Chapter Twenty–three
Ava’s POV
Phoenix’s eyes were on me again. I could feel her gaze as I slowly sipped my tea. She didn’t say anything at first; she just watched and waited. It wasn’t until I set my cup
down that she finally spoke.
“You okay?” she asked, her tone casual, but the concern was clear in her eyes.
I nodded, raising my cup to take a slow sip of my herbal tea. “Yeah. Why?”
She shrugged, but her gaze didn’t sway. “You look… distracted. And your face looks a
little bit swollen.”
I sighed, taking another sip of my tea before meeting her eyes. “It’s nothing, really. Just pregnancy stuff. I’m just…looking pregnant.” I forced a small smile with a shrug,
hoping it was enough to dismiss her worry.
Phoenix wasn’t convinced. She tilted her head, eyeing me sharply. “You went to bed
earlier than usual. Now, you’re not only sluggish, but you look more swollen than
usual. Are you sure you don’t need to see the doctor?”
I waved her off with a light chuckle. “Oh, that’s unnecessary. I just felt a little sluggish this morning because the baby was active all night, so I didn’t get much sleep.”
That part wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth, either. I couldn’t find a comfortable position all night. Each shift and pillow adjustment only added to my
discomfort. It wasn’t just my body that was restless; my mind was too.
Thoughts of Elson and the almost–kissing incident haunted my night, leaving me tangled in unwanted emotions. Then there was Aiden, a name I never expected to hear again. I had to keep this from Phoenix; she never liked him, even back in college, although he never paid attention to her. However, if she found out we’d been in the same place, she’d force me to end the deal. I couldn’t afford to lose that opportunity, especially with a child on the way and wanting to stand on my own without relying on
her.
Phoenix responded with a sound as she stood up. “Alright. Well, I’ve got to run. I’ll be back later… late, but I will definitely return. In the meantime, sleep in if you can. Your
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<Chapter Twenty–three
team is more than capable of handling things.”
I nodded, offering her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Phoenix.”
She waved me off and headed for the door. “Just take it easy, okay?”
The door shut behind her, and I exhaled, sinking deeper into my chair.
And then, my phone rang.
+ Ports >
I stiffened at the sight of the name Elson flashing on the screen. My fingers hesitated over the call button, relieved that Phoenix had left before she could see. After what had happened the other day, I wasn’t sure how to act around Elson. The way he had
looked at me and leaned in had thrown me off balance. While Phoenix always
insisted he liked me, I had brushed it off, thinking he was just a caring friend. But now I realize I was wrong and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
Reluctantly, I picked up. “Hello?”
“Good morning, Ava,” Elson’s voice was smooth, casual. There was no awkwardness, no hesitation as if nothing had happened between us. “How are you feeling?”
I swallowed, pushing past the tightness in my chest. “I’m fine.”
“Good.” There was a slight pause, then, “Sarah and I are heading to a meeting with Hay Group. Their secretary called for a quick discussion. Just wanted to let you know.
My grip on the phone tightened. Hay Group. Aiden’s company. Another one of my
troubles.
“Okay. Thanks for the update.”
Elson hesitated for a second as if he wanted to say something more, but then he just
hummed. “Alright. Get some rest.” Then hung up.
That was it. Completely awkward. My heart stuttered slightly as I set the phone down, wondering if things would return to normal after what had happened. Would I be able to overlook the fact that my employee almost kissed me while I was pregnant with
another man’s child?
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<Chapter Twenty–three
Hours later, I sat in my office with a cushion propped behind my lower back to ease the dull ache that seemed to constantly affect my back, while my feet rested in the space of the ergonomic chair. The soft hum of my computer, complemented by the gentle scribble of my pen against the book resting on my belly, filled the room. My focus flickered between the details in the book and the persistent throbbing in my feet and back from sitting for just a few moments. I was exhausted, which was surprising because I hadn’t done much, yet there was still too much left to do.
The door suddenly slammed open.
I flinched, my pen slipping from my fingers as I looked up in shock. Elson stormed in, his face twisted in anger. And trailing behind him was a flustered Sarah, and then…
My breath caught, my body instinctively tensing.
Aiden?
“Elson, what…?” I started, slowly setting my foot down as my wide gaze flickered from an all–too–pleased–looking Aiden to Elson. But, Elson just dropped his bag and stormed into the restroom, leaving me stunned.
What the hell is going on?
“You look pale… and swollen.”
My head turned sharply to Aiden, who seemed far too at ease as he walked toward me like it was perfectly normal for him to appear at my office without warning.
I shifted my gaze from Aiden to Sarah, silently demanding an explanation for what was happening. But of course, her eyes were glued to Aiden, her cheeks rosy.
Seriously?
