"Well, let's order lunch," Björn announced as he saw that the employees' regular lunch break was about to end. He turned to Ava, who was finishing up some notes on her new iPad, and asked, "What would you like to eat, Ms. Gray?" "Would you like me to order from the menu?" she asked helpfully, and Björn declined. "What would you like? I know the menu every day, so I'm not in the mood for anything. Shall we go into town?" Ava raised her eyebrows in surprise, as it was a couple of hours' drive. "To the city?" Björn nodded at her surprised look. "I have a new helicopter, so it will be less travel time. Have you tried the imperial salmon?" Björn asked Ava, but she declined. "Well, you're going to love it, so I'll take advantage of the trip to pick up my guest. Grab whatever you need, and I'll meet you in the lobby in five minutes." Ava got up from her place and thought about what to bring. She only had her purse, where she had her IDs and a copy of the house keys, but it was in the empl
"Another view..." whispered Björn, leaning back in his chair and looking carefully at Ava, who was oblivious to his gaze. "Impressive..." said Ava without looking away, then looked back at her boss. "Is the food here good?" she asked as she felt a little more relaxed. Björn nodded slowly. "Quite good. Years ago, I used to come here all the time. To make a reservation at this place, they take up to six months to give you one. "Oh, that's quite a long time," Ava murmured, surprised by what he was telling her. "Yes," she accepted the menu the waiter handed them. "Good afternoon, I'm Ever, your waiter. Would you like something to drink? An appetizer? "I want three glasses and the best vintage of wine you have. I'm waiting for someone else," Ava didn't know. "Perfect," Björn nodded, and the waiter left. "Are you expecting someone else?" she asked without a filter. "Yes, my guest we're bringing to the hotel. "Oh," then Ava looked at the scenery, lost herself in it for a few more mi
Ava's heart fluttered so hard that she swore it would stop at any moment. "Mr. Hoffmann, you've had enough wine," Björn broke away from her a little to look into her eyes. He noticed the rim of both irises dilated, in a thin line, then her words echoed loudly, bringing him back to reality: he was the boss and her assistant. Björn stepped back, leaving Ava leaning against the door, her cheeks scarlet and panting. He had no right just because he bought her at the auction to save her, and he had no right even to feel jealousy or attraction for her. He shouldn't cross that fine line between the two of them. He wasn't allowed. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me..." he ran a hand through his hair, he wrinkled his brow, Ava couldn't help but lower her gaze to his pants at the same time Björn covered his erection with both hands. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." he subtly tugged Ava's arm to pull her away from the door and out to the men's room. Ava was shivering, but not like two years a
"I'm not going to answer that question," Björn answered sharply, and that didn't surprise Carter. "Fine, have it your way," he got up and poured himself more whiskey from the cabinet, then returned to his seat. There was a long silence in the suite, with only fleeting glances, until finally, Björn decided to break the silence. "I have discovered things that I didn't like at all," he said, rarely opening up about personal matters to anyone, not even Oscar, who was part of his family and the only person he trusted. Carter paid close attention, knowing this was significant. Björn finished his drink in one gulp and left the empty glass on the glass table in the center of the room. "Is it something here at the hotel?" Björn nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?" Björn shook his head. "It's better to stay out of it, but it's been bothering me since yesterday. Somehow I have to talk about it, not all of it, but voicing it might help me stop feeling this way," Carter frowned. "It must be
Saturday had arrived, three days since that lunch in the city with her boss and the guest. That morning, Ava sat on the edge of her bed, feeling a bit lost in her thoughts. While bathing, she had noticed a couple of bruises on her arms and legs, but she couldn't remember how she got them. After checking the time, she finished getting ready for work. She had been restless during the nights, unable to sleep properly. The scene of Björn with her in the ladies' room kept replaying in her mind, causing her to question her own reactions. She compared it to a similar situation two years ago and realized how different she felt now. The day proceeded as usual, with the security man escorting Ava to the employee entrance door. There, she met Alice, her best friend. "What time do you get off today?" Alice asked, checking the entry time. Ava sighed. "I don't know. I don't have a set time," she frowned and looked at her friend. "Why?" They walked toward the employee locker area. "The group of
