Chapter 29

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Ava Zane’s bed, waiting for him to return from her room. He was refusing to let her go

was sitting o into it until it had been cleaned and put together again. She didn’t care what Zane told her. He was sweet. Ava had told him what she would like to wear, and she was hoping the outfit was still in one piece.

“It looked to be untouched, so I think it will be fine,” Zane said as he walked into the room, holding a dress bag and her makeup.

“Thank you, I will be quick,” she told him and took the things from him and walked into the bathroom. Something seemed different with Zane today, Ava thought. She couldn’t put her finger on what. Maybe he was a little uneasy about her sleeping in his bed. She had chosen her dress because it made her feel powerful and in control. She suspected she needed it if she was to sit in on this

The back was bare. Ava felt it meeting. It was a white, knee–length, bodycon dress with halter ne had become her signature. She liked the subtle way of showing skin and she enjoyed that when Zane had his hand on her back; they had skin to skin contact. She was a little nervous for the meeting, but as she put up her hair in a low bun, she focused on the fact Zane had asked her to sit in. She trusted him, and if he had asked her to join, there wouldn’t be any dangers towards her. With one last look in the mirror, Ava walked out of the bathroom. Zane was dressed in one of his usual suits and Ava could see he had put on the hard, non–caring mask she was used to seeing. In a way, it was comforting. Ava did her best to put on her own mask.

“You look amazing, as usual, angel,” Zane told her.

“Thank you. Back to suits, I see,” Ava said with a smile.

“You don’t approve?”

“I do. You look handsome in them,” she admitted.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes.” Zane placed a hand on her lower back, as always, and Ava saw the smirk he gave her.

“Bare back,” was all he said. Ava hummed an agreement as they walked out of his room, and he guided her to his office as he sent a message to someone. Jax was standing outside Zane’s office.

“Zane,” he greeted as they walked up. “Ava, how are you feeling?” he then asked.

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“I’m fine, thank you Jax,” she answered. She had got to know Jax a little bit over the week. Unlike Zane, Jax had an air of a carefree, humorous man that took nothing serious. Ava knew it was just a facade. The two men couldn’t have been as close friends as they were if fax was as aloof as he wanted.

people to think.

“You heard?” Zane asked.

“Yes, I thought I would join you,” Jax answered. Ava had noticed the two of them often spoke in half sentences. They knew each other enough that they didn’t need to explain things. She found it endearing, but she would never tell them that. As they walked into the office, Ava walked over to the chair she always used. It stood next to Zane’s chair.

“Where are you going?” Zane asked.

“The chair.

smiled and took the chair …

“Not today. Come here,” Zane told her as he sat down in his chair. Ava felt confused, but she walked over to him. “For this meeting, this is where you belong,” he told her and pulled her onto his lap. Jax

had been aiming for. “This meeting is just as much a show as it is a meeting. Just go along with what I do,” Zane whispered in her ear and then he kissed her shoulder. Ava nodded. “Good girl, and remember, angel, you need to be strong. Don’t let her get to you. You are worth a hundred of her. Relax and focus on me, pretend you don’t notice her presence,” he continued to instruct her. Ava nodded again. There was a knock on the door, Ava tensed up, but then remembered she was supposed to relax. She took a deep breath and melded herself to Zane, putting one hand on his shoulder and one on his chest. “Come in,” Zane said and played with the hem of her dress. From the corner of her eye, Ava saw Olivia walking in, followed by Ryder.

“Boss, Mr Jax,” Ryder said with a nod. “Miss A, how are you feeling today?” he then asked. Ava looked at him, avoiding Olivia, and gave him what she hoped to be a sweet smile.

“I’m o

doing fine, Ryder. Thank you for asking.” She then turned back to Zane and played with the hairs on his nape.

“Olivia, take a seat,” Zane said, pointing at the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

“O–okay, Mr Velky,” Olivia said and sat down.

“Ryder, can you tell the others what you told me yesterday about Olivia’s behaviour?” Zane asked.

“Yess, boss,” Ryder said, and he told them about the meeting between Olivia and Ava. Ava listened

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and felt grateful that Ryder had told Zane. She had thought about doing it, but then she had thought most of the things Olivia said had been true, and Ava didn’t want to appear weak. Or even worse, that she saw herself as someone important to Zane, someone who expected him to choose her before other women. She knew she could never expect that. She continued to play with his hair and pretend she wasn’t listening. After Ryder was done, Jax huffed. It sounded like he was annoyed.

“Olivia, please tell me what Anna told all the women that visit the mansion after Ava had moved in,” Zane said in a dark voice. It wasn’t a request, Ava heard that clearly.

“Mr Velky, I can explain,” Olivia started.

“Olivia, what did Anna tell you?” Zane interrupted her.

“She told us that Miss Cobler where to be left alone,” Oliva said.

“And did she tell you who had ordered that?”

“Yes, she told us you had ordered it,” Olivia told him. Her voice seemed to thin the more she spoke until it was almost a whisper.

“Tell me then, Olivia, why did you defy my order? Did you not understand it?”

“I–I did, but I didn’t understand.”

“You understood, but you didn’t understand?” Jax asked in an amused voice.

“I didn’t understand why,” Olivia clarified.

“I didn’t know you needed to understand the reason behind my orders. I was under the assumption my word was the law, regardless of why I tell you to do something,” Zane said in a calm, icy voice. The calmness and detachment in his voice made it sound scarier than if he had shouted, Ava

thought.

T

“I’m sorry,” Olivia said.

“And, as I understand it, you think you know better than me who I should spend my time with, is that right?” As Zane asked, he lifted Ava’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

“I was just worried, Mr Velky,” Oliva hurriedly said.

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“Worried?”

“Yes, she is taking advantage of you, of your generosity. I was only trying to protect you, nothing else, from being used by her.” Zane looked down at Ava, and she could see the amusement in his

eyes.

“Are you using me, angel?” he asked. Ava held his eyes for a moment, and then she looked over at Olivia and let a smile play on her lips.

“Yes, I am, Zane,” she said as she turned back to him.

ENT

Emergency

Angel’s bliss