Ava's Regrets: Pregnant With My Enemy

Chapter 1

Ava had fun last night.

She decided to let loose after a long week of nonstop work. Her girlfriends from the office successfully convinced her that she needed to unwind. She was stressed and even her makeup couldn't hide the eye bags under her eyes.

She went for a complete spa treatment with her girls; they got massages, manicures and pedicures. After that, they went to the chiropractor to get their bones cracked. Then they got some new dresses and went to the club, where they danced the night away.

Ringggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!

Ava grunted as she reached out her hand to the side of her bed, blindly searching for the alarm clock.

"Ugh! Stupid Ava!" She cussed herself out wordlessly before saying, "Siri, turn off the alarm!"

"Okay!" The alarm went off and Ava sat up, mentally cursing herself for having a little bit too much fun.

Her legs were tingling from all the drunk dancing she did all night long. She shouldn't have stayed for that long. But the problem was more of the drinking than the time spent at the club. She didn't even know how she got home.

In the spur of the moment, she went all out, downing shots on shots on shots.

That was a terrible idea.

Her head was throbbing. It felt so heavy on her body that she wanted to just throw it off.

She grumbled as she got off the bed, zombiewalking into the bathroom where she got ready at a painstakingly slow pace.

She was still kind of drunk from the previous night which ended about three hours ago, and she had a hangover at the same time.

She finally got ready, knowing very well that she was running late, but she was the CEO, she could afford a little late coming.

She dressed up in a plain black dress, stopping just above her knees, and hugging her figure rightly. She did her makeup lazily; anyone could tell she didn't put much effort into it, unlike regular days.

She wasn't stable enough to wear heels, and her legs were still hurting, so she opted for flats instead. She couldn't be bothered with how her hair looked today, so she just brushed through the curls, unlike her regular straight hair look.

She gathered everything she would be needing and locked her room.

She was already tired and the day had barely begun. She took the elevator down to the ground floor where she was met with the security guy, Gary.

Gary was a buff guy with a mullet, still living in the 90's, but he was really friendly to everyone in the building, so they didn't mind his ancient ways.

"Good morning, ma'am Ava, trust you had a good night." He winked at her. "I know you sure did from the way you walked in the building. Luckily, I was the only one here and I helped you get to your apartment. No need to thank me by the way." He winked again.

Ava wasn't in the mood to chitchat, but what the hell happened last night that she had to be lucky he was the only one there?

"Um… Gary, what do you mean by ‘luckily’?" She cocked her head and raised a brow.

"You don't remember, ma'am?" He laughed heartily. "You got jiggy with it last night! I'm positive you had a crunk from how knocked out you came into the building early this morning."

"Really?" Ava asked, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Ma'am, you were so disoriented that you had your underwear in your hand, and you were waving it in the air like a spice girl, while singing out loud and asking me to shiver your timbers, at 4 in the morning." Gary couldn't control his laughter as he remembered the scene vividly.

At this point, Ava wished the ground underneath her would open up and swallow her. She visibly squirmed where she stood.

"But it's aiight, ma'am, that wasn't a bother. I was just glad I could help you out by taking you upstairs and tucking you into your bed safely." Gary told her with a sweet smile on his face.

"Um… Thank you, Gary. I'm late for work." She immediately rushed out of the building, not even waiting for an answer from Gary.

She got to her car, the Audi RSQ8 her mother had saved monthly in her savings account for before she died. She was beyond embarrassed.

"Ugh! Stupid Ava! What the hell?! Why did you drink so much?" Ava chastised herself.

She started the car. As much as she wanted to just take a taxi she couldn't afford to waste any more time so she drove as fast as she could.

"Oh my goodness!! What the hell is this day?" She complained as she pulled over, obeying the warning of the police vehicle behind her. She impatiently waited for the officer to come around to her side of the vehicle.

"Good morning, ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over?" The policeman went straight to the point, which she was grateful for.

"Why?" She reluctantly asked, almost rolling her eyes to express her disinterest in whatever he had to say.

"You were going over the speed limit."

"I'm sorry, officer, I'm late for work and I can't afford to waste another minute." She explained to him, hoping he would let her off with a warning.

"Well, you're gonna be wasting a whole lot of minutes if you hit somebody. And that's not the only one. I ran your records and apparently, you have many speeding tickets, unpaid by the way—"

"I know, officer, and I promise I will pay them as soon as I get back from work today, you have my word."

"Your word doesn't cut it for me. Would you rather go to jail, miss?" The policeman asked.

It was definitely not her day.

"Officer, look, I—"

"Ma'am! Do not argue with me! You must pay your outstanding fines this morning or your license would be suspended. You have too many, I wonder how your vehicle hasn't been impounded."

"Alright, fine! I'll pay it right now, online." She picked her purse from the passenger seat and brought out her phone.

"No. You have many traffic tickets, so you have to pay in person at the traffic court." The policeman deadpanned.

"What?! Officer, I'm sure I can pay online. Or are you just trying to waste my time or something?"

"Ma'am, you could be facing jail time, and I'm sure you'd rather drive over to traffic court this morning than go to jail, isn't that right?"

"Ughh!!" She revved the engine and turned to the direction of traffic court.

She should've just taken the taxi.

Chapter 2

Ava finally got to her workplace, after a long unnecessary speech about traffic safety at the traffic court.

She was pissed, to say the least.

She was having a bad day, and it wasn't even 12pm yet.

For the first time in a long time, she ignored the greetings of everyone at the entrance of The Quinns Co and just headed straight for the elevator. She wasn't in the mood for any interactions whatsoever.

"Hold the elevator!" She heard a voice call out from afar.

Bruce was ecstatic.

He had initially come for a job interview at The Quinns Co very early in the morning, but he was told the hiring manager wasn't on seat.

Fortunately for him, he met with the Vice President, Mason Quinn.

"Exceptional! This is wonderful, Bruce." Mason had told him with a happy smile as he pursued his resumé.

"Thank you." He gave Mason a curt smile.

"Well, as impressive as your resumé is, I'm still going to have to ask you some questions because an executive assistant is a pretty big role in this company."

"I understand." Bruce retained his curt smile, not faltering once.

"It says here that you've had five years of experience as an executive assistant, is that correct?"

"That is correct."

"So how do you handle a demanding supervisor?"

"Well—"

He got the job.

Mason was so impressed that he gave him the job on the spot.

