The grand hallway of Alexander's mansion loomed before them, its opulence juxtaposed with the impending danger that hung in the air. Ava, Max, Sophia, and Ethan moved with caution, their senses heightened, as they navigated the labyrinthine corridors."We must stay vigilant," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible. "Alexander will have guards patrolling every inch of this place."Max's grip tightened on his weapon, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "We can't let anything or anyone stand in our way," he asserted, his voice resolute.Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps reverberated through the hallway. The group instinctively pressed against the wall, their breath held, as a pair of guards marched by.Once the guards passed, Ava motioned for the group to continue. "We're getting closer," she said, her voice filled with determination.As they reached a lavish study, their eyes were drawn to an ornate painting that adorned the wall. Ava stepped forward, her hand grazing the
Chapter 1Ava stood at the entrance to the ballroom, taking in the opulence of the scene before her. The walls were draped in luxurious velvet curtains, and the room was filled with elegantly dressed guests sipping champagne and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres. It was clear that she was out of place here, but she had promised Max that she would come to the fundraiser with him, and she wasn't about to let him down.As she scanned the crowd, Ava saw Max making his way towards her, dressed in a tailored tuxedo and looking every bit the part of the billionaire businessman that he was. He greeted her with a warm smile and took her hand, leading her toward the center of the room."You look beautiful tonight," he said, his eyes roving over her form-fitting dress."Thanks," Ava replied, feeling self-conscious in the sea of designer gowns and sparkling jewelry.As they made their way through the crowd, Ava noticed a group of men watching them with interest. She felt a shiver run down her spine, and
Ava felt her body grow weak as the effects of the poison took hold. She stumbled forward, barely able to keep her eyes open.As Max helped her into a taxi, Ava's mind raced with questions. Who was behind this attack? And what did they want?As they raced through the streets toward the hospital, Ava felt a sense of dread creeping over her. She knew that this was just the beginning of a much larger battle, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it. But one thing was clear: she couldn't do it alone. She needed Max by her side if she was going to make it out of this alive.At the hospital, Ava was rushed into the emergency room, where a team of doctors and nurses worked frantically to save her life.As she lay on the hospital bed, her mind wandered back to Alexander and the events that had led up to this moment. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow behind the attack, but she had no proof.Just then, the door to her room burst open, and a man dressed in black stepped in
Ava and Max sat in the hotel room, their minds racing with thoughts of the attack. Ava couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than just a random act of violence.Max was already on the phone with his contact, trying to find out if there were any leads on who was behind the attack.As he spoke, Ava's eyes wandered around the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings. She couldn't help but wonder how much money Alexander had spent on this mission. And more importantly, why?Just then, there was a knock at the door. Max's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he made his way over to the door, his hand hovering over his gun."Who is it?" he called out."It's me," a familiar voice called out.Max's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the voice. He quickly opened the door to reveal a man in a sharp suit, his eyes scanning the room."Ava, this is my friend, James. He's a private investigator. He might be able to help us," Max explained.Ava's eyes widened in surprise as James
Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she faced off against Alexander and his men. She had known this confrontation was coming, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon."What do you want, Alexander?" Ava spat, her fists clenched at her sides.Alexander laughed cruelly. "Isn't it obvious? I want you dead. And I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen."Ava took a step back, trying to keep her distance from the dangerous man. She could feel Max and the woman standing protectively behind her.But then, to Ava's surprise, the woman stepped forward. "Alexander, wait!" she called out.Alexander turned to look at her, a sneer on his face. "Who are you?" he demanded.The woman swallowed nervously. "My name is Caroline. I used to work for you."Alexander's expression turned icy. "What are you doing here?" he growled.Caroline took a deep breath. "I want to help you," she said, her eyes flickering over to Ava.Ava's heart skipped a beat. What was Caroline playing at?Alexander's eyes narrowed
Ava woke up in a daze, her head throbbing from the blow she had received. She couldn't see anything at first, and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the room.As she looked around, she realized she was in a small cell, with Max lying next to her. He was unconscious, but she could see the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.Ava tried to move, but she was tied up, her hands and feet bound tightly. She tried to speak, but a gag was preventing her from making any noise.Suddenly, the door to the cell creaked open, and Alexander stepped inside. Ava's heart raced as he approached, a cruel smile on his face."Well, well, well," he sneered. "Look who decided to join us."Ava glared at him, trying to keep her fear at bay. She knew she couldn't let him see how scared she was."What do you want?" she managed to say, her voice muffled by the gag.Alexander laughed. "Oh, I think you know what I want," he said, stepping closer to her. "But don't worry, I'll make it q
Ava and Max fled from the secluded location where Ava had been held captive by Alexander. Their priority was to ensure their safety and regroup before taking on the treacherous billionaire once and for all.They found refuge in a small, hidden cabin nestled deep in the woods. It provided a temporary haven where they could strategize and gather their thoughts. As they sat by the crackling fireplace, their faces illuminated by the warm glow, they knew they had to uncover the truth behind Alexander's obsession with Ava and the secrets he held."We can't let him continue to control our lives," Ava said, her voice filled with determination. "We need to find out what he's hiding and put an end to it."Max nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting unwavering resolve. "I've been digging into his background, trying to find any leads. I think there's more to this than meets the eye."Ava leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on Max's. "Tell me everything you've discovered," she urged.Max took a dee