[AVA] All hell broke loose before I even arrived at work. âHeâs been fired!â Nicole exclaimed, leaning over the desk and panting as if she had just climbed the stairs from the seventh to the eleventh floor to bring the terrible news. I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of her urgency. "Take a breath and slow down," I said, placing my handbag and phone on my desk. I turned to face her. "Who are we talking about?" Nicole glanced around, her eyes briefly stopping at Mr. Larson's office. "Your boss." Confusion flooded my mind. I had multiple bosses, so it wasn't exactly a straightforward question. "Which one?" I asked. "The immediate one," she clarified, and finally, it clicked in my head. My jaw dropped. "Wait, seriously? Are you kidding me?" This was completely unexpected. "Why? What did he do?" "I honestly have no clue, but I'm dying to find out," Nicole exclaimed, shaking her head. "I've been on edge ever since I heard about it. I couldn't resist going upstairs to invest
"Did you like them?" Sean blurted out as soon as I pressed the phone to my ear. I rolled my eyes. "Why do you even care?" "Damn!" He cursed. "It's worse than I thought, isn't it?" "You think?" Another eye roll as I found myself sinking into my chair. "You completely abandoned me in the middle of the night." "I'm prepared for the lecture you're about to give me. Let's get it over with." I shook my head. "The dinner was a complete disaster." "Tell me about it." "Your sister was awful." "You did warn me, didn't you?" "And that idiot Aaron? What was he even doing there? It would have been nice to have a heads-up if he was going to be anywhere near us." Sean let out a sigh. "I wish I had known. Apparently, it was supposed to be a surprise." "More like a shocking disaster!" "Just thinking about how Cora managed to get his attention baffles me. That guy is trouble." He was right, but Aaron wasn't my biggest concern of the night. "Do I even need to mention the Reinholds? Why didn
[BRIAN] I constantly remind myself not to meddle, not to stress about what's happening around me, and that it's not my responsibility to fix the mess. But the more I repeat those thoughts in my mind, the stronger my desire becomes to resolve this messed-up situation. The more I feel compelled to get involved, the more I feel the need to protect her. Why? Why do I have such a strong urge to save her before her heart gets shattered? Why does it affect me so deeply? A voice in my head, the most confident one, assures me that it's simply because I've known her for such a long time that it has become an instinct, especially considering she's the exact age my daughter would have been if she were still alive. Every time I think about Valarie, an invisible knife pierces my chest. A sharp pain wells up in my heart, and I can't freaking breathe for a whole damn second. I can't accept how unfair everything is, how none of this was supposed to happen. If only Val hadn't been so stubborn...
I divert my gaze from the desk and look at Ava. She's dressed in a pristine white office blouse that fits her perfectly. Her dark gray skirt is snug but modest enough not to send any inappropriate signals. I tighten my grip on the pen in my hand, trying to maintain focus. Because the more I think about her, the more I recall the immense pleasure I experienced while picturing her on her knees, wearing that alluring little black dress, satisfying me with her soft lips wrapped around my erection. Damn it. Not again. I need to get her out of my mind before I do something foolish. Ava keeps her eyes lowered, as if she believes I've summoned her to reprimand her for something she feels responsible for. I wonder if she already knows the reason for being here. No, I don't believe she does. If my opinion held any significance to her, she wouldn't have completely disregarded it last night. She would have given it some consideration, as I intended, and inquired about the reasons behind my
[AVA] As I close the door of the restroom and lean against it, panic begins to consume me. What the hell just happened? Did he really... No. It can't be true. It must have all been in my imagination. But what other explanation could there be? He was standing too closeâclose enough that I could feel his breath on my face, taste the scent of his strong cologne. His fingers beneath my chin left a burning sensation, and his gaze...it felt like he was piercing into my soul. I take a deep breath, attempting to steady my racing heart, and approach the sink to splash water on my face. I need to rid my mind of this absurd notion. Whatever I felt when he pinned me against the door, it can't be what my mind is telling me. It must have been a misunderstanding. It has to be. There's no way he intended any of that to happen. And the way he so rudely threw me out of his office is clear evidence of that. But I'm burning up right now. Not just my face, but my entire body feels like it's on fir
