Ava

Brenda gave me a troubled smile when I reached office. I smiled back at her in reassurance, conveying her not to worry. I had taken matters in my own hands and I knew how to handle this. This was what I was good at. Confronting people. Getting them to spill.

"Get Kira to my office." I told her. "Right now."

She nodded hurriedly, grabbing the telephone at her side and muttering something. I walked into my office, my head high. It was a few minutes before the door opened and in entered Kira. Brenda followed behind her, looking between the two of us, her steps faltering when she saw my expression. "I- uh, you have a meeting in fifteen minutes-"

"Cancel it." I said, not looking away from Kira. She squirmed when she felt my gaze. I smiled internally.

Brenda nodded and left my office in a hurry. I didn't say anything for a long while, making Kira look up, blinking, then smiling. "What can I do for you, Ava?"

"I heard you had an accident the other day." I said, leaning back and resting my hands on the table. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

I saw a flash of relief pass through her eyes. "Oh, um, thanks. I'm alright now."

"That's good." I smiled. "I was in the same hospital that time, coincidentally. I would have visited you had I known. But I think you already had enough visitors, no?"

She blinked her eyes in confusion. "I-I yeah. My family was very concerned."

"I ran into someone very surprising that night." I tilted my head. "You know who?"

"W-who?"

"Fred Page. I didn't know he was still out."

"He is?" She asked in shock. I'd been in this field long enough to know when people lied. She didn't fool me one bit. "I didn't know that."

"I asked him why he was wasting his precious days in a hospital. He told me he was visiting someone. I'd wondered who it could be."

"Oh." Kira murmured, looking down.

I stared at her for a few more seconds, hoping she'd break on her own. But she didn't, surprising me. Her body language gave away her nervousness, but she didn't open her mouth. I admired her loyalty, even though it was to the wrong person. "Let's cut the shit, Kira." I said after a while. "You know I'm smart enough to figure it out. You left too many loopholes."

"I don't know what you're talk-"

"Are you aware of who Jason White is?" I asked, cutting her off. Her face drained off any colour, and even the simplest of doubts I'd had were cleared off. "You do."

"I-I-"

"He was fired for snooping and leaking information to someone not from Smiths. He was forced to move cities because he didn't get another job here, because the board did not give him a letter of appreciation."

Kira stayed quiet, her face white and pale.

"He was framed. He never leaked anything. But you already knew that, didn't you?" I raised an eyebrow when my eyes fell upon her fidgeting hands. "How long have you been sleeping with Fred?"

She looked up in astonishment, I didn't know if that was because I knew, or because I'd said it out loud. Her face broke into sweat, a look of panic crossing her eyes, followed by guilt, then a simmering anger. "I haven't-"

"We both know lying won't get you anywhere, Kira. You're fucked. Might as well just say the truth now."

"What truth?" She said forcefully. "There is nothing to say. Unless you have enough proof-"

"I don't need any proof to fire you. The board would never question me. And neither would they give you an appreciation letter if I tell them not to. You'll be in the same position as Jason. And I have a feeling you love Vegas. You don't really want to move."

She breathed in harshly, her eyes narrowing at me. She was angry but that wasn't getting her anywhere. Kira was smart, but I was smarter. I had cornered her in a place she had no chance of getting out unless she gave me what I wanted. 

"What do you want?" She muttered.

"How long?"

"A year."

"Why?"

"We love each other."

I paused, taking a moment to glance at her face. When I didn't see an ounce of joke in her expression, a scoff left my mouth. "He is twenty five years older than you. And he has a wife. Does he plan on leaving her for you?"

"He doesn't love her-"

"Yet he's still her husband on paper. Why would he willingly call himself someone else's husband if he loves you? For so long?" I raised both my brows. "Have you always been so stupid, or had I been too blind to notice?"

"Shut up. You don't know anything about us-"

"Did he even say he loved you, or did you assume that on your own?" I asked. She blinked, looking away, giving me the answer I needed. "He was using you, Kira. He has always been using you."

"Stop-"

"Why the fuck would he assault a woman if he loved you?"

She stopped, freezing. Her mouth opened but didn't form any words, and I gave a satisfied sigh. She had no option but to comply. She knew she was fucked. 

"Please don't rep-"

"I have already reported you to the board." I said. There was no sympathy in business. None. You messed up once and you were out. And I didn't think she did deserve any of my sympathy. She had fooled everyone by her innocent facade, but she wasn't going to anymore. "They're not pressing charges. But your boyfriend is going to jail."

She had the audacity to let out a small chuckle. "No, he isn't. He has many contacts."

I pitied her. She didn't care if she was fired even now, all she cared was if Fred was going to jail or not. I pitied her for not being able to get another man. Men like him weren't capable of love. He was a selfish misogynist, Kira deserved way better. But I didn't care at the moment. "Contacts do not help when you have a witness."

"What?"

My office door opened right that second and entered Hayden, buttoning up his blazer. He had been on his best behaviour ever since I'd given him a last chance. He had a look of hesitancy on his face, but he didn't look scared. His eyes met mine and he gave me a nod. Following him was Robert, another look of determination crossing his face.

