Ava "Do you want to stay here honey?" My mom's voice is full of concern. I shake my head. I've had my hugs and comfort from them and as much as I love my parents, I'm looking forward to just going back to mine and Zoe's apartment and crashing. I'm so exhausted I feel dizzy. It's been a long haul back from Spain. I have spent so many tears, drained myself with so much emotion and now feel utterly deflated. There's no way Sebastian is going to fly all the way here just to see me. I've read far too many romance books, watched too many girlie movies and this is real life, those aren't. The glimmer of hope I had after dad's words are fading rapidly. Real life is catching up with a bang. "No, I'll go back to mine. Dad would you give me a lift please?" "Absolutely. if you're sure. But you'll come back over tomorrow for lunch won't you? We've missed you sweetie." He's so lovely my dad. I give him a massive hug. Once a daddy's girl, always a daddy's girl and I'm proud of it. "For sure."
Sebastian We have landed at the small airfield in Chicago. Long haul flights are most definitely not my thing, however, I have managed to keep myself occupied with work and of course thinking of Ava. I'm nervous that she won't listen to me. I'm terrified of losing her and not spending the rest of my life with her. On this ten hour flight I have had a lot to think about and it hit me hard to know that for ten years or so, I've locked my heart away and under key and now this beautiful American Girl has stolen it. It feels good, I've felt truly alive for the first time in so many years and I want to make her mine. Only will she want what I want? It's a ten billion dollar question. I've some explaining to do and what I have to say won't necessarily be what Ava wants to hear, or will want for her life. It isn't everyone's cup of tea but my life is about to change dramatically and I have to on-board that. Ava will have to consider whether it is something she will also be willing to take o
Ava I've had a shower and mulling over my pep talk from Zoe. I've changed into my favorite sleep shorts and vest top. They're yellow with white cotton trim and the softest fabric against my skin. My long dark hair is now in a top knot. I've thrown myself on my over-sized furry bean bag, the palest blush pink color that sits in a corner of my room in our apartment. I've created this space as my reading nook and I adore it. I'm so in love with my books, they bring me comfort as I look at the spines, run my hands along them and take the odd one off the shelf and sniff it. Along the top of my room are fairy lights which sparkle but nothing like the sea when the sun shone down on it in Malaga. I sigh heavily. My heart lurches. I have managed not to cry for nearly an hour. A record since this morning. Are we even still in the same day? It seems to have been the longest day on record. I wonder what Sebastian is doing right now. I calculate the time, it's now nearing eight in the evening h
SebastianThe boutique hotel here in Chicago is tasteful. We had a top designer in to bring it back to its former glory of an art deco establishment. It is one of my favorite eras for fashion and décor. The brown marble shines brilliantly under the magnificent chandelier. A bell boy comes towards me smartly dressed in black trousers, crisp white shirt and a deep green waistcoat. Our colors for this hotel are gold and green. Outside is a deep green canopy with my initials S. G. emblazoned on it in italics. "Can I help you, sir?" "No thank you, I'm fine. I will go straight to my suite." I tip him anyway, he looks stunned and as if he wants to give it back to me. I nod and begin to walk away. I'm not here for a visit so nobody needs to stand to attention, they can carry on about their business as if I wasn't in the building. It's quiet tonight, not too many people mingling in our impressive foyer with a large round table that dominates it. I have to admit it is rather elaborate, all gol
Ava Well what can I say? There is absolutely no way I am going to be able to sleep much tonight and fancy letting me hang on like this. If my heart wasn't gravitating so strongly towards him, I'd simply say forget it, tell me now. Only he came across stern on the messages that I didn't dare push it. Especially not after Sebastian has come all this way to see me. I mean really. Just drop your bum on your private jet and fly a few thousand miles to see the girl of your dreams. It is amazing. This is truly the stuff that movies are made of, you know Hallmark movies in particular. I wonder if I could write a book about us. I can't wait to tell Zoe when she comes back in with Nate. Talking of which, that is getting pretty serious, meeting his mom tomorrow. Crikey. I am still staring at my phone, in particular a selfie of Sebastian and I. We're sitting at the roof terrace restaurant he booked for us in Grenada. My smile takes up my whole face and his tiger eyes are looking down on me with
Ava Well needless to say I didn't sleep much. I have been awake on and off all night and now I feel totally shattered. Although I am mixed with so many different emotions at once. It's six a.m and I know Sebastian will be awake and I am convinced he will be feeling pretty much the same as me. One minute elated that we will see each other again. Has it really only been twenty-four hours. It feels longer. The next I feel scared. What if he does tell me something that makes me run in the opposite direction? My feelings for him are so strong that they have completely washed over me like a tsunami, I couldn't imagine anything he tells me will turn me off wanting to be with him. Then there is the whole spending our lives together thing. Am I ready? Does anyone know if they are really ready? This feels right and I cannot imagine my life without him in it now. We have become so close, inseparable and I feel as if he is my soulmate. I inhale and exhale. To say I am nervous is a bit of an unde