"Sean! Focus!" "Oh, right. Well, they told me that if I didn't break up with you, one of us would get hurt." "Wait..." I pause, trying to make sense of the illogical threat. "Sean, are you sure this isn't just another prank by your immature friends? They seem like the type to play mean-spirited jokes." It's true. Based on my personal experience, I can confirm that Sean's friends are seriously messed up. I still remember when they convinced him to prove his sexuality to them, and we had no choice but to stage a fake sexual encounter. "You're right," Sean agrees, although not entirely convinced. "But I don't think it was them this time. The caller sounded nothing like any of them. Even if they used voice modification, I don't think they could change the tone and accent, can they?" "I don't know, Sean. I'm really sorry, but I don't have the answer." If this had happened before I lost all my friends, I might have known a few people who could provide helpful tips on the latest technolo
[AVA] "Why the sudden change of heart?" Brian inquired, his attention still focused on the papers before him as he quickly skimmed through them. I glanced at Sharon, who was glaring at me with obvious annoyance. She had been shooting me those death stares ever since Brian prioritized my unexpected request to speak with him, causing him to cancel his upcoming meeting. It seemed like Sharon took it personally. Did she consider herself Brian's personal babysitter? He was a capable adult who could make his own decisions without someone constantly hovering over him. There was no need for her to make him feel guilty or take it as a personal offense. Sharon was definitely crossing a line. But perhaps I was just overthinking things. It wouldn't be the first time. Ever since Sean told me about the threats he received to break up with me, I had been feeling more than just annoyance. I let out a sigh, my gaze dropping to the table as I absently brushed my arm. "I should have listened to yo
I wished she were still here. But she wasn't, and it was painful. "And if Val was here, she would tell you to break up with Sean, just like I'm telling you to. You know why?" Brian asked, and I looked at him, uncertain why he believed Val would advocate for the same thing he was pushing for. I shook my head. "Because you were her best friendâthe one she cared about the most. She genuinely looked out for you. Remember when your car broke down in the middle of the night and you were terrified?" "I do," I replied, recalling that night vividly. It was the first time I had driven a car that far from home, and I was afraid my dad would never let me drive again. The car was one of his prized possessions, and I hadn't even asked for permission. "She was with you at some event when I called her." "Yeah," Brian agreed. "One of her cousins was getting married. Her mom was pretty mad when she left the ceremony, called a mechanic on the way, picked you up from that terrible place, and stayed
[BRIAN]When I pull up at Avaâs old address, I have only one goal in mind.To find Max and get the hell out.Why? Because this place always gave me the creeps. Not only is it the most notorious part of the city, but itâs also slightly dangerous.When Dean and his family went bankrupt years ago, I di
He walks back to the couch, and for the first time, I notice a camera thatâs already been set up.My stomach tightens.He grabs the camera stand with one hand and drags it closer to where I am. Adjusting the angle, he makes sure it focuses directly on me. Then he straightens, his gaze locking onto m
[AVA]I might have lost consciousness because the next time I open my eyes, the bright lights make me wince and squeeze them shut again.âAhâĶâ I whimper, only then realizing my ankle is badly bruised.âYouâre awake.âA deep male voice rings in my ears, and I look upâonly to find the same staff guy w
[AVA]Once Brian leaves, I sink back onto the couch, my fingers dialing Maxâs number again.Maybe if he picks up, I can convince him to drop by on his own, and Brian wouldnât have to go.But every call goes unanswered. And the more I try to convince myself itâs no big dealâthat Max is just being him
I run my fingers through his wet hair. âBecause I canât stop thinking about what happens next. About whoâs behind this. About how this doesnât just affect me but everyone around me.ââYou donât have to figure everything out right this second, Ava.ââI know,â I whisper, but knowing and believing are
[AVA]I finally feel a little betterâenough to let Brian freshen up after his long flight.He kisses me on the forehead and promises to join me soon.Maybe he knows that if Iâm left alone, my mind will start spiraling again, drowning me in guilt. And once that happens, I wonât be able to focus on an
I unlock the door and pull the door open, only to find his familiar handsome face looking back at me.Heâs dressed in a white shirt and blue denim jeans, and I donât think he could look any better.I know, I know. I probably sound like some horny bitch, but I donât care. Itâs Brian. And being horny
[AVA]After dropping me off at Brianâs penthouse, Aaron insists on staying until Brian returns.But I can clearly see the disinterest on his faceâhe canât stand another bored minute with me. So, I do what I know is right.I ask him to leave.Maybe out of formality, he insists once more that he doesn
[AVA]âIâm sure she didnât mean it, Ava,â Miranda tries to say, but she might as well accept that her daughter will never see me as someone to be trusted.Whatever Iâve done to piss this woman off, one thing is certainâI donât care anymore. I neither have the time to bother myself with her nonsense