Sophie leaned in close, whispering into Ava's ear. "I heard you and my husband are close at the office. Let’s keep it professional, okay?" She smiled sweetly, but her words felt sharp. Sophie then placed her hand on Ava’s shoulder, pretending to fix a wrinkle on her blouse.Ava barely heard her. She was gripping the yacht’s railing so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her fear of the water was overpowering her ability to respond, and Sophie's words barely registered.Just as Sophie stepped back, Ava thought she might have a chance to move away, but Sophie’s hand shot out, shoving her hard. Ava instinctively grabbed Sophie’s arm as she tumbled, and both of them fell into the water.Screams filled the air as the models Sophie brought along started shouting. The men came running from inside the yacht. Ethan looked in the direction of the noise and saw Ava struggling in the water, while Sophie was already swimming back toward the yacht.Without thinking, Ethan jumped into the water. He s
A knock on the door pulled Ava from her sleep. She stirred under the covers, trying to ignore the sound. But then the door creaked open, and she heard Ethan’s familiar voice.“Still sleeping?” he asked as he stepped into the room."It’s Sunday, Ethan," Ava muttered, turning her head to the other side, pulling the blanket over her shoulder, her face half-buried in her pillow."Exactly why you should get up now," Ethan replied with a knowing smile.Ava groaned, rolling over just enough to peek at him. “Get up for what?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep."Get dressed and meet me in the gym," Ethan said, already heading toward the door.Ava slumped back into the bed. "“I’ll exercise later… after I’ve had more sleep.” she mumbled, attempting to go back to sleep.Ethan paused, turning toward her with a mischievous look. "You’re not skipping this one, princess. Or do you want me to come carry you out of bed?" He took a playful step toward her.Ava shot up instantly, wide awake now
They stood there in silence, Ethan holding Ava close as her sobs finally slowed. He didn’t say anything, just gently stroked her back while she cried. When her tears subsided, Ava sniffled and pulled back slightly, wiping her face with the back of her hand, embarrassed.“I never thought Sophie would… do something like that. We were friends,” Ava said, her voice shaky, still trying to make sense of everything.“Shh… it’s okay,” Ethan whispered, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’m here now.” His hand rested on her shoulder.Ava nodded, her breathing still uneven, but she was calming down. Her eyes were red from crying, and she felt embarrassed for breaking down in front of him. She glanced up at Ethan, unsure of what to say next.“Thanks,” she whispered, barely loud enough to be heard. She quickly bend her head, hoping to hide her flushed cheeks.“It’s nothing, princess,” Ethan said with a soft smile, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. His teas
Ava stepped out of her room and headed toward the dining area. She found Alex at the table, eagerly shoving food into his mouth. “Where’s Ethan?” she asked, glancing around.“I’m here,” a voice called from behind her. Ava turned to see Ethan, freshly dressed in a crisp shirt and jeans, looking effortlessly handsome as always.“You’re not the one going on a date. Why are you dressed like that?” Alex teased, pausing his meal to shoot Ethan a playful look.“I promised to take you around town ,” Ethan replied with a smirk. “But since you’ve got something special planned, I thought I’d tag along.”“Can’t I take Ava out alone for once?” Alex asked, putting on his best puppy-dog face. “Just me and her?”“No,” Ethan said simply, moving to sit at the table.“Where exactly are we going, Alex?” Ethan asked.“Somewhere special,” Alex said with a laugh as he made his way to the front door.After a short drive, they arrived at a park. Ethan raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “This is your ‘special p
Ethan’s mother walked in, her smile lighting up the room. “Ethan!” she exclaimed, rushing toward him with open arms. “I’ve missed you so much, baby!” She placed a quick peck on his lips, her affection warm and open.Ethan’s face flushed slightly as he shifted awkwardly. “Mom…” he muttered, clearly embarrassed.“Oh, hush, Ethan,” she waved off his protests. Then her eyes lit up as she turned toward Alex. “Alex! I didn’t even know you were back in town! Look at you, still as handsome as ever.”But when her gaze shifted to Ava, she paused, her smile widening even more. “And is that… Ava?”“No!” Both Ethan and Ava shouted at once, a bit too loudly.Ethan quickly composed himself, clearing his throat. “I mean… no, Mom. This is Emily, my business partner.”Ethan’s mother raised an eyebrow, looking between the two of them suspiciously. “Emily, huh?” She glanced at Ava again, noticing the resemblance. “Why does she look so much like Ava?”Ava quickly jumped in, nodding. “I’m Ava’s cousin. W
Ava walked into the kitchen, and her eyes widened in surprise. Victoria was standing there, cooking. She was wearing one of Ethan’s long white shirts, which looked like a dress on her.“How did she get that shirt?” Ava wondered. “What…t—” Ava started, her voice caught in her throat, but Victoria was quicker.“I know it’s your plan to drive me out of Ethan’s life, but it’s not going to happen!” Victoria’s voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she pointed a wooden spoon in Ava’s direction.Victoria continued, “You don’t question me in my house. What are you to Ethan, huh? Why are you living under his protection like some charity case?” She smirked, stirring the pot on the stove .“By the way. If you must know, I’m making dinner for my Ethan, who has always loved my cooking.”“We were almost married, you know. Ethan never stopped loving me, and I never stopped loving him.”Ava couldn’t hold it back anymore. She folded her arms, leaning against the kitchen counter, a smirk tugging at
