Chapter 31

Ava's pov

Wednesday has been a chilled-out day. Aiden has been texting and calling to check up on me.

All morning I have been looking online on Etsy shops, I guess envisioning my boutique being there. One thing I would say is I've always wanted to own a small business.

Something that I have built from the ground up. A creation I can truly say is mine and I worked hard for it. I have always envisioned myself having an online store and even maybe a physical store.

I looked at several stores that sold a range of different things from soaps to jewelry. There was so much stuff I wanted to learn and very little time to do so.

I know right now wouldn't be the best time to start a business but sometime in the future I would want to own my own.

I looked at my phone to see I had a message from Damien. His text message was of him informing me that he would be coming at four which meant I only had ten minutes until he arrives.

I looked around to see if there was anything, I needed to arrange but to my surprise there was nothing at all. Surprisingly everything was in place.

I went into the bathroom to use the toilet, once I was done I walked over to my sink and turned on the tap as the water ran down the drain I used soap to wash my hand.

As I was doing so, I heard the familiar buzzing noise which meant Damien was downstairs.

I walked out of the bathroom quickly and made my way to the door.

I pressed the button beside the speaker to let him in. I waited for a while before I heard a knock on my door.

I opened it to see Damien's disheveling appearance, he looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

'Damien, come in' I exclaimed as I let him through the door and into my apartment.

I closed the door, locking it and turning my attention towards him. I walked up to him and helped pull his small jacket off him. I placed it on the small press beside the door.

'I haven't heard from you in a long time. What happened?'

'It's nothing to be worried about. I have just been busy with the business. Having a small business isn't easy at all. There is so much that needs to be handled and since I'm doing this mostly on my own it can take a toll' Damien explained as he sat on my couch.

He laid his head back to lean in on the couch.

'I am sorry I didn't have the time to reply to your text messages. I have just been working non-stop'

'That's okay. I completely understand how hard it must be for you' I reassured while taking a seat beside him.

'How have you been?' Damien asked turning his attention to me as me both rested on the couch.

'I've been good, I went to the hospital because I had food poisoning, but I was able to leave the same day. Which was on Monday'

'I'm sorry I wasn't there'

'That's okay. Aiden, I mean Mr. Morgan took me to the hospital since the incident occurred in his office'

'You are now on first name basis with your boss, I see' Damien exclaimed noticing that I called Mr. Morgan by his first name which is something I normally don't do around him.

'He insisted that I do when we aren't in the workplace' I laughed recalling the very moment he told me to call him Aiden.

'Would you like anything to eat?' I asked changing the subject.

'I am fine, I will be leaving now. I have a busy schedule today. I was driving by and I thought this was the only chance I have to stop by and check in on you' Damien explained standing up from the couch we sat on.

I followed suit, standing up and waiting for when he is going to take his leave.

'It was nice seeing you Ava, I am sorry I can't stay any longer. I promise we will spend time together once my schedule is freed up' he said this as he reached out to hug me.

Noticing his gesture, I let him embrace me as I did him. We pulled apart from each other and I followed behind as he made his way towards the door.

He turned the doorknob, trying to pull the door open when he realized it was locked. He reached for the key and turned it to unlock the door.

'Hope you feel better, I will call you later tonight when I have time' he said as he stood outside the hallway.

'Thank you for coming Damien, don't burn yourself out'

'I won't' he smiled then made his way down the hallway.

I was about to close my door when I heard fidgeting from the door across from mine. The door eventually unlocked and revealed my neighbor Mary.

'Hello, Mary. How are you?'

'Hello, Ava. I am well and yourself?'

'I'm good too. You look like you're in a rush to somewhere?'

'Yes. I'm off to meet my grandchildren. I'm running late. I will talk to you later Ava, dear' she exclaimed as she quickly made her way down the hallway.

'See you later' I yelled after her.

I turned back around and entered my apartment. I locked the door behind me. I stood in the same position thinking about what I should do next.