Ava glanced at herself from head to toe in the mirror. With Alice's help, her hair had been perfectly straightened, giving her brown locks a longer and sleeker appearance. "I can't believe how much my appearance has changed," Ava murmured, unable to tear her eyes away from her reflection. Her fingers ran through her newly straightened hair. She was already wearing makeup and only needed to put on her outfit to go to the nightclub in town. "What do you need?" Alice's voice echoed from a distance as she walked towards the living room in her high heels. Upon entering, she noticed her friend. "You look stunning," Ava remarked, taken aback by the dramatic transformation. She had never seen Alice dressed like that before—wearing a short golden sequined dress, her hair also straightened, and elongating her legs with platform heels. "I just need to get dressed, and then I'll be ready." "Come on, it's a two and a half-hour drive to the city," Alice urged. Ava hurriedly put on a black dress—
Björn held a crystal glass of the finest whiskey in his hand, his heart fluttering as he heard his name spoken by Ava. "She said my name." He disliked being called by name by people who weren't close to him. "Excuse me, I meant to say, Mr. Hoffmann," she quickly corrected herself, but Björn promptly dismissed it. "Don't worry," he leaned toward her, so she could hear. "I said your name, you responded the same way, and besides, it's not working hours. So you can call me Björn..." Ava felt her breath hitch, and she had to part her lips slightly to take a sly breath. Björn straightened up and, without taking his eyes off her, took a sip of his drink, observing her every reaction. "And your guest?" Ava asked, avoiding eye contact. Björn felt irritated, removed the crystal glass from his lips, and licked a drop from his lower lip with his tongue. That carefree and straightforward gesture evoked strange sensations in Ava, as if she was thirsty. Björn glanced downstairs and spotted Carter
Björn clenched his jaw tightly, the mere thought of Carter being able to touch her or even see her caused his anger to surge out of hiding. "You won't," he said, grabbing Carter's arm. Carter opened his mouth, feeling the pain of Björn's grip. "Hey! That hurts! Easy, easy!" Carter started laughing as Björn released his hold. "I just wanted to see your reaction, Hoffmann." "Stop testing me. You know I'm an impatient man," Björn replied. "I know, but seriously, Hoffmann, you should have a little more fun..." Then he patted Björn on the shoulder and went into the private room. Ava and her group of friends had returned to the dance floor. Björn noticed that she was dancing somewhat awkwardly around them until he spotted the presence of a young man trying to make her laugh. However, she didn't respond, which brought some amusement to Björn. "What do you have to lose, Björn?" he asked himself. He felt the need to approach her, but if their friends, who were hotel employees, noticed, it
Ava typed a goodnight message to her family, and reported that she didn't yet know if she would be able to go into town for the holidays, but she would do her best.Then she lay down after a long warm bath, put on her pajamas, and just as she was about to fall asleep, there was a knock at her door. She opened her eyes and lay still, perhaps imagining she had heard a noise. But no.- Ava, are you asleep? -she heard one of her housemates, got up and went straight to open the door. When she opened it, she looked a little... alert.- What's wrong? -Ava asked.-Your former housemate, Yany, is looking for you. -Ava went to look for her, Yany was in the living room and looked very worried.- What's wrong? -Ava was already getting worried, Yany stood up and looked pale.-It's Alice, I can't find her anywhere. -Ava was surprised.- Have you already called her cell phone? -Yany nodded.-She has never missed her shift, and I think that if
Björn adjusted one of the dumbbells on his wrist, with his thumb he caressed the letter "B", they were the first ones his mother had given him before she disappeared years ago. He thought he had lost them in one of his trips, which had even infuriated and destroyed almost the entire room of that hotel room. He shook his head slowly at the memory of that scene.-Old times, Björn. -He muttered as he left his room.They knocked on the door of their suite, announcing that they could enter. Thomas looked out to inform her that the car was waiting at the front entrance of the hotel. -Let's go. -He reached for his formal suit jacket along with his coat and then they were off. On the short drive to the club, he thought quite a bit about Ava, about how she had gotten yesterday. - Is Ava in her room? -Björn asked when the car stopped in front of the place.-Yes, sir. The area is guarded by the assigned security team.-Well, I don't want any surprises
Ava was lying on the large couch in the living room of Björn's office, Thomas had picked her up and carried her inside.-She blanched. -Björn heard Thomas say. -He was talking on the phone and..." Then she stopped her words, frowned and looked at Björn: "He talked to someone. Even with the receiver to her ear, she was pale, then she started mumbling something, and that's when I approached her.Björn tensed.-It was Bruno who called. He must have said something to her to put her like this," he said silently, trying to decipher the connection to his brother. - Why isn't the doctor here? She hasn't woken up. -Ava began to stir in her place, the two men in front of her turned their gazes to her.-No, no, no, no, -Ava began to gasp in fright, tears began to fall down her pale cheeks. - NO!" the scream was loud, determined and there was no hint of fear in that word, Björn felt his body bristle as he heard her, she opened her eyes and tr
