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T W E N T Y
N I N T H
C H A P T E R

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AVA'S POV

Beep. Beep.

The beeps of messages on my phone finally brought us back to reality and we realized that we had been looking into each other's eyes for minutes now.

I'm sure this rose is cursed that's why it made him give it to me and made me accept it and... love it.

I don't think I got much flowers in my life and getting one from my arrogant boss, I was beyond happy.

We awkwardly looked everywhere in the room but at each other.

What the hell was happening?

"I don't think, Sir, I'll be able to go to Alaska with you." I said something and I was glad it broke the silence and the awkwardness.

I really can't. I really don't want to.

That was a nice topic I started. It's dad birthday in a few days and then I haven't been to the club since ages. I need to go to the club or Nathan is really going to get mad. I've missed so many days already.

"I've given my word. You'll have to go with me to Alaska at any cost, Ava."

"But..."

He cut me.

"Sorry. You don't have a choice." He was polite all this while.

"I..." This time it wasn't him who interrupted.  It was the damn person who's been messaging me since last night. "Who is it?" Annoyed, I said to myself, taking out my phone and unlocking it.

The messages popped up in front of me.

He snatched my phone from my hands.

WHAT!

I gaped at him.

Did he just snatch my phone from me--- MY phone?

How could he?

"When you're talking with me, your attention should only be on me... your boss." He said dangerously and then said politely. "Learn to respect your boss."

"I'm sorry." I apologized and asked him to return my phone by producing my hand in front of him.

Beep. Beep.

Another new messages.

"Okay. Who is so eager to talk to you." Frustrated by the constant beeping of my phone, he looked at the screen.

He read the message out loud, "I want to sleep with you like right now. I can't resist you, baby." He looked up at me astonished.

What did he just read?

My jaw opened wide.

What was that?

He quickly returned my phone, saying, "Sorry, I didn't know Miss Williams that your boyfriend's so kinky."

I quickly grabbed my phone from him and cried, "I don't have a boyfriend." I looked at the messages.

He read the messages correctly. These message... all of them were similar, relating to having sex with me.

"If these aren't your boyfriend's then from where they're coming from?" He looked confused and so was I.

"I don't know." I said honestly. I didn't realize and the next moment I was sharing everything with him. "Last night, before I was about to sleep, I received somewhat similar messages and today too I got these messages."

"Why didn't you block the person who's messaging you?"

"I did." I told him. "These new messages are from someone else... another number."

"Give me the number. I can ask someone to look up this number and give details about it."

"No." I forbade him. "I don't think it's a big problem. Someone's messing with me."

"Are you sure?" He seemed concerned.

I genuinely smiled, "Yes."

I think sir's not completely bad.

Lately he's been really good.

Putting my  phone back, he moved to his desk. Another day of work started. The meeting went quite well than I expected. Just with a lot of drama.

"Where is Caroline?" Sir asked sitting on his chair. "She was supposed to come today. I want to talk to this lady about the absurd flaws she made. I'm certain she did that on purpose, but why?"

"I... I saw her." Should I tell him about what happened between us outside the conference room?

"Then what happened?"

"I slapped her and she fainted for a few minutes." I said hesitantly.

"You did what?" There was a hint of smile on his face.

"Slapped her." I gulped some saliva down my throat.

Is he going to punish me now by giving me loads and loads of work?

"And she fainted?"

"Yes." I admitted and said in my defense, "she deserved that slap. You don't know... she had bad intentions. She wanted us to lose this deal."

Us?

WOW! What's up with you, Ava.

"She bloody fainted!" After my whole speech, he was stuck on this one thing.

I frowned, "What?"

"Ava, I would love to see that slap that fainted a healthy woman." He started laughing. He looked cute and it made me smile too... looking at him like this, laughing and happy.

"Yeah this hand has helped me many times in my life." I clenched my fingers into a fist and proudly looked at it.

"It sure did." He gradually stopped laughing.

I put the rose he gave me nicely inside my bag, making sure nothing happens to it.

"Are you going to do something about Caroline?" I came closer to his desk and asked.

"She's a loyal employee and been here for a long time. She had also worked for me in my company in California." He said. "But I'll talk to her and she'll pay for what she did with the designs today. Don't worry. I'll do something about this lady."

I nodded and asked after a while, "You had your own company in California, then why come here?"

He remained silent.

