CHAPTER THREE

AVA’s POV

Walking home, the scene replays in my head; my heartbeat speeds up, and it feels like I have some heart condition as I can hear my heartbeat clearly.

‘Hey, be careful! I hear a scream behind me and a bicycle wheezing past me.

I jump out of the way, my eyes moving haphazardly like I’m about to be grabbed by those men again. Quickly, I finish the walk to my apartment complex when I realize one important factor: my food is gone.

I think back to the scene and realize I dropped the food bag in fear. I sigh, staring at the doors of the elevator. Should I head back? Will it be worth it?

I enter the elevator, my shoulders hung in defeat. Turning around, my longtime crush since I moved into this building steps in.

‘Good evening, Samuel’ I immediately engage him in a conversation.

‘Oh, Ava, good evening, dear. How was work?’

‘It was quite a day’, I reply with a shy smile. I lost my dinner though. I frown thinking about the scary scene from before.

The elevator doors open, and we both step out. Some rolled cardboard paper from the numerous in his hands falls, and I quickly pick them up. ‘Let me help you out’.

Thank you, Ava. ‘How did you lose your dinner? He frowns as we head to his door.

‘Long story’ I shrug.

‘You could drop by for some dinner’? He offers? I bought some dumplings from that Chinese place down the block, he says. With a look in his eyes

I have no idea what the look means, but I quickly agree. ‘Of course, I’ll just have a shower, and I’ll be there in a jiffy.’

‘Also, do you like your drink cold or hot? Maybe you could tell me about your day and how you lost that meal of yours?’ He says, his eyes turning to me briefly and back to the elevator doors.

I nod quickly. After months of eyeing him from afar, we finally get to have a kind of date, I think. Does this mean he likes me too, or is he just being polite? I shrug. I’ll figure that out when I come back.

He enters his home, and I head to the opposite door. Now, you would think that with how expensive the rent is, I would get a decent apartment, but nope, all I could get was a one-room apartment with a single bathroom and a kitchen.

I turn on the lights, quickly remove my bag strapped around my shoulder, and abandon my clothes on the floor next to the bed.

My shoes follow and my feet sink into the soft rug. I hear my doorbell, frowning. I pull on my robe, heading to the door. I’m not expecting anyone or any deliveries, so I stop before I can pull the door open.

‘Who is there?’ I scream into the door. After what I witnessed tonight, it’s safe to say I have to be extremely careful.

‘Delivery for Miss Ava Marino?’ An awkward voice calls from behind the door.

I pull the door open, and weirdly in his hands is a to-go bag from the restaurant.

‘Are you sure you have the right door?’ I frown, looking up at the awkward teen.

‘Ava Marino? Room 30?’ He looks up the number at the door to be sure.

I nod, ‘But who is this coming from?’

"La Table d’Elise”, he says proudly.”

‘I know the restaurant kid, but who is it from?’ I don’t think Mr. Oliver would send me a meal, plus, he knows we take home meals at the end of the day, so why would he send me another?

‘I don’t know, mam; I was just asked to deliver these.’

‘what else? ‘I frown

A single rose flower wrapped in transparent plastic with a note attached to it is pulled out of his bag.

I gulp, collecting the food and the rose. ‘Thank you,’ I whisper to the kid, and he immediately zooms off.

Dropping the food on the table, I don’t know which to open first. It honestly baffles me. I would have some kind of admirer, especially one that would order from the restaurant I work at. It’s cute but creepy at the same time. What does this mean? Do I have a stalker?

What if it’s from Samuel? I immediately pulled the bag apart, pulling open the plate, and weirdly, my favorite type of pasta stared back at me, covered with a type of fish I’ve only seen rich people buy.

Okay, this isn’t some sort of left-over; it was cooked, and from what I can tell, recently.

I pull open the card with only a single name written across it with a black pen: “Ava”.

Okay, what's going on here? I frown, which is followed by a strong knock on my door, making me jump out of my skin.

Shit!! I place my hand on my beating heart. ‘Who is there?’

it’s Samuel!!

I quickly head to the door, my mind still in jeopardy. I’m sorry, I took a lot of time,’ I say as I pull the door open, ‘I had to attend to a delivery.’

‘It’s fine anyway. I got called back into the gallery; a few mistakes were found, and I had to go and correct them. We have an opening tomorrow morning,’ he says, sounding disappointed.

I frown, also feeling disappointed. ‘It’s fine; maybe another time?’

He nods, and I watch him quickly walk down to the elevator after a quick goodbye.

Now to figure out who sent me this package.