He was excited, but also hungry. He left his house so early in the morning to make a good impression that he forgot to eat.

Since the CEO wasn't around yet for him to meet him or her and begin working, he decided to go get something to eat. He didn't take any time there though, so they wouldn't change their minds.

"Hey!! Please hold the elevator!!" He called out, seeing a young lady getting into the elevator alone.

The building had many floors and he didn't want to have to wait for almost twenty minutes for the elevator to come back down.

Bruce was taken aback when he saw the lady press the button hurriedly.

Ava didn't want to. She didn't even want to ride in the elevator with anyone else, so she quickly clicked the button for the top floor and smiled internally as the elevator doors began to close.

Upon seeing this, Bruce ran faster. Unfortunately for her and fortunately for him, he put his hand through the tiny crack left between the elevator doors, causing it to slide back open.

Ava rolled her eyes as Bruce walked in smugly. He wasn't even panting from the run he just had.

"Wow! Just wow!" He turned to her with a scorn on his face.

Knowing where he was going with the conversation, she immediately told him, "Save it!"

"No! I will not save it! You're a rude person, you know that? Has anyone ever told you that? How hard would it have been for you to just hold the elevator?" Bruce quarreled. Though he tried to maintain it, Ava was quite annoying to him.

Ava was stunned. Did he not know who she was?

"Excuse me?" She exclaimed with a frown.

"Yeah, excuse your terrible manners." Bruce ended the argument, leaving Ava speechless.

The elevator kept going up for what felt like forever and the silence between them was anything but comfortable.

Suddenly, Bruce began to sniff the air. He put his palm over his nose as he turned to Ava with wide eyes.

"Did you just fart?" He asked.

"What?!" Ava pretending not to notice anything.

"Wow! Just wow. So, you not only have terrible manners, but you're also classless. That's quite irritating!" Bruce glared at her with judgmental eyes.

"Hold on! I've been watching you say all of that bullshit about me, but not this time. Are you crazy? Who the hell do you think you are?" Ava spazzed out.

"Who the hell do you think I am? I'm certainly not the one who farted in the elevator. But, with just two people in it, who among us didn't do that?" Bruce asked with a raised brow.

"I did not even fart. Do you have some kind of mental illness or something?" Ava throws her hands in the air from frustration. She wasn't going to lose to some stranger.

"No, but I'm sure as hell you do. Maybe not mental, but you're sick! Especially if your fart smells like that! What did you eat? Rotten eggs mixed with sour pickles and sewage juice or something?" He asked.

"Shut the fuck up! Can you do that for just a second?" Ava has gotten tired of the whole thing.

"Well, you shut your butt up!! Can you do that for one second?" He mimicked her.

"Oh my goodness!! Why do I have the worst luck today?" Ava groaned in frustration.

"You have the worst luck? You think? You're not the one having to inhale gangrene, you skunk."

"Did you just call me a skunk?" Ava turned to him fully with her hands crossed over her chest.

"Your fart sure does give your secret identity away, doesn't it?" Bruce rolled his eyes.

"Now I've watched you talk all that smack about me. What exactly is your problem, dummy? Are you stupid? Did you get hit in the head this morning or something? Is this some kind of prank or joke?" Ava was genuinely confused.

"If this is a prank, your prank stinks!" Bruce concluded, taking his palm off his nose and breathing in fresh fartless air again. "Finally! You would have killed me with that."

"What the hell is even going—" Ava let out another slightly louder fart again and turned her face away in embarrassment.

Not your day, Ava.

"Oh wow!" Bruce laughs dryly. "Go ahead and deny it this time, you classless hooligan." He turned to her, but the smell hit him right in the face. "Oh my goodness!" His face contorts into one of disgust.

"Just… shut up, okay? I've had enough of your nonsense." Ava said.

Fortunately, the elevator door opens and Bruce rushes out, leaving Ava in the midst of her smelly fart.

"It is just not my day, is it?" Ava walks out and straight to her friend and office manager, Roxie.

"Ava! What's going on? You look different?" The redhead pointed out.

"Way to point out the obvious! Like you didn't ruin me last night!" Ava glared angrily at her friend. "Besides, how are you so put together this morning and with heels on?" Ava wondered. "Do you have some kind of restoration potion at home or something?"

"Well, I didn't shoot shots like you and the girls did. Honestly, I didn't even expect you to come to work today." Roxie giggled.

"I can't miss a day of work. There's so much to be done. Like hiring a new executive assistant." Ava leaned on Roxie's desk, positioning her head in her palms.

"A new executive assistant? Oh well, Mason already did that for you! Less stress!" Rolxe said and Ava's face turned red.

"What?!"

"Yup! He's actually been waiting for you." Rolxe understood the tension between them. Mason and Ava are never in good condition. They fight like dogs and cats.

"Again, what?!" Ava felt there were more and so wanted Rolxe to continue.

"I know, right? I initially told him to go home and return tomorrow because you wouldn't be coming in to work today, thank goodness he didn't listen to me." Roxie's eyes twinkled. "Also, he's such an eye candy, you'd thank Mason for making the decision for you." Roxie bit her lip.

"What?!"

Chapter 3

Ava hurried to her office, only to see Mason already waiting.

"What are you doing in my office?" Ava frowned.

" Boss lady, I only came here to show you the new ex..." Ava interrupted.

" But why..." Ava stopped as someone familiar stepped in.

"You?" Ava screamed in shock.

"You?" Bruce looked more surprised than Ava.

"What the hell?!" Ava suddenly looked furious.

The pair faced each other, their faces red with anger as everyone around them watched them recall the details of when they first met.

"You mannerless creature." Bruce cursed use nose. He was so annoyed to see Ava again.

The company is big and yet, he was called into the office by the crazy lady he met earlier at the elevator.

"What is he doing here?" Ava too is so shocked.

Someone she never wished to meet again.

"Um.. somebody explain what's going on?" Roxie broke the silence, as she looked from Ava to Bruce to Mason.

"I don't know and I don't care." Mason answered and began to walk out of Ava's office.

"No! You, come back here right now! You are going nowhere." Ava called him back.

In as much as he didn't want to answer her, she was his boss regardless. He turned around and walked back to the trio, staring Ava dead in the eye.

"What is this?" Ava asked him, pointing at Bruce.

"This? What do you mean ‘this’?" Bruce glared at her.

"Well, ‘this’–" Mason gestured to Bruce, "is your new executive assistant. Did you not hear the explanation Roxie gave you or have you suddenly gone deaf?" He made a mockery of her.

