Ava stepped out of Zayden's office. Her heart beat loudly against her ears as the door closed behind her.
She gripped the folder she had walked in with tightly.
How do I even handle this?
She forced herself toward the elevator. Colleagues passed, greeting her, but she barely noticed. Everything inside her felt tight and heavy.
When she reached her office, she set the folder down and sat. Her computer screen turned on, displaying the half-finished press release from that morning. She stared at it.
She took a breath.
Focus, Ava. Just for today.
She started editing the document. Afterwards, she moved on to emails, marketing updates, and scheduling meetings. Hours passed quietly, but her thoughts kept drifting back.
A marriage of convenience. One year, and a million dollars.
Each time, she pushed the thought away, like brushing dust off a table.
By evening, most of the staff had left. She shut down her computer, gathered her things, and headed out. As she stepped out, the cool evening air hit her.
She started walking toward her apartment building, hugging her coat tightly to herself.
When she reached her street, she stopped.
A black Mercedes-Benz G-Class was parked across the road. It looked quite familiar.
Her pulse sped up. No, that can't be Lucas.
She forced herself to move forward, slowly but cautious. She kept her eyes on her building, yet she could feel someone watching her.
The door of the Mercedes opened. Lucas Grante stepped out.
Ava stopped completely.
He was familiar and impossible to forget. Every movement he made stirred old feelings she thought she had buried.
"Ava," he said softly.
"Lucas. Why are you here?" she asked.
He stepped closer, close enough to create a familiar feeling between them.
"I needed to see you. I have been trying to reach you for months, but you never replied," he said.
"You know why. We ended things for a reason, and you respected that back then," she said coldly.
"I respected it because I thought it would help, but it was torture. I never stopped loving you, not for a moment," he said as his jaw tightened.
"Lucas…" she whispered, but she held her ground.
"No, let me say this, Ava. I should have fought for us, stood up to my family, and chosen you from the start," he said, his voice firm but filled with emotion.
"Please don't do this," Ava pleaded and looked away.
"Why not? They were wrong, Ava. They were so wrong. They judged you without knowing anything about you, yet I let them influence me. I was weak, and I lost the best person I ever had," Lucas said as he stepped forward.
"Lucas…" she whispered.
He reached out gently, just as if asking for permission. "I still want you, I want us back. I am willing to go against all of them, only if you give me one chance,"
"We broke up a year ago," she said, her voice shaking slightly.
"I remember every day since," he said softly.
A long silence followed, heavy with unspoken memories and the ache of what could never be.
Then Ava shook her head.
"I care about you, but I don't want to go back. Not anymore," she said, lifting her eyes to his.
Lucas froze.
"I am moving forward, please accept that," she added.
He stared at her for a long moment, his face full of hurt, disappointment, and longing. Then he nodded slowly.
"Alright, if that's what you want," he said quietly.
He stepped back toward his car. Before entering, he paused. "But if you ever need me… I am here."
He knew she wanted space, but that didn't matter. He wouldn't stop and would find a way back to her, no matter how long it took.
Ava said nothing.
She walked into her building, climbed the stairs, and shut her apartment door.
The moment the lock clicked shut, her body slumped. She slid down slowly against the door and buried her face in her hands.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
Why does this still hurt so much?
She pressed her palms to her eyes, trying to catch her breath. The ache in her chest was deep, old, familiar. Seeing him again opened a wound she thought had healed.
Minutes passed, maybe more. Finally, she forced herself to stand. Her legs felt heavy.
She entered her bedroom and started taking off her jewelry. Earrings first, then her necklace, and finally her watch, placing each piece carefully on the small desk by her mirror.
Her head ached.
She changed out of her office clothes and into something loose. She sat at the edge of her bed, breathing slowly.
Twenty minutes later, she heard a sharp knock at her door. Her heart jumped.
Lucas, please… not again.
She walked toward the door slowly. Her hand rested on the knob.
"I told you to let me be," she said as she pulled the door open, "Lucas, I really..."