“What is happening?” I asked Aiden, whose light brown eyes were fixed on me. Up close, I noticed the faint freckles on his skin oddly matched the color of his eyes. His suit fit perfectly, the navy–blue fabric stretching slightly over his broad shoulders as he tilted his head in amusement. Even the faint stubble along his jaw did not make
him look older.
“I’m here to see you,” he said smoothly, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
My eyes narrowed. He dared to grin.
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Points >
“Oh, don’t get your panties in a twist,” he added dismissively. “It’s just a norm for me
to know everything about a business I’m working with. Including their space. And we
are friends, so it blended.”
I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to my forehead. He was doing that thing with his
leg again, a habit he probably wasn’t aware of. The few times I had been around
Aiden, I’d noticed he slightly rocked on the ball of his left foot when he was enjoying
himself. I don’t know why I still remember, but he was doing it again, meaning he was
enjoying this. Great!
“Aiden,” I said, closing my eyes to collect my thoughts.. “This is business, and I would
appreciate it if it remained that way. You don’t need to come to my space acting so
familiar. Please.”
“That is exactly what this is. Business.”
“Aiden…” I warned, giving him a stern look. “This isn’t a joke.”
“Fine,” he said, but then his expression turned serious. “I was just worried.”
I blinked, taken aback. “Excuse me?” I wasn’t sure if I heard him right. Aiden? Worried
about me? That was fresh.
“Yes, I am,” he confirmed, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place.
Something that looked oddly strange on him. “You looked sick the other day, and I
watched you walk in that funny manner as you got into your car. I didn’t think much
about it, but then you didn’t show up for today’s meeting. So, I thought I should drop by and see how you are.”
His ears turned slightly red, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him like he
had suddenly grown three heads. Because in my mind, he just did.
To say I was surprised was an understatement. This wasn’t something I would have.
ever expected from him. People like Aiden were always all about themselves, playful,
egotistical, and sometimes even reckless. They acted like spoiled children who thrived on riling others up just for the thrill of it. But now, that same man was
standing in front of me, openly saying he was concerned about me.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, forcing my gaze away from him. “I’m fine. Thanks, but you
really shouldn’t.”
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Chapter Twenty–three
48 Points
Aiden crossed his arms, his head tilted. “Well, I’m glad I did because you look even
worse right now. What the hell happened?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, shifting on my feet, ignoring the ache pulsing through
my feet and back. It hadn’t even been ten minutes of standing, and already my back
felt like it was going to break.
“You’re all swollen up. You sure you’re good?” He pressed.
“Yes, I am.”
I shouldn’t have avoided looking in the mirror this morning, and now I regret it. I could
feel the heaviness of my body and how sluggish my movements had become, but I
couldn’t tell exactly how I looked. And it didn’t help that it was Aiden who pointed it
out.
This entire encounter felt too much, too sudden. I didn’t trust his sudden involvement in my life. This was Aiden, and nothing that had to do with him ever came without a twist. But before I could say anything else, the weight of my stomach became unbearable, and as I turned to get my ass on my chair, the room tilted with me.
“Ava!”
I heard the panic in Aiden’s voice before I felt his arms catch me, steadying me before I could collapse completely. My vision blurred for a second, the sound of the door slamming shut and hurried footsteps echoing faintly in my ears.
“Are you okay?” Aiden’s voice was closer now, laced with concern.
“Yes, I am good,” I tried to pull away, but that was a mistake. The moment I tried to stand on my own, my balance gave out again.
What again!
Different pairs of hands grabbed me on each side. I could tell who was who, even in my disoriented state.
God, everything hurt, especially my back. And my heart was racing too fast again.
“No, you’re not,” Aiden snapped, his grip tightening. “I’m taking you to the hospital
right now.”
“No, I will,” Elson interjected sharply, stepping closer.
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< Chapter Twenty–three
There was a pause, before Aiden gritted out, “I said I will.”
Christ.
+ Points
Looking at them closely through my slightly blurred vision, I realised they weren’t that
different in build. Aiden’s shoulders were slightly broader than Elson’s, but at that
moment, both were carrying their egos, refusing to yield.
A sharp pain pierced through my lower back, and I instinctively grabbed Aiden’s arm
in a tight grip. That got his attention immediately, his gaze snapping to me.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“It hurts,” I gritted out.
“Okay, let’s…would you let her go?” Aiden snapped again, his grip tightening on me.
“No, I’ll do it,” Elson bit back, stepping closer.
And then, as if the tension hadn’t been enough already, Sarah, who had been silent until now, suddenly screamed, “Will you both shut up!”
The room went dead silent. Even I was stunned.
Sarah glared at both men before exhaling heavily. “Ava is in pain, and you two are standing here like children arguing over who gets to carry her. Just get her to the
damn hospital!”
The shock in all of our faces was enough to laugh at. Almost. But then another sharp pain hit me, and all amusement faded as I clutched onto Aiden, my breaths coming
faster.
Oh God!