"You- you can't!" Kira cried out. "He is your friend."

"He betrayed us. He committed a crime." Robert said. "He was using us. He was never our friend."

"Your boyfriend wanted to be the boss." I told her. "He wanted to take my position. But he couldn't. You know why?" I didn't wait for her to respond. "Because he is so self absorbed that he doesn't know how to get other people's support. And that's the basic necessity of business. You can't do shit if people don't support you. He may be good at sales, but he isn't good at business."

The door to my office opened once again, and I stiffened when I saw Keith enter my office. His gaze snapped between me and his twin, and I saw his fists clench at his sides. He blinked and looked away.

"Keith, please, listen to me-"

"Is it true?" He asked, still not looking at her. "Tell me it isn't. Please, just- just tell me it isn't."

Kira had enough shame to look down, and not say anything.

"How could you? What the fuck is wrong with you, Kira?" He yelled. "Do you not have any shame at all? None?"

"Listen to me-"

"You fucked the same guy who fucked our mother and caused our parents to divorce." He stated bluntly. Everyone in the room froze by his confession. Even Kira. "What in fucking hell were you thinking?"

Hayden's eyes were wide and round as he glanced at the siblings. Robert was looking between the two of them, waiting for someone to say it was a joke. I didn't know what to say either, and that was a surprise because I always knew what to say. 

Kira looked like a deer caught in headlights. "He-he loves me-"

"Fuck your love. Love isn't more important than family. It shouldn't be. Did you not, for one second, think about Dad? How he would feel?" 

When Kira didn't say anything, he shifted his gaze to look at her. "Find your own place by tomorrow. I'm done picking up your shit." Then he turned to me. "I'll draft her termination letter in a few minutes. If you want an appreciation letter, ask someone else to do it. I won't."

And then he left. Without another word. Hayden and Robert left as well, after asking me when they had to be in court. Kira was still frozen by the time Keith returned and handed me a white envelope, leaving without saying anything. 

I cleared my throat, walking to her. When she didn't raise her hands to accept it, I grasped her wrist, placing the envelope in her palm, then turned back around. "I'm sure you can find your way out."

She left, silently and solemnly, as if regretting this. She was too late. Regret would have been good if she'd felt it a year before. I picked up my phone to call Patricia, giving her an update.

"Perfect. I knew you would do it, Ava. I knew you'd find them." She said in delight. 

"Of course, it's my job. I'm pretty good at it."

She chuckled from the other side. "Of course. I'll speak to you later, okay? Take care."

"You too."

I called my mother on my ride to home. She sounded busy and I could hear my father distinctly, as well as Patrick. She'd told me they were on the beach, and that she'd call me whenever they reached the hotel. 

The lights to my house were on, and Jett wouldn't be home for another hour. I poured myself a glass of water and walked into my bedroom, stopping short. Elias stood in front of my mirror in a suit, running a hand through his hair. Black slacks, a white shirt, along with a tie and blazer. His eyes snapped to me as I stood there with my mouth open, and he met me halfway, sweeping me off my feet and capturing my lips in a toe curling kiss.

"Charity ball. Alex is donating. He wants us to be there." He murmured.

But I didn't say anything in return. He set me down and I took a step back, away from him, making a small frown erupt on his face. I couldn't look away, he was so bloody beautiful that I didn't think anyone was capable to look away. 

"Hey," He tilted my chin up, concern marring his forehead. "What is it?"

I wanted to tell him I couldn't believe he was mine. I wanted to tell him that I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that out of the 7.8 billion people on this planet, he wanted me, he'd waited for me.

My mouth wasn't ready to open, and my arms flung around his neck on their own accord and pulled him down, making him wrap his arms around my waist. He chuckled softly, picking me up, tightening his arms. 

"What is it, amor?"

"I don't know how to explain it." I whispered. "I just- I don't know."

"Is everything okay? How was work?"

I felt emotional all of a sudden. I felt clingy and desperate, I wanted us to stay like this forever. He gently stroked my hair, placing me on the ground, but I didn't let go. With great difficulty did he manage to cup my face and make me look at him. "Talk to me, baby"

"Please don't leave me." I whispered. "I know it is me who leaves every time, but please don't-"

"Ava," His voice was soft, but stern. "What is this about?"

"Just don't go."

"I'm not capable to leave you. I am physically, emotionally, mentally incapable to let you go. Even if you decide to leave me one day-"

"No, no, I won't."

"-I can't leave you. You hold my heart. You had it the second I saw you. You've owned me since the first time you looked me in the eyes, Ava. I sleep with a smile because I know I'll dream of you, and I wake up with a smile because you're not just a dream. You're real, and you're mine."

When he kissed me the next second, I felt an emotion I wasn't quite familiar with, one I hadn't felt like this in so long. Love.

-⍣-

Okay so there was drama, as I'd promised. But what's drama without a little bit of love.

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