Sebastian Am I nervous? Yes. Am I terrified? Yes. Am I excited to see my beautiful American Girl again? Absolutely. The last twenty-four hours have been a rollercoaster and now it is finally time to go down to meet my driver and finally collect Ava. I haven't slept much and with the time difference between here and Japan, I spent a good deal of time on my lap top and put a call in to my project manager Mr Hazouko over there. He has assured me that everything is running smoothly and we have no issues. I already know from my CFO that we are now operating back in budget. I've reviewed the latest images and the gardens at our hotel there are impressive, when the cherry comes into blossom it will be a sight to see, in Japan this is my favorite time of the year. I am excited to fly to Japan and spend time with our hotel manager, Mr Anooka-san he is a mild natured man who is always willing to please. Already we have hired most of his family and pretty much the whole town to work in the hote
Sebastian I am greeted by the hotel manager as I walk through the door. They have expected me for the reservation I have made for the entire terrace for our breakfast to be served with champagne. "Good morning, Sebastian. It is so good to see you." We shake hands. We've known each other now for many years and he was once my hotel manager for a hotel in San Francisco. His wife's mother became very poorly and she wanted to relocate to Chicago to be her main carer. Hence he moved and at the time I couldn't offer Rick a position in either of my Chicago hotels. He is missed. A good bloke who has put his family before everything. That goes a long way in my book. "Good to see you, Rick. How are things going? I see there have been some changes since I last came here." I notice they've had a facelift, the walls are now painted a shade of cream instead of the pale blue they once were. It looks elegant and the optimum of luxury. "We are well thanks you for asking. My wife's mother passed awa
Ava - Six Months Later I'm standing in a beautiful large suite with a terrace on which sit two white iron chairs and a round table. The view is across olive groves and lavender-dusted hillsides to the majestic mountains where last night I watched the most spectacular sunset as I gazed over the scenic Sierra Morena. I sat here serenely by myself thinking this is the best decision I have ever made. My insides are all a flutter with butterflies, my heart feels like it will explode with happiness and I have had a perma-smile for the last few months. Life couldn't have been more beautiful nor moved as quickly as it has. In just these few months I have moved lock, stock and barrel to live with Sebastian in his ranch just outside of Santa Fe. Nestled in a wondrous spot just outside of the town where he was born. It is a sprawling plot of land where horses can roam freely. We have goats, sheep and a couple of cows. Bella loves tending to them and recently Sebastian bought her geese and duck
Sebastian “Hello my beautiful, American Girl.” Her face is a picture as her jaw looks like it has dropped to the ground. Her beautiful green eyes wide and now she is running toward me. Ava’s arms open wide and she throws herself into me. “Oh my God, how on earth did you do this?” I knew she’d be surprised and happy. It is the least I could do to fly the ten hours back to meet her for our return to Spain. I didn’t want my girl to have to travel to her new home all on her own. Not at all. This experience we should share together, like so many more experiences we will have in our lifetime together. This woman is precious to me, I worship the ground that she walks on, I love everything about her from the mole just above her lip to the hair on her head. Talking of which smells like coconut and lemons as she presses her head into my shoulder. My arms are already around her and I hold her into me tightly. It feels like we have been separated for months not just days. It’s felt like an eter
TateWell that all went too quickly and now I have mascara smudged all over my eyes from crying so much after dinner which mom managed to make in record time. She’s already talking about Thanksgiving. I’m definitely coming home for that and Sebastian can put an army of bodyguards on me if he needs to. Although I am sure by the time November comes round, Mark will have moved on. Hopefully.Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite times of the year. We all get together and my mother’s sister and husband come over with their now grown-up children, Louisa and Denise. It’s always a really warm and fuzzy time of year. Zoe comes too but later as she always holds a Thanksgiving dinner for her special clients who don’t have anyone at the time of year. She’s so kind hearted and has never missed a Thanksgiving for them. This year she will have Nate to help her and that makes me feel warm inside. The thought of someone standing by her side.I hugged my parents like there was no tomorrow and Zoe be
