Chapter 51

Ava.

The fork clattered loudly on my plate as my eyes widened in shock. Jayden's words surprised me.

He just asked me to be his girlfriend?

I had thought he didn't like me anymore since high school. Then he had a huge crush on me, but I had tagged him as a playboy and bad boy. Who would have thought he would turn out this successful?

I didn't know what to say. I wasn't expecting this, and my feelings weren't certain either. I couldn't say I didn't like him in a romantic way, but I couldn't say I did either.

Jayden was sweet, caring, and really helpful to me these past few days, and it seemed unfair not to like him after all he had done for me.

A part of me felt guilty even thinking of Mikhail immediately. There was this connection that I was having with Mikhail that wasn't there with Jayden.

And while I couldn't say I liked Mikhail completely, I couldn't deny that I felt attracted to him. The time on his jet had sent my feelings to the moon.

But looking at Jayden, who had been there for me at my lowest, made it seem like Mikhail wasn't worthy enough of my feelings. Jayden was the one who had been there, he had helped me all this time, and it seemed unfair not to like him.

I gave him a sad smile as I looked up at him. He was nervous, I could tell. I reached for his hand that rested just a few inches away from mine and I clasped it, intertwining our fingers together.

"Can you just give me some time to respond?" I asked softly, careful not to hurt his feelings.

I had a date with Mikhail in a few days, and I was going to use that to sort out my feelings for him. I was going to find out if I really liked him enough to date him or if I was only moved by his looks.

Jayden frowned, looking lost for a moment before he offered me a smile that didn't reach his eyes, which was understandable.

"Sure, but don't keep me waiting too long," Jayden said, and I nodded before we continued our meal, discussing the other waitress.

By the time we finished eating, I retreated to my room, took a bath, and jumped tiredly into my bed as I tried to sleep.

I picked up my new cell phone, turned it on, and stared at my wallpaper. It was the picture of me and Avery on the day she had shaved her hair.

Avery was so weird sometimes; I giggled softly. On that day, we had gone to the salon to cut her hair, and she had requested a celebrity-style.

I was shocked that she wanted to style her hair when she was supposed to be cutting it. Even the hairstylist was shocked because the salon was so close to the hospital, and they had many customers who wanted to shave their hair for the hospital.

Avery had smiled at her and urged her to make her hair beautiful. I remember chuckling nervously as I sat beside her, and the stylist got to work.

As soon as she was done, she requested makeup, and she looked extremely beautiful. They took pictures of her that day and used them on their website for their weekend slash sales.

And after that, Avery went back to her seat and stared at the mirror before telling them to shave her head.

I vividly remember the shock on everyone's faces, but then Avery started making jokes about it, and soon the atmosphere lifted as we talked about different things.

I smiled.

Avery had a way of bringing sunshine in the darkest times and places. It was like she was a bundle of joy, and it was rare for her to ever feel bad or sad about something.

Sighing, I put my phone away after transferring the rest of my files to it, and just as I was about to sleep, the phone chimed.

Mikhail's name flashed across the screen, and I sat up, glancing at the door as if expecting Jayden to walk in at any moment. When I didn't hear any footsteps, I picked up the call and placed it to my ear.

"Ava." Mikhail's raspy voice sounded over the speakers, and my cheeks flushed.

"Hi?" I answered awkwardly, and I heard Mikhail sigh softly.

"How are you? I'm sorry I should have called earlier. I've been busy. I guess you're back at your friend's place," Mikhail said, and I nodded before realizing that he couldn't see me.

"Yeah, I'm home now. And it's fine. I understand."

"Don't forget about our date this weekend. I'll have Zach pick you up a few hours early," Mikhail said, and I could imagine him rubbing his eyes tiredly.

I frowned. "Why a few hours early?" I asked, sitting up properly.

"Just because. It's a surprise. I have to go now. I wanted to know how you were doing," Mikhail said. I smiled, lying back on the bed, and I pulled my blanket closer.

"How are you too?" I asked.

"Good," Mikhail answered after a while, and I kept silent, expecting him to say something more than that. "I saw my mother," he said again, and his voice sounded a bit low, so I frowned.

"Oh, how is she?"

"I don't know," he responded. "I wish you—"

"Mikhail! The meeting's about to start!" I heard Zach's voice over the speakers, and Mikhail sighed before I heard the sound of a chair moving.

"Don't worry about that. Just take care of yourself and don't overwork at the club," Mikhail said quickly before ending the call.

I left the phone against my ear as if expecting to hear his voice once more. I didn't want to pull the phone away, and I closed my eyes in bliss, reminiscing his voice once more.

He obviously sounded distressed and tired. He had never spoken about his mother before, except the time he told me she played the piano.

I suddenly wished I knew more about Mikhail, but anytime the conversation about him came up, he was quick to put an end to it before we even started. I also knew he had an inhaler, and I could only think he had asthma.

Sighing, I turned in my bed before closing my eyes shut as I thought about what the surprise was, but I couldn't come up with anything.

It didn't take long for me to fall asleep, and a few hours later, I was awake and hurrying to get to the club. I woke up an hour later than usual.

Snatching my purse, I opened my door and saw no one was home. Jayden must have left while I was asleep. I tried to open the door and remembered Jayden hadn't put in my fingerprints yet. Sighing, I searched the desk for the keys instead.

I found it and opened the door, throwing the key under the doormat and rushing out of the apartment, narrowly missing hitting the neighbor's cat that had found its way upstairs again.

It was hard catching the bus as I had to walk a distance before finally finding one, and by the time I got to the club, it was open and buzzing with people. I squeezed my way through, finding Olivia on the ground floor, frowning as a man touched her legs.

"Ava! Aiden's looking for you!" she yelled over the loudspeakers when she saw me, dropping the tray before grabbing my hand.

"Fuck! I overslept," I said as we went to the dressing room, and she pushed me in, getting my outfit from the rack.

"Hurry, put it on and go out there. We are on the ground floor, both of us," Olivia said, throwing me a pair of black biker shorts, a pink crop top, and a pair of sandal heels.

I hurriedly put them on, and Olivia pushed me into my chair, starting to apply makeup on my face.

"We have to hurry, there's no one to attend to the customers on the floor," Olivia said, her hands shaking as she applied whatever she put on my face.

A few minutes later, we were running through the hallways as I pinned my name tag on my top. Olivia was already ahead, and I pushed my hair out of my face, stumbling in the heels before I pushed open the door to the club.

As usual, the place was crowded, and I immediately got to work. It didn't take long before Aiden walked in.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest as he approached me. He was wearing a deep red suit with its buttons undone, exposing his slim chest and pale skin. There was a heavy frown on his face, and his blue eyes glared at me.

"My office, now," he said when he got closer to me, brushing past me towards the exit. I sighed, glancing at Olivia, who patted her hand on her chest as if to reassure me that it would be fine before she went back to work.

I brushed my sweaty palms over my shorts before I left the room and headed for Aiden's office. I saw Grace coming out of it with her head bowed in shame.

"Are you in trouble too?" she asked me, and I nodded nervously. She smiled sadly at me before walking off.

I patted my cheeks before pushing the door open. The AC blasted me immediately, and I shivered before closing the door behind me and turning to Aiden.

He sat cross-legged in his seