Ava's Pov:
"Careful there. A pretty girl like you shouldn't be drinking so much."
A tall, dark skin, gorgeous looking man stood in front of me. I stared at him longer than I should've.
"Um. You must be Ava. I'm Noah, Leon's best friend. Is he home?"
"If he was your best friend you'd know his whereabouts wouldn't you?"
"Someone's in a bad mood."
He walked to me and took the glass from my hand.
"Noah, was it?"
"Yes, does it ring a bell?"
"Yes, actually. I've heard Leon speak to you over the phone before."
"Agh I see." He nodded as he poured the rest of my drink in the sink.
"Leon's at the office. So am I but Leon being Leon, he had to ruin my mood."
"What did he do this time?"
I stood up from the kitchen counter and walked over to the sofa. Noah followed me.
"He's secretive as hell."
"Meaning?"
"He doesn't tell me anything, especially with my life being on the line. Like today at the office I could've sworn he was preparing an attack on my kidnapper."
Noah looked at me like I was crazy.
"There's no way he didn't tell his best friend how his personal assistant got kidnapped and threatened."
"He did, actually. You kinda lost me at the planning an attack part."
"I heard his conversation with someone that sounded exactly like the man who kidnapped me. I don't know what they were talking about but Leon looked upset."
"Hm. You don't say."
"The least he could do was tell me if something was right y'know? He doesn't have to hide everything from me. And I'm definitely not going to ask him, he won't tell me.
He stayed quiet, but never broke eye contact.
"I'm sorry, I'm babbling."
"No, it's fine."
"I know Leon," he continued. "If he's keeping it a secret then it's for a good cause. I'm sure he'll tell you eventually."
"I'll take your word for it. But until then, I'll drink and wallow in my sorrows as someone who may or may not see tomorrow."
"I don't think he's willing to let you get hurt, Ava."
"Huh?"
"I'll go see him at the office. We'll catch up some other time."
"Wait."
He turned around. "Yes?"
"Do you know who Brielle is?"
"Was that who he was on the phone with?"
"No, that was Max."
"What?"
"Do you know him?"
"I might."
"Well whoever he is, he needs to stop trying to get on Leon's bad side. From what I heard he's already making plans to annihilate him."
"Are you sure of what you're saying?"
"Please don't make me feel like telling you that was a mistake. I don't even care about that. Who's Brielle?"
"Why do you want to know who she is?"
"I'm his personal assistant. I deserve to know in case she's a threat."
"If anyone should be worried about threats, it should be Leon with you and not Leon with Brielle."
"Doesn't answer my question."
I was getting irritated.
"We don't talk about Brielle, if you have questions, you know who to ask. I really need to leave now. We can pick up where we left next time okay?"
With that, he left.
I just kept going in circles with Leon and his people.
I hated it.
"Pearl!" I called out
Within seconds she came out from one of the rooms.
"Yes, Ava?"
"Could we maybe go to that boutique where we got my dress from?"
"Yes of course, have you told Leon?"
"No, I haven't. You said I could get whatever I wanted last time and the lady said it had already been paid for."
"Yes, he gets all his suits and jewelry from her so payment is somehow automatic."
"Well then my friend, we are going on a shopping spree."
She let out a chuckle. "Are you drunk?"
"Is it obvious?"
We laughed and then went into my room. She helped me pick an outfit and redo my hair.
Marvin was still at the office so we took one of the other cars.
"No fair, I really wanted to take the lamborghini."
Pearl looked at me amazed. "I never thought I'd hear you say that."
"Being humble doesn't take you anywhere my friend, take it from me."
We hopped in and talked all through the ride. I don't think we talked about anything reasonable but I enjoyed our conversation.
We arrived shortly after and I walked in strutting with a wide smile.
"Oh Leon is going to wish he never found me."
"What?" Pearl asked. She didn't hear me, I whispered.
"Nothing. Help me pick something."
We were halfway into operation get Leon annoyed when someone walked in.
I recognized that face too well.
If my suspicions were right, he would be….
"Good evening Max Donavan, so good to see you again."
He looked at me.
"The pleasure is all mine."
I moved back. He came closer.
"Don't worry about me, I already know what I need."
He walked over to me and Pearl.
I took one look at her, and something about her look told me that she knew who he was.
"Ava Kessler. We meet again."
I didn't say anything, I couldn't.
"Ava, are you ready to leave?"
My head quickly spun to Pearl. I nodded.
"Don't be in a rush. Declining a greeting is rude isn't it?"
I put my head down and started to walk towards the door with Pearl behind me.
He grabbed my arm, tight. "I know we didn't start off on the right foot but still, show some respect."
"Let me go." I whispered loud enough for him to hear.
He looked at my arm, then around the store. Then, he let me go.
I walked to the front and got my items bagged. He watched me closely but didn't attempt to talk again.
I decided to take a different route home, just to be safe. Pearl looked shaken but refused to speak.
"Do you have Noah's phone number by chance?"
"What?"
"Noah, his best friend. Do you have his number?!"
"Y-Yes. I have it for emergency cases."
"Give it to me."
She dialed his number on my phone. I prayed he answered.
It took him a while, but he did.
"Hello? Noah? This is Ava. Where are you?"
"How did you get my number?"
"That isn't important. What's important is you need to tell your best friend to up his game because Max just showed up at the store where I was shopping and threatened me."
"Woah, slow down."
"Tell him he won't be hearing from me if he doesn't keep his word."
I hung up.
I don't even know why I did that.
Calling Leon himself was no use. He would've just told me to relax without doing anything.
These men were a few steps away from entering my bad books.