Chapter 14
Ava stood in the doorway of the restaurant and searched the dimly lit tables for Elias and Liam. The orchestral tunes of Mozart played softly, creating a romantic ambience for the couples sitting around the room. Waiters zipped around carrying plates of food and drink.
Unable to find the maître d’, Ava made her way through the restaurant, ignoring the inquisitive stares from other diners. She was used to people staring. It was part of being the CEO to a nationally discredited company.
But sleeping with Elias felt as though she was brandished with a scarlet letter. Could people see the fear and guilt lying underneath her skin? Her career had been built by making mistakes and fixing them. If word got out she was screwing her staff and ruining relationships, her life as a CEO would be over.
“Ava, over here, honey!” Liam’s loud voice cut through the ambience. She smiled when she saw Elias sitting at the table, dressed in a dark suit, his ink-black hair combed off his forehead. His lips twitched upwards before vanishing when Daisy leaned into view.
Stiffened by nerves, Ava studied the stunning blonde at the table. All she saw were boobs and attitude. Her burgundy gown rivalled an A-lister’s dress at an award show and her neck dripped in sparkling diamonds. All though she was overdressed for the Italian restaurant, Daisy looked breathtaking.
Ava sat between Liam and Elias, noticing a glass of white wine perspiring in front of her. She must’ve been staring at it for some time because Daisy made the first move.
“It’s chardonnay imported from France,” she explained. “Elias and I bought it ages ago and never had an occasion to drink it.” She grinned widely at Elias and squeezed his hand. “It’s a special weekend so I thought it would be good to bring it along.”
“That was very kind of you,” Ava said, picking up her glass. The heat of Elias’s stare burned into her as she drained the entire glass in one gulp. She would need something stronger if she was going to survive the dinner. She attracted the attention of a waiter and gave him an order. “I would like a glass of whiskey and a bottle of Moet for the table, please.” She turned to the others. “Would you like anything?”
Elias, Liam, and Daisy shook their heads and the waiter departed for the bar.
“I believe the most beautiful women in this room are sitting at our table,” Liam said proudly. “Don’t you agree, Elias?”
Elias’s lips flickered downwards before taking a sip of wine. “We certainly do.”
“There’s a group of men sitting in the corner staring at us,” Liam observed, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder. “I may have to fight them off with a stick!”
Daisy’s girlish laughter echoed around the table. “You’re such a charmer, Liam.”
Ava resisted the urge to roll her eyes, exhaling with relief when her whiskey arrived. She took the glass out of the waiter’s hand and dunk it back. The alcohol burned down her throat, the perfect distraction to Liam and Daisy battering eyelashes at each other.
Elias leaned over and whispered in her ear, “The bottom of my shower is covered in dirt and sawdust.”
Ava stifled a laugh. “How’s that possible? I was the one on the floor.”
He grinned wickedly at her. “It was the best afternoon of my life.”
“Did you tell Daisy what happened?”
“About us sleeping together?”
“No! I meant the garden shed.”
“She knows we got stuck in the rain and found shelter. That’s it.”
“Did she tell you that half of the hotel staff were looking for us? Liam told me there was a search party.”
A blush crept into his cheeks. “No, she didn’t. I was indisposed at the time.” Ava popped open the Moet and poured herself a drink, ignoring the three other glasses on the table. “Let’s order, shall we?”
While the waiter took their orders, Ava felt Elias’s warm breath on her ear. “What is wrong with you?” he hissed. “Are you angry at me because I slept with my girlfriend?”
“I’m angry because you just slept with me!” Luckily, her outburst was muted by a trio of waiters singing happy birthday to the table beside them.
Ava pushed her chair back and charged to the ladies’ bathroom. She planted her hands on the basin and stared at her reflection in the mirror, hating the woman staring back. How could she fall in love with a man like Elias? He was her employee. Nothing more. She had broken boundaries in the past and vowed to never let a man sway her to the bedroom. But Elias had a gravitational pull on her unlike anyone else. Their feelings for each other grew every day and there were times Ava had to restrain herself from making another mistake.
However, she couldn’t deny the hurt in her chest when he’d had sex with Daisy after sleeping with her. How could she define their relationship? It was purely business, wasn’t it?
The bathroom door swung open and Daisy entered, a concerned look plastered across her painted face. “Are you all right? You left the table so quickly.”
Ava splashed cold water on her face. “Just man troubles.”
“What did Liam do?”
Ava exhaled a long breath and turned her back on her reflection. “Do you often feel that love is one-sided? You spend so much effort making that one person a part of your world, only for them to deny your feelings?”