"Sorry, it was a personal question." I apologized shaking my head.

"Yes, it is, but it wasn't my company I wanted to leave. It was my parent's house... it was that whole city l wanted to leave." He seemed to be in deep thoughts.

"Can I ask why you wanted to leave?"

"Too many memories." He simply replied turning in his seat. He was uncomfortable. He got up. "If you're done with the interview, Miss Williams, can I drink some water?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll bring some for you."

"I can get water myself." He smiled moving to the water  dispenser.

I fidgeted. "Actually, my interview isn't over. There's something bothering me since morning and I wanted to ask why you did such thing?"

"Ask. But make sure it isn't relating to my personal life." He drank water.

"Why did you fire Kourt... I mean Kourtney?" I asked.

"Because she was young, irresponsible and really bad at her job." He replied.

"But she was hired by your dad and been here for quite a long time now. You didn't fire her because she forgot to bring me food."

"Yes, she was hired out of sympathy. She's very poor and I'm going to give her money so she could continue her studies, but she can't work like this... she had done mistakes at many times since I came and I couldn't keep her."

I didn't say anything else and just nodded.

It's his company. I really can't interfere and if she's poor--- at least he's supporting her.

After that we started working. We worked on new project and this time I find my work fun and interesting.

Sitting with him, planning things and doing work... I think I was starting to like my job.

♣

When it struck 2:00 PM. After a few minutes someone entered the office. It was none other than the jerk of the year, Jordan Smith.

He came near the couches and when he looked at me his jaw dropped, "Is it you, Ava?"

"Yes." I looked at him weirdly.

"Woah. You look hot... like seriously hot in this dress."

I smiled. "Thanks." It felt nice getting a compliment.

"Don't you think so, bro?" He asked Sir who was still looking at his brother and sitting on the couch in front of us.

Sir looked at me and I looked at him too. He looked away, "Yeah."

"He's really bad at complimenting." Jordan said to me with a smirk on his face.

I wanted to laugh. There was weird tension in the room.

I remembered something, something Britney told me on the first day Sir was made C.E.O. "My friend told me that you are the only son of Mr. Smith." I said it out loud to Sir.

Jordan's smile fainted.

"No, Mr. Smith have two sons." Sir smiled at Jordan.

Jordan was managing a fake smile. He said after a pause,  "I'm Christian's cousin."

Sir glared at him.

"Christian?"

"You can't call him by his name... why not call him by his sons'." Jordan said shrewdly.

"Nice." I liked it. He wasn't completely dumb after all. "so you're his cousin, but like a brother."

"Yes, actually my parents di---" Jordan was interrupted.

"That's enough information for a day." Sir stopped him and said, "He's my brother. End of conversation."

Damn it, Jordan was going to tell everything, but it's nice to see Sir love his cousin like this--- like a brother.

"It's quite weird. You two work all day, alone and you didn't fuck each other. Wow. I'm impressed." He was back on his jerk track.

I rolled my eyes.

Sir remained expressionless.

I think he was used to such behavior.

"Who told you that I am the only son of Mr. Smith?" Sir's clock was still stuck at that thing.

"Britney." I told him. "Now please don't fire her."

"Is this Britney girl the one that was in the bar with you? The overprotective friend?" Jordan asked curiously.

I laughed, "Yes. The same."

"She was really bad mannered, but quite hot."

"She's not ill-mannered. She was simply protecting me from a douche."

"And the douche was me?"

"Obviously."

"I'm honored by the title you gave me, Miss Williams."

I shook my head. He's crazy, but this side of him is sweet.

"You two make quite a pair." Sir said looking away from us.

"Someone's getting jealous." Jordan wiggled his eyebrows.

He looked at Jordan and passed him his deadly look.

"We don't," I said quickly and completed. "make a good pair."

"Why would I be jealous?" Sir shrugged, again looking the other way.

As we all were seated, sir got up and asked Jordan halfway from his desk. "Did you pick Christian from school?"

"That's an absurd question. Of course, I did."

"Why do you pick him up? I mean why not the driver." I asked still

"The father's overprotective and the son is very moody. He only likes to go with him and return with me." Jordan explained.

"That's good."

I remembered the promise today I made with Christian. He was so sad and he asked me for ice-cream. I had no clue that he wasn't allowed. Now he's going to hate me and never trust on me again.

"Can't he eat a little ice-cream... maybe not too cold." I got up, asking Sir.

