Chapter 14
Fourteen
Ava
Dagen’s driver, John, picks me up the next day and takes me to work.
The security guy, who I’ve learned is named Larry, walks me to the building and makes sure I’m safely inside past security before he waves and heads back to the car.
Larry can’t come to work with me because it would raise too many questions, but he’s becoming a normal part of my life.
I’d made him coffee this morning, a cup he’d taken gratefully when he knocked on my door and said the car was ready. He’s a nice guy.
Kevin, Julie, and Marie are prepared with innovative ideas for the marketing plan that we haven’t tackled yet and have already started making moves.
My morning starts with a PowerPoint about the ideas the graphics teams have pitched along with Kevin’s plan for a video we could show to potential corporate clients.
Julie and Marie pitched a trade show booth set up idea to Fox Industries and it’s already been approved. They really are a talented team.
“Long story short, I think if we attack it from this angle, we’ll really make more of an impact,” Kevin says. He looks at his smart watch. “But we can talk about this more after lunch. I’m starving.”
“Is it lunchtime already?” I ask, looking at the time and blinking in surprise. “Oh, it is.”
“We should go grab burritos,” Marie declares. “That new place down the street just opened up and I’ve been wanting to try it. You guys wanna go?”
“Hell yeah, I do,” Kevin says the same time as Julie nods and grabs her purse. “Come on, Ava.”
“Oh,” I glance at the doors. I’m supposed to call Larry if I go anywhere, but that’ll be weird to explain. “It’s just up the street?”
“Two blocks, max,” Marie nods.
Two blocks isn’t anything at all. And I won’t be alone. It should be fine.
“Yeah, okay,” I say, grabbing my own bag. “Let’s go.”
While I joined Goliath because I needed a job, the longer I work here, the more I enjoy my coworkers.
I’m definitely the oldest, but my team doesn’t treat me like the dinosaur I probably am to them.
Instead, they’ve accepted me into their fold as if I’m one of their own.
That also means I’m constantly trying to catch up with the slang they use.
“I don’t understand a word that just came out of your mouth,” I laugh as we walk.
“What do you mean?” Kevin teases. “You don’t know what rizz is?”
“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “No idea.”
“We’re gonna have to get you up to speed,” Julie laughs as she turns to walk backward so she can face me. “Seriously, Ava. I don’t know how—”
Her eyes flick over my shoulder and widen just as someone grabs my wrist from behind, stopping me. Their fingers are smooth and thick, and their hold is brutal. I don’t even get time to turn in surprise before they speak.
“Ava. It’s been a long time,” an all too familiar voice says.
My blood runs cold as I freeze like a rabbit before slowly turning to look into brown eyes I recognize.
My heart thunders wildly in my chest as I yank at my arm, trying to free myself.
My nervous system screams in terror, the old fight or flight mode kicking in.
It wasn’t paranoia. I’d known this would happen and I’d been an idiot to leave without calling Larry.
“I don’t know you,” I say, my voice shaking, desperate to end this interaction. “Let me go.”
Kevin immediately straightens and steps forward, his eyes narrowed on Ric. “Let her go. She says she doesn’t know you.”
I jerk against his hold harder and his fingers tighten to the point of pain. I whimper knowing there will be bruises there within the hour.
“This isn’t the time for games, Ava,” Ric says. He’s wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his face. But he makes sure I can see the warning in his eyes. “It’s time for you to come home.”
“Like hell she’s going anywhere with you,” Kevin growls. He shoves at Ric, forcing him to let me go and I stumble back, putting distance between us. Kevin prepares to swing, and though he’s not much of a fighter, he’s sweet for trying.
Ric holds up his hands and grins, stopping Kevin in his tracks. “My bad,” he says. “I thought I knew her.”
“You can’t just go grabbing strangers, man. No matter if you know them or not,” Kevin says.
Ric’s eyes flick back to me and my shaking gets worse. Julie and Maria seem to sense my fear and step in front of me, blocking his view. Women always know.
Ric grins. “It was nice seeing you, Ava. I’ll be around.” It’s a threat. I can hear it in his voice. He turns and starts walking back up the street without a care in the world, his hands in his pockets, fucking whistling.
“What the fuck?” Kevin says, staring after him.
“Are you okay?” Julie asks me, watching me carefully.
“Yeah, just spooked is all,” I answer but I’m shaking and sweating and I know I need to get away. I need to do something. He knows. He’ll find where we live and. . . oh my god! Elsie!
“I, uh, I need to make a few calls,” I say.
“I’m not leaving you out here alone in case that guy comes back,” Julie says, looking in the direction he disappeared. “Make the call in the bathroom.”
I nod and she escorts me to the bathroom in the burrito place we’d been going to. The moment we’re in the privacy of the bathroom, Julie levels me with her gaze.
“You wanna talk about it? You and I both know you knew that man,” she says.
I hesitate and then look over at the other stalls. They’re all open. “He’s my. . . ex-husband,” I admit softly. “Well, he hasn’t signed the papers, but. . . my lawyer is working on it.”
Julie’s brows shoot up. “Abusive?” When I nod, she blows out a breath. “Baby girl, you gotta report it.”
“The restraining order didn’t stick,” I say. “He overturned it because he knows the right people. He has too much influence. Apparently, the judge that dismissed it goes to the bar with him every Sunday.”
Julie takes a step back. “Our court system really be out here failing women,” she says, shaking her head. “Look, I’m not telling you what to do, but the way he grabbed you, he intends to come back. Those kinds don’t like when their prey escapes. He didn’t care that you weren’t alone.”
My heart stops. “You’re right.” I pull out my phone. “I’m gonna make a few calls.”
“You do that,” Julie nods. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
The moment she’s gone, I dial Elsie’s school.
Relief fills me when they tell me she’s safe in class and reaffirm they know there are only two people allowed to pick her up, Tonya and me.
The moment I hang up with the school, my finger hovers over Dagen’s phone number.
He’d given me his personal number just in case, and I hesitate to use it, but this is important and directly impacts our plan.
“Fuck,” I rasp before hitting the green call button.