Julian stared at her across the restaurant table long after she showed him the message from her boss.
"Personal assignment?" he repeated slowly, then leaned back and narrowed his eyes. "Girlll!."
Ava exhaled. "Don't."
"Don't what? Don't state the obvious? Don't say what everyone most especially the women in that office is already thinking?"
She looked down at her hands.
Julian lowered his voice, though his tone sharpened. "You think this is random? After the way he's been hovering around your desk like expired cologne?"
Ava winced. "He hasn't done anything outright."
Julian's eyebrow arched high. "Oh, sweetheart. He has done everything but put it in writing."
She didn't argue, because he wasn't wrong. Everyone in the office knew, the women most especially knew.
Mr. Richard Hale — married, two teenage daughters, old enough to be Ava's uncle — had a pattern. It wasn't loud and it wasn't reckless, it was quiet pressure. Lingering touches on shoulders while she works on the system claiming to be supervising her work to avoid errors, not to talk of the weird comments disguised as compliments. Invitations to "review reports privately." Promises of lighter workloads for when those offers were accepted were easier schedules projects shifted, special opportunity and when they weren't accepted?
Well....
Ava pressed her lips together.
Julian leaned forward again, voice dropping. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That he's punishing me?" She asked
"Yes, girl, obviously!." Julian exclaimed
She swallowed.
There was one woman in particular though — Vanessa Clarke.
Perfect nails, perfect hair, permanent smirk.
Vanessa never said it outright, but the entire office knew. She got the best accounts. The shortest deadlines. The easiest reviews. And she acted like a queen because of it.
Worse? Vanessa hated Ava, because Ava never tried, never needed to flirt because she is intelligent and smart enough, she never entertained Mr. Hale's hovering presence and because Mr. Hale wanted her anyway.
Julian tapped the table lightly. "You've been dodging him for months."
"I've been working," Ava corrected softly.
"And he's been watching," Julian shot back.
Ava sighed. "What if it's nothing?"
Julian gave her a look. "Girl. In what universe is 'personal assignment' at 7 a.m. innocent?"
Before she could respond, the restaurant door opened.
Julian paused mid-sentence.
His head turned slowly.
His entire posture shifted.
"Ohhhh!."
Ava blinked. "Whatt... What is it?"
He lowered his voice dramatically. "Don't look now."
She looked immediately.
A tall man had just walked in. Dark shirt. Rolled sleeves, effortless confidence.
Julian grabbed her wrist. "I said don't look now!"
"You're the one making it obvious!" Ava shot back.
He straightened subtly, adjusting his blazer. "Okay but tell me why the universe sends me temptation when I'm in crisis mode."
Ava rolled her eyes despite her current situation.Julian subtly leaned in her direction. "If he glances over here, I'm smiling, Casually. Mysterious.Slightly unavailable."
"You are neither mysterious nor unavailable." Ava said chuckling
"Rude!." Julian said with is hand on his chest exaggeratingly
She laughed quietly for the first time that evening.
Julian snapped his fingers softly. "Focus...Back to you. If this is what we think it is, you have to be careful."
"I will." She assured
"And if he tries something?"
"I'll leave."
"And if he threatens your job?"
She hesitated.
Julian softened. "Ava."
"I need this job." She said softly almost tearing up
"I know." He acknowledged sadly
He reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "But you don't owe that man anything. Not your body. Not your peace. Not your silence."
Her throat tightened slightly.
"Girl," he added, lighter now, "if he even breathes wrong in your direction, I will personally trip him in the hallway."
Despite everything, she smiled.
The next morning.
Ava stood outside Mr. Hale's office, heart steady but heavy.
She knocked.
"Come in." She heard the voice come from inside the office.
He didn't look up immediately when she entered. He flipped through papers slowly, deliberately.
"Good morning, Ava."
"Good morning, sir." She replied
He finally glanced up, eyes scanning her her outfit in a way that made her skin crawl.
"I assume you're nearly done with the Richardson portfolio?"
She hesitated. "Not yet, sir. I'm still waiting on financial confirmations from two external partners."
His expression tightened slightly.
"And how long do you need?"
"A few more days sir."
He leaned back in his chair.
"That's unfortunate."
Her stomach dropped.
"I have another assignment that I need handled immediately."
She kept her tone steady. "Sir, I don't think I can take on another project until I complete the Richardson file." She stated, hoping he could give the assignment to someone who doesn't have any thing on their plate
Silence.His jaw ticked.
"I wasn't asking." He affirmed coldly
The air shifted.She felt it.
"This company rewards initiative," he continued smoothly. "Those who… accommodate the needs of leadership tend to thrive."