"What?" Sir frowned.

"Oh, I can eat ice-cream, baby. Anytime, anywhere." Jordan winked.

"Shut up!" I looked at him and back at Sir and explained, "I promised Christian and he's really going to feel sad if I didn't take him out for ice-cream and he was already sad because of his..." I think I shouldn't tell him the part where Christian cried because of his mom.

He stood still, thinking. Jordan got up and said, "Man, she's right. You shouldn't be so strict."

"I care for his health." He said. Whenever he talked about Christian, he was so concerned and so protective.

"Well, sometimes you shouldn't." Jordan advised. For the first time I think Jordan was right. Boy he knew things other than sex.

What a surprise!

Sir seemed to battle with his mind. "Okay. You can take him." He finally permitted.

I wanted to dance with joy, but I didn't.

"But," He said.

Now what. 

He continued, "I'll go with you guys too."

"Don't you trust me? I won't hurt your child."

"I said no such thing. I just don't want him out of my sight for so long." He explained.

I nodded. Well, it's okay... I guess.

"So I'll pick you from you home tonight after office." Sir said.

"Tonight? After office?"

"What... is there any problem tonight?" He asked.

"umm..." It's been so many days and I needed to go to training club. But then I don't know if he'll ever go again or let Christian go. "No, it's okay. Tonight's fine."

"Okay."

"Woah. So you guys are going on a date then?"

"No. It's not a date. It's a simple ice-cream." I said annoyed by him.

"Then I'll go too." Jordan said.

I didn't reply.

"Do you really need to go everywhere I go?"  Sir said frowning.

"See it's a date." Jordan chuckled at me.

"Okay, fine. You can come too. It's not a date." Sir said in an exasperating tone.

"It's going to be so fun." Jordan squealed like a child.

It's going to be a disaster... now that Jordan's coming too.

"Ava, can your overprotective friend come too?" He asked and he sounded serious.

Why does he want her to come? But in a way it's an awesome idea. I'll have someone with me and this way I'll be able to spend time with Britney.

"Of course." I relied to Jordan.

"I thought you won't agree. I think it's my lucky day." He seemed surprised. He received a message. He looked at his phone and said to Sir, "Okay man, I'm going now. Got a date to attend."

I rolled my eyes. He waved at me moving to the door, "See you tonight with your hot overprotective friend." He winked and went out.

Jerk!

After that me and sir didn't talk much, except work-talk.

We kept indulged in work.

I went to my office and kept my head buried in work when I decided to call Kourtney and ask her how she was. I still feel bad for her. Her father was sick, I think that's why she wasn't able to concentrate on her work the past few days.

Picking up my phone, I called her. The call was cancelled.  Why wasn't she picking up? She might be sad and that's why cancelling my call. Still I called her again.

This time she picked up, but it wasn't her... it was a lady, might be her mother with a scary voice and rude tone, "Kourtney's not available. Don't ever call her again." She cancelled the call.

What the fuck was that?

Fumed by the lady's behavior, I called once again. The lady picked up once again.

I blurted, "This is no way to talk, ma'am. Can you please hand the phone over to Kourtney Young."

The lady replied, "Kourtney moved to a new place. She's not here anymore."

"What?" I was shocked. "Can you give me her new number, so I can contact her."

"She don't have one. Bye." She cut the call.

I hate this lady already.

Ugh!

Oh, poor Kourt.

I wish she's all right wherever she is.

♣

As all work was done before time, Sir allowed me to go home while he still remained inside his office. Taking the opportunity, on sir's permission I went to the 2nd department, my old office, to meet Britney.

"Hey," I greeted her and Noah who was sitting on her cubicle's desk. I think Noah's crush is still only a crush. Poor guy, still trying too hard.

"Oh, my god, look Noah who's here... the queen." Britney looked the other way. I knew she'd be mad because I haven't talked with her in a while, but she should understand that it's difficult to me... now that I'll be working more closely with Sir because Kourt's not here anymore. Damn it!

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so rude, Brit."

"Hey, Ava. Long time." Noah said getting up. "I told you she's sill your friend." He said to Brit and left us alone.

I sat at the place where Noah was and held her hands, "So, Miss White, I have a plan that will brighten up your mood."

"And what's the ultimate plan?"

"Ice-cream." I winked at her. "What say?"