But it was not Lucas. It was her landlord, a middle-aged man with a tired expression and an envelope in his hand.
"Ms. Morre,"
"Good evening, Mr. Harris,"
"No small talk today, your annual rent is due," he said, holding out the envelope.
"I know. I planned on..." she started.
"You have one week. If it is not paid by then, I'll have no choice but to begin eviction proceedings," he interrupted sharply.
Her chest tightened. "Please, Mr. Harris, I just got a new job this week. I only need a little time..."
He shook his head. "One week. Pay up, or see me in court."
Then he turned and walked off without looking back.
Ava closed her door slowly, pressing her lips together to stop her tears from returning.
Everything is happening at once. Why now?
She needed her parents. So she changed into something simple, grabbed her bag and coat.
Her parents lived in a small, comfortable home in Brooklyn. Her mother, Margaret, opened the door immediately she knocked.
"Ava!" Margaret exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "Why haven't you come visiting since?"
"Mom, I've been busy," Ava breathed out.
Her father, Daniel, appeared behind Margaret, adjusting his glasses. "Busy usually means good. Come in."
Ava walked in and sat on the old brown couch. Margaret sat beside her, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"You look stressed. What happened?"
Ava exhaled. "I got a job,"
Her mother clapped her hands. "I knew it! I knew my baby would be hired! It must be because I prayed nonstop."
Her father scoffed. "Nonsense. She got the job because she takes after my intelligence."
Ava rubbed her forehead. "Please. It was both of you. Now can you stop arguing for once?"
They looked at each other and reluctantly nodded.
"Fine," Margaret muttered.
"Agreed," Daniel added.
Ava shook her head and smiled tiredly.
"Where are you working?" her mother asked.
"Zayden Wattsen Group," Ava replied.
Her mother, Margaret, smiled. "Ah, so Evelyn really spoke to her son about you. I should call her to thank her properly."
"Mom, it is just a job," Ava said.
Daniel shook his head. "No, Ava. This is more than just a job. Opportunities like this do not come every day."
Ava only nodded.
Ava hesitated, then added softly, "I saw Lucas today,"
Both parents sat up, anxiously.
"Lucas? That kind young man?" her mother asked with excitement.
Her father nodded. "He was good for you. Very respectful."
Ava raised a hand. "Before you say anything, I want nothing with him. We ended things, it's all in the past."
Her mother frowned. "But you look sad. Did he say something?"
"No," Ava replied quickly. "I just… I just want to move on. That is all,"
Her heart said something different, but she kept it hidden.
Her father leaned forward. "Then move on, my dear. It is your choice."
Ava nodded.
Then she sighed and continued, "There is something else. My landlord came today,"
Both parents watched her closely.
"He's demanding I pay the annual rent in a week, or he'd start eviction proceedings." She added.
Her mother covered her mouth. "Oh no!"
Her father frowned deeply. "These landlords have no mercy."
"I am trying. I just need to figure things out," Ava told them.
Both parents reached for her hands.
"You'll not be homeless, we'll help however we can," her father said firmly.
She smiled, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
There was still one more shock waiting.
"Mom, Dad, there's something big," Ava said.
They leaned in.
"Something unexpected happened at work today,"
Her mother's eyes widened. "A promotion? A raise?"
"No, none of that," Ava replied.
Her father frowned, folding his arms. "Then what?" He asked.
Ava's hesitated, her hands shook slightly in her lap. "Zayden wants me to enter a one-year contract marriage with him."
Silence hit the room.
Her mother froze. Her father stared, unsure he heard right.
"A contract marriage?" he repeated.
Ava nodded.
"It is for business, a major partnership with Thompson Ojeagha. The Ojeagha Global project requires Zayden to be married. And he… asked me," she said.
Her mother's hand went to her chest.
Ava's face showed fear, confusion, and the weight of it all.
"I do not know what to do," she whispered.
The room stayed silent as her parents watched her closely.
Say something, you both. Please.
But they both said nothing and remained silent.
That silence was the cliff she now stood upon.