Good morning,” Ava mumbled as she stepped through the front door, hoping to make her exit quick.“Good morning, cupcake,” Noah replied, glancing up with a grin. “You look so… sexy today.”A loud, deliberate throat-clearing echoed from across the room, causing Noah to shift his gaze and quickly change the subject. “Uh… so, where are you off to this morning without even having breakfast?” he asked, motioning to the untouched food on the table.“I’m not hungry,” Ava replied, her voice slightly tense. “I’ll probably just eat at the office.” She felt Ethan’s eyes on her, but she kept her gaze firmly down, not daring to look up.“Ethan’s almost done with breakfast. Wait for him, and he’ll drive you to work,” Noah suggested casually.“No!” Ava blurted out, louder than she intended. She quickly cleared her throat. “I mean… no, Ethan doesn’t like being disturbed. Besides, I… I prefer taking a taxi.”Noah gave her a look. “Since when? You’ve never taken a taxi to work before,” he said, his brow
Ava was just about to toss the invitation in the trash when the door burst open, causing her to pause, her hand still hovering over the bin. “Don’t you ever–” she began, turning around. But her words caught in her throat when she saw Gabe entering, a smile on his face. “Oops, sorry!” he said, slightly sheepish, “forgot to knock again. I’ll remember next time.” He grinned as he walked toward her. You won’t remember, Ava thought. You’ve never been the type to knock. Gabe noticed the invitation card in her hand and held up his own copy. “Oh, so you got the invite. I was just about to bring you one.” Ava raised an eyebrow. “Why?” she asked, not hiding her curiosity. “It’s an important event for the company,” he replied as he took a seat across from her. “Besides, Grace is the chairwoman. Everyone’s invited.” Ava held back a frown. “But you never…” she trailed off, lowering her voice. “You’ve never liked her much. Why are you so eager to go to her birthday party?” She murmured, hal
Ava hesitated just outside Ethan’s home office, her hand hovering over the door. I don’t know if I should be doing this, she thought, her nerves twisting in her stomach. But finally, she took a deep breath and knocked.After a moment, she opened it and saw Ethan standing by the window, gazing out at the view with a paper in his hand. As she stepped inside, he turned to face her, his eyes following her every move.“The hotel was trying to reach you, but you weren’t picking up,” Ava said, holding up the rumpled card in her hand. “So I brought this for you.”She stepped forward to place the card on his desk, aware of his eyes still locked on hers.“What’s that?” Ethan asked, his voice low and cold, sending a chill through Ava. She forced herself to stay calm.“It’s an invitation,” she replied, trying to steady her voice. “It’s for Grace’s birthday party… she’s hosting it at my father’s house. I was hoping I’d go with you.”Ethan barely glanced at the card before turning back to the paper
Ava lay in bed, tossing and turning all night, her mind too restless to let her sleep. The thought of going to her father’s house for Grace’s birthday party—or skipping it altogether—kept running through her mind, refusing to settle. What if that party is my chance? she wondered, recalling that there was a CCTV camera on the balcony of her father’s home office. Maybe it had recorded something from the night that changed everything. The possibility kept her pulse racing. Finally, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was already 5:00 a.m. Ethan should be awake by now, she thought. A small plan began forming in her mind. Maybe if I dress for the gym, I could catch him there and try to convince him to come with me to the party. Ava sat up, quickly slipping into her gym clothes, which hugged her body perfectly. She tiptoed to her bedroom door, peeking out cautiously to see if anyone was in the hallway. It was quiet and still, just how she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she m
“Ethan… about Grace’s party,” Ava began, standing a few steps away from him. Ethan looked at her, his expression unreadable as his piercing eyes locked onto hers. He didn’t say a word, just waited. Ava took that as her cue to continue. “I know you said you didn’t want to go, but it would mean a lot if you came with me,” she said softly, keeping her voice calm while her eyes pleaded. “It’s… it’s been a long time since I’ve been to my father’s house, and I really don’t want to go alone.” Ethan’s gaze didn’t falter. After a moment, he asked, “Why do you want to go so badly, Ava?” For a brief second, she considered telling him everything. But instead, she answered, “There are things I need to do there,” she murmured. “And… I feel safer when you’re there.” Ethan’s expression softened just slightly, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. “No,” he said plainly, turning his back to her with that same faint smile as though the conversation was already over. Ava frow
“Grace killed him,” Ava said, her voice trembling as she moved closer to Ethan. Ethan’s brows furrowed, his eyes fixed on her. “How sure are you?” he asked, his tone calm but probing. “Because I was there…” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. She swallowed hard, trying to hold back her emotions. “I was… I was there when she pushed him to his death,” she burst out, the tears she had been holding back spilling freely. Ethan moved toward her, pulling her into his arms. “I’m sorry you had to experience that, Princess,” he said softly, as he held her trembling form. Ava couldn’t hold it in any longer. She broke down completely, her legs giving way as she clung to Ethan. “I want her to pay,” she sobbed. “I want justice for my father. All he ever did was love her, and she killed him.” Ethan tightened his hold on her, his hand gently rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her down. He didn’t say anything at first, letting her release the pain she had bottled up for so long. When her
I got home after the long meeting. I don’t know why my father always insists on me making half of the decisions concerning the company. It’s like he can’t decide anything without dragging me into it. He’s perfectly capable of running things on his own, but no, he has to involve me in everything. I sighed heavily as I opened the door to my house.Then I saw her. She was standing there, her back slightly turned, looking through the window. Just someone I wanted to see. She looked stunning in that dress, the way it hugged her curves perfectly. My exhaustion faded for a moment, replaced by a warm feeling. Without thinking, I walked toward her and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. She didn’t look surprised; instead, she stayed calm, almost like she’d been expecting it. I buried my face in her hair for a second, inhaling her scent. Her shampoo smells sweet, soothing. Seeing her already calmed me down. “I didn’t think you’d still make it back,” her soft voice broke the sil
Ava had been looking for a way to escape, but it felt like Gabe’s eyes were on her the whole time, watching her every move. “Try this,” Gabe said, pushing a bowl of strawberries toward her. “You’ll love it. They were brought straight from the farm.” Ava forced a smile, her hands fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth. “No thanks, I’m fine. I’m already full.” “Come on, I insist,” Gabe replied. “Just one. Trust me, you’ll love it.” Panic bubbled up inside her. How could she tell him she was allergic to strawberries without him becoming suspicious? She hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse, but her mind was blank. Slowly, she reached out, pretending to take one, when a warm hand covered hers. “She said she’s full,” Ethan said. He picked up a strawberry and took a bite. “I’ll have it for her. These are delicious,” he added, looking directly at Gabe. Relief washed over Ava, but it was short-lived when she noticed Sophie’s sharp gaze fixed on her. “You look uneasy, Emi
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.