Chapter 45

Ava's pov

Aiden was away in his office while I stayed at his home doing little to nothing.

I have been on his couch for the past three hours, I think. Surfing through channels hoping something would spark my interest but to no avail.

I settled with a blank screen as there was nothing good on Tv. I exhaled thinking of what else there is I could be going in this time.

Yoga? A thought came into my head but was dismissed.

I should probably go for a walk to clear my head. I rose from the couch from my lying position.

I balanced on my two feet after I had succeeded in lifting my body off the couch.

I made my way to the direction I hope was the exit from the mansion.

Aiden's home was spacious. There was enough space to accommodate families and still have room for them to not feel cramped.

It was certainly too much space for someone on their own.

But I guess if you have the money why not spend it on extravagant things, right?

When I got to the door, I was immediately blocked by the security officer that was instructed to guard me as Aiden was at work.

'I'm going for a walk' I simply said.

'Okay. Let's go'

'I am going on my own'

'I'm afraid you can't do that' he spoke

'Why not?'

'I have been instructed by Mr. Morgan to not allow you to go out on your own'

'I'm not going far. It's only around the neighborhood' I replied losing my patience by the second.

'It's either you stay indoors, or I have to go with you' the security guard spoke given me an ultimatum.

'I want to go outside alone. It's a gated community what can possibly happen when I'm out there. There are literally cameras everywhere and top-class system to ensure the safety of all residents' I whispered defeated.

At this point I was fed up and I haven't even been here for up to five hours. I felt like a prisoner who had been wrongly accused and thrown in jail.

A luxurious jail that is.

I craved for normality. A sense of freedom, not having to look behind my back constantly in case there is another attack.

I didn't want to give into the possibility that there may be more things to come that could possibly render me unsafe, but I wanted to stay positive.

Everything is under control, right?

The fact that we have found so much about the people involved in this mess proves that things will get better, right?

Well I hope so.

'You can go'

'Huh' I was in a state of confusion.

'You can go for a walk but only around this neighborhood. You must not go beyond' he warned his green irises flicked from me to the glass window that gave an amazing view of the outside world.

'Thank you...'

'Ethan. My name is Ethan'

'Thank you Ethan'

I walked pasted him wondering why he had changed his mind. From the look he gave earlier he was dedicated to ensuring I either stayed in the four corners of this mansion or I take this walk with him escorting me.

Perhaps it was the look of sadness I must have had in my eyes or was it my tone of obvious desperation for normality.

I will never know but I was content at this moment that I got some level of freedom.

The sun hit my skin as if welcoming me to the outside. It was in that moment I remembered I had not showered yet.

I had been dwelling in my self-pity watching countless amounts of television that I didn't think to shower.

Neither the less it was probably a good thing since I'll be sweating from my walk around the neighborhood.

Reaching the gate, I pressed the numbers Ethan had gave me minutes ago. Once I had completely selected the four-digit number the small gate opened allowing me to leave the premises.

I briskly jogged straight ahead.

'Wait up' I heard a soft voice coming from behind me.

I turned around to the direction of the voice to see a petit woman I did not recognize jogging towards my way.

To ensure it was me and not someone else I observed my surroundings and saw it was only the two of us.

'Hey, I'm Natalie. You must be new to this area'

'I'm..'

Her eyebrows rose as if reflecting on something 'you look familiar'

'I've seen your face somewhere before, but I can't put my finger on where'

'I must have one of those faces that resembles a lot of people' I replied not knowing what she was trying to imply.

'No, I know where I know you from now. You work with Aiden who also lives here. You were on the magazines at one point. Apparently, you were having an entanglement with him and by the looks of it you still are'

I was about to protest, but she beat me to it.

'How is he like. Is he as people describe?' She curiously raised an eyebrow her big brown eyes staring at mine for answers to fill her nosiness.

'I have something I need to do. I have to go' I mumbled whilst jogging in the same direction I came from.

I didn't know what I could say that would make the situation better by the looks of it she already had her own assumptions.

I pressed the pin once more to open the gate. I didn't bother turning around to see if she was still there.

The only thing that was on my mind was the fact that I needed a shower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'How was work' I asked as Aiden came back home from the office. He arrived earlier than I thought. I was expecting him by six or seven in the evening instead he's here at four.

I wanted to ask why he was here so early, but I knew he was hungry, so I decided I'll ask during lunch.

'Work was hectic as usual. It's not the same without you'

'Of course, it wouldn't be. Who is there to remember things that you simply don't have the time to think about' I smiled which he returned.

'The good news is I was able to get a new secretary'

'And what's the bad news?' I asked sensing there was more he wasn't telling me.