Ava's POV I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why does the thought of Ethan kissing Victoria bother me so much? I asked myself, rubbing my temples. I’m not anything to him, am I?But then, my thoughts drifted back to the park. He kissed me too. My fingers brushed over my lips, remembering that soft peck. But it was just a quick kiss. A peck, I told myself, shaking my head. "Ugh, stop overthinking it," I mumbled, tapping my forehead lightly.Just then, a soft noise interrupted my thoughts. “Hmm…mmm…mmm.”I jumped in my chair, startled. “Ethan?!” I blurted out, wide-eyed as I saw him standing in the doorway.Oh no, it’s Ethan, I thought, my heart racing. Why is he here? I’d been avoiding him for over a week now, and suddenly, there he was.“What’s wrong, princess?” Ethan asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he walked toward my desk. “N-Nothing,” I stammered. “What are you doing here?” I asked.“I work here too,” Ethan said smoothly, pulling out a chair and sitting across from me.I
Ava pushed open the front door, stepping into a dark, silent room. Why is it dark everywhere? she wondered, feeling the unsettling quiet around her.“Do you still like him?”,” Ethan’s voice echoed from somewhere in the darkness, low and unexpected.“Ava jumped, startled. “Oh, my—Ethan! You scared me. Why are you sitting here in the dark?”.She fumbled for the light switch. “Alexis, lights on,” she called out to the AI, and instantly, the lights brightened, and there was Ethan, sitting on the couch, staring at her, his expression unreadable.“What?” Ava asked, noticing his intense stare.“Do you still like him?” Ethan asked again, his voice now colder, sharper.“Who?” Ava asked, her brow furrowing.“Gabe. I saw the way you smiled when he touched you,” Ethan said, his gaze darkening.Ava hesitated for a moment, feeling the tension in his words. “What if I do? Gabe is not as bad as you think,” she said, narrowing her eyes. At least he’s not leading me on… or making me feel confused all
It was already night, and Ethan wasn’t back yet. Ava sat in the living room, her gaze fixed on the door as if her stare alone would bring him home. She had been pacing earlier, but now she was on the couch, her legs curled under her, her hands tightly gripping a throw pillow. “What are you doing?” Liam’s voice came from the staircase, startling her. Ava glanced at him, letting out a deep sigh. “No....Nothing,” Ava replied, letting out a deep sigh as she shifted to sit up straight. She hadn’t even realized how long she had been standing near the door. Do....you... Do you think Ethan will be fine?” she finally asked , her voice soft, almost unsure. She turned to face Liam, her worry evident. “Yeah, he’ll be back soon, don’t worry.” Liam assured her as he moved toward the couch. Before either of them could say more, the sound of the front door unlocking grabbed their attention, they both turned staring at the door. “You see? I told you he’d be back,” Liam said, standing up.
Ethan’s POV “What are you guys doing?” A familiar voice broke through the moment, making Ava pull away from me so fast it felt like a slap. She wasn’t naked or doing anything wrong, but the way she panicked like she’d been caught committing a crime, but her reaction made her seem guilty. She turned to face the door, clearly avoiding looking at me.“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair. “Can’t I have some privacy in my house?” I growled, turning toward Liam, who stood in the doorway with an amused smirk on his face. He’d ruined everything, always showing up when I didn’t want him to. He had ruined everything. The moment I’d been waiting for, craving for, was here, and he took it away just like that. “Nothing!” Ava blurted, her voice higher than usual. I glanced at her, hoping for a different reaction, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes. Instead, she grabbed her juice and practically ran for the door. “Welcome back, Liam. Goodnight, Ethan,” she said
Ava's POV The incident with Gabe was stuck in my head, making it impossible to focus at work. Anger bubbled inside me every time I thought about it. I knew I wanted to get back with him before, but now, it’s clear— that whatever connection we once had is gone. Everything about him disgusts me, especially those lips. I’ve washed my lips so many times today, scrubbing at the memory of his unwanted kiss. Now, I’m sitting at my desk, reapplying lipstick for what feels like the hundredth time, only to wipe it off again. These lips… the same lips Ethan kissed with so much passion last night. His kiss was breathtaking, unforgettable, and yet Gabe had to ruin everything with his pathetic attempt this morning. I sighed deeply, shaking my head. My thoughts wandered back to last night—the way Ethan’s tongue worked magic, pulling reactions from me that I didn’t even know I could feel. I touched my lips, a small smile creeping across my face. But then the memory of Gabe’s forceful kiss intr
