One month laterThe wedding had been a splendid affair and from the start, Ava was practically forbidden from lifting a finger for herself by Kim, Renee, Violet, and the flock of servants at her disposal due to how heavy she had become and she resorted to staying put unless she risked the ire of the women helping her dress up. Sebastian had planned a proposal with the rest of their friends leaving her in the dark. It was unexpected and it felt real and different this time around, they had come through so many difficulties and they both knew it was the right time to make it all real this time around.At the stroke of midnight on her wedding, Ava was standing at the entrance of the hall already adorned with palatial decorations with cascading floral arrangements hanging from every side of the grand room, sparkling white chandeliers hung high above with delicate draperies completing the settings designed to evoke an atmosphere filled with love and warmth. A group of violinists was posit
The Trafficking Incident"Number 204?" A man called looking up from his clipboard.A woman with red hair and emerald green eyes matched forward and stood in front of him."What's your name?" "Ava." The man nodded, confirming something from the book in his hand. "Last name?" "Steele.""Alright. Do we have anyone that has not gone inside for their interview?" He asked, looking around. "Alright then, please come with me." He said to the lady and the two of them disappeared into the interview room. Ava Steele looked down at her sweaty palms and rubbed them together. She was a bundle of nerves and the interview hadn't even started yet. 'Please let this interview go well. I need this gig for Kim and I. Please, please let me get it.' she prayed under her breath just as the door at the right corner of the room opened and two men in black suits walked in. Ava sized them up with a frown noting how thug-like they both looked. The shorter one wore a white inner and had an angry scar runnin
Ava noticed the car at the last minute and jumped out of the way, just in time. She fell on the ground, groaning when her back hit the tarred road. That was definitely going to leave a scar."Can't you watch where you're going? You almost bashed my car!" The man got of the car and yelled, pointing at her. Ava got up a little too quickly and staggered. She took a deep breath and closed her eues, trying to find her footing. "I'm sorry, I just really need your help." "I don't know you and I don't care about your problems." He walked towards the driver's seat and Ava ran after him, grabbing him by his legs. Goosebumps were running up her arm. The man after her was still after her. If this man didn't help her then she'd be dead. "Please don't leave me." She hugged his legs tight, clinging on even when he kicked her. "Get off me. What do you think you're doing?" The man struggled to break free but she held on, her knees scraping the ground. Kim was going to have a field day cleaning al
"I need to get a new suit at home." Sebastian muttered under his breath as he walked back to his car. He was late for his meeting and now he had to go back to the house and change. "Did you say something?" Ava asked, running up to him. Sebastian ignored her, increasing his pace. He unlocked the car with its remote and opened the door of the driver's seat. He remembered that he usually kept an extra suit in his office and he sighed in relief. Ava caught him by the sleeve of his suit and he pulled his arm away. He cringed as he wiped a smudge of mud off his pants. It was ruined and it was all because of that girl. "Get away from me." He brought out his phone from his pocket and dialed his secretary's number. She picked up on the third ring sounding like she had just concluded a marathon but Sebastian barely noticed. "Have a suit ready for me before I get to the office and don't forget the materials for my meeting." "Yes sir." "Make sure the clients don't leave before I get the
Ava laughed on the other side of the line. "I told you you'll need my help." "I need a date to the annual Charity event hosted at the Flannigan hotel." He ignored her earlier comment wanting to get over the preparations so he could get back to the office. "Do you know where that is?" "No I don't." He pinched the bridge of his nose and pulled his phone away from his ear. He placed Ava on hold and dialed another number. The person picked up on the first ring. "Goodday, Mr Bancroft." "I need you to pick up someone. I'll send you the address and the lady's phone number." He didn't wait for the person's response and hung up. He took Ava's number off hold again. "I'll send a car for you at 7pm sharp, don't keep him waiting." The driver would pick Ava up and then come get him on the way. With that, he ended the call and took the rest of the stairs up to his room. ***The lobby of the Flannigan hotel was packed with people waiting to enter the well decorated hall that had been set asi
"Sebby, what's she talking about?" Natasha asked, flipping her hair. The tips hit Ava's face and she glared at her. "Tell her about me, Sebby." This woman was delusional, how could she say such a thing? All eyes settled on Sebastian for some kind of confirmation but he remained silent. Ava grinned at Natasha and inched closer towards her. "Well, that's all in the past now my darling. I'm his fiancée now." Natasha opened her mouth to say something but she noticed the women around them were already whispering under their breath. She didn't want to become the center of attraction especially if Ava would come out looking perfect. "We will continue this conversation later." "Bye now." Ava chirped, waving her hands with a smile irritating Natasha further. With one final glare shot at Ava, she walked away holding her head up high even though she was boiling and seething on the inside. "Natty! Wait for us." The women sccruied off after her and Ava shook her head. It was just like i