"Mason, you may be my cousin but I will not hesitate to fire you if you ever think you can speak to me in such a manner, especially in front of this–" she turns to give Bruce a vile look, "–this thing!" She was obviously upsetting Bruce.

"You may be the CEO of this company, but kindly refrain from calling me names, because I will not hesitate to call you out online and make sure this company doesn't exist anymore." Bruce threatened. He wanted Ava to know he's got what it takes too.

"It might actually be in your best interest to not say anything right now. And do not interfere in their family drama." Roxie advised Bruce.

"You said, you wanted a new executive assistant after Durant got fired for attempted embezzlement and I got you a new executive assistant, what the hell is your complaint this time?" Mason frowned. He was already getting fed up with Ava.

This was his reason why women should not be given power. Because Ava is currently taking the whole thing too far.

"You cannot hire an assistant for me in my absence or without informing me about it first." Ava countered.

"Well, if you did your job properly as CEO and came to work early today, I wouldn't have had to hire somebody in your absence, now would I, huh?" Mason asked and rolled his eyes. He hated the unnecessary argument.

"Don't you have a phone? Or did technology pass you by? What stopped you from calling me, Mason?" Ava asked.

"And what makes you think I care enough to do that? Maybe you should take your job more seriously, and if you can't do it properly, quit and let someone else do it for you." He was actually referring to himself. Only if Ava would agree to step down for him.

"There's a reason why I was voted in as the CEO of this company and not you, Mason. If I were you, I'd watch my mouth, because it would really suck for you to go from Vice President to Account Officer, now wouldn't it?" Ava retorted. With the silence, Ava knew she won Mason.

Mason walked out in anger.

He hated Ava.

He had a burning, passionate hatred for her. And he hated his father even more, because he was the only reason the stupid Ava could even talk to him like that.

"Hi Mason." A voice from behind him.

He ignored the sultry call of the office slut and got into the elevator. He didn't care where he was headed to, but he knew he had to get out of there. He was too angry to be in the workspace.

He got in his car and drove to the gun store. Just five blocks away.

Mason usually goes to the gun store whenever he is angry, to take out his anger at the shooting range. He would imagine the target was whoever made him angry and with every shot he took, he would slowly get relieved of his anger.

Mason would never shoot anyone in real life though. He didn't have that mind or zeal to do that real.

It was just his way of relaxing and it worked very well for him. He would rather do that than take his anger out on anybody.

He got in, greeted the receptionist and paid for the regular. He was handed the loaded gun as he got to the shooting range and the target was brought up.

He fired the first shot angrily, landing it right in the center of the target's head. Headshot kill point.

"Why did you have to be such a terrible person?" He asked as fired the second shot.

Mason's father had founded The Quinns Co alongside Ava's mother. The two were siblings who decided to start the business and manage it together. His father put in his all in the company, thriving alongside Ava's mother to make it the best.

But life happens.

Eventually, Mason's father got introduced to alcohol after his wife's death. He started drinking and abusing drugs. That was enough grounds to exonerate him from the company as a cofounder.

Even though the board of directors agreed to exonerate him, his sister—Ava’s mother, fought for him to be left in the company; with a promise that he would change, this was all a phase for him to deal with his loss.

But he didn't.

Instead, he got worse.

He began using drugs in the office and his office became a storage space for drugs. It got too much and the board decided to get rid of him for good, in fear that he might attract the police department into the company but Ava's mother still insisted on letting him stay.

She got him professional help, booked therapy for him and did everything she could do to assist him, but nothing worked.

At one point, it seemed like he was getting better, but the board carried out intensive research on his files in the company, and it was discovered that he had been embezzling the company's money.

Ava's mother had gone to confront him about it, but unfortunately, he ran away with a lot of cash, leaving her to fix his mess.

She knew where he was, but he was wanted by the police for embezzlement, and in a bid to protect her brother, she kept the secret and ran the company all by herself.

When she heard that her brother passed away from drug abuse, she was heartbroken. She wished she could turn back time; she didn't know what she would've done differently, but she wished she could. She wished it didn't end that way for her brother.

Mason was still a young boy when all of this happened and he didn't understand any of it back then.

All he knew was that Ava's mother was the villain in his father's story.

Ava's mother died after many years and handed the company down to her only inheritor, Ava. Because of this, Mason despised Ava, even though she had employed him as the Vice President of the company.

He was supposed to be the CEO, not Ava.

And he would stop at nothing to get what he wants. Except killing anyone.

Chapter 4

Though Mason employed a new important staff without her acknowledgement, she wasn't going to just sack him. What were the other staff going to think of her?

The company wasn't her private life where she would behave anyhow.

But why on earth does it have to be the stranger she met in the elevator.

Trying, her day was cursed.

Everything gave her a headache.

Ava looked up at Bruce with disgust. Their first meeting wasn't okay and sacking him might give up the wrong message. And if he tells everyone what she had done, social media won't haste.

"Can I have your papers?" Ava requested but Bruce's frown has become his new mask.

"I hope you know, all documents are being submitted so, they should be on your desk." Bruce said angrily.

" What is your name?" Ava asked as she flipped through some documents.

Even Roxie wanted to act because she didn't understand why her friend was being harsh to the new staff. She wondered but only kept staring suspiciously.

Ava on the other hand, searched the desk and came across Bruce's name written on a file. It was on top of the new staff list. She immediately grabbed hold of it and then glared at Bruce.

"Your name is Bruce?!" And he nodded.

"I must admit, you are not totally stupid as i have thought. You do have an impressive file " Ava uttered while going through the files.

Finally, she had to agree.

"Should I thank you?" Bruce asked and Ava rolled her eyes.

" The job is yours to keep, but I will watch your every move in this company." Ava threatened but Bruce smiled and left the office without taking permission.

"How dare he walk out on me like that?" Ava was about going crazy. She was boiling with rage.

" I won't blame him for leaving in such a manner. You were quite harsh and rude. Do you not think it is too much for him as a new staff member?" Rolxe asked

Ava eventually realized her friend was still in the office too.

"I just don't like him." She said but didn't want to talk about the embarrassment she underwent.

"Have you two met before?" Rolxe asked. Ava didn't want to give a response.

"Not really. Just don't feel relaxed around him." Ava lied. She only felt angry because the guy she embarrassed herself in front of, got a good position and would be working alongside. She was scared he might expose her. If she had fired him, questions would be asked.

