Chapter 151: The Ghosted

With a gentle thud the heavy oak doors of my grand study closed blotting out the faint smell of Bella’s pricey perfume and the housekeepers silent condemnation. As I walked across the large room tugging at my ties knot the silk felt like a noose around my neck. In sharp contrast to my usual air of effortless control my movements were jerky and agitated. When I arrived at the bar a shimmering expanse of cut crystal and polished mahogany I untied my tie even more nearly tearing it off. I threw my perfectly tailored coat now rumpled and thrown away onto a nearby armchair. I made my way to the large comfortable sofa in the middle of the room and put my head back against the cushions. Normally a haven of strength and peaceful reflection the room now felt tense and restless reflecting the chaos in my head. Still I was concerned. More than anxious. Since the moment she had appeared a chilly knot of uneasiness had been growing steadily in my stomach. Never. I could still hear the words a mantra of disbelief in my mind. It just was not feasible. Still it had happened. Ava. She had stood in my restaurant in the middle of the evening accusing heartbroken and defiant. after every month. All these years. She was expected to leave. eliminated. One of the forgotten chapters. I had carefully planned how she would vanish. My attorneys had made sure the divorce was completed in a timely and discreet manner. Her assets were restructured and rebranded after being incorporated into my portfolio. Her social media accounts which had previously been moderately active had vanished entirely. Rumors of her attempting to recover anything she had given me had not surfaced nor had there been any news about her or whispers in high society circles. I had thought she was gone too broken to fight back and engulfed in her shame. I had eased up. I had overlooked her. And now this. Why now when I had finally solidified my position and authority and was about to wed Becca the ideal trophy wife and ideal addition to my empire? Why now when I was at last at peace and completely in control? My mind raced trying to come up with a rational explanation trying to write off her appearance as a desperate pitiful ploy as Becca had suggested. However I had a gut feeling that resisted that simple dismissal. the appearance she had. Very different. Such beauty. Her eyes were blazing her voice was raw with pain and her dress was a striking shade of red. The shy almost submissive woman I remembered was not her. She had an unsettling strength and a fire within her. That was the same strength that before it got in the way of my goals I had found so charming. In an attempt to erase the image and get rid of the nagging sense that something was seriously irrevocably wrong I closed my eyes. However the image remained.Ava, she was pregnant. Was it mine?As I reminded her that I hadnt touched her in years Becca laughed and brushed it off. That was accurate. Whose child was it then? This question bothered me even though it wasnt directly related to me. Her already stoked fire would only be fueled by a scandalous public pregnancy. The restlessness in my body compelled me to get up from the couch. As I approached the bar I reached for a crystal decanter and filled a heavy tumbler with a generous amount of aged Scotch. Under the gentle light the amber liquid glistened offering a brief relief from the nagging fear. I needed to reflect. Evidently. without feeling. However emotion was a heavy oppressive cloud. Ava was someone I knew. I knew the truth in my heart beneath the convenient story I had made up for myself. She had strength. Strong in her own unique manner. Even when I tried to break her spirit I was always amazed by her fortitude. She was resourceful intelligent and when forced capable of quiet uncompromising resolve. To think she was just a mad lady was a reassuring lie but my gut sharpened by years of fierce rivalry told me otherwise. The other man followed. It was the person who had stood next to her exuding an almost tangible authority. the person who had observed Avas confrontation with me with a detached evaluative gaze. His face was familiar to me from somewhere. His dark penetrating eyes his well-tailored suit and the way he demanded attention without saying a word. It was a persistent bothersome itch in the back of my mind that kept coming back. He was too impressive and well-groomed to be just a passing acquaintance but where was he? Was he a new lawyer? A financier? A security specialist? He sensed danger. The Scotch burned a path down my throat as I took a long burning swallow but it did little to quench the fire of anxiety in my stomach.I approached the large windows in the living room and gazed out at the well-kept gardens which represented the ideal façade of my life. Despite the darkness and silence of the night I felt exposed and helpless. My thoughts were constantly going over my Rolodex of influential people competitors and anyone who might be interested in upending my meticulously planned world. I became uneasy again when I wondered if she was related to anyone or if she had found a new ally or protector. Ava was a bother by herself. Ava posed a threat because she was supported by a powerful person. I recalled how effectively the two men who had been with him had worked in silence. bodyguards. expert. Not flinching. He wasnt just a stranger. He was in touch. Additionally he appeared to be related to her. A chilling hunch took root in my gut. This was more than just a public breakdown by an irate ex-wife. It was planned. This was a strategic move. It felt like well-placed chess pieces on a board I wasnt even aware I was playing on—her abrupt appearance her pregnancy and his presence. My knuckles were white as I tightened my grip on the glass. All of a sudden my meticulously planned world and my tightly managed story felt vulnerable. What was supposed to be my victory—my wedding to Becca—now felt like a target a weak spot. I hoped my thoughts werent that. I hoped she hadnt discovered someone capable of seriously challenging me and tearing down everything I had worked so hard to achieve. Because this isnt just a simple scandal if she had found someone who understood this game was willing to play dirty and had the resources to support her. Its a war. And the idea sent a shiver down my spine a chilling certainty that my controlled tranquil life was going to be completely and irrevocably upended.I sighed deeply. “What are you planning, Ava?”