Björn adjusted his tie in front of the mirror, it was a perfect knot, he smiled at the reflection of himself, then, turned around to grab the jacket that was on the bed, moments later he left the suite to head to the office. He had felt uneasy at not hearing from Ava, he thought maybe she was upset about Christine. Then he had his mother's, the next auction, Bruno investigating Ava and Christine with her engagement statement.-Sir, I am informed that Miss Gray has not arrived at the rendezvous point. -Björn turned around before he reached his desk, then frowned.- What? -he looked at the clock and realized it was seven o'clock, Ava was always ten minutes earlier already in the office. Björn took a breath and let it out slowly, he didn't imagine anything wrong, it was just a delay. -I'm going to call... -He said, already feeling uneasy."It's only ten minutes, Björn."-Good morning, Mr. Hoffmann. -Ava announced as she entered the office
Amelia was sitting on the terrace sipping her cup of coffee that she usually had at that time of night, she looked at her branded watch, then averted her gaze to the lights of a car approaching her property, she imagined it would be Björn. There was a knock at the door and she ushered him in.-Mrs. Miller, Mr. Hoffmann has arrived.-I guess he's my son and not his father. -She muttered to herself, unheard by the security man. -When he arrives, send him in and don't let anyone interrupt us unless it's something more important.-Yes, ma'am. -the man left the office, Amelia took a sip from her coffee cup, then a couple of minutes later, Björn came in, she noticed a change in his face, he looked more relaxed, "And how could he not be when his sex life has been activated?" she thought.-Good evening, mother. -Björn saw the woman sitting on the terrace with the doors open and watched him from there.-Good night, Bj. By the way," he shook h
Ava had been lost in her own thoughts without realizing that Björn had arrived at the office, she let out a sigh that made her snap out of it, looked up and saw him.- What did he say to you, Christine?" asked Björn, crossing his arms. He was still furious inside, but he didn't care about the others, but about Ava.-He informed me of the announcement of his...-Ava wrinkled her brow, -commitment.Björn walked over to her and sat back on his heels, took her hand and stroked her knuckles gently.-You know what will happen, ignore Christine.-When she sets her mind to it, she's kind of.....-Toxic. -He completed the sentence for her. -I've known her for years and quite well.- Did you have a thing with her? -Ava was curious.-Yes. But it was a passing thing. She wanted something official and I didn't.-And now that there is something official between the two of them, she shouts it from the rooftops.-Bu
Ava pushed the elevator button to bring it down.-Oh, I had a setback. -Then she looked back at the numbers.- What setback?" asked Christine, Ava turned her face and smiled again.-A personal setback.-I hope it's the first and last time that happens, now that Sussan is not here because of you, I can't be diverting calls to reception. Do you understand?" the sound of the elevator bell rang, the doors opened and the two of them entered.-Yes, it won't happen again. -Ava replied as the doors closed in front of ther. Her gaze was fixed on the elevator numbers.-I hope so," Christine looked at her in profile. -By the way, since you didn't arrive at your work station at your scheduled time, you didn't read the announcement I sent out earlier in the day. -Ava tried to control the anger that was running under her skin, she knew she would rub it in about her engagement to Björn, but what Christine didn't know was that this marriage was not wha
Ava paced back and forth thinking about what Björn's mother would be saying to her. How had desire-driven them? She asked herself that question over and over again. The door to the room opened, and Björn appeared.- Are you ready? -she nodded quickly.- ¿The Mrs. Miller?"Björn noticed her concern.-My mother is fine, don't worry," he paused, casting a fleeting glance at the clock. -I'll change, and we'll go. -Ava nodded. He moved closer until he was facing her, leaned toward her ear, and whispered: "Did you like the panties?She gasped. The warmth of Björn's body pierced her warmly.-Yes, thank you. -she said a little, shaken, then bit her lower lip, "Why did he turn me on with just one question?" she mentally asked herself.-Good," he smiled without her seeing him, straightened up, and left her to get dressed. -Breath, Ava," she whispered to herself as she disappeared into the closet.Fifteen minutes later,
Amelia Miller went into her room and checked that everything was intact as she left it last time, she threw her bag on the bed and walked over to the panoramic window, she had always liked spaces with natural light, the pool was always basic in any place she came to stay and that was her favorite.There was a knock at the door. Without turning around, she gave the order that she could come in, she was expecting her head of security, Albert. But it was Björn.-Mother. -She heard her son's voice behind her back.- Are you decent now? -she asked, and when she didn't hear Björn, she folded her arms and turned to him with a frown on her face. -Wow, you've been quiet. -Strange of him, since he always had something to say in his defense.-I am for the first time, -he paused, as if he couldn't find the exact word to describe it. -Apprehensive. -he confessed.Amelia raised her eyebrows in surprise.-Well," she didn't know what else to