Hello my lovely readers <3,

I apologize for my late update. Work is unfortunately becoming more and more hectic. I am very sorry for that.

I hope you like reading this part,

Enjoy :)

*

Part of me wanted to tell him that I'll do the cleaning myself but part of me screamed to let him help me. Holy crow! What the hell is wrong with me?!

"Um, okay." I heard myself say. I got up from my seat and walked to the kitchen with Mr Salvestro following suit.

"Oh crap!" I muttered under my breath when I saw the mess that has been made by these two. Losing no time, I grabbed a dustbin and placed it near me and began picking up the pieces of glass carefully.

"Let me pick up the pieces of glass. You can hurt yourself." Mr Salvestro said. I had completely forgotten that he was here.

"Okay." I told him, letting him do the task.

"Ava." I heard Mia say from the door. "I'm so sorry for the mess we made." She apologized looking totally embarrassed.

I was about to tell her it was fine when my eyes snapped on something that stunned me.

"Um, Mia there's a, um." I gestured to my neck hoping that she'll understand but all she did was look at me weirdly. Oh God! Now how do I tell her there's a love bite on her neck?!

"I don't understand." Mia responded narrowing her eyes in confusion.

"There's a, you know." I said pointing to her neck.

"She's saying that you've got a hickey on your neck and cover it up." Mr Salvestro said non chalantly while picking the pieces of glass making my eyes widen. Oh my God! He said this as if he was giving a weather report.

"Oh." Mia said blushing like a tomato. "Okay." She replied running away from the kitchen.

"You were shy to say that word?" I could feel a smirk in the voice of Mr Salvestro.

"What word?" I replied playing dumb. Truth be told, I was extremely bashful when it came to things like love bites or intercourse.

"Hickey." Mr Salvestro simply said making me feel even coyer.

"Um, I, no, I mean, I," I hesitated over my words, looking everywhere but him. This made me realise how uncool I was.

"Dio mio!" Mr Salvestro said in Italian. "Definitely shy." He mumbled.

"I'm not shy." I argued feeling a little bit mad at him for laughing at me. Yes, I'm slightly introvert when it comes to such things, so?!

"Really?" He asked raising his right eyebrow making him look even hotter. "So what would you do if someone had his lips on your neck and ravaging that delicate skin of yours?" He whispered huskily looking straight in my eyes making me hold my breath. The butterflies that were once away returned back making my stomach flutter.

We kept staring at each other for a while none of us breaking eye contact. "I'm still waiting for an answer, AvaGrace." Mr Salvestro uttered still holding my eyes with his.

Dam it! What should I answer to that? "I-I wo—"

"Ava, Seb, are you guys done?" Rafe shouted from the living room, cutting me from answering. Thank goodness for that. I looked at the pieces of glass. All the pieces were removed from the floor.

"We're coming." I shouted back. "Thank you for your help." I told Mr. Salvestro who was staring intently at me. I avoided eye contact and got up and placed the dustbin to its original place. By the time I was done putting the dustbin back to its place, Mr Salvesto left the kitchen.

I took this time to let go of the breath that I was holding. Thank God Rafe called out otherwise I do not know what I would have answered. However, what actually bothered me was what answer did Mr Salvestro expect from me and why did he ask me such a question?

This man is as difficult as a puzzle. I will never understand the motive behind all his questions.

I shook my head and left the kitchen and walked back to the living room where Rafe and Mia had already begun to eat the pizza.

"Come Ava, have a piece. It's delicious." Mia said with her mouth full of food.

I took a piece of pizza in a tissue paper and took a seat opposite of Mr Salvestro as the seat next to Mia was already occupied by Rafe.

I took a bite of the pizza and closed my eyes to relish the mind blowing flavours spreading in my mouth.

"Good, right?" Mia asked breaking me from my pizza fantasy.

"Heaven." I replied taking another bite. I could feel somebody's eyes on me. I looked towards Mr Salvestro, only to him gazing intensely at me making me now feel totally conscious. Behave like a graceful woman, my sinner self snapped.

"I think it's time for us to go now." Rafe said after a few minutes.

"But it's too soon. You should stay for a while longer." Mia whined like a puppy.

"I wish I could but we really need to go." Rafe explained making Mia pout. A second later, Rafe whispered something inaudible in her ears making her blush.

Soon, Mr Salvestro and Rafe got up from their seats and walked to the door.

"Thank you, we had a good time." Rafe said once he was outside.

"Oh no, thank you. We had a good time because of you guys. So thanks." Mia replied smiling at him.

Rafe winked at her and gestured her to come to him so that he could greet her good bye. Oh my God, I hope they don't kiss in front of me. Thank goodness, Rafe took her to the side thus leaving Mr Salvestro and I once again alone.