“Now smile for the camera my sweet,” The photographer ordered and Ava gave the best smile she could muster. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much and frankly she was getting tired.When she had seen the ad for models needed by a food industry, she had been reluctant to accept it of course. But a part of her hoped that it would give her a boost into the world of modeling. But she hadn’t signed up for this! She glanced down at the bowl of cereal she was supposed to be eating from and her lips curled slightly in disgust. It looked a lot like some gray mashed concoction and it tasted just as bad as it looked. Even with the milk slobbering all over it.“Smile Ava!” The director yelled, suddenly jolting her out of her thoughts.“I’m sorry,” She muttered quickly, bowing her head in apology and gave a wide grin as if she was so damn happy to be holding a bowl of shitty food. Mahn, was this how her life would continue?Not if you accept his offer, her mind quipped.Ah yes.There was Sebastian Ba
“Connections,” Ava said simply, a serious look on her face. Her pretty blue eyes blinked surreptitiously at him, holding his leveled gaze.Connections? Sebastian wondered, inclining his head as he studied the profile of the woman before him. For a woman who looked so dainty despite her tall frame, she was quite bold. His eyes wandered down the rest of her body. At least the rest he could see as she sat across from him. She wore a pink cashmere sweater and a beige dress right underneath. He couldn’t see her lower half since she was sitting, but her torso was visible.And it was a very beautiful torso. “What do you mean?” He asked, clearing his throat awkwardly, forcing his eyes to look away from her heaving chest back into her clear ones. “I want to continue modeling.” She explained, the serious look on her face slowly replaced with excitement. Her eyes glazed dreamily and it seemed she stared at space when she continued speaking. “I want to make it big in modeling. It has been my dr
One month laterThe wedding had been a splendid affair and from the start, Ava was practically forbidden from lifting a finger for herself by Kim, Renee, Violet, and the flock of servants at her disposal due to how heavy she had become and she resorted to staying put unless she risked the ire of the women helping her dress up. Sebastian had planned a proposal with the rest of their friends leaving her in the dark. It was unexpected and it felt real and different this time around, they had come through so many difficulties and they both knew it was the right time to make it all real this time around.At the stroke of midnight on her wedding, Ava was standing at the entrance of the hall already adorned with palatial decorations with cascading floral arrangements hanging from every side of the grand room, sparkling white chandeliers hung high above with delicate draperies completing the settings designed to evoke an atmosphere filled with love and warmth. A group of violinists was posit
It’s been two months since Sebastian was released from the hospital and Ava moved into the mansion with him. The penthouse held too many hurtful memories and she wasn’t eager to go back there and be plagued by nightmares during her sleep. Jake’s trial hadn’t taken a lot of time either, there was a ton of insurmountable evidence against him and the jury didn’t take much liking to him either, or the judge. In reality, no one was going to take the side of a journalist with murderous intentions over New York’s most desirable couple. Their return to the spotlight had been a field day in the media world especially as articles and gossip about their breakup had been going on for a while now, their appearance together had all but quietened every rumor going on about them. Ava was becoming used to being pregnant and after a few weeks of tedious work down at the agency, she had gone on maternity leave that would run well into a few months after she gave birth.One of her favorite parts of be
Damian looked back and forth between Ava and Sebastian and it was pretty obvious that they had eyes for just each other right now, everything else faded into the background. He didn’t need any further clue, his time here was up.“I believe it’s best I give you both some space to talk things through.” Damian cleared his throat, gave Sebastian a nod, and patted Ava’s shoulders as he walked past her. “Do you think they’re going to be fine?” Violet asked Damian as soon as he got to the door. Sebastian spared them a glance over his shoulder before returning his gaze to Violet. “I can’t possibly say for sure but if what I noticed between them was true then we’ve got nothing to worry about.As soon as Ava heard the door shut behind her, she walked towards the bed, maintaining a friendly distance as she pulled out a chair and sat on it. Sebastian didn’t know how to start tackling their issues so he decided to make small talk first, it always worked for him and he was hoping that it wouldn
