Page 33 of Choose Me

I felt strong and beautiful.

I ran my hands across the swell of my belly, smiling when the baby kicked where my hand was resting. As I dressed, I couldn't help but think about how my life would change when I gave birth. A baby was coming into the world, and I couldn't wait to meet my little one, hold them in my arms, and show them the love they deserved.

The front door opened and closed, and I closed my bedroom door so Everett wouldn't see me naked, gawking at myself in the mirror. Throwing on a sweatshirt and jeans, I ran my fingers through my hair, breaking up the knots from the towel. I grabbed my phone and saw several missed calls from James and a voicemail. I used my shoulder to hold the phone up to my ear while I carried a basket of dirty laundry out of the room and into the laundry room.

"Hey baby, it's me. I need you to call me as soon as you get this. It's an emergency. Listen, don't leave the apartment, and do not open the door for anyone. Call me Ava."

I set the laundry basket on the dryer and hit the call-back button. James answered immediately, and the panic in his voice caused my heart to stop.

"Ava, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just got out of the shower, but I was napping. I can hardly hear you. Where are you at?" I returned to my bedroom and put on a pair of thick wool socks.

"I'm on a plane heading back right now."

"Wait, you're coming back home. You closed your case? That's great news!"

"Ava, I need you to stay in the penthouse and do not answer the door for any reason."

"James, what's going on? Am I in danger?"

"Baby, please just listen to me. I'll explain everything when I get home. I won't be landing for another hour or so. Everett called and said he was stuck in traffic, and it could be another half hour before he can get to you. But please do what I said."

"Okay, I won't leave, but I just heard Everett come in about ten minutes ago."

Silence was on the other end of the line, and his voice changed from authoritative to fearful.

"Ava. I just got off the phone with Everett, and he's not at the house yet. He's still in traffic."

"Wait, what?" I felt a chill run down my spine, and my heart began to race. "Then who's in the house?"

Commons?

It had to be.

It felt like the room was shrinking, and the sound of blood pulsing through my veins sent me stumbling back into my dresser.

"Where are you?"

"In the bedroom." I panted in a hushed tone.

"Close the door and lock it. Try and push the dresser in front of the door, then go into the closet and hide until we get there." I could hear him talking to someone in the background. "Brock is calling 911. The police should be there soon. Stay on the phone with me and stay quiet. I'll be there soon."

I walked towards the door to lock it, and I stopped dead in my tracks when slow footsteps sounded down the hall, heading toward the bedroom. There was no way I could close the door before whoever was here would reach it. I quickly scanned the room for a weapon and saw a letter opener on the desk. I carefully grabbed it and slid behind the curtain.

"Someone's coming," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. My free hand clasped the handle of the letter opener so tightly that my knuckles went white while my other hand pressed the phone tight against my ear.

"Stay calm and stay quiet. Don't let them know where you are."

I nodded to myself as a sort of reassurance and held my breath as the footsteps moved closer until I heard them stop at the bedroom door. They paused for a few minutes. I assumed listening for me and then stepped into the bedroom. I could hear them rustling around, and when they started yanking curtains open, I thought this was it. In seconds, they will reach the curtain I am behind and find me. Fear coursed through my veins, and my heart pounded in my chest, echoing like a thousand drums in my ears.

I clutched the letter opener tighter, my knuckles nearly cracking from the intensity of my grip. Every moment seemed to last an eternity as each section of the curtains was ripped open-- closer and closer to me.

One curtain away.

I closed my eyes, my body trembling. But then, instead of yanking open my curtain, they walked away, ripping open drawers and into the bathroom. I heard them open the closet door, and I let out my breath. I slid the phone into my sweatshirt pocket and slowly pulled the curtain back. The room was empty, and the banging in the closet alerted me to where the intruder was. I had maybe seconds before they came back into the room, so I slid outside the curtain and ran toward the bedroom door, the sight of the intruder in a black hoodie rummaging through my clothes, their back facing me.

They hadn't heard me yet, so I took advantage of the moment and raced down the hallway, into the kitchen, and reached for the door handle. I pulled the door open, slipped out into the hallway, and ran as fast as my feet would take me to the elevators. I slammed my fingers continually on the call button and watched the numbers slowly tick upward to my floor--Floor 15.

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