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I know that Nico was going to stop by their offices today. I text her and say I want to be the one to take the meeting. I can see Ava. I can see she’s all right. I can begin to erase the hurt I’ve given her. I can.
I finally feel like I might be on the verge of a break. Nicolette had a conflict with a late evening call in London so she would have had to move the meeting anyway. I saved her from doing so, and in turn, also saved myself from her inquiring mind.
I arrive for the meeting with a few minutes to spare. After announcing my arrival with the receptionist, I then ask her where Ava’s office is. She instructs me it’s on level two, at the top of the stairs, and to the right of the boardroom. After taking the stairs two by two, I take a minute outside her partially open door. I don’t want to interrupt her day further. The thought of being this close though sends an electricity through me that I’ve been desperately missing.
After knocking twice, I wrap my hand around the handle and push the door open. The room is dark except for the light from the outside. I don’t smell her perfume. Her coffee mug stained with her lipstick is still in the middle of her desk. The hair on the back of my neck prickles as I see a couple of stray white rose petals on the floor. As I’m bending to pick them up, a voice echoes around me from behind.
“She’s not here. My question is, why are you?”
I turn to find her boss, friend, and a man who wants my dick in a vise standing in her doorway behind me. “Your receptionist or Nicolette should have told you. I’m here in Nico’s place for today’s meeting. She had a conflict.”
“I would have rescheduled for her.”
“Aaron, I know you don’t like me. I don’t like myself. I am able to take the meeting. Where is she? Won’t she be a part of it?”
“Not today. She’s unavailable. If we’re going to do this at all, it’s you and me. The boardroom is next door.”
“What do you mean she’s unavailable?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your concern. She is out of the office.”
I can hear my teeth grind in my ears. “I don’t want to have to ask again. Where is Ava?”
“You don’t get to come in here, bark your questions, and think I will tell you.”
“I need to hear she’s okay. If I can get that, I will gladly move to the boardroom.”
The door closes behind him so hard that it rattles the glass on either side. “No, you arrogant prick, she’s not okay. I took her home ill yesterday after your surprise phone call.”
“She’s sick? What’s wrong?” Aaron stands with his feet shoulder width apart, his arms crossed at his chest. I can visibly see him exhale as his right hand pulls just shy of a fist. “Tell me,” I growl.
“She’s not had a decent meal or a good night’s sleep in about a week. That will tend to take a toll on a person, especially one like Ava. She feels things deeply. She gives freely. I would and will still tell her those are wonderful qualities in a human being. She just needs to be more careful of the people she offers that to.” He takes one step closer. “I told you I wanted to beat the shit out of you, but I wouldn’t because we were in public. I’m two seconds from destroying you in private. I think it would be best if we reschedule for Monday. We may need to reevaluate this partnership as a whole.”
The petals in my hand begin to wither from my touch. I don’t want to fight with him. I don’t want to fight with anyone. My only deep concern is Ava. If she is ill, there is nothing that will stop me from going to her now.
Chapter seventeen
Ava
While Sylvia is gone, Austin convinces me that a shower will be a good idea. He makes me take it slow and have a glass of water before I even try to stand up. Once he’s convinced, and I am too, that I can get clean on my own, he leaves me alone in the room to climb in under the water.
The sound of the rain behind the curtain doesn’t hurt my head. That feels like a small victory. I lift the shirt that’s been glued to my body for nearly a day. As the cotton leaves my head, I’m met with my reflection in the mirror. My fingers reach up and glance across my collarbone. It’s staring at me. I didn’t realize my clothes were a bit looser or that my eyes had sunken in slightly. I didn’t want to see it.
The warm water feels like heaven as it glides over my body. The chill I now remember feeling the entire time I was sleeping is fading away. Even the scent of my shampoo feels soothing. About halfway through I sit down on the bench and let the steam do what it needs to. The only thing that gets me out is a knock at the door. Sylvia is back.
She sets the bag on the counter and leaves me to it. After I’ve dried off and stared at the bag for a few, I put some clothes on and follow my nose, for better or worse, out for the toaster. “Where’d Syl go?”
“She’s in Sylvia mode. She’s going to get all of your favorite foods; in the hopes you’ll eat. I think she’s just doing stuff because she can’t help you and it pisses her off.”
“I love her. I don’t know. I think this is something I need to do on my own anyway.”
“You can be in there alone, but you can forget it if you think I’m leaving. I’m not going to make the third man who’s walked out on you.”
“Aus…no.”
He clears his throat. “Okay, so how does this work? Do you want me to stay here? Sit on the end of your bed? You make the rules.”
“I guess stay here. It won’t take me long.”