“Is this about Liam?” Daisy asked, pulling a paper towel from the dispenser for her. “He wants to get back together.”
“He told you that?”
“He was pretty freaked out when we couldn’t find you during the storm. He told me all about how you met, your wedding, and how much he misses you since the divorce. He still loves you, Miss Wolfe.”
Ava took the paper towel from Daisy and dabbed her eyes. “Call me Ava.”
“Do you still love him?”
The echo of her words to Elias forced a new wave of tears to her eyes. “I don’t know how I feel. I’ve been so consumed by rebuilding this company that my personal life was put on hold.”
Daisy smiled and rested a hand on Ava’s shoulder. “I would like us to be friends, Ava. Let’s swap numbers. You can call me anytime you want to bitch about men. Trust me, I have my fair share of frustrations.”
“What has Elias ever done to you? He’s—” Ava caught herself before saying the word perfect. He was perfect in her eyes because he kept his mouth shut and compiled to her advances. There was so much more she wanted to explore with him. “He cares deeply for you. I know that much.”
Daisy’s lips pursed together as a darkness clouded her eyes. “Elias is not perfect, Ava. He takes forever to commit. Believe me, I’ve been waiting for him to ask me out for three years. It’s not other women that distract him. It’s his work. The day he got the job at Blue Tail was the moment I started to lose him. You saw Elias more than I did.”
“I’m partially to blame for that.”
“You know, there was a part of me that believed you and Elias were having an affair,” Daisy said. “You guys spent so much time together that I was convinced he was cheating. But that’s ridiculous because Elias prefers blondes.”
Ava was certain Daisy’s little jab was meant to be innocent but she took offence to it. She tossed her paper towel into the trash and headed for the door. “Elias isn’t cheating on you with me,” she said. “But you better keep an eye on him. I heard a rumour he was getting friendly with a blonde from Accounts.” She took pleasure in the look of shock on Daisy’s face as they returned to the table. Their food was waiting for them.
“Best friends now?” Liam quizzed, tucking his napkin into his shirt. The aroma of his lamb shanks encircled the table.
Still white faced, Daisy simply nodded and drained her glass of wine.
“What did you say to her?” Elias whispered to Ava.
Ava picked up her fork and swirled it around her fettuccine. “Nothing incriminating. She doesn’t believe that you and I had an affair.”
“Oh, it was that easy?”
“I just diverted the blame.”
“What?”
“I would like to propose a toast!” Liam thrust his glass in the air and waited until the others did the same. “To the future. Where our lovers are the truest, our friends the staunchest, and our bank accounts the largest!”
By the time dessert rolled around, Ava couldn’t bear to look at the tiramisu or sticky date pudding on the menu. The mix of Moet and rich fettuccine formed a greasy ball in her gut. She had considered ordering a whiskey and going to bed early if it wasn’t for the sight of Daisy and Elias slow dancing across from her.
“If you keep staring at him like that, you’re going to bore holes in the floor.” Liam’s voice sounded in her ear.
“Go away, Liam,” she hissed, recoiling at his alcoholic breath. “You’re drunk.”
“I’m only trying to help you, Ava,” he responded, his voice slurred. “I see the way you look at him.” He leaned in closer. “Tell me. Do you think of Elias when we fuck?”
Ava exhaled a breath of hot air and pushed him away. “Go to bed,” she ordered. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“I’ll go upstairs when you admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? You’re in love with Elias!”
A squeal of delight erupted over the orchestral music. A frenzied Daisy pushed her way through the dancers towards the table. “Oh my God, Ava,” she screamed. “Ava, look!” She shoved her hand into the woman’s face. Ava stared at the rock glittering on Daisy’s left hand and felt her world shatter around her into a million pieces.
~ ~ ~
“Mum, what about this one?” Daisy cried, pointing to an open bridal magazine. “I’ve always loved the halter-neck style.”
“Choose what will make you comfortable, honey,” her mother said. “You’ll be wearing it all day.”
Hiding behind a tower of bridal and wedding magazines, Elias bit at his lip, mindlessly flipping through venue brochures. All he could think about was the expression on Ava’s face when she saw the diamond ring on Daisy’s finger. He didn’t know what he was thinking proposing to her. It was a foolish move on his part, swept up in the moment.
As much as he loved Daisy, thoughts of Ava had haunted his memory. Both women offered something to him the other couldn’t provide. Daisy provided balance and stability, while Ava gave him a few nights of hot, passionate sex. He had feelings for both women, but he chose to give the ring to Daisy because he didn’t see his fling with Ava going anywhere once he put his resignation in.