"Um, thank you. For dinner." I said breaking the silence. I began playing with my fingers.

"You're welcome." Mr Salvestro replied and once again we were engulfed in silence. I could hear footsteps coming from the corridor. "Goodnight AvaGrace and take care of yourself." Mr Salvestro said once Rafe came by his side and Mia to mine.

"Goodnight." I responded and both guys nodded before they left our apartment. Once they were gone, Mia and I got inside and I closed the door.

"They're gone." Mia complained taking a seat on the couch.

"They're gone or he is gone." I teased, clearing the pizza box from the table.

"Oh shut up you." She blushed. "Don't you think that I didn't notice what was going on between you and Mr Salvestro." She said wiggling her eyebrows.

"What's going on between Mr Salvestro and I?" I asked confused.

"Oh girl, you're too innocent." She sighed heavily. "Never mind."

I shrugged my shoulders before going back to work and once I was done I greeted Mia goodnight and went to bed. I know that it was too early for bed but I was really tired.

Once I changed myself into my PJs, I jumped onto the most comfortable bed ever and soon darkness consumed me.

*

My alarm went off at six thirty making me realise that I was late for work. I hastily got up from my comfy bed and walked to the ensuite bathroom. I love this apartment so much.

I showered and brushed my teeth. Once I was done, I walked back to my room and began to get ready for work.

At seven thirty, I was ready and walked out of my room surprising Mia.

"Aren't you supposed to be staying home?" She asked, stunned.

"I will be bored at home." I simply said.

"Great. Let's go." Mia said and we got out.

Thirty minutes later we reached the office. Thank goodness we were not late or else Mr Salvestro would have been really mad at us. Mia ran to her work station while I immediately ran to the kitchen to prepare his coffee.

Once his coffee was done, I took it and walked to his office. I knocked on his door but there was no response. I knocked once again, this time a little bit louder but still no answer. Weird.

I gingerly opened the door hoping that he'll shout at me for entering without permission but was surprised to see that his office was empty. Usually, he is here before me. It was nearly eight thirty and he was not present.

I walked back and took the coffee to the kitchen all this time wondering where he might be.

Once I was in my office, I turned on my computer. Perhaps he sent a mail to say that he will be late but unfortunately there was none.

Very strange.

I got out of the office and walked towards Mia who was on the phone. I waited to her call to be over.

"Hey guess what," She said once she ended the conversation. "I just talked to Rafe. He told me that Mr Salvestro was not well and stayed back home, so we are both free to go. And he asked me out for lunch. Isn't that great?" Mia grinned. However, my mind was still stuck on Mr Salvestro not being well. "Ava?"

"Oh yeah," I snapped out of my thoughts. "It's great."

"I'm gonna go home and get ready for the lunch. Are you coming with me?" She asked getting up from her seat.

"Um, no you go ahead. I need to reply to some mails. I'll catch up with you later." I smiled at her.

"Okay, see ya." She said, pecking me on the cheek before taking her bag and leaving.

Once she was out of the building, I walked back to my office and took my bag. I remember once Ethan had told me where Mr Salvestro lived.

I need to go and check on him. He was there when I was ill. I need to return him the favour.

I quickly took the elevator and pressed the G button. Seconds later, I reached downstairs and I ran to the main door and called a taxi and told him the address.

Half an hour later I reached my destination. Oh boy! This is a huge house. House would be an understatement. This is a freaking mansion.

I paid the taxi driver and got out of the car.

"Yes, Miss?" A security guard said. "How may I help you?"

"Um, I am AvaGrace Wilson. I am Mr Salvestro's personal assistant. I came here for some work." I half lied. The security guard looked at me before nodding.

"Could you please show me your ID?" He asked. Wow, my boss seemed to be protected as if he was the freaking president of this country.

"Sure." I replied before rummaging through my bag and taking out my purse. I took out my ID card and showed it to him. Once satisfied, he opened the gates for me and gestured me to get inside. "The front door is opened, you can go in." The security guard told me.

I walked towards the door and got inside the house. Wow, I was very amazed to see the interior of this house. It was as if a celebrity's house.

Ava, focus! You're not here to assess the interior of this house, my inner self shouted.

I was about to go and look for Mr Salvestro when I heard somebody coughing from upstairs. This must be him.

I immediately took the stairs and walked towards the sound until I reached a room. There he was, in his king sized bed covered with a blanket with his laptop over him.

He coughed once again before putting his laptop to the side and moved his hands to pick the glass of water that was placed on his bedside table. He, however, came to a sudden halt when he saw me standing on the threshold of his door.

"Ava?"

*

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So, are you liking the relationship that is developing between Ava and Sebastian?

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Love you all,

Ina <3