Page 49 of Meeting the Billionaire Boss

She looks at me in the way that tells me that I’m fooling no one, but she doesn’t say anything. When I got home, she had a thousand questions and I told her I’d explain in time. But for now, I need to get through the days and heal, create the life for her and Daniel that I’ve always wanted to give them.

‘What are our plans today?’ she asks once she’s drunk her coffee.

I slide the laptop in front of her.

‘I thought we could do some online house hunting.’

The smile that spreads over her face warms me right through.

She takes my hand and holds on tight, and I know that while my heart is broken, I have done the right thing for us all.

Chapter51

Edward

‘You’re walking around like a zombie,’ Polly’s voice jerks me upright. I grab my mug of coffee and take it to the kitchen table.

I had no idea I could miss someone so much. Yes, I missed Lucille but me memories of her were tarnished by what I’d found out and this is different in so many ways. Ava is still alive, out there walking around in the world and I’m not with her. It’s all my fault. I brought this on me and Joe. It’s killing me. Seriously, this pain is unbearable. Everything I’ve been through over the years should have toughened me up but losing Ava has rocked me.

‘What?’ My tone is sharper than I intended. ‘I mean, pardon?’

‘Edward, love, I’ve worked for your family for a long time, and I know you’ve had a difficult few years but… There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to get it out.’ She places her hands on the back of a chair and sighs. ‘This is your fault.’

‘What do you mean?’ I pinch the bridge of my nose hard. I like Polly but she’s treading a fine line here.

‘You could have persuaded Ava to stay.’

‘You think so?’ Now my tone sounds desperate.

‘Yes.’ She nods. ‘That young woman adores you and Joe. Plus, she was like a breath of fresh air around the place and she made such a difference to us all.’

‘You too, huh?’

‘Yes. Me too. I care about you and Joe, but I also care about Ava. She has a good heart and she fitted in here. It’s not that I didn’t like Miss Lucille, because she was a… very glamorous lady, but Ava is… different.’

‘You can say that again.’ I give a small laugh but then rub my hands over my face, feeling the scratch as they move over my untended beard.

‘Different can be a good thing, Edward. Ava brought something to this house that we needed. She brought you back to life. She was a tonic for Joe. She would have been good for you if you’d allowed her in.’

Meeting Polly’s wise eyes, I nod. She’s only telling me what I already know. It’s been three weeks since Ava left, and every day has been agony. Joe is back at school but I see how much he misses her. Cynthia is home and she’s doing her best for him but he’s gone quiet again and lacks the enthusiasm for things that he had when Ava was here. I did this to him by being so pig headed, by not grabbing hold of Ava and making her feel loved. I wanted to prove to her that she’s special but then I let fear get in the way.

What kind of idiot am I?

‘Edward… you get one life and if you want to spend yours with Ava… I’m sure it’s not too late.’

I swallow my coffee in one gulp then push the chair back. When Ava went, she left the engagement ring, bracelet and necklace I bought her on the bed with a note apologising for letting me down with the marriage contract. Seeing that she hadn’t taken them with her was like a spear to my gut. It was a rejection of all we’d had together and it made me realise exactly how much she was going through. Ava was never bothered about my money, about anything other than true feelings. She needed the job, of course she did, but the rest of it meant nothing to her without love. How many women like that are actually out there? I’ll never find someone else like her, someone who gets me and wants to be with meforme.

I’ll never find another Ava.

‘You’re right, Polly. I must at least try to get her back.’

I just need to figure out how…

Chapter52

Ava

‘I’m excited to see this property,’ I say to Mum as we walk up the driveway. The house is semi-detached with a small front garden and on a quiet street in Croydon. But the closer we get, the worse it looks. Having never house hunted before, I’ve been finding it more challenging to find something suitable than I’d realised. We’ll have to leave London for sure, and we don’t mind, but I had hoped to find us a property that we could move straight into. Instead, there are lots requiring significant renovations to make them habitable.

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