Ava made her way outside the building and towards the parking lot, it was lonely, just how she wanted it to be. She didn’t want any disturbance or interference from anyone. All Ava had wanted was for Sebastian to wake up from his coma. She spent days at his bedside, urging him to come back to her and he eventually did but she ran. There was no telling why she ran and she didn’t even have any logical explanation as to why she did it, the only thing she could say is that she was scared shitless and that was all she could say. She would eventually have to go back and talk to him afterward but she didn’t know if she could bring herself to do it. “Hey, sis.” Ava looked up to see Kim walking towards her flanked on either side by Renee and Violet, they all wore worried expressions on their faces and she could tell from their hesitation that they didn’t know if they should come any closer or maintain a healthy distance. “How did you guys find me?” Ava asked, her eyes were fixed to the g
“I’m only trying to look out for you,” Kim sighed. “I’m tired of seeing you crying after a couple of months where you think you’re in love and your troubles are behind you. It hurts me as much as it hurts you, Ava.” “I know,” Ava smiled sadly. Kim was right, she’d always been eager to jump right back into it without putting provisions in place in case her assumed fairytale moment didn’t come to pass. But things were different this time around, she had been through a lot and as a result, she’d been forced to put herself first for now before anyone else and if anything was going to happen, she would be the last person to instigate anything. She’d done enough and it wasn’t going to work, she wasn’t going to invest her time lifting a finger. She’s done enough already. “Things aren’t going to be the way it once was. I promise you that.”“Tell me you’re sure you know what you’re doing?” Kim nibbled on her lower lip. “I can’t promise you I know what I’m doing, Kim. But my heart is in the
“You really should stop feeling this way and making us feel like we’re strangers as well,” Kim frowned. “We’re here because we love and care about you, that’s the truth. You’re part of our lives so I don’t see how you keep interfering in what you’re a major part of. You’ve got to accept that so you’d stop feeling like you owe us something because you don’t.”Ava sighed. “Okay, you’re right and I’m sorry for feeling this way. It’s unusual to see a lot of people wanting to help me at the same time and that’s why I reacted that way,” “It’s okay, we don’t hold it against you. We know your past and how you’re still getting used to a couple of good gestures. Kim suffers from the same problem as well.” Violet assured her. “So, you mentioned that Sebastian woke up a while ago?” Kim asked, eager to steer the conversation away from their childhood. She wasn’t prepared to visit memories that she had worked so hard to repress. “Yes, he did. He wasn’t a hundred percent conscious and the doctors
Ava walked back into the hospital room as soon as the doctor mentioned it was okay for her to return. She walked back into the room to see Sebastian soundly asleep. “Is everything alright, doctor?” Ava sounded worried. “Did he go to sleep on his own or did he pass out?”“We gave him a sedative to keep him under for a couple of hours until he regains his full strength, he should feel much after he wakes up this time around and that’s what we’re hoping for. When that happens, we can then begin the final stage of his recovery process.” Ava nodded. “Thank you, doctor. We’re so grateful for the help you’ve rendered.”“It’s my pleasure to help. I’ve known Sebastian since we were both boys and my father has been the Bancroft’s family doctor for decades. He’s like family to me as well.” “Do I need to call you guys once he wakes up?” Ava asked, her eyes fixed on Sebastian. “You don’t need to, we’d be counting down the hours ourselves and carrying out checkups before midnight. You’ve got no
It’s been a week since the ugly incident and Sebastian hadn’t woken up yet. Ava was struggling to pull it together but she knew she didn’t have any other option, she couldn’t afford to break down right now not when she had to look after herself and the baby as well given the fact that the pregnancy was entering into its crucial phase.The doctor urged her to give him time and be patient till he decided to come around. His vitals were good and his condition was improving, he was going to wake up any moment from now, the doctor would always say giving her a warm smile in return. The conviction in his voice always seemed to calm Ava’s nerves so she waited calmly until Sebastian decided to come around.She was in his hospital room, sitting on a chair next to the hospital bed, her knees were pulled up under her chin with her face buried between a historical romance novel by Nora Roberts. Reading helped her calm down and forget her worries and she’d been doing a lot of it during the past f
“Life isn’t meant to be fair to everyone,” Damian offered Ava a soft smile. “It’s just the way life is and we’ve got to make the best out of what we’re given.”“Sebastian doesn’t deserve this,” Ava grumbled.“No one does but shit happens.” Damian shuffled his feet as he struggled to find a comfortable situation. “Do you think he’s going to come out of this? Be honest with me. I could use that right now if you don’t mind.”“Sebastian’s tough as nails. He’s one of the most stubborn men I’ve ever met and if there’s anyone I know who’s going to come out of this, it’s Sebastian.”“Thank you, Damian.” Ava rubbed her arms, trying to calm her nerves. “You’re welcome. If there’s anything you need, please, do not hesitate to inform me.”“I’m good. Besides, I have a lot of people doting on me already and you have work to do.” “If you say so but I’m still here if you need anything.”“I should’ve done this a long time ago but I want to thank you for talking to Sebastian and managing to convince