● AUTHOR'S POV

"Are you asleep little mouse?" a voice came snapping Ava's train of thoughts, and making her jump straight up in her chair.

Ava was so consumed by her curiosity regarding Xanthos that even the audible clicking of the door opening, someone entering in, and taking a seat beside her had gone unnoticed by her.

"You!?" Ava blurted out almost gasping unconsciously only to quickly purse her lips together.

"Yes, Me!" the green eyes, copying her tone and gasping in the same manner as hers, replied.

Pulling back himself and resting against the back of the chair, Xanthos pushed his foot against the floor only to have the impact end up in making his chair slide back, creating a little distance between him and Ava.

Resting his chin on the back of his fingers and his arm on the armset, he placed one leg over the other as he stared back at her. His sitting posture was something Ava had witnessed a couple of times now, it was as if this was the only way he sat, a way that screamed authority and demanded unquestioned obedience.

"It has come to my attention that you've had quite an adventure today?" he questioned raising a brow.

Ava thought that how the person she was terrified of seeing, beause of what went down today, was now seated infront of her and all she felt; was a little nervousness and that was it.

"I did." Ava replied nodding her head, her demeanor less hateful and more calm towards the man seated infront of her.

Ava wasn't a hateful person, infact there were only a countable number of people she truly associated the word hate with in all seriousness.

Despite thinking Xanthos was on the list, she had her reasonings shift a little the opposite direction, over the course of one month she had spent here and got to know a little about him and his work atmosphere, which to her surprise wasn't all about sex, murder, and ganja.

Xanthos noticed Ava's slight change in attitude, and deep down inside, he felt a small satisfaction peeking through.

"I'm genuinely sorry for what happened today. I didn't expect things to get this much out of hand. I should have been more vigilant and..." Ava paused only to have Xanthos speak. "And?" he urged her to continue as his eyes kept gazing at her not even leaving for a second. "And more dependent." Ava replied and a satisfied smile crawled up Xanthos' face.

Ava realized that if she had informed the authority about Paolo's issue the very moment it started she really would have easily avoided the whole little skit that happened today. As Paolo had been making his advances on her for a week now, but nothing that was too excessive, plus she wasn't accustomed of depending on people, neither did she trust most of them.

"I'm afraid dear Ava, your apology won't bring back my date." Xanthos replied feigning sadness only to have Ava look at him questionably.

"Date?" Ava questioned and Xanthos sat up straight in his chair.

"You see, I was informed that there was an urgent matter regarding you, which maybe could have been handled on the call, but I still had to come." Xanthos said as he stood up, and walking towards Ava he stood infront of her, leaning against the table they were both seated by.

"Why inconvenience yourself by coming all the way here, when it could have been handled in a much more easier way?" Ava questioned in pure genuinness, no sarcasm or mockery intended through her words.

"Why?" Xanthos repeated as he leaned down and inched his face closer to hers. "Because, another cat dared showing up in my vicinity." he said as he held Ava hostage under his captivating gaze. "You see, there can only be one big-bad cat for the little mouse." he whispered, looking straight into the night black eyes staring back at him.

Sparing not even a moment for Ava to speak, Xanthos pulled his face away from hers, allowing her to relax a little, and made his way back to the chair he was previously seated in.

"I've lost my date because I had to rush down here, and there's not enough time left to fetch another one." Xanthos explained and Ava listened as it was more or less because of her he had to come.

"I have to leave within just a few hours for an important event, and since you feel so apologetic for whatever happened today. I'll help you mend it." Xanthos said giving her a lopsided smile.

Ava's whole body felt alerted on hearing the word 'help'.

"I'm already indebted to you for my father's debt, and for the help you're giving me to pay it off. I wouldn't want to add to the list." Ava replied giving a faint smile, and hoping, he will not try to help her as she felt that she wouldn't like the idea of how he'll help her.

"I insist." Xanthos retorted broadening his smile.

"I wouldn't want to impose." Ava urged as she felt that the little shine in Xanthos' eyes seemed of someone about to play a trick.

"You wouldn't? I think you've already imposed by making my club go through a possible lawsuit, soon enough." Xanthos said with a straight face as he kept hold of Ava's gaze. "We suing first does not mean he won't strike back." he further added.

"You will accompany me to the event as a payment for the legal proceedings my club will have to go through." Xanthos said and rose up from the chair he was sitting in.

Ava gulped, though still managing to keep a straight face, she knew she had lost even before she made it to the battlefield.

Trying to relax Ava assured herself, that it was nothing more than an event, most probably held for the ones rolling in money, and that she need not worry, as Xanthos despite his overall devious aura and cunning remarks, hadn't done anything that scarred her mentally or physically.

One thought still captivated Ava's mind as to why her? Why not some hostess from the club as they are far more accustomed to attending events and dinners with or for their clients. But then again, it was she who was involved in the ruckus and most probably the reason why Paolo would sue.

