5. Ava
Chapter 5
Ava
Maybe I’m crazy for not wanting what Jameson is offering. I mean, how many women would turn down a life in New York with an apartment and a wealthy guy ensuring she gets everything she wants?
It isn’t me.
I earn my money, and yes, I’m not wealthy. But I have to show Emmy the right way to be in the world. So, I left Jameson a message when I left the venue to not contact me again. Not that he listened.
Jameson has tried to contact me after I left him, but trying to explain how I feel to a man who’s used to being able to get whatever he wants is the most difficult conversation I’ve ever had.
He refuses to accept it.
The flowers turned up at work on Monday morning, and since then I've gotten a daily delivery with requests to meet him.
My mobile rings. I smile. “Hey Stella, how are you and Ems?”
“Everything is fine, but she has to speak to you,” Stella replies with a groan. “You know how insistent she gets.”
“Okay, that’s fine. Put her on.”
There’s a small tap on my office door.
“One minute,” I say.
“Why?” Emmy replies.
“Not you, baby, the person at the door. Are you having a good day?”
I get up and walk to the window, looking outside as Emmy starts to tell me about what she did at reception class, that she and Jacob played together all day and that they’re getting married. I smile at that. Emmy is just over three years old, but she knows Jacob is the one for her already.
“Stella and Jacob’s daddy talked when we played in the park,” Emmy says and laughs, her voice turns into a whisper. “I think Stella wants to kiss Jacob’s daddy.”
“I was only talking to him!” Stella’s voice pipes up in the background.
I burst out laughing. “I need to go, Emmy, but see you soon.”
“Don’t be late, Mommy,” Emmy calls. Her sweet voice makes me smile into the phone.
I turn as the door creaks, and my eyes immediately meet his. His look is a mixture of hunger and anger, yet I don’t quite know which dominates.
“No. I won’t be late today, but I have to go,” I say.
“Love you, Mommy.” The phone disconnects.
I straighten my blouse, push my hair back and say, “I didn’t say come in. I’m busy.” Showing him a folder but hiding the case name. He’s a lawyer and poaching clients is the name of the game.
“How’s the old guy?” he asks, leaning against the door.
“Fine,” I say, much too slowly.
“He’s too old for you.”
“You’re too young for me,” I counter.
He grins. “How old is he? Old enough to have a heart attack if he sees you bumping into me again.”
I burst out laughing at that. “No, he’s fit.”
“Ah, a gym junkie, I’m surprised that was never your type.”
“It still isn’t. I prefer my men lean and firm.”
“Like me,” he says with a smile.
“And a little big-headed.”
“Like... what’s his name?” His face turns thunderous as he glances at the four lots of flowers dotted around the room.
“Does he own a florist?” he asks. “The old guy.”
I smile and roll my eyes. “Now, now, Finn.”
He picks one note out of an envelope and reads it.
“That’s private,” I say.
“He wants to talk,” he says. “Funny, I do too.”
I hold my palm out to the seat ahead of me.
Maybe Finn is right. It’s time to clear the air, especially if there’s a chance I’ll bump into him again. And when I’m feeling brave enough, we need a real talk. “Go ahead, talk.”
“That night at my parents’ holiday home.”
Okay. I say it in my head, but it’s as though he hears.
“I didn’t record us,” he says.
“You had to have. There was no other way,” I say with a groan. “And you never once said you didn’t.”
“I was pissed off with you for thinking I’d do something like that to you. To us. And then when you started seeing Noah.”
I hold my palm to his face. “Stop right there. I wasn’t seeing Noah. I was planning my revenge on the pair of you. Sophie found out Noah caused trouble between us.”
My mobile chimes and vibrates on the desk. I turn it over. Jameson . I turn it back to face the desk and ignore it.
“Take it,” he says. I’ve never heard Finn being so determined in his tone. My face flushes under his full attention, but I hold his gaze instead of turning away. I don’t want him to think he has any hold over me. Though, if I’m honest with myself, he’s already under my skin.
I narrow my eyes and straighten my spine. “I’ll call back.”
I groan as a knock on my door interrupts Finn. “Come in,” I say.
Charlie smiles knowingly when she notices Finn. “Not more flowers this time.” She places a box on my desk, the name Agent Provocateur on the top, and grins at Finn. I quickly pull the box behind my laptop.
Finn politely smiles back.
“Thanks Charlie,” I say as she makes her way to the door.
I pull the note from the box and peek inside. My face burns in an instant at seeing the sexy lingerie.
Finn’s eyebrows furrow. “So you never slept with Noah?”
“No, why would I? I wasn’t in a relationship with him. I made him think I was interested, but I had to wait until after the exams. I strung him along until his birthday to make sure he didn’t release the video.”
“I think he thought something different.”
“I wanted him to.”
“And me?” The deepening of his voice, coupled with his frankness, makes me wonder if he’s angry or curious.
“I did what I had to do. There was a sex video with me as the star attraction. I did what I had to because you didn’t.”
The flexed jaw and the curl of one hand are telling.
I continue to watch the tic of his jaw and wonder how long Finn has thought about what happened. My mobile chimes again, and I’m glad it’s time to end this conversation. “I need to get some work done,” I say and think about it. Tapping my pen on the desk. “If you had nothing to do with it, why didn’t you stop it? Find the tape, destroy it?”
“I tried and, to be honest, I was planning my own revenge. My revenge wasn’t as legal as yours. Mason’s family has contacts.” He stands and pushes his straight leg trousers down, and I can’t help but see the outline of his thighs as the charcoal trousers fit snugly over the top. He walks to the door and turns.
Finn remains propped against my office door, his hands tucked into his pockets, like he already owns the place.
“I don’t want to know. It’s over now,” I say. I also know Mason's family has a terrible reputation. “It’s been over four years.”
“Four years, three days and ...”
I raise my hand. “You can stop the minutes and seconds.”
He doesn’t stay at the door very long. He walks to me, sits at the edge of the desk, and wedges my ankles between his.
“I miss you. I’ve regretted every single day I haven’t been with you. And if you think I’m going to skulk away and leave you to get on with your life without me. You’re mistaken.”
“I’m with someone.” I lie.
“The old guy... what’s his name?”
“He doesn’t have a name.”
“Good. Because he is someone who you shouldn’t be with.” He glances around at the flowers. “And I expect he’s either a florist, the most romantic man in the world or ... he messed up terribly,” he says and smiles that beautiful smile he always gave me. “I’m crossing my fingers and putting a small bet on the latter.”
“Crossing your fingers,” I parrot, my heart beginning to race.
“And then I need to get in quick before someone else snaps you up.” Finn turns my chair, and he lowers his mouth to mine, millimeters away from each other.
Time seems to slow as I feel his warm breath on my lips. My eyes flutter closed, anticipation building in my chest. Finn’s hand gently cups my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin softly. The familiar scent of his cologne brings back a flood of memories.
When his lips finally meet mine, it’s tender and hesitant at first, as if he’s asking permission. I respond, leaning into the kiss, my hands moving to rest on his shoulders as his tongue slides along my lips, willing me to open. The kiss deepens slowly as longing, comfort, and excitement intertwine.
I pull away and we’re both slightly breathless. I find myself at a loss for words.
Finn’s eyes search mine, a mix of vulnerability and determination in his gaze.
I finally whisper, “I’m not getting snapped up anytime ...”