Ava’s POV
I rembered those threatening letters that had been arriving one after another.
I buried my face in my hands, trying to quiet the storm in my head. Everyone around seed to be keeping secrets, playing so ga where I didn’t know the rules.
A soft knock on my desk made look up. Caroline stood there, her expression concerned.
"Hey, Ava" she said gently. "You look like you’re having the Monday from hell."
I attempted a smile. "That obvious, huh?"
She perched on the edge of my desk. "I heard Joseph was downstairs waiting for you this morning. Did you two talk?"
"Briefly," I said, rubbing my temples. "I told him I couldn’t deal with it right now."
"And how do you feel about that?" she asked, studying carefully.
"Honestly? I don’t have the emotional bandwidth for relationship drama right now." I sighed.
Caroline nodded sympathetically. "Want to grab coffee and talk about it? Sotis an outside perspective helps."
I hesitated, then nodded. We walked to the small break room where Caroline made us both lattes from the fancy machine.
"So," she said once we were seated. "What’s going on? And don’t say ’nothing’."
I laughed despite myself.
"Call it female intuition." She smiled. "Is it about Joseph? Or sothing else?"
"Both? Neither?" I stared into my coffee. "It’s complicated."
Caroline leaned forward. "I understand complicated better than most. When I first t Draven, the timing was a disaster."
"How did you get through it?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"We almost didn’t," she admitted. "But Draven taught sothing important. He showed that when soone truly cares about you, they’ll give you the space you need to work through your stuff."
I thought about Joseph cornering in the stairwell. "And if they don’t?"
"Then maybe they’re not the right person," she said simply. "Or maybe they’re just scared of losing you."
I traced the rim of my mug with my finger. "I don’t think Joseph Garcia gets scared of losing anything. He’s an Alpha and a billionaire. The world practically bends to his will."
Caroline gave a knowing look. "Even Alphas have vulnerabilities, Ava. Sotis especially Alphas."
"Maybe," I conceded. "But right now, I just need to focus on figuring out what’s going on with my family."
"Anything I can help with?" she offered.
I smiled gratefully but shook my head. "It’s just so drama with my mom and grandmother. Nothing unusual for three generations of stubborn won."
The lie ca easier this ti, which scared a little.
Caroline reached across and squeezed my hand. "Well, if you need soone to talk to, or just to vent, my door is always open."
"Thanks," I said, genuinely touched. "That ans a lot."
After she left, I sat there thinking about her words. It was nice to have soone in my corner, even if I couldn’t tell her the whole truth. But right now, romance was the least of my concerns.
I spent the entire week avoiding Joseph Garcia like he was carrying so highly contagious disease.
Every morning, there he was—waiting by the entrance of Thorne Enterprises with either a coffee cup or flowers in hand. Didn’t he get tired of driving from Puma Global to my company every single day? I really wished Eleanor could keep him in line.
But my heart would do that stupid flutter thing every ti I saw him, which only made angry at myself. I wasn’t so lovesick teenager, for goddess’s sake. I was a grown woman with real problems—a missing grandmother, a mother who wouldn’t tell the truth, and apparently so kind of supernatural threat hanging over my family.
I’d texted Odelia several tis, but she never replied.
I didn’t dare go ho either. Last ti I managed to escape from there, it was pure luck. I was terrified that if I went back, my mom would just use her witch magic to bind and drag away.
Couldn’t this damn life give a mont’s peace?
"Good morning, Ava," Joseph said on Thursday morning, holding out a cup from my favorite coffee shop. "Double shot vanilla latte, extra hot."
"How do you even know my coffee order?" I asked, then imdiately regretted engaging.
His lips curled into that infuriatingly sexy half-smile. "I pay attention."
I walked past him without taking the coffee, though the sll was divine and I desperately needed the caffeine. "I’m running late."
"Ava," his voice dropped lower, more intimate. "We need to talk."
I stopped and turned around, finally letting my frustration show. "No, Joseph, we don’t. You made yourself perfectly clear. You’re an Alpha who’s been with countless won and can’t stay faithful, and I’m just so nobody Oga from a tiny pack you wanted to sleep with. ssage received."
His face darkened. "That’s not what happened and you know it."
"Really? Because from where I’m standing, that’s exactly what happened." I jabbed the elevator button repeatedly, willing it to arrive faster.
"You’re not even giving a chance to explain," he said, his voice tight with frustration.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside. "I don’t owe you anything, Alpha Joseph."
His eyes flashed with sothing that looked almost like pain as the doors closed between us.
When I got to my desk, I found another one of Louise’s deliveries waiting for —a small box of heart-shaped cookies with a note in childish handwriting.
"For Miss Ava. I made them myself. Uncle Joseph says you’re mad at him. Please don’t be mad forever. Love, Louise"
I sighed, my anger deflating slightly. It wasn’t fair to punish adorable Louise for Joseph’s actions. I’d have to send her a thank-you note at least.
"So, are you two back together yet?" Kyle asked, pausing by my desk.
"There’s nothing to get back together with," I said curtly. "We were never together."
"Uh-huh. That’s why he’s been standing in the lobby every morning like so lovesick puppy." She rolled her eyes. "Half the won in this building would kill to be in your position."
"Then they can have it," I muttered, turning to my computer.
The entire week continued like this—Joseph making appearances, colleagues giving knowing looks, and my concentration shot to hell. By Friday, I was ntally exhausted and looking forward to girls’ night at Eleanor’s apartnt.
User Comments
0 comments from readers