Xanthos spared Ava one last glance and left the room only to have two women dressed in all white walk in.

"Come this way Miss." one of them with red frizzy hair tightly braided into one long braid said, as she kept hold of the door, and gestured with her hand for Ava to leave the room with them.

Ava took a deep breath and stood up, preparing herself for the unsolicited help she was about to receive.

---

Xanthos stood beside his car as his guards stood at a little distance from him, the time for the event slowly approaching.

"The Montgomerys would not be attending sir." a brunette man dressed in a black suit informed as he stood behind Xanthos.

"Is that so?" Xanthos replied as he stared at something distant in his vision as one would when zoning out, but not Xanthos. He was always very much alert and aware of his surroundings, he had to be.

"Have Evan look into it." Xanthos directed as he turned around now facing the brunette man who was a few inches shorter than him, but still would be considered tall for an average man's height.

"As you wish sir." the brunette man obliged.

"What is it?" Xanthos being the observant man he was, immediately took notice of the awkward silence and urged the brunette man suited in black to speak his mind, as one thing Xanthos despised the most, was unnecessary lack of communication.

"As per your orders, we did send a trustful companion to escort Miss Kiara to the event, but she refused." the brunette man answered, only to ear a chuckle escape Xanthos' lips.

"I guess, I'll have to see to it personally then." Xanthos smiled as if remembering something nostalgic, only to have his focus break at the sight infront of him.

Dressed in a pale-gold satin dress with a one side thigh-high slit, Ava stood on top of the staircase that led down to where Xanthos was. Her straight black locks now styled in a wavy manner to complement her face, that seemed as if softly flowing with the calm night breeze.

Her fair skin, perfectly melting in with her look, made her appear as if she was gleaming in this dark night. Her long smooth leg, visible from the thigh-high slit in the dress; making her seem no less than a model, which made Xanthos' little sarcastic comment; about her being a model at his soon to launch fashion line, not that far fetched of an idea anymore.

Ava was a tall woman, who, standing in all her grace seemed ethereal, and Xanthos' unwavering gaze locked on her was a proof. As she descended down the stairs, with the help of one of the women, who initially came to her after Xanthos had left, she seemed stunningly radiant.

For a minute, Xanthos had forgotten who he was looking at, his trance only breaking as he realized, he was not the only one being absorbed by the vibrant sight presented before him.

The brunette man had also been entraned by the beauty descending down the stairs.

"Ahem." Xanthos cleared his throat only to have the man get startled at this sudden disruption. Realising who was disrupting, the man quickly took his leave from the sight.

With her clicking heels, Ava made her way towards Xanthos, only to have his hand immediately stretch out for her to take.

She hesitantly placed her hand in his, and he carefully helped Ava to the car as if handling something fragile. An inward gasp left Xanthos' throat as he caught sight of Ava's bare back.

A man who had been standing in one corner all this time, hurried towards them and opened the car door for Ava to get seated in. It wasn't until Ava bent down to get into the car that Xanthos noticed a mole on her back, and he kept his gaze fixed on it until she fully got adjusted in.

Xanthos followed in after Ava, the man after closing the car door went to sit in the driver's seat, and igniting the engine he started the car.

Ava noticed there was a partition within the car, and some other fancy things, she had never gotten the chance of seeing before, she was feeling a little jittery as she had never been adorned this much in her 23 years of living, she also felt anxious regarding; what kind of event they were about to attend.

Ava lost in her anxious thoughts didn't take notice of the emerald eyes constantly focused on her, from her eyes to her lips to her beautiful slender leg, the locked gaze spared nothing.

Xanthos had seen women dressed up and in all their glories, but the one sitting beside him was a sight to behold.
It was as if keeping it simple all the time made this enhanced appearance of hers stand out like a magnificent star in an ocean of darkness.

Ava's thoughts got disrupted, as a soft chuckle made its way upto her ears, and she snapped her head to the right looking at the owner of the voice.

"What?" She asked, suddenly getting conscious of her appearance, mixed with a little anxiety; that what trick this man had up his sleeve this time.

Despite him not having pulled anything, in a sense of a cunning prank on Ava, in all this time she had been in his company, she still couldn't help but be cautious, as this man breathed deviousness.

"I might have made a mistake." Xanthos smirked, as he playfully tilted his head and stared back at her.

Before Ava could ask for an explanation on his little statement, he leaned in towards her catching her by surprise, and she reflexively scooted back a little.

"Pull up your dress." Xanthos stated calmly, as he refused to break eye-contact.

"Excuse me!?" Ava was dumbfounded at what her ears had just heard.

"Pull up your dress sweetheart, or perhaps you need my assistance?" Xanthos teased as he moved closer filling up the gap between them.

Author's Note
Sooooooo, did you like the chapter? I hope you did! Vote and comment if you have the time to.
Thankyou.