He had decided to quit the moment he stepped out of the garden shed with Ava. Their relationship was becoming toxic and dependable. They would only destroy each other. It would be for the best. He just needed to tell his fiancée.
“Elias, have you seen anything you like?” Daisy asked.
“I’m not supposed to see the dress, aren’t I?” he groaned. “I don’t understand why I’m even here.”
“We need your help with choosing a venue,” Olivia remarked, dropping another mound of brochures in front of him. “It’s your day too. Do you prefer a beachside wedding or a church wedding?”
Elias stared at the burgeoning pile of brochures and picked one out at random. “What about this place?”
Daisy and her mother inspected it closely, mumbling to each other. “I do like the idea of combining the ceremony and reception into one venue,” Daisy said. “It’s classy and a little less traditional than a church. What do you think, babe?”
“I’m leaving the venue in your hands.” Elias leaned over the table and stroked her cheek. “As long as I get to spend the day with you, I don’t mind where we get married.” His mobile buzzed in his pocket and he took the welcome distraction to duck out of the room to answer it. “Hello, Ava. Is everything all right?”
Her line was silent for a few moments before she answered. “I’m sorry to bother you on Sunday but I didn’t congratulate you on your engagement.” Ava’s voice sounded emotionless and cold. “The week after the seminar was so busy that it slipped my mind.”
“I know, Ava. I was there with you.”
“Have you set a date?”
“Not yet. Daisy and I have spent the entire weekend looking at wedding magazines and we haven’t decided on the month. If I see one more venue brochure, I think I’m going to lose my mind.”
“Let Daisy have her fun. Planning a wedding is a wonderful yet stressful time. She needs you to be cooperative. But when you see her walking down the aisle in her white dress, it will all be worth it.”
“You never talk about your wedding to Liam,” Elias observed.
“Why would I? It’s my private business. Anyway, it ended in divorce. Marriage isn’t for everyone.”
Elias walked to the sliding door that led into the backyard and stepped outside. The sun beat down from above, warming the pavement under his feet as he paced the yard. “Look, Ava. We need to talk about what happened at the dinner. You were in meetings all week so I didn’t have a chance to talk to you.”
“Elias, there’s nothing to discuss. It just came as a shock because you never mentioned you were planning to propose. I thought you and I—”
He let out a long breath. “I want to discuss it because it obviously affects you. I can’t explain what you and I have but it shouldn’t have never happened. You’re my employer. We work too closely together for any relationship to work.” He kicked a boot into the grass, spreading wet earth across the lawn. “What would people think if our relationship was ever leaked? It would destroy the company.”
“I don’t fucking care what people think, Elias,” Ava cried. “We’re both to blame for what happened. We’re both adulterers. Do you regret sleeping with me?”
Elias chose his next words carefully. There were times where he’d regretted succumbing to her—twice—but they had come together when they needed someone the most. “Ava, meeting you and working for Blue Tail have been the best days of my life. I can’t take that away.”
“Why did you do it?” Ava asked. “Why did you propose to Daisy? You don’t even love her.”
“I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you,” he barked. “You and I were never exclusive. It was just an affair. For your information, I do love Daisy. She can give me a future, Ava. I don’t see a future with you.”
“I know how you feel about me.” Ava’s voice trembled as she tried to restrain her emotions. “By marrying Daisy, you’re only making things worse. You only proposed to her to hide your true feelings for me. That poor girl deserves a chance.”
“I am giving her a chance!”
The sliding door opened, and Daisy popped her head out. “Is everything all right, Elias? We heard shouting.”
He planted on a fake smile. “I’m okay. It’s just a business call. I’ll be right in.”
“Don’t be too long. Mum’s chocolate chip cookies are almost ready.”
“Okay, honey.” He waited until Daisy retreated back inside before returning to Ava. “Look, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Things between you and I have progressed a lot further than we ever anticipated. It’s not going to work if we’re stuck in the same office every day.”
Her end went silent. “Is this your resignation?”
“I think it’s best.”
“If that’s what you want. I can’t stop you. Don’t worry about the two weeks’ notice. I’ll send a courier to deliver your belongings to your apartment this week.”
“I’ll work the week, Ava. I need to finalise things with my clients, anyway.”
“No, it’s not necessary. As you said, it won’t be healthy for us to be stuck in a room together.”
“Ava, please.”
“Good luck for your future wedding, Elias. It’s been wonderful working with you.”
When he heard the dial tone in his ear, Elias felt as though he had destroyed the one thing that made him feel alive.