Chapter 20 MEETING HER
Ava's POV
Adrian's jaw was tight as he looked between us.
"Ava, this is Victoria Ashford. She works with Dominic at Hayes International." He said it carefully and it felt to me like he was trying to warn me about her.
Victoria's smile widened and she looked me up and down slowly.
"Works with him." She laughed
"Is that what we're calling it now, Adrian?"
"Victoria..." Adrian started but she cut him off.
"I'm Dominic's ex-fiancée, darling. Though I'm sure he's conveniently forgotten to mention that part." She walked toward me and I fought the urge to back up.
"I just had to see for myself what kind of woman could make Dominic Hayes act like a lovesick fool." She added
"We should get going." Adrian said, moving to stand slightly between us.
"Dominic is waiting."
Victoria tilted her head.
"Of course he is. Can't let his new pet out of his sight for too long." She looked at me again.
"Enjoy it while it lasts, sweetheart. Dominic has a very short attention span when it comes to his toys."
She got back in the passenger seat and I stood there on the sidewalk trying to process what just happened. His ex fancée?
Dominic had been engaged to this woman, and he'd never told me.
"Ava." Adrian's voice was gentle. "We really should go."
I got in the back seat without saying anything.
The drive back to the penthouse was tense and silent except for Victoria humming along to the radio like she didn't have a care in the world. Every few minutes she'd glance back at me in the mirror and smile that cold smile.
"So how long have you two been together?" She finally asked, turning around in her seat to look at me directly.
"A few weeks." I said
"Ah. Still in the honeymoon phase then." She laughed again.
"Trust me, that wears off quickly. Dominic is very intense at first but once the novelty fades..." She made a dismissive gesture with her hand.
"Victoria, that's enough." Adrian's voice had an edge I'd never heard before.
"What? I'm just being honest. She should know what she's getting into." Victoria turned back around.
"Besides, we're practically family. Dominic and I go way back. We have history that can't just be erased by some new arrangement."
The way she said arrangement made it clear she knew exactly what Dominic and I had.
When we pulled up to the building, I was out of the car before Adrian could even put it in park.
"Ava, wait..." he called after me but I was already through the lobby doors.
I rode the elevator up alone and by the time I reached the penthouse my hands were shaking again.
Dominic was on his phone when I walked in but he ended the call the moment he saw me.
"Where were you really?" He crossed his arms and looked at me with those eyes that seemed to see everything.
"I told you. My apartment." I said but really interested with whatever talks he was trying to bring up
"Don't lie to me, Ava. I can feel when you're lying."
That stupid bond he kept talking about, I guess that was it again.
"Fine. I went to a coffee shop. I needed to think." I finally said
"About?" He asked, now staring at me intesely
"About this and about us. About the fact that your ex-fiancée just introduced herself to me and you never thought to mention you'd been engaged." My voice was rising but I couldn't stop it.
"Victoria told you that." He said.
"Was she lying?"
"No." He ran a hand through his hair.
"But it was a long time ago and it's over."
"How long ago?" I asked
"Two years." He replied
"And you were engaged for how long?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it fucking matters!" I was yelling now. "You know everything about me, Dominic, eerything. My entire life story, my bank statements, probably my goddamn blood type. But I don't know anything real about you except what you choose to tell me!"
"What do you want to know?" His voice was dangerously quiet.
"Everything! I want to know about Victoria, about your past, about why someone is sending me threatening messages about you, about what the hell you're not telling me!" I said and we stared at each other across the room and I could see him fighting with himself about something but finally he spoke.
"I was with Victoria for almost a year. She wanted marriage and I didn't. I ended it and she didn't take it well. That's all there is to it." He said
"Why was she with Adrian just now?"
"She called him. Said she was in the neighborhood and heard he was picking you up. Victoria has a way of inserting herself where she's not wanted." He replied with his voice low
"She works for you."
"She works for Hayes International, yes. I can't exactly fire her without cause and she's good at her job."
"Does she know? About the contract? About us?"
"She knows we're together. She doesn't need to know the details."
I sat down on the couch because my legs suddenly felt weak.
"This is too much. The threats, the secrets, now your ex showing up. I feel like I'm drowning and I don't even know what I'm drowning in."
Dominic sat down next to me and for a moment he just looked at me.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you about Victoria." His voice was softer now. "I didn't think it mattered because she's in the past and you're my present."
"But she doesn't think she's in the past."
"That's her problem, not mine."
"Is it?" I pulled out the note from my bag and handed it to him.
"Someone left this for me at the coffee shop today. That's where I really was. Someone wanted to meet me but they never showed up. Just left this note warning me about you."
I watched his face as he read it and saw his jaw clench tighter
"Who gave you this?"
"A barista. She said a woman left it this morning. Older, dark hair going gray, looked nervous."
"Did you try calling the number again?"
I pulled out my phone and tried.
"The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service."
Just like the note said.
Dominic stood up and walked to the window and I could see the tension in his shoulders.
"I'm going to find out who's doing this." His voice was cold. "And when I do, they're going to wish they'd never heard your name."
"Dominic..."
"No one threatens what's mine."
There it was again. That possessive claim that should have bothered me but instead made my stomach flutter.
"What does the note mean about Adrian?"
"I don't know." But something in his voice made me think he had an idea.
My phone buzzed with a text and it was
Maya: That guy Ryan from the bar? He asked about you. Gave me his number to give you in case you wanted it. Seems really into you and he's cute and NORMAL. Just saying
I stared at the message and thank God Dominic's phone rang and he answered it without looking away from the window.
"What?" He said. "When?" A pause. "I'll be right there."
He hung up and turned to face me.
"I have to go to the office. Something's happened." He grabbed his jacket.
"Stay here. Adrian will be outside the door. Do not leave this apartment, Ava. I'm serious."
"What happened?"
"Someone broke into the Hayes International building last night and accessed my private files." His eyes were dark. "The files about you." He said and was gone before I could even respond
I was still sitting there an hour later when I heard voices outside the door.
Dominic was back already? That was fast.
But when the door opened, it wasn't Dominic who walked in.
It was Victoria, and she had a key in her hands