But none of that mattered. None of that mattered because a month rolled by and I heard nothing from him. I even left his company in a fit of rage and frustration—whatever you want to call it—and took a receptionist position at a nearby gym instead. Exactly what I needed. I needed to remind myself th
“Oh my, such a charmer you are,” I smack him gently across his upper arm and take a sip of the wine. Right then, a woman in a satin golden gown appears on the stage and welcomes everyone. Two more men join her and they all do some sort of speech for the night. Seven minutes later they finally open
[AVA] I’ve always despised being that person who ruins everything. Back in middle school, my friend Val and I received an invitation to our classmate Angelica Barden’s birthday party. Let me tell you, she was basically Regina George from Mean Girls, but with a touch of the devil. I really wish I co
“Ava...” Sean’s voice reaches my ears like a gentle whisper, but it feels more like an icy blade piercing my chest, intensifying the urge to cry. However, the awareness of being in a public setting feels like blinding spotlights shining directly in my face, making me feel overly exposed and suscepti
I offer Sean the most sympathetic face I can muster, accompanied by a quick eye-roll that silently says, “I told you so.” To my surprise, Sean handled the situation better than I anticipated. He chuckles and shakes his head, finishing his drink. “In my defense, she’s old enough to know the rules of
[SEAN] Have you ever experienced a deep sense of helplessness? A feeling of desperately wanting something, but being unable to pursue it out of fear of hurting the people you love most? These situations are all too familiar in my life. I have become the epitome of sacrificing my own happiness for t
“What just happened in there?” I ask, my voice unintentionally startling her. I immediately feel like a fool. “Sorry,” I quickly apologize, rubbing the back of my neck before gently turning her to face me. “Are you okay?” Her response to my question becomes unnecessary as the moisture on her cheek
As the elevator doors open on the fifteenth floor, I step out into a narrow corridor. Judging by the appearance of the property and its prime location, it seems that my stalker is either a fellow wealthy individual or someone skilled at disguising their identity, relishing in making others feel fool
[BRIAN]When I pull up at Ava’s 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 it’s 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 that’s 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.“Ah…” I whimper, only then realizing my ankle is badly bruised.“You’re awake.”A deep male voice rings in my ears, and I look up—only to find the same staff guy w
[AVA]Once Brian leaves, I sink back onto the couch, my fingers dialing Max’s number again.Maybe if he picks up, I can convince him to drop by on his own, and Brian wouldn’t have to go.But every call goes unanswered. And the more I try to convince myself it’s no big deal—that Max is just being him
I run my fingers through his wet hair. “Because I can’t stop thinking about what happens next. About who’s behind this. About how this doesn’t just affect me but everyone around me.”“You don’t have to figure everything out right this second, Ava.”“I know,” I whisper, but knowing and believing are
[AVA]I finally feel a little better—enough 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 I’m left alone, my mind will start spiraling again, drowning me in guilt. And once that happens, I won’t 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.He’s dressed in a white shirt and blue denim jeans, and I don’t think he could look any better.I know, I know. I probably sound like some horny bitch, but I don’t care. It’s Brian. And being horny
[AVA]After dropping me off at Brian’s penthouse, Aaron insists on staying until Brian returns.But I can clearly see the disinterest on his face—he can’t 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]“I’m sure she didn’t mean it, Ava,” Miranda tries to say, but she might as well accept that her daughter will never see me as someone to be trusted.Whatever I’ve done to piss this woman off, one thing is certain—I don’t care anymore. I neither have the time to bother myself with her nonsense