"What happened last night?" Ava intentionally changed the topic.

Rolxe raised her brow, noticing what Ava was trying to do.

" You drank so much, got so drunk and even vomited in the taxi. I had to pay up some extra cash." Rolxe chuckled as if mocking Ava.

" I won't be following those kinds of parties anymore. This is the reason I still have a severe headache and keep farting in the elevator." Ava didn't know what she spilled out until she heard her friend.

"What?" Rolxe exclaimed while trying to suppress the laughter.

"He was in the elevator too." Ava spilled out again.

" Who?" She asked.

"Bruce. He was in the same elevator." Ava finally confessed. It was too embarrassing that she didn't look Rolxe direction but all she could hear was a never ending laughter.

"You have got to be kidding me, girl. Now I get it. The sudden harshness too on the new staff. You really have got to chill. It's not his fault that you farted."  Rolxe said, admitting laughter.

" Not just once but three times."

"Ooops... No, that's not good. What did he say?" Rolxe kept asking to know like some sort of uncover spy.

"Exchange words." Ava said and focused on the papers on her desk.

Rolxe wouldn't stop laughing.

"Even so, you shouldn't have been that harsh on your cousin. You need to calm that tiger inside you." Rolex finally said as she folded her arms while staring at her friend.

"My head is aching. And I'm famished. Can you hear it grumbling?" Ava asked as she just couldn't focus on what she was reading.

The drink she had the previous night still had an effect.

The words on the documents had different shapes and sizes. Her head felt like it was exploding.

If only she knew the right thing to take at the moment, to feel better.

Mason, after his shooting exercise, he drove back to the company and went straight to his office. At least, he was calm and well relaxed. He sat on his seat and sighed heavily like a tired man.

Ava wasn't able to hold her hunger so, she finished the necessary things at her office and rushed down to the cafeteria.

Luckily for her, they do have a cafeteria in the company. She is a foodie and so, always wants it near her. Thinking of the time she'd take to drive down to the street. Even when she suggested it. Everyone agreed with her. Having a cafeteria was her best decision since she became CEO. Maybe, not totally.

As she walked majestically, "Thank God I didn't wear heels. Would have been crawling or walking about without a shoe on." She muttered to herself as she walked pass other staff that came to have one or two things.

And just when she was closer, she heard tummy grumble again.

"Please, coffee first." She said to the woman before searching for an empty table.

Her eyes caught one but, on one side there was a cup of juice and tray of half eaten food.

It seems someone didn't finish.

She sat down and waited patiently for the waitress to bring her coffee.

Just then, a figure approached the table she sat on. Catching her red handed stealing chips.

She took two chips again and turned to check around when her eyes saw the owner of the food, staring furiously at her.

"Why are you a load of trouble?" He asked with furrowed brows and a squeezed face.

Bruce had just left his food to attend to someone at the entrance. He told the waitress not to clear his table since he won't be taking more than three minutes. Just for him to come back, and see someone stealing his chips. Not just someone, it was his annoying bitchy boss. Though he tried to calm himself down but deep down, he was exploding with anger.

"What's your business with that?" Ava responded not minding she was caught but what she didn't know was that Bruce owns the food.

"Here is your coffee, Madam. What would you love to have?" The waitress asked not minding the awkward staring the duo gave.

Ava is still pretending, "Get me my regular!" She said dryly and just as the waitress turned, Ava stretched her hand and took four more chips even as Bruce stood beside her.

"What the fuck!" Bruce exclaimed. This time his pretty crystal eyes were darker and he gave her a cold stare.

He hates her already. Not up to two days and his boss was making things unbearable. He just couldn't hold it anymore, not when he heard.

"What are you just standing there for? Go back to work. I wonder why Mason let you get the job. I'm sure if I were to be the one, I would have found more capable people for it." Ava said after eating the last she carried.

Bruce looked at his tray and his chips were almost finished.

"Though you are my boss. You definitely don't have the right to eat my breakfast and even show no remorse. Is that how it is done in the company?" Bruce asked with his thick brows almost touching while Ava's eyes almost popped out.

Chapter 5

"Though you are my boss, You definitely don't have the right to eat my breakfast, and you even show no remorse. "Is that how it is done in the company?" Bruce asked with his thick brows almost touching while Ava's eyes almost popped out.

Ava felt so embarrassed because Bruce was already dragging everybody's attention. "I'm so sorry, so sorry," Ava says, apologizing while closing her eyes and chewing on the chips she stole. Bruce was taken aback when, for the first time, he witnessed Ava admitting she did something wrong. For the first time, he noticed how beautiful her blue eyes were, and her brown hair suits her so well. Bruce felt as if a whole different person was in front of him.

But he didn't show it; he kept a serious face, and Ava thought he was going to create a scene, and she definitely didn't want that to happen.

"Okay, I owe you a lunch treat," Ava said. "I'm just so hungry that I couldn't wait for my breakfast to be ready." Bruce saw how honest she was, so he laughed. "Okay, we have a date then, and I get to choose where and when we should go." Ava nodded in confirmation of what Bruce said. She was so embarrassed and definitely didn't want to create a scene.

Ava took her breakfast and left for her office. She thought to herself, "I can't believe how rude he can be; I even apologized, and he still kept a serious face like he didn't care; he was just so concerned about his food, and that attitude he gave after I offered him a lunch treat, GOSH!!!" She said out loud, "Could this day get any worse?" She sighs.

Her loud ringing tone blared across the room as she instinctively reached out to check the caller ID. Ava picked up her phone and answered. It was Mason on the phone, and an impromptu meeting has been fixed. She quickly finished her meal and went for it.

After the meeting, Ava bumps into Bruce, and Bruce tells her he's ready for that lunch she promised, and it's not going to be in the cafeteria. “Le Bernardino,” he said. “Le Bernardino?” she repeated after him, sounding a little bit confused because she had never heard of it. "Yes, Le Bernardino" is my favourite place in the whole of this city.

Surprisingly to him, Ava didn’t object to his request; she just told him to wait a moment so she could go get her bag and car key. She went into her office and breathed in. She felt so suffocated around him, but she couldn’t show it as she had promised to treat him to lunch. Then she wonders why he keeps calling it a date.

She got her keys and met Bruce already waiting at the parking lots. She opened the car, and they both entered. When she started driving, she was avoiding saying anything to him, so she connected Google Maps to her steering; then there was no need for her to ask him for directions.