'I wouldn't say bad news but it's a little delayed. The private detective isn't able to find more information just yet. I can sense there is more to this than I've been told, but it will just require more time' he explains.

'Thank you for all that you do for me' I appreciated.

He didn't utter a word all he did was smile and said 'I'm starving'

'Luckily for you I was about to make lunch. How does a homemade burger sound' I asked patiently waiting for his respond.

'Sounds great. Let me change into something more comfortable' he excused himself out of the hallway towards the stairs while I settled on making my way to the kitchen.

I had previously checked to see if the ingredients to make the food was bought before settling on it.

It was just a matter of bringing them out and preparing the food. I opened the fridge and took out mincemeat.

I retrieved the seasoning from the cupboard as well as some onions.

I heard footsteps from behind me and assumed it was Aiden. My assumption was correct when he spoke up.

'what do you need help with?' He asked eager to be of use.

'I would like you to bring the vegetables out. It's for the burger as well as salad' I instructed.

'At your service ma'am' Aiden joked opening the fridge.

'You play too much' I laughed

'Weren't you the one that once called me an uptight CEO? What changed?' He challenged.

'I'm starting to see that you're not' I playfully shrugged while molding the mincemeat after I had added the seasoning.

'I'm glad' he responded.

Once I had molded the mince into four patty, I reminded I hadn't placed a pan on the stove.

I was about to look for a pan when Aiden placed one on the stove.

'Thank you' I said while turning the heat on.

Once I felt the pan was hot enough, I sprayed some oil onto it. Then chopped some onions to add in the pan.

I placed two patty burgers on top of the pan and allowed it to fry.

'So how was your day?' Aiden asked grating carrots.

'It was different... I went for a light jog and there was this woman that stopped me and began asking questions. She claimed that she knew me from magazines' I explained recalling the encounter this morning.

'What did Ethan do?'

'Ethan wasn't there'

'Ava, Ethan was here to make sure you are safe while I'm away. He's not supposed to allow you to wander off by yourself' Aiden yelled I could sense the anger in his tone.

'It was just around the neighborhood'

'This isn't a game Ava. You need to be a little more serious about your safety. We don't know what they might be planning, and we need more evidence to take this situation further'

'You're right I'm sorry'

'It is alright. I just need you to be more careful' he said as he came closer to me pulling me in for a hug.

'I don't want this to be permanent. I want a normal life' I whispered into his jumper.

'And you will get your life back once this mess is cleared. That reminds me the doctor called me this morning to tell me the results of your test'

'What did he say? Did he find the cause of my illness?' I asked eager to know what caused me to end up in the hospital.

'Yes, he said there was methadone in your system. An alarming amount. If you weren't taken to the hospital when you did you may not have made it as it was too much for your body's capacity' he explained still holding me.

'Ava. I will make sure Susan and Miranda don't get away with this. From the looks of it, Susan so far can go to jail for attempted murder'

'I will do all it takes to make sure they compensate for the damage they have caused you' Aiden reassured.

'Is that why you left work early?'

'Yes. I wanted to tell you. I was going to wait until this evening but I couldn't concentrate at work so I decided it would be best to leave'

'Maxwell came to the office today. Well he tried to see me, but security knows not to allow him into the building'

'What if he's a victim in all this?' I reasoned staring up at Aiden.

He raised his eyebrows as if he thought the idea was absurd 'he's not innocent in this. He may not have been involved deeply as Susan and Miranda, but he is guilty. He let his desperation get the better of him. They saw his greed and used it to persuade him. He contributed and deceived us'

'If you put it that way, I guess he's just as guilty'

'I love that you forgive easily but it would also be your down fall especially in the corporate world. People are constantly looking for innocents to devour'

'You think I'm too forgiving?'

'A little'

'Then teach me how to not be so forgiven' I dared looking into his beautiful eyes.

They were the first features I noticed when I first met him. There is no denying this man was gorgeous to look at.

My first assumption was that he was going to be completely unpleasant to work with but now I think the opposite.

He has shown nothing but kindness to me. Has never made me feel uncomfortable in the ways most employers would make their employees feel.

He has helped me in ways I never expected of him. Before I only acknowledged that he was pleasing to look at and obviously good looking.

In this very moment I have come to the realization that I cared about Aiden deeply more than a boss that I was hired to assist.

More than someone who I see myself being friends with. I cared about him more than I would like to admit personally never mind telling him.

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Hello everyone, I hope you are well and keeping safe. It's August!! The month I plan to finish this book. What do you think of the chapter? Do you think Ava has admitted to liking Aiden back? What do you think of the storyline and book? I would love some critics of it so far as I will be reconstructing the book. Stay blessed.