Page 80 of Billionaire's Promise
"Which made her look at you in a different light?" I surmise.
"If you mean that he humanized me?" He raises a shoulder, "I guess so, probably."
"And you Sinclair?" I tilt my head in his direction, "He help you with your love life?"
"I should bloody well hope not," Sinclair drawls, "though after I got together with Summer, I never saw him again."
"And what about you Weston?" I turn my gaze on him, "He help you too?"
"I noticed he was barefoot and gave him my shoes. Then when Amelie asked me about them, I told her what I’d done." He scowls. "Guess he showed me in a favorable light, as well."
"He helped bring out the man behind the alphahole, again," I muse.
"What are you thinking, Baron?" Arpad turns to me, "You think he played some kind of cupid for all of us, helping us get together with our women?"
"That may be stretching things a bit, but yeah… I am thinking something along those lines. You have to admit that it’s somewhat dodgy that the guy shows up at a pivotal moment for each of you, then seems to disappear from your sight when you guys get hitched.”
"So what?" Weston rubs the back of his neck. "He's a well-wisher?"
And hell, if I couldn’t do with some additional help in getting my woman. I shake my head. Now, that is fanciful thinking. I don’t need anybody else’s advice. I’ve got this. I’ll find a way to make up for the way I’d acted with Ava. I have to.
"And you?" Sinner frowns at me, "where have you seen him before?"
"I don't know." I drag my fingers through my hair. "I am sure I have seen him before, although I feel like he was younger at the time." I raise my shoulders. "Either way, when he regains consciousness, I plan to be there to question him. Meanwhile," I turn to the guys, "I need to get to my woman."
28
"My mum always told me that I’m perfect, that I’m beautiful and that no guy deserves me. But how much of what she says is lies? Is it a lie if she believes it’s true? Is it possible to tell the truth and lie simultaneously?"
-From Ava's Diary
Ava
Half an hour after leaving Summer and Sinclair’s townhouse, the car pulls up outside a fast-food outlet. I’d left their place and realized I didn’t want to go home yet. Especially not, since the place reminds me of Baron.
Everywhere I look, I see him—on the couch, in the shower, in the kitchen, in my bed. Shit, it’s like his presence is woven into every room there. Also, it had been so long since I’d danced…just for the pleasure of dancing…. Just being able to move to the music without worrying about anything else. Yeah, it’s exactly what I need. I want to get to my studio, and I want to do it unaccompanied by Baron’s watchdog. The man has no claim on me. I don’t need his bloody protection. I am a free, independent woman who can do what I want, when I want, and no man is going to take that from me. I am going to get to the studio, and on my own steam. Which means I have to ditch Archer. So, I ask him to stop at the fast-food outlet.
I get out of the car, and so does Archer.
"I don’t need you to accompany me in there," I point out.
He shakes his head, "Baron said—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know what he said, but surely, I am safe in there." I point to the outlet. "You can see everyone who comes in and out of it."
He hesitates and I throw up my hands, "Come on. Surely, I deserve a bit of privacy, a few minutes of being able to eat my food in peace?"
He firms his lips, then nods. "Five minutes, then I’ll come in there."
"Fifteen minutes."
"Ten," he folds his arms across his chest, "and that’s about all I can agree to."
"Deal." I sniff, then turn and stomp inside the outlet. I place my order, glance through the shop window to find him standing to attention, his gaze fixed on me. Shit, this isn’t working, I need to find a way to give him a slip. Just then, a gang of students walks into the shop. They mill around, chattering, pointing to the menu board on the wall. They press in closer to the counter, cutting me off from his sight.
Instantly, I spin around, walk to the door at the back. I pass the kitchen, travel down a short corridor, reach the door at the back and twist it open. I walk down the alley. Reaching the main road, I turn left, head for the tube station. Good thing I am wearing sneakers and jeans. It means I can run. I hit the tube station, make it to the tills and the platform. I glance back, half convinced that I’ll see Archer, but I don’t spot him. The tube train enters the platform—awesome! At least, luck is with me.
I jump on in it, travel another fifteen minutes east, then jump out at the station that is closest to my studio. I head out of the tube, up the quiet street. It’s not that late, just past nine p.m. I’ve been to the studio this late many times before. The wind picks up and the hair on the back of my neck rises. Shit, since that encounter in the subway, I haven’t been myself. I need to get over it. Need to live my life. Baron isn’t going to be around anymore. I have to accept that. He opted to leave me; I have to learn to live without him.