Tate I’m still in a sulk. I should be excited beyond belief to be flying back to Spain to see and be with Sebastian again this evening. It’ll be the early of the hours of course since they won’t be ready for me until seven tonight. Right when I should be going out with Zoe and Nate for dinner. I then have a wild idea of having them come with me to Spain and being flown back in a week’s time. Only that is a pipeline dream since Zoe has her business to run and Nate has patients to see. Mom has been frantic all day at the thought of me flying out later this evening. She’s overwhelmed to say the least and I get that, I really do. Dad hasn’t taken it all too well either and shot off to the golf course to hit balls on the driving range. It’s now eleven and I am still in my bloody pjs. What I need is to shower and get my shit together and head over to the apartment to pack a few things into my larger suitcases. You know like personal belongings I want before my stuff arrives, clothes, shoes
TateI tried to ignore the message as best I could. Dillon left us around eight last night and Liam came to take over. He wasn’t the same build as Dillon by any stretch. In fact as I looked out of my bedroom window down to the front porch as he arrived, I’d easily say he could pass as a doppelganger for David Beckham. Victoria is a lucky lady, well not as lucky as me because I have Sebastian and he is in a league of his own. But nonetheless.Naturally, I went down to greet Liam. He is from Texas and has that lovely drawl thing going on. I showed him the latest message from my ex. “Don’t worry ma’am. We’ve got this. Ain’t nothing gonna happen to you, with me on watch. If he’s dumb enough to show up around here, he’s gonna have to answer t’me.”I felt reassured but I’m still freaked out this is even happening to me. Why can’t Mark just take it on the chin that we’re over? He is the one that ended our relationship. Or perhaps he can’t handle rejection. Maybe there is more to the split be
Ava “Honey it’s so good to see you. It feels like you’ve been away for weeks and it’s only been a couple of days.” My mother rushes to me as I enter the cosy kitchen. As usual she is cooking and wearing her blue apron with her tied up in a messy bun. She looks so inviting and I allow her to take me into her arms and press me right into her bosom. I’ve missed my mom so much. She is right though, it does feel as if it’s been weeks not just a couple of days. So much has happened what with bumping into Mark, his threatening/nuisance messages, Arabella practically rejecting me and having a blinking bodyguard now of all things. Who, by the way I have left standing outside for the time being. Best not to overwhelm my mother in the first few seconds of arriving back home. “I know. It feels like it’s been ages too.” I say as I place my portfolio on the two-seater sofa in the inglenook in the kitchen and slip my rucksack off my shoulders and place it on the sofa too. It’s looking a bit jaded
SebastianMy blood is boiling to the point I am so fired up I could punch a wall. It is not often I lose control like this but that man, he needs to be dealt with before anything happens. I know of men who have hurt their ex partners, stalked them and harmed them. It is an insane world and I am frightened for Ava.At least with my detail providing security for her, the man would need a shotgun to get past her bodyguard. You would think it would help to allow me to sleep better tonight, only it doesn’t. I need to have Ava here with me in Spain, like yesterday. Not in three weeks. Besides, I am craving her. I am craving her lips crushed against mine, our bodies together and her warmth underneath me.Even with all these thoughts of my American Girl I do not become aroused, my anger is so fueled that sex is the last thing on my mind. I will be viewing the ranch and meet with the current owner later this morning. Elena, my assistant has done well to narrow it down to just three ranches for
Ava I stare at my mobile as the rage and anger fuels my entire body. This man, he just won’t let up. I swear if he was standing in front of me now, I’d easily punch him in the face. I’m not even sure whether to be concerned or just laugh this off. Only he is making me a bit shaky with the tone of his message. Moving away from the patio I step back inside the penthouse suite and read the message again. You had no right to run out on me like that the other day. I only wanted to talk and express how I felt. You’re not going to get away from me, Ava. I’m still in love with you. So, I fucked up. I realize that. But if you think I’m letting you get away you need to think again. I’ve seen all your social media posts with that man and he’s not right for you. I’m going to do everything I can to show you that he is wrong for you. I am the one that is meant to be with you forever happy after Not that jumped up son-of-a-bitch. I know where you’re staying here in NYC and I’ll be waiting. I mean
Ava “Honey, of course it’s worth fighting for. Honestly, what is wrong with you? Just because his daughter doesn’t like the idea it certainly doesn’t mean she won’t change her mind. You’ve got to see it from her point of view, Ava.” I’m outside on the wrap around balcony to the penthouse back in the Waldorf Astoria gazing up at the sky as Zoe talks to me. Of course everything she’s saying is absolutely right. It still doesn’t make it any better for me though. “My heart absolutely goes out to her, Zoe. It really does. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to lose your mother. I’d fall apart if my mom died or my father, it’s gut wrenching. And I know the last thing she wants is someone new into their lives.” “Look take a deep breath, I know you’re gutted that you can’t move in with him, but damn girl. You’ll be living on his doorstep literally. A villa on the land sounds amazing. Sebastian will see you every day, you’ll spend nights together and get to know his little girl an