I could check to see if I have any new messages. I walked over to my bed, bending down to pick up my phone.

I have a message from Aiden asking me for my size in clothes.

Why would he need my clothes size. Is the company getting a standard uniform or something?

Oh, wait we are going hiking tomorrow. That has to be the reason he's asking for my clothes size.

The message was sent over an hour ago. I replied saying 'I'm a size 10 clothes top and bottom and a size 5 shoes' hopefully I'm not too late.

I walked to the kitchen with my phone in my hand. I made my way to the freezer and pulled out a tub of Ben&Jerrys ice cream.

I grabbed a spoon from the top drawer and made my way towards my bedroom.

As I was about to sit down, I heard a knock on my door. I got up with the tube of ice cream still in my hand as well as my spoon.

When I got to the door. I looked through the keyhole and saw that it was Aiden.

I immediately opened the door to let him in. Only to see that Susan was also with him.

'Hey' I greet with a smile on my face 'you are here early today'

'I left early I couldn't concentrate at work. I had to leave everything'

'I wanted to see how you were, I haven't heard from you and I was concerned' Susan immediately voiced out after Aiden.

'How are you now, is your temperature back to normal?' she asked walking closer to me to feel my forehead with the back of her hand.

'I'm good..... my temperature has calmed down tremendously' I replied as I stepped back a bit.

'I'm glad you are doing well Ava' she grabbed both my hands looking dead into my eyes 'I was worried'

I had to act like I didn't know she possibly did something to the coffee she ever so politely bought for me. I can't expose what I think she did yet. I need solid evidence.

'Thank you for the concern Susan. It's greatly appreciated' I said as I stared back into her eyes.

She dropped her hold on my hands and turned around to look at Aiden then back at me.

'I can't stay I still have to go back to the office to finish off the rest of the day'

'It was nice seeing you Ava, see you at work soon' as she said this, she pulled me into a tight hug which lasted more than I would have liked.

She finally released me turning around to make her exit.

Aiden and I looked at each other for a while as if being in our own thoughts.

I was the first to break the silence 'would you like for me to start making the food now?'

'I would like your ice cream' he nodded towards the tub of ice cream I had completely forgotten I was holding.

I hide the ice cream away from him saying 'you are not getting any. Not my Ben&Jerry's'

'Don't be like that. Sharing is caring'

'Save that for kindergarteners, sir'

'Now Ava what did I say about calling me, sir'

I laughed knowing if I added 'sir' it would annoy him.

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, Aiden had reached out his hand and grabbed the tube of ice cream off me.

'Give it back' I yelled while he laughed.

I tired grabbing it back from him but instead of getting it the ice cream fell on the floor.

'You have got to be kidding me' I said as I saw it pour out of the tub and onto my carpet 'I was going to eat that'

I looked at Aiden. I made sure he knew that I was pissed from the sound of my voice to the look on my face.

Instead of looking scared he had a shocked look on his face which quickly developed into an amused expression.

'You are an ass' I said every single word with my chest. Nobody and I mean nobody come between me and my ice cream.

'Ava don't forget I'm your boss'

'Only in the office' I shot back in a mocking tone.

For a second, he looked surprised then quickly masked it.

'I'll buy you a new one, in fact I'll buy you several'

'I want that one' I pointed at the tube on the floor trying to be difficult and not letting him off easily.

'I get that you wanted to have that one, but you can't now. Come on let's go to the shop to get you another' he exclaimed in a persuasive manner as if trying to convince a child to take his offer.

'Okay fine. That one' I pointed at the ice cream on the floor 'is the equivalent of five'

'You can have ten if you so wish'

'Don't tempt me'

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Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I put a picture of a story at the start of this chapter. I would appreciate it if you all could support the writer and help her book. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I promised that I would have it up and here it is. Thank you for all the support. It is greatly appreciated. Talk to you in the next chapter.