her voice strained.Thompson's face turned bright red as he apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry about the mess. I've been meaning to clean up, but..."He swiftly sprang into action, clearing piles of clothes and papers from the couch, revealing a stained but serviceable surface beneath. He grabbed a near
Ava's smile turned mischievous as she said, "You're just my assistant, Stanley. You should act like one, not an overprotective bodyguard."“No, that’s not what I’m doing. Is that what you think?”Stanley's expression faltered, his eyes clouding with worry as he glanced at Ava. "Aren't I... aren't we friends, Ava?"Ava's gaze locked onto his, her eyes sparkling with amusement, but her expression serious. For a moment, Stanley wondered if he'd overstepped his bounds.Then, Ava burst out laughing, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, Stanley, I'm just messing with you! Of course, we're friends. You're my favorite assistant-slash-friend."Stanley's face relaxed, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "Got me there, Ava. I thought I'd crossed a line."Ava's laughter subsided, her expression turning warm. "You're a good friend, Stanley. I just like to keep you on your toes."Stanley chuckled, shaking his head. "You do that, Ava. You definitely do that."Officer Thompson escorted Amel