It was awkwardly silent in the car, and the journey seemed as if it were never going to end. “Why is this your favourite place in the city so far?” She said it almost like she was complaining. “Well, there was a shorter way to get there, but since you refused to say anything, I let you have your way.” He laughed mockingly.

Ava cursed her day even more and prayed that it was going to end very soon; at one point, she thought that her day had been jinxed because she could no longer understand why she had had so much bad luck in one day. She finally arrives at the restaurant.

She was so surprised at how fancy the restaurant was. “You really have nice taste, I must admit," she smiled. A waiter directed them to their seats; Bruce had already booked a reservation for them. The table was beautifully decorated with flowers; it was one of the nicest things she has seen in the whole of the week. "Well, my day was jinxed after all." She smiled again.

The waiter walked up to their table with a menu and asked them to select what they wanted. Ava was a bit confused on what to order, and Bruce noticed and asked if she would let him choose for her. She didn’t refuse. He told the waiter to get him their specials. The waiter smiled and complimented them, saying that they looked good together.

While waiting for their meal to be served, Bruce asked, “Are you always like this, or do you just act this way to me?” She sighed and apologized. “Sorry we started on a bad note," she explained how terrible her day has been from the hangover she had and waking up late with a splitting headache, then the issue with the police, and how late she already was to work.

“What about the elevator?” Bruce interrupted, "Well, I had gas issues due to the alcohol I consumed last night; that’s why I didn’t want anyone with me in the elevator, but clearly, you didn’t understand, so those dreams happened." "And I was so embarrassed to admit to it,” Ava said this time, her cheek turning red. She felt as if the earth would open and swallow her.

Bruce just giggled a bit and said, “Do you want to know a secret?” He said, “When I was 13, I peed on my bed and blamed the dog just to avoid being laughed at.” Ava laughed out loud; she felt much more comfortable around him, and he finally got to see her smile. They continued spilling secrets about the most embarrassing moments they have had, and she denied it.

The waiter walks in with their meal; it was pork chop casserole with tomato gravy. Ava, being a foodie, couldn’t wait to get a bite of it; her mouth was already salivating from the food's aroma. She digs into the food; “wow, I must admit the food there is really nice, and you really have a nice taste,” she says, continuing to eat her food.

Bruce smiled and watched her eat. He smiled and wondered how someone would show two sides of her character in the same day. They are and continued talking and giggling as if they were couples. “We should go out more often; I must admit I really enjoyed your company," Ava said. "Yeah, we should, and next time you could come up with where and when we should go out.”

Chapter 6

Lunch was fun. Both Ava and Bruce had a great time. If given the opportunity both of them would prefer to continue the day elsewhere. Sadly they didn’t have that option as they were to return to the office.

Ava’s company was one to envy after. Some even said the company ran itself. In reality, it was all due to Ava’s inbred leadership skills. She’d often be overlooked and undermined but what people couldn’t deny was the effect of her efforts.

Ava took the company to the next level after her father handed it over to her. From that level, she took it even higher.

So she had to be there as often as possible, to remind people that she was the boss. Still, an afternoon out with Bruce did her good. The conversation and light humor helped her loosen up and clear her head.

Heavens knows she’s been choked at work. Bruce on the other hand looked giddy, to say the least. From the way he walked, you could tell he was happy. He normally struts around with a sense of importance but now his movements were less rigid and his replies were more forgiving.

He enjoyed being around Ava. Some days he wished he didn’t have to hide who he was from her. It felt bad having to keep such a secret from someone he cared for so deeply. He often wondered how she’d react if she found out.

He knew finding out wouldn’t make her that upset. What would send her over the edge would be finding out from a different source, from a source that wasn’t him. Her trust would be broken.

He couldn’t afford that to happen but still, he knew it was too early to let her in on his true identity. They arrived at the office and he rushed to get out before her.

“Don’t get up.” He said as he rushed out of the car. Ava stared and wondered what has gotten into him and what he was planning.

He came out of the car and rushed over to her door. He gently grabbed her door handle and pulled it open. He held out his hand and gestured at her to take it. She did and came out of the car.

She was beyond pleased. At first, a smile spread across her face then she giggled and then he smiled. They were both very fond of each other at this moment.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Ava said trying to keep her smiles under control.

“I know I didn’t have to do it I simply did it because I wanted to.” Her smile returned this time with more force than the last. She liked how nice he made her feel.

“Such a gentleman,” Ava told him. Bruce tried to play it cool but he couldn’t deny how good I felt.

They stepped into the building and just as if a light switch was flipped everything changed. Ava was used to a heavy workload but this was unreal. As soon as she stepped into the office she was swarmed by clerks and other office personnel.

each of them with a file or two in hand. She needed to review them all and have them approved or rejected. Her brief more of peace was gone now. Bruce did the best he could grabbing as many folders as he could. He became her wall. He stood in front of her and made sure no one could get to her.

As soon as they were inside her office she turned cold. She had been smiling only moments ago but now she was in work mode.

“Hand me those folders and you can go.” Her words were direct and without emotion. Her hand was held out, she was waiting on him.

“No.” Ava was stunned. What did he just say and why did he say it? Had she done something wrong or were they on bad terms and she was oblivious?

“What did you say?” She asked.

“I said no,”

“What do you…”

“I’m not leaving you here to do all this work on your own.” Ava was left without words. Her confusion soon turned to glee. Her heart felt warm and her smile came back.

“Thank you so much, Bruce,”

“No need to thank me it’s what I’m here for. Now let’s get started.” He passed her a file and took a couple more from her desk.

They spent the next couple of hours going from file to file and reviewing different projects. She had two meetings but postponed them to the next day. The workload was crazy.

Still as consumed as she was in her work she was also invested in Bruce. The man had had her in his palm at this point.

She kept on looking at him. Every chance she got she stared at his beautiful face. She had a thing for thick eyebrows and his fit the description. Her eyes kept wandering all over his body.

He seemed so fit. She concluded he had a tight workout regimen. His physique couldn’t just be natural. A body like that took time and dedication. Bruce seemed like the kind to be very dedicated.

He also seemed passionate. She wondered if he was also a dedicated lover. If he brought the same level of attention to his romantic relationships. She knew she shouldn’t have been thinking about those things but she couldn’t stop herself. He was beautiful.

Soon the day had come to a conclusion and the pile of folders that lay on her table had soon evaporated. She had Bruce to thank for it all and thank him she would.

