Ava’s POV
The week was going great with excellent sales numbers, but I’d lost my daily shopping center companion. Nina had left her costics store after telling that Joseph had offered her a job at Puma Global following his extravagant purchase.
"Twenty-eight thousand dollars of makeup," she’d told with a wicked grin. "The man’s got it bad for you, Ava."
I was really happy for her because tripling her salary was an amazing opportunity. But now I was alone dealing with my difficult coworkers.
Just yesterday, Cybele, Cynthia, and Laura had all disappeared when it was ti for inventory. They left to count and organize everything by myself. When I ntioned it to the manager, she said she "talked to them." But nothing changed.
"You don’t need to stay so late tonight," Cybele had said with fake sweetness this morning. "We’ll handle the new shipnt."
"Right," I replied. I didn’t believe her for a second.
I definitely needed to update my resu and start looking for sothing better. My business degree was sitting there doing nothing while I folded sweaters and dealt with stupid workplace drama.
On Wednesday, Antonio asked to lunch, wanting to introduce to his girlfriend, a sweet and extrely talkative girl nad Mia who seed completely enamored with Joseph’s nephew. After lunch, when we stopped at the store entrance, Antonio turned to with his uncle’s charming smile.
"Auntie Ava, you look so beautiful!" he said to . I could tell he wanted sothing from , so I started laughing.
"I cannot co to the mall next week," he told . "It is exam week. My mom will be very angry if I do not study."
"Okay, sweetheart. But why are you saying this to ?" I asked him. I thought I knew what he wanted to ask .
"Because I want to ask you for sothing."
"I am listening to you."
"Please, go on a date with my uncle," he said. "He wants to send you notes again next week. I do not want to feel embarrassed anymore!" Antonio put his hands together in front of his face. This made laugh.
"Okay! I will drink coffee with him tomorrow," I said. "But I will make him wait a little bit more first."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
I said goodbye to Antonio and Mia.
That evening, I t Eleanor and Caroline for dinner at a small bistro downtown. I had been staying at my mother’s place since I broke up with Isaac, but most of my things were still at Isaac’s apartnt. I could not lose those things.
After we ordered our food, Eleanor looked at carefully. "Okay, what is wrong? You have been moving around in your chair all night."
"Is it Joseph?" Caroline asked quickly. "Is he pressuring you? I’ll make him back off if he’s making you uncomfortable."
"No, no," I said fast. "Joseph is actually... he is fine." He was more than fine if I was being honest with myself. "It is sothing else."
I told them about Isaac and our bad breakup. I explained how he cheated on with my coworker. I said that most of my important things were still in his apartnt.
"That terrible man," Caroline said. Her face looked angry. "n can be such monsters."
She drank so of her wine. Then she kept talking. "My ex boyfriend cheated on with my sister because I do not have a scent. He said he needed a real wolf who could make him happy."
I felt bad for her. I understood how she felt. "That is even worse than what Isaac did to ."
"The important thing is," Caroline said. She reached over and held my hand. "Do not let anyone make you feel bad because of sothing you cannot control. Not having a wolf does not say who you are, Ava. Look at yourself. You are smart. You dress well. And you have us."
These won accepted even though I had only known them for a short ti. This made want to cry. "Thank you," I said quietly.
"So what will you do to get your things back?" Eleanor asked.
"That is the problem. I got a restraining order against him after he started bothering . I am afraid that if I go alone and he finds , he will hurt ."
"Do not worry," Eleanor said. She took out her phone. "My boyfriend Nate is in town. He can help us get your things tonight."
One hour later, Nate ca to the restaurant. He was tall with dark hair and warm brown eyes. He looked like soone who could fight if he needed to. He was also very polite. He said hello to nicely and offered to help right away.
"Any friend of Eleanor’s is a friend of mine," he said.
That night, we went to Isaac’s apartnt. Nate brought his SUV. Caroline and Eleanor stayed close to like bodyguards. We took every single thing that belonged to . Isaac was not ho. He was probably out ssing around. But Nate watched everything the whole ti. He was ready to help if there was trouble.
When we put the last box in the car, I felt much better.
"I cannot thank you all enough," I said. My voice sounded like I wanted to cry.
"That is what friends do," Caroline said and hugged .
"If you have any problems in the future, you can tell ," Eleanor said sincerely. "Especially if Joseph makes you unhappy or hurts you. I will kick his ass even if he is my boss."
I could not help but laugh out loud.
"Thank you," I said gratefully. "It ans a lot to ."
We drove away from Isaac’s apartnt building. I looked out at the nightti streets of Harbor Bay. Even with all the problems I had, I felt hopeful.
I had new good friends. They were warm and kind people without prejudice.
This was the first ti since I ca to this city that I felt like I might have found a place where I belonged.
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