She said after a pause, smiling, "Well, yeah. That will be great."

"So come to my home tonight after office and Sir will pick us up from there."

"Wait! What?"

"So you're basically going out with him, but want me to accompany you." She looked angry. She scoffed, "No please, ma'am."

"It's a long story, but trust me we'll have fun... just you, me, ice-cream and a lot of talking."

"Details please."

"Details of what?"

"The so-called long story."

Still craving for details.

She hasn't changed a bit.

I took a deep breath. "So Kourtney, the counter girl at C.E.O's floor, is fired and I had to go to Sir's home to make breakfast. There I promised Christian, Sir's son, that I'll take him out for ice-cream. Then I got to know that he's not allowed to eat. I requested sir and he allowed me to take him out...."

"Okay, stop, too much details." She raised her hands in defeat. "I'll go."

I chuckled and hugged her tightly, "I so love you."

I talked with her a little bit, but then Kendrick arrived and asked me to leave and let Britney work. I said goodbye and left.

When I reached the exit of Smith's Initiative, stepping outside I saw Sawyer standing beside the car. When I reached a little closer, he opened the door of the car. What he's doing? He's not my personal driver.

"Sawyer, what are you doing?"

"Miss Williams..."

"Ava." I corrected him.

"Ava, on sir's order from now on I'll be picking and dropping you to your home."

"What? Why?"

"This I can't tell." Was Kourtney also given this same treatment? I mean this is too much, isn't it? But I can't help but be happy. This will make my life so easy and so comfortable. I got inside the car smiling.

BUT, I'm supposed to go to the club after office.

What will I tell Sawyer about it?

"Ava ma'am..."

"Please Sawyer, only Ava." He was nearly in his forties and I didn't like him calling me by that names.

"Ava, you can from now call me anytime and I'll be there." He sounded professional.

"Thanks, Sawyer." This was all too overwhelming.

♣

Soon we reached home, I came home and Sawyer left.

When I came in, mom inquired me about my day. I told her everything in detail.. about the whole Caroline incident.

I was sitting on the couch comfortably, while I had taken my heels off and were in my hands, "and mom then she bloody fainted." I laughed hard.

"Oh, Ava, don't laugh. That's such a bad thing you did."

"Mom, she was a bitch. She deserved it." I smiled thinking of today.

"You look so happy, my girl. After so many years, it's the first time I've seen you so much happy." She smiled at me. I smiled back at her.

Yes, I really was happy today.

It was so much fun--- kicking Caroline's ass and--- receiving that pretty rose.

I got up and started moving towards my room. I got in my room. I opened my bag and took out the rose he gave me.

I smiled looking at it.

I put the rose in a vase with water.

It was single rose inside a vase, but it looked so beautiful.

After taking a nice, long bath I opened my cupboard.

Okay, I should wear something casual. But not so casual.

No, it's just ice-cream.

I shouldn't even be worrying about my clothing.

But sir will be there.

"Ugh!" I said out loud. What's gotten into me these days?

"What happened?" Mom came in my room.

"Mom, which sweater should I wear, this brown one or the white one with the lines." I showed her the sweaters

"Are you going somewhere?"

"I told you."

"Yeah, but wasn't it supposed to be just..."

"I know." I looked away. I'm being crazy. "It's okay mom. Leave it."

"The white one with the lines." She said with a weird smile and went out of the room.

I changed into a simple pink top with little stars on it and wore a simple denim skirt. Standing in front of the mirror, I took a little too much time just looking at myself.

Okay, try to look simple. I said to myself and drying my hair. I tied my hair in a bun.

I heard a knock on my door.

It was Brit, she was here.

She came in my room.

"How do I look?" I asked her.

"In a simple sweater and skirt?" She frowned. "Human."

"Okay, let's go down." I said to her.

"For what?"

"They'll be here anytime now."

"You're really excited."

"No, I'm not." I think I lied.

I don't know if I was excited or not. I just wanted everything on time and perfect.

Miss Perfectionist, my inner voice made fun of me.

'Stop! Never say that again.' I scolded my inner voice.

We came down and we sat in the lounge, talking when the doorbell rang.

I was the first one to get up, "I'll see." I said and moved to the door.

I stopped when my hand came near the doorknob.

Stop being dramatic, Ava. It's not like you're doing to a date.

I opened the door.

✴ ✴

N e x t :
30th Chapter.

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