“Once again I’d like to say a big thank you to you, Bruce,”

“Stop it. You know I’m here to help you in any way I can,”

“Still it’s not often one goes out of his way to help the way you do.”

“Well, it should be more often then,”

“but it’s only your first day,”

“Exactly. I have to give you a reason to want to keep me around.

They both stared in silence. It felt like they both had something they needed to say to each other but they just didn’t know how to.

“I think we’re the only ones left here. We better get going it’s getting late.” Ava lead the way and Bruce followed. He offered to take her home but she protested, saying she had a driver and that he had done his share

Her car pulled up and she hopped in.

“I owe you another treat Bruce,” she said with her window rolled down.

“You sure you doing it for me or you?”

“ I guess we’ll find that out later.” Her window went up and her car zoomed out of the office building.

Chapter 7

When Ava got home, she was very tired and thirsty. She went straight to the kitchen to get some water. She grabbed a glass cup and filled it with chilled water from the refrigerator. She gulped the whole glass down and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator which calmed her nerves and relaxed her a bit. She did a lot of work today and needed lots of sleep and rest.

She went straight to her room, took a bubble bath and fell on the bed like a log of wood and immediately fell into deep slumber.

The next morning

She woke up feeling energized and better, she slept for about 9 hours. She took a bath and dressed up. Ava wore a white shirt which had a little black lining along her arm , with a black knee level skirt and a black blazer then sprayed herself with perfume, looked at herself and the mirror and posed, “Perfect” she said.

She just ate a few slices of bread before she grabbed her car keys and left the house on her way to the company which was just 30 minutes away.

She got to the office and the employees noticed she looked better and smelled better than the day before. Bruce walked over to her as soon as he saw her. He wakes with her, “someone looks better than they did yesterday” he said teasingly and they both laughed it off since they both knew the reason why. They got into the elevator to Ava’s office.

They went to her office to begin work for the day. They had a lot of scheduled meetings to attend so they prepared for them. The first meeting they went for was by 9:00 am, it went smoothly but tiring and boring,they had more meetings to attend so they braced themselves.

It was already 2:00 pm which meant they skipped lunch. “You have another meeting to attend at 2:30 and that’s the last one” Bruce said and she sighed, “How did my life end up like this” she said and Bruce just shook his head. They had 30 minutes more before the meeting started. She grabbed a bottle of water from her bag and drank half of it at a go. “That’s unladylike” Bruce said teasingly and Ava shot him a glare and he zipped his mouth.

Ava was about to leave when Bruce suggested they eat somewhere before going home. They went to a restaurant nearby. Ava ordered Chinese rice with sauce and turkey, Bruce just ordered spaghetti. They sat down and waited for their food, when it arrived Ava dug in and she ate like she hadn’t eaten in days, that’s when she noticed a girl staring at her and she looked away embarrassingly. Bruce just stared at her as she ate and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” she asked, “The way that girl looked at you because you have fish sauce on your cheek” he said and he took a napkin and reached out to clean the sauce off her cheek. Because of his gesture she just smiled, “Thank you” she said politely and she continued eating.They finished their meal and paid,  Ava looked full. They left the restaurant and walked a bit to the car.

He opened the car door for her, “Thank you” Ava said and he winked at her, “Cheeky” she said and he laughed and so did she. He got in and they drove off. “I don’t even know why I was present at the second meeting, it’s not like i said anything” Ava complained, “You have a huge role in the company so you have to be present” Bruce replied and Ava just rolled her eyes.

“The food at the restaurant was delicious” she said  since she didn’t want the car to be quiet, “it was” Bruce replied. Bruce left the car since he had gotten to his house and Ava took over the wheel.“Goodnight bossand drive safe” Bruce said, “Goodnight and there better be no meeting tomorrow” she said and Bruce chucked and waved his hands before he turned around to get into his house, she waved back and smiled before she stepped on the gas.

She drove off to her house which was just 20 minutes away. It wasn’t late when she got home and she was bored. She wasn’t too  tired since the food she ate a while ago quenched her tiredness somehow so when she got to her house, she removed the heels she wore and her leg ached a bit. She walked around a lot today since the meetings were on different floors. She had a bath, but she didn’t eat since she already ate at the restaurant. She lied down on her bed and slept.

Chapter 8

“Is that your stomach or a trapped animal?”

“Very funny Bruce. You’re such a comedian.” Bruce loved to tease her. He knew she was hungry, and he was too but it seemed she was a tad more so than he was.

The whole meeting felt like one long blur to her. She had had enough meetings today and couldn’t wait to wrap this one up. The presenter kept on talking and talking and talking. It felt like hell to her.

A hell made personally for her. She imagined how much more enjoyable life would be if she could fastforward certain moments. She’d speed up this moment in a heartbeat. But as much as she’d like to speed up certain moments she’d love to rewind and relive others even more.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to relive certain moments, especially the ones with Bruce in them. Her mind had wandered off for a moment but hunger pains brought her back to earth.

Her stomach growled once again and this time it was louder than it was the previous time.

“Can’t you just adjourn the meeting? I mean the noises your stomach is making are starting to get me concerned,”

“You’re concerned now? Moments ago you were making fun of my predicament.,”

“I’m sorry.” Ava stared at him and couldn’t help but smile. He didn’t need to apologize but he did. He did care about her. It was nice to have someone make you feel like a priority.

“And with that, our meeting comes to an end.” That was the man who stood in front of a white board. The meeting was over and they could leave.

She got up and made her way to the door. People inside the conference room tried to stop her and speak to her but Bruce wouldn’t let them.

“Miss Quinn is currently occupied and will see you all later.”

She liked that her name sounded like him. ‘Miss Quinn’ he said and she replayed it in her head over a dozen times. Last time he was picked where they ate so it was l her turn to choose. She wanted to take him somewhere nice and maybe far away.

Somewhere they could be away from work and have some alone time.

“You drive,” she said as she chucked her car keys in his direction.

“I thought you liked to be in control?

“I do but if I drive in my current state we might die. Does that sound like something you’d want to do huh? Spend your last moments with me?”

As much as it was a joke a little part of her hoped he’d say yes.

“Fine, fine you don’t have to make a big deal out of it. I’ll drive.” Her hopes had failed her. Still,

she had an entire afternoon alongside him to look forward to. They got a garage and headed and drove out.

