“Listen, I should go.”
“Ava, what happened last night can stay between us. Nob
ody has to know. Nobody needs to know.”
I nod, torn between my conscience and why a part of me wanted to stay. To feel loved, if only for a minute.
“You’re right. No one has to know. It was just one night, and we were both hurting.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Me?” I force a smile, then glance at him one more time before he moves closer to me, and we’re only inches apart. “You know me. I’m good at smiling for the camera.”
He laces his hand around my neck to draw me in, planting a kiss on my forehead. His lips linger, and just for a moment, I wonder what it would be like. But the thoughts are like poison to my already fragile ego. “Thank you for last night.”
“Anytime,” I whisper, then laugh softly. “I mean, not anytime, but you know what I mean.”
Slowly, he pulls away though his stare continues to drill deep inside my soul. While lost in thought, the momentary silence is the closure we both need to say goodbye once and for all.
My feet move slowly toward the door when Austin calls out, “Ava?”
I turn around. “Yeah?”
“For what it’s worth, it was good.”
“Just good?” I question with a sly grin.
“If I tell the truth, chances are, I’ll drag you back in here.” His smirk is unrelenting, the perfect mix of naughty and nice. “Take care, okay?”
“I will, Austin. And you too.”
As I close the door, I release the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding in. Outside, the air is cold as I button up my coat and extend my arm to hail the cab not too far in the distance. The cab ride of shame back to my apartment feels slow and tedious despite the empty streets after a night of celebrations.
When I’m finally standing outside my door, the reality of what lies on the other side begins to stir unwanted feelings of resentment.
I had it all—fame, money, a sexy boyfriend.
But I’m all alone, now.
And that hits harder than the sight of Olivier’s things gone from our bedroom.
My heels click against the marble floors as I exit the elevator and enter the lobby. It’s the first day back in the office after the four-day holiday weekend, and my mood has shifted from feeling sorry for myself to just angry at life in general. During the time alone, I made up a lie to everyone saying I’d come down with a head cold—a great excuse to avoid calls and messages because I needed sleep.
Millie got all mother hen on me, worried about my well-being, but I continued to lie because it was easier than telling the truth, for now.
Eliza, my receptionist, is wearing an awfully low-cut top—coral color with some weird pattern I don’t care for. Beside her, Lilliana, my Chief of Marketing—is also dressed rather sexy. I bite down to keep my mouth shut but suspect the reason why they’re showing so much skin despite the tenacious snow outside—is sitting inside my office.
“Good morning, ladies,” I greet, forcing a smile.
“Good morning, Ava.” Eliza grins overbearingly. “Your father is waiting inside your office.”
“Of course he is,” I mumble beneath my breath. “Do me a favor? Place a jacket on because I can tell you now my father only has eyes for my mom.”
Walking to my office, I don’t turn back to see her reaction. Behind the glass doors, I see my father is on the phone, standing next to the window. The moment he lays eyes on me, he ends his call.
“Ava.” He sighs with a loving smile. “Happy New Year, sweetheart.”
I fall into his embrace as he kisses my hair, something Dad has always done for as long as I can remember. The smell of his aftershave lingers in the air, calming my anger as his presence shifts the room’s energy.