To say Ava was nervous was an understatement. Her hands trembled when she reached for her glass of wine and trembled further when she heard Sebastian clear his throat telling her with his eyes that was a wrong move. She froze in mid air stuck in between dropping the glass and looking like a total idiot or drinking the wine and still looking like an idiot anyways. She hadn't known she couldn't drink the wine first before eating! Who made stupid laws like that?! Sebastian pretended to be interested in the steak served before him but in reality he was lost in his head imagining the different weird as hell headlines about his new fiancee.. "The Bancroft Fiancee - More like a Bancroft Mess." "The poor choice of Sebastian Bancroft. She doesn't have a single sense of Etiquette!" Oh yeah, he was doomed big time. He couldn't blame her though however. It was his fault. He had assumed that she would know the proper rules of dining in a large classy restaurant like this. Oh fuck, he had e
Already? Sebastian wanted to say, his eyes dropping into a frown. He was having fun. He didn't want to leave yet. "Maybe after another story about Kim?" He asked, hoping she would take the bait and tell him some more.His shoulders drooped when she shook her head and leaned forward to whisper. "I think I'm drunk." Drunk? She was just on her third glass! Damn, he'd chosen a light weight. He would have to watch out for that whenever they attended events together. He couldn't have his fiancee getting tipsy and blurting out to the entire world that their engagement was a fake. That would sooner kill him than death itself. "Okay," he whispered in reply and rose to his feet, holding out a hand. Ava took it with a giggle and held on to him as tightly as possible. Together, they walked out of the restaurant and slipped into his car. "How…" hiccup. "How did I do?" Ava asked when Sebastian got into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. "Good Ava." He replied. "You did good…" Whate
"I did nothing to your sister!" He spat, stepping closer to the girl in anger. "I now see how exasperating you can be and frankly I do not understand how your sister can put up with your rattling behavior!"Kim laughed like she had lost her marbles. "Rattling?" She asked, a wild look in her eyes. "You haven't seen ratling yet, you piece of-""Will you keep it down?" Ava groaned, turning on the hard sofa sleepily. "Some of us are trying to sleep here.""Ava!" Kimberly squealed, brushing past the sulking billionaire to kneel beside her sister. "Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?" Ava groaned at the infiltrating voice of her sister wondering what the kid was yammering about. She was so damn tired and needed to sleep some more. "Leave me alone Kim," she mumbled. "I'll advise you to answer her," a familiar deep voice said in irritation, drawing her farther away from the folds of sleep. "Whaaaa…" she trailed off, opening her eyes to see Kim's worried face so close to hers and a pi
Sebastian did not contact her the next day. Ava felt stupid staring at the phone, hoping and waiting for his call. She had considered calling him when she woke that morning but she had reasoned he was probably already at work. He definitely would not want to be disturbed. Besides if she called him, he might think she was only doing so to confirm if the deal between them remained valid- Which was exactly why she wanted to call. It sounded like a bad idea, however. Either that or she was simply being chicken. Sighing deeply, Ava pushed the phone aside and turned her attention to the broth cooking on the electric stove. It had been a long long while since she made any delicacies and considering she had no job; for now, since Sebastian had asked her to give up the gigs she did because they would embarrass him; cooking had seemed like a great way to while away time. And to stop herself from storming into Kim’s room and giving her a tongue-lashing. The crazy girl had stolen her car out o
Sebastian felt his heart still for a minute. What the hell did she mean she couldn’t do this anymore? Was it because he had been displeased the day before? Any man would have been offended! He was accused of harassing a woman. The last thing he would ever want to be associated with. “You can’t do what, Ava?” He asked tentatively. She had to be clearer and had better not be messing with him to make him feel guilty or some shit like that. Natasha had done shit like that several times, playing his emotion and conscience with her wiles. He wasn’t going to put up with that type of nonsense from a woman he was literally paying to be with him. “The interview,” She mumbled. His shoulders slumped in relief. At least she hadn’t said relationship. He had been gearing himself to tell her there was no fucking turning back. She had signed the contract consciously with her whole senses with her. He wasn’t about to get into a scandal that could ruin his relationship with his investors. Wait a dam
“Got another date with Mr lover Boy?” Kim muttered watching her sister prance around the house in a pretty summer dress. Ava stopped dancing, her face red in embarrassment. She had been lost, dancing to a tune in her head, and hadn’t known her sister sat on the couch watching her. “Not…exactly,” She replied, averting her eyes to the wall. “We’re to have dinner together-““At some other restaurant?” Kimberly’s eyes were wide as saucers when she asked the question. They had gone to a freaking restaurant the day before! Was this going to be a daily occurrence or some shit?“No,” Ava mumbled, feeling her face redden even more. “His home.” Kim shook her head, having the guts to look disappointed much to Ava’s annoyance. “Don’t look at me like that!”“Like how?” Kim asked, feigning ignorance as her eyes swept over her older sister’s outfit. “That!” Ava fumed. “That stupid condescending look!”“I’m just wondering why you're wearing “That '' '' Her sister gestured at the yellow frock she
"If you're done ogling, may I go back inside?" Sebastian taunted, placing his hands on his hips. Her reaction was... Interesting. He hadn't expected her sweet intense eyes to run all over him like that. Line burning hot trail that left a sizzling sensation behind. Was he misreading things or had he seen the desire in her eyes? His cock stirred. He wanted to see it again. His eyes took in the dress she wore. A simple yellow modest gown that did nothing but spur his imagination. What lay beneath the damned dress? He could bet her breasts were in cupped bras, tanned beauties that he wanted so badly to uncover. Her back was still to him and he used the opportunity to study her, closing his eyes at intervals when his imagination ran a little too wild. Would she hit him if he approached her right now? If he reached his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest? If he took possession of full lips, lips that made him hunger for more, for all of her, would she reject him? "I wa
"We need to convince him that we're in love." Sebastian's words rang in her head and she stared at him incredulously. "How are we supposed to do that?" She asked, leaning against the sofa she sat on so she could hide her awkwardness. "Have you ever been in love Ava?" The seriousness of his tone and the dark look in his eyes was enough to send shivers up her spine. What was he talking about!?. "What?" "Have you ever been in love?" He asked even more fiercely, surprising both himself and the woman before him. Why was he being aggressive about it? Was it because he thought that her heart belong to another? He pictures her wrapping her hands around a man's neck telling him how much she loved him and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Ava shrugged nonchalantly and Sebastian looked visibly relieved. "I don't think I have." Ah, thank God. He didn't think he could stomach it at all if she told him she had a boyfriend or worse, some dude waiting for her to finish the contract with him
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