“Where to?” Bruce asked as they backed out of the office building.

“Follow the GPS I’ve put in the coordinates to our location there. As told Bruce followed the GPS and drove west. They were headed in the direction of one of Ava’s favorite restaurants. She rarely went there.

It was her safe space and she didn’t want to overuse it. She had never taken anyone there but now felt so comfortable taking Bruce there.

One of her favorite parts of the restaurant was the route to it. Ava loved king drives. They were a safe space for her, like a pocket in time. One where the rest of the world seemed to be far away and she could recollect.

Her head was on the glass as they drove through the city. She loved the sites and the streets. It all culminated in the beauty of the city.

“We’re here.” His words broke the silence like a knife cutting through the cake. the ride here was faster than she had anticipated. At first, it made her wonder if they were in the right place. Maybe he had gotten the directions wrong.

All her disbelief was put to rest as soon as she glanced at the sign outside. She stepped out and they went in. It was a casual place, not too fancy, and not lacking class.

They took a seat at a table in the middle of the restaurant.

“Good evening, my name is Maxwell and I’m here to take your order. What would you like to eat?”

“I’d like the…”

“Well, both have the special thank you.” Ava cut Bruce’s words short. He shot her a stare raising one of his brows as if trying to imitate Dwayne Johnson.

“Just trust me,” she said, and trust her he did.

Maxwell came back soon enough with their food. As they satisfied their cravings they dove into conversation. She wanted to know everything she could about him.

“You seem like the type to break a girl's heart. Tell about a few you’ve broken,” Bruce was stunned. She was so direct and to it.

“You think I’m a heartbreaker?”

“if you aren’t then prove me wrong,”

“well I don’t think I’ve ever broken a heart before, maybe it’s because I’ve never been in love,”

“You mean you’ve never liked anyone?”

“No, I have but that’s not love. Love comes with a certain intimacy and vulnerability that’s hard to mistake. I don’t think I’ve felt that. What about you?”

“I’ve been in relationships but they all ended horribly. You men have a real problem dating women who intimidate you.”

“That makes no sense. Why would anyone want to feel intimidated by the person they're in a relationship with.” Ava was stunned. She’d never seen it from that angle.

“I know you must’ve felt hurt or offended when all those men broke things off with you. But you have you remember relationships are supposed to make you feel happy and not like you’re not enough. So if these men ended things because they didn’t feel good that doesn’t make them bad guys does it?”

“I suppose you’re right but still I’d like a man who wasn’t intimidated by me enough to make the thing work.”

“See it’s not your fault and it’s not there’s. It’s just a matter of compatibility and varying interests,”

“I guess you’re right.”

“As I always am,”

“Cocky much?”

They both laughed and continued to talk. Soon after night had fallen and they went their separate ways.

Ava arrived home and couldn’t stop thinking about Bruce. From his smiles to his choice of words to the way he walked, she loved it all.

Morning came and she arrived at the office. She was walking towards her office to continue some work when they bumped into each other.

“Hey,” Bruce said.

“Hey,”

“How was your night? Did you get home safe,”

“Yeah, I got by quite alright,”

“That’s good to hear. I just got in should we head in and get to work?”

“Lead the way, mister.” They both walked into her office and shut the door. What they weren’t aware of was the staff who had overheard them and now the tales of their escapades had filled the office.

Chapter 9

Ava came out of the elevator, responding to a few greetings before she began to trudge down the hallway. She was in a beautiful navy blue colour with a hint of shimmer. It was a sleeveless dress with a high neckline and a pleated skirt that fell just above the knee. The fabric was light and airy, perfect for a hot summer day. The dress had a subtle pattern of small white flowers that added a touch of femininity.

The hallway was a long and elegant passageway, lined with polished wood panelling and adorned with tasteful artwork. The floor was made of gleaming marble, with inlaid designs of grapes and vines. The ceiling was high and arched, with ornate chandeliers casting a warm and inviting glow on the space.

Large windows, framed with lush velvet curtains, let in streams of natural light that illuminated the hallway and made the colours of the artwork and tapestries seem even more vibrant.

The aroma of fermenting grapes and the sound of machinery filled the air as Ava made her way to her office. But today, as she passed by her employees, she couldn't help but notice the hushed whispers and sidelong glances. Something was definitely up, and Ava intended to find out what it was.

As Ava made her way through the halls, she couldn't help but notice the way her employees were behaving and how taut the atmosphere seemed to be. They were moving about in a hurried, almost furtive manner, their heads down and their eyes averted.

Their work attire, crisp and professional, was now dishevelled and their faces were filled with worry. She caught snippets of their whispered conversations as she passed by, and it was clear that the rumours about her and Bruce were the topic of choice.

Ava's anger grew as she watched her employees, the people she trusted, talking behind her back. Her eyes scanned the crowd, as she wondered what was going on. And then she spotted them. A group of three employees, huddled together in a corner, their heads close together as they whispered and laughed.

Ava could feel their eyes on her as she walked past them, gazing in their direction. The smiles on their faces disappeared and they grew tense, looking around nervously. They knew they were in trouble and they were unsure of what to do next.

They soon scattered, like birds taking flight. They quickly dispersed in different directions, their heads down and their steps quick. Some of them tried to blend in with other employees, but Ava could still spot them out, their body language gave them away.

She stepped into her office, and the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of typing on keyboards greeted her as she closed the door behind her. Roxie, her assistant, was waiting for her at her desk. "Good morning, Ava," Roxie greeted her with a smile.

Ava walked to her desk and sat down, the leather chair creaking under her weight. "Roxie, what's going on? Why are everyone acting so strange?" Ava asked, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of what might be causing the strange behaviour.

Roxie hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There are rumours going around about you and Bruce Clayton," she said, avoiding Ava's gaze.

Ava's heart skipped a beat. But how had their relationship become the subject of office gossip?

Ava, after hearing that her employees were gossiping about her relationship with Bruce, felt a wave of anger wash over her. Her face grew hot and she felt the urge to confront each and every one of the employees and put an immediate stop to the gossip.

She bawled her hands into fists, her nails biting into her palms as she imagined the confrontations. Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to put an end to the rumour and the thought of the consequences if it continues. She felt herself fuming, her body tense with frustration and anger.

Angry, Ava stood up from her chair, the wood floor creaking under her heels as she marched out of her office, determined to put a stop to the rumours and fire anyone who dared to gossip about her. She walked through the halls, her eyes scanning the faces of her employees, trying to find the source of the rumour. The sound of her heels clicked against the floor as she walked. She reached the main entrance, her hand gripping the door knob tightly.