Ava's POV I wanted to move, but my legs betrayed me. My body felt weak—this was the first time I’d ever felt such pleasure. “Go and shower, princess,” Ethan said, his voice low as he kissed my cheek. I stayed frozen on the spot, trying to regain strength. “Should I carry you?” he asked, his lips curling into a teasing smile. “No!” I blurted out, almost yelling. The idea of him carrying me to the bathroom was tempting, but I knew exactly where it would lead, and I wasn’t ready for another round just yet. “I’ll manage,” I added quickly, forcing a small smile. As I gathered my clothes, I couldn’t help the grin spreading on my face. “What’s making you smile?” Ethan asked, his curious eyes watching me. “Nothing,” I replied, shaking my head as I hurried to his bathroom, closing the door behind me. --- It’s morning already, and I woke up next to a muscular body today. I really enjoyed my sleep. Will I say I had the best sleep ever? I might be exaggerating, but I did… I smi
His lips brushed against mine. It was a small, light touch, but it sparked a fire between us, and soon his hands were traveling all over me. He pressed his body against mine, easing me towards the bed.I backpedaled until my legs hit the couch instead and we both fell back into it.I was staring at his eyes- those deep brown eyes, the tattoos drawn on his skin, the way each of his muscles was so perfectly toned it looked like he was once a god.As he floated above me, his lips trailed from my lips to my neck to my chest. The way he kissed me was like nothing I had ever experienced before—so passionate and dominating that I felt the electricity all the way down to my toes."Mmm..." I could hardly make words, it felt so good. I raked my fingers along his back, holding on as if my life depended on it. No one had ever made me feel like this before—it was absolutely addictive. I'd never get enough of him.Is this okay? He asked.I nod quickly."You're sure?" he asked again, checking to be
Ava's POV After a long, hot shower, I flopped onto my bed and covered my face with my hands. Why do I keep embarrassing myself around Ethan? It was like my body had its own plans every time he was near. I rolled onto my side, trying to distract myself, when my eyes landed on the file I’d been planning to show him. The paper stared back at me like it was daring me to make a decision. Should I give it to him now? I wondered. Or maybe… just forget about it? No… it’s important. I have to. I grabbed the file and walked out of my room. When I reached Ethan’s door, my heart was pounding. I hesitated for a moment, thinking whether to go in or not. I took a deep breath, then gave a light knock before stepping inside. “Come in,” his deep voice called. I pushed the door open and saw him, he was standing by the window again.Why is he always at the window? I wondered.He turned, a small smile tugging at his lips as he walked toward me. “I think you might want to see this,” I said,
Staying in the room wasn’t helping. Ava sighed as her stomach growled for the second time. "I need to eat because I’m starving right now," she muttered, heading to the door. She cracked it open and peeked through, looking for any sign of Ethan. The hallway was quiet. “Good,” she whispered to herself. After embarrassing herself this morning, facing Ethan felt like the worst idea. She slipped out of her room and quietly made her way to the kitchen. The aroma of food hit her as soon as she entered, making her stomach growl even louder. She spotted a tray of food neatly covered on the counter. “Thank God for the cook,” she whispered gratefully as she sat down and uncovered the food. She picked up her fork and began devouring her meal, letting out a contented sigh. She was halfway through her food when Ethan walked into the kitchen. She froze in place, her fork hovering mid-air. “You finally decided to come out, huh?” Ethan said casually as he strolled to the fridge. Ava’s eye
Ava's POV "You taste so good, princess," Ethan said, as he slipped his tongue inside me. "Fuck... yes," moans slipping out of my mouth with each swipe of his tongue. My hips spasm as I let out shuddering breaths, and Ethan's arms flex as he holds me down Ethan looked up and gave me a silly smile. "What do you want, princess?" he asked. "I... I... I want you," I murmured. "I can't hear you," Ethan said. "I WANT YOU!" I shouted. I woke up with a start, my alarm blaring in my ears.My heart was racing, and my body felt hot all over. Damn it, it was a dream. A very naughty dream about Ethan. Ever since that party, I’ve been feeling weird. My thoughts keep wandering to him, and my body seems to have a mind of its own. This isn’t normal. I sat up, groaning as I felt the wetness between my legs. “Seriously, Ava?” I muttered, embarrassed at myself. That stupid dream had me losing control. Without wasting time, I rushed to the bathroom, hoping a long, warm shower would fix thi
I stepped out of the office, but before I could move, I heard footsteps coming. My feet froze. I couldn’t move. My body felt heavy. What was I thinking? I’m going to get caught! I tried to turn back, to hide, but it was too late. “What are you doing?” My heart stopped for a second until I saw who it was. “Ethan!” I whispered, my voice full of relief. “You scared me.” “How did you know I’d be here?” I asked, my voice shaky. He looked at me with concern. “How did I know you’d be here?” he repeated my question like it was obvious. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” “I thought you were going to the security room to check the footage from that day,” he added, giving me a questioning look. I opened my mouth to explain, but I stuttered. “I... I went to check the CCTV. But it’s not there. The cameras are gone.” Ethan sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Grace is too smart to leave any evidence behind. The footage isn’t going to be on those cameras anymore.