Chapter 15 Ava
AVA
The day after the party began with a mild hangover. I hurried out of my bed, skipping coffee and breakfast altogether as I raced to catch the subway.
I got onto the subway without delay, thanking my stars that I could still make it to work on time. I was glad I worked at a café, where I knew that coffee would keep me going for a large part of my morning.
When I reached work and waved to Carolyn, she pointed at a large blue Hydro Flask that was sitting by the counter.
“Someone dropped this off for you,” she mentioned.
I did a double take as I stared at it. “It isn’t mine,” I said, walking over.
I opened the lid of the Hydro Flask, and a small note popped out. I caught it, and when I read it, a smile spread over my face.
I hope this helps you stay hydrated. I know you don’t do well with hangovers.
“Is it yours then?” Carolyn asked as my cheeks went hot.
Desmond.
I turned to her. “Yes, it completely slipped my mind,” I said, feeling awkward about having to lie.
Over the next hour, I sent him a text, thanking him, and shook off the warmth that was spreading through my neck and face.
He was just being nice. Besides, he was the CEO.
Eighteen floors and millions in wealth separated us and our lifestyles.
Being with him in any capacity other than as his employee was pure fantasy, and the sooner I learned to recognize that, the better.
That afternoon, during a lull at work, I got a reply from Desmond.
Desmond: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’ve had back-to-back meetings all morning. How are you doing?
Ava: I’m good. And I don’t have any updates regarding Kyle yet, unfortunately.
Desmond: That wasn’t why I’d texted, but thank you for letting me know.
Why had he texted?
In a minute, I got another text from him.
Desmond: Did you eat?
Carolyn needed an early lunch this morning to talk to her brother who, by all accounts, was having a panic attack before a job interview.
I’d offered to cover for her and handle the café while she was away.
It had been over an hour, and it didn’t look like she was coming back anytime soon. So, nope, I wasn’t eating.
Ava: I will soon.
Desmond: That means you haven’t yet.
Ava: You’ve got to stop showing me that you know me so well. It’s disconcerting.
I didn’t hear from him for a while, and more customers showed up, keeping me busy.
But then Desmond showed up, and I gulped when I saw him walking over.
He could see that I was working the café by myself, and when he reached the head of the line, he spoke in a low tone, ordering a sandwich and chips.
He smiled at me and didn’t speak while he paid for it, but when the transaction was complete, he said, “Ava, just go with the next thing I say.”
I frowned, but he turned around before I could question him. There was a line of people behind him, and he waved his hand to get their attention.
“I’m sorry, everyone, but we’ve just noticed that the refrigeration units aren’t working.”
There was silence from the employees, a stark one, since I guessed no one wanted to grumble in front of the CEO.
“Which means the food in the refrigeration display case as well as the milk in the fridge aren’t safe for consumption anymore. Ms. Hale here is going to call someone to fix it, but until then, this café will remain closed.”
My ears felt red hot when I realized what he was doing.
He turned around, and with a wink, he said, “Eat your food.”
His gaze went to the counter, where he’d left the food he’d just purchased, before he walked away, empty-handed.
I stared at the now-vacant lobby after everyone had stepped out to grab a sandwich from a nearby deli. Putting up the Closed sign on the café counter and feeling a wave of relief, I picked up the sandwich and chips and headed to the back room for a bite.
Desmond might have been planning to leave me all along back in high school, but this tiny act had shown me he wasn’t completely heartless.
For the next two days, I worked nonstop.
I had plenty to keep me busy. I learned to predict customers’ orders while they were waiting in line.
I learned Carolyn was taking care of her younger stepbrother, who had anxiety and could hardly keep a job down.
I learned how to get coffee, sandwiches, and cookies up to seven different meeting rooms on various floors on time when all the meetings were scheduled at the same time.
I accompanied Carolyn to her yoga class—a first for me—and had to agree that Hank was intriguing. He even invited us to drinks after, and when the evening ended, we exchanged numbers. Carolyn was ecstatic, but I was lukewarm.
Hank invited me to a club later that week, where his friend’s band was playing.
A date, with just the two of us, and I accepted with some trepidation.
It would mean skipping my weekly shift at the soup kitchen.
But it would also mean that I knew Desmond and I were never going to be anything more than acquaintances, and I sorely needed that reminder.
I forced Desmond out of my mind until I got an email from a contractor hired for our restaurant’s remodeling about a permit delay.
“What do you think it means?” I asked Gabi on the phone while I paced the restroom.
“Whatever it is, it isn’t good,” she said, sounding worried. “The new reopening date is five months beyond what Desmond originally promised us. That’s the second time this week that he’s delayed any work on the restaurant.”
Shoot.
Thanking her, I hung up and went back to work, worried and confused.
Two hours and much debating later, I finally decided to put an end to my fears and simply ask Desmond about the delay. I was due for my lunch break at one p.m. When I clocked out, I skipped getting lunch, but headed to the elevator.
I got out on the nineteenth floor and let out a relieved breath as I looked around the atrium.
The carpet was black, and the ten-foot-high ceiling was painted a sedate, austere gray. This floor, unlike the bright and cheery colors of the lobby, radiated a serious and intimidating aura.
An unoccupied executive assistant’s desk stood in front of the CEO’s office. I looked at the heavy wooden doors to Desmond’s office, considering the implications of what I’d just planned to do.
A meeting with Desmond in his office.
I must be out of my mind. But if Desmond had another plan up his sleeve about my mom’s restaurant, I needed to know about it.
I walked up to Desmond McKinley’s office and knocked just as I heard the elevator doors open behind me, followed by steady, even footsteps marching out.