Gazing down at the floor, she crashed on someone while on her way out. But he caught her before she lost her footing and crashed on the floor.

When Ava sees Bruce, her mood shifts dramatically. The anger and frustration that had been building inside her began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of warmth and contentment. Bruce's presence has an immediate calming effect on her, his tall frame and athletic build making him stand out from the rest of the employees.

He was dressed in a tailored suit, the fabric hugging his body in all the right places. The suit jacket was cut to accentuate his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the trousers are tailored to fit his long legs perfectly. His crystal blue eyes gleam as he meets her gaze, and his thick eyebrows and chiselled jawline give him a striking, almost otherworldly appearance.

Ava can't help but feel a sense of attraction towards him, she sees him as very handsome and attractive. The way his suit hugs his body makes him look even more attractive and powerful. She can feel her heart racing and her palms getting a little sweaty as she looks at him. He exudes a sense of confidence and charm that makes her feel safe and protected.

As Ava approaches Bruce, he turns to face her and gives her a warm smile. "Ava," he says, his voice deep and filled with affection. "Where are you rushing to look so annoyed?"

They stood there for a moment, holding each other, and Ava can feel the steady beat of his heart against her cheek.

"It's nothing, just some stupid rumours going around about us dating," Ava said, trying to brush it off, her heart racing.

"And what do you intend doing?" He frowned slightly, slowly realising what she could have done.

Bruce's crystal blue eyes searched hers, and he reached out to take her hand. "Ava, there's no need to correct them. Because it's true," he said, his voice soft. Ava felt her heart flutter as she looked into his eyes and saw the truth in his words. She felt herself melting against him, her body tingling with anticipation as he leaned in closer.

They were like that for some time, lost in their own world, and it was only when Roxie cleared her throat that they remembered where they were.

Chapter 10

They walked back to Ava's office, Bruce's arm around her shoulder, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the halls. As they walked, Ava couldn't help but notice the way her employees looked at them, the way they were been glared at. She fought the urge to control herself.

The rumours didn't die down, instead it skyrocketed even.

The next day, Bruce and Ava arrived at Ava's office, and Roxie excused herself, leaving Ava and Bruce alone. They sat down in front of Ava's desk, Ava's hands on her lap, Bruce's hand covering hers. "I'm sorry for any trouble I might have caused you," he said, his voice sincere.

Ava smiled at him, her heart full. "It's okay," she said.

They sat there for a moment, lost in each other's eyes, before Ava leaned in for a kiss.

As the day progressed, Ava couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The employees seemed to be avoiding her and she couldn't help but notice the way they whispered behind her back. She knew that the rumors of her and Bruce's relationship had not died down, but she didn't expect it to escalate to this point.

As she walked down the hallway, Ava couldn't help but admire the beauty of the space. The sunlight streamed in through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the polished wood paneling and artwork.

The beauty of the hallway was tainted by the tension that seemed to permeate the air, the atmosphere that was once inviting and peaceful, now felt tense and uncomfortable.

As she reached her office, Ava noticed Bruce standing outside, deep in conversation with some of the employees. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could tell from the way they were gesturing that it was not a pleasant conversation. As she approached, Bruce's eyes met hers and she could see the fire in his gaze.

"What's going on?" Ava asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Somw workers have placed bets on how long I'll last with you," Bruce said, his voice filled with disgust. "They're laughing and saying that I'll be out of the picture in no time."

Ava's heart sank at Bruce's words. She couldn't believe that her employees would do something so disrespectful and unprofessional. She could see the hurt and frustration on Bruce's face and she knew she had to do something about it.

As Bruce continued to talk the workers, Mason appeared from behind Ava. "Looks like someone's getting a little too comfortable," he sneered, a cruel smirk on his face.

Bruce turned to Mason, anger clear on his face. "I don't know what your problem is, but you need to stay out of our business," he said, his voice filled with authority.

Mason's smirk turned into a scowl. "You think you're so special just because Ava's been dating you," he spat. "But trust me, she'll never be satisfied with someone like you. She'll see through your act and dump you soon enough."

Ava felt her blood boil at Mason's words. She couldn't believe that he would talk to Bruce like that, especially after all that they had done for the company. "That's enough, Mason," she said, her voice filled with anger. "I won't tolerate this kind of behavior any more"

Mason's scowl deepened, but he didn't say another word as Ava walked away, Bruce by her side.

After some hours, Mason marched into her office and slammed the door shut. Ava and Bruce who were tangled up a kiss, tore apart from the other, looking up in surprise. Mason gazed at them, an unwavering disgust in his face.

"What is wrong with you Mason, can't you knock?" She asked, returning his steady glare. Mason was silent as he glared at Ava. She would have been dared if looks were layers.

"What is it, Mason?" she asked. He looked like he was going to kick up another shindig, something she wasn't prepared for.

Mason took a deep breath. "I know what's going on between you and Bruce," he said. "I know you're having an affair." Ava's face turned red.

"That's none of your business," she said. Mason shook his head. "It is my business," he said. "I'm disgusted by what you're doing. You should be ashamed of yourself." Ava stood up, their light dying out of her face and pointed to the door.

"Get out," she said. "I don't want to hear any more of this. What is wrong with you Mason!" She thundered, flaring at him and wondering why he always had to be the cog in the wheel. It was very clear from the foregoing that Mason wasn't done with his mischief anytime soon. She had to be prepared for moments like this.

"It's ok, Ava." Bruce tried to talk to her and calm her down but she stopped him abruptly with a wave of her hand so she could give Nason the bashing he deserved.

Mason left, but not before he had one last thing to say.

"You're going to regret this," he said. Ava slammed the door behind him. She was furious.

Ava grumbled before slamming her fist on the table. Bruce reached towards her to calm her down but she wasn't ready to get calm anytime soon. She tried to push him off but Bruce wouldn't let her.

As she settled on the table, she grabbed a glass of water and chugged it down instantly.

How dare Mason accuse her of such a thing? She had done nothing wrong. She was left wondering why he was always this Impulsive, why he loathed anything that had to do with her.

As she pondered on what had just happened, Ava knew what she had to do. She would promote Bruce to a higher position in the company, that was the only way that she could be able to throw Mason off his high horse.

And she knew she had to be very fast about it or things would even get worse.