There it was... unspoken, but clear.
She met his gaze calmly. "I can work late to manage both."
His eyes hardened _ he knew she was avoiding the conversation.
"See that you do. Because falling behind would reflect poorly during performance evaluations."
A threat... polite, but sharp.
"And Ava?"
"Yes, sir?"
He smiled thinly. "I'd hate to lose someone with your… potential."
Her spine straightened.
"I won't disappoint you," she said evenly.
She left before her expression betrayed her disgust.
Outside, Vanessa was waiting by the printer.
Smirking.
"Tough morning?" she asked sweetly.
Ava didn't bite. "Just busy."
Vanessa tilted her head. "You should learn to manage expectations. Some of us understand how things work around here."
Ava held her gaze.
"I prefer to earn my work."
Vanessa's smile faltered — just slightly.
That night, the office emptied one by one.
Lights shut off, desks cleared, until only Ava remained.Her screen glowed against the dark then her phone buzzed.
Liam: Haven't heard from you all day. Everything okay?
Her chest softened, but before she could respond, another message appeared.
Claire: OMG AVA! did you figure out what to get Liam for his birthday??? It's in THREE DAYS!!!.
Her stomach dropped. no! no! no! Oh my God! She had forgotten completely, with everything that happened between her and the stranger, with work, midst everything.
She stared at the message in disbelief.
Claire: Hellooo??
Ava quickly typed back.
Ava: I'm so sorry. Work has been insane. But wait — isn't that band he loves doing a reunion concert this weekend?
Claire responded almost instantly.
Claire: YES but tickets are basically gone!! :'(
Ava didn't hesitate. She switched to another page on her system, she opened the ticket site. Limited availability but two seats left.
Her heart raced as she clicked purchase.the price was higher than the normal price but it was for Liam. Confirmed, She exhaled.
Ava: Got them.
Claire: WHAT?! :-O
Ava: Two tickets,Saturday night.
Claire: YOU ARE AN ANGEL!!! Do you know that? I don't know how you did it,but thank you. I'll pay you back I swear.
Ava smiled faintly.
Ava: Don't worry about it. Consider it my gift to him.
Claire: Wait aren't you coming with us?
Her fingers paused over the screen.
She imagined it,the three of them, Liam trying to balance attention. Claire watching her.Her heart tugging in directions it shouldn't.
Ava: I won't be able to make it. Work deadline.
Three dots appeared.
Claire: Oh… okay. I mean that's fine! More alone time for us I guess haha.
There was a happiness in that message Ava could feel even through text.
And strangely?She didn't resent it.
She didn't want to be the third wheel. She'd get Liam something separate.
She set the phone down and kept working, hours passed, by the time she shut down her computer, it was nearly ten.
The building lobby was empty, just then her stomach growled she hadn't had anything to eat for dinner. She packed up.and made her way down the elevator. She needed to get herself something to eat. She avoided the familiar street that led to the bar from the other night.
Instead, she stopped at a small street vendor, buying a wrapped sandwich and a juice. She ate it whole heartedly while walking toward the bus stop.
Meanwhile across the street, a black sedan slowed. Inside, Alex stared through the tinted window.
His driver continued forward until Alex's voice cut in.
"Slow down."
The driver obeyed immediately.
Alex's gaze sharpened.There...A woman walking under the streetlight her hair slightly messy, her bag over one shoulder, eating absentmindedly. His pulse shifted.It looked like her.
But distance played tricks.
"Stop the car."
The driver pulled slightly ahead.
But just as Alex opened the door—
A bus pulled up, blocking his view entirely.
He stepped out anyway.
By the time the bus doors opened and closed—
She was inside.
He caught only a partial glimpse through the glass, her side profile looked familiar
His jaw tightened.
"Damn it."
The bus pulled away — in the opposite direction.
Traffic prevented immediate pursuit.
He stood there a moment longer than necessary.
Then he got back in the car.
Then he reached for his phone,
"Send me the file," he texted after pulling out his phone.
Few moments later, a message notification appeared.
Unknown Number: Information requested, sending full report now.
His phone buzzed again. Attachment received.
Alex opened it,his eyes moved quickly over the screen.
Name: Ava Reynolds
Age: 23
Status: Single
Relations :Family: Maria Reynolds_Mother, status : sick (Northbridge General Hospital)
Friend: Mr. Liam Carter_relationship: friends
Criminal record: none
Then—something else.
His expression changed with shock evidently
He locked his phone slowly.
"Drive," he said quietly to the driver.
He stared at the report again and again surprised with a slight smirk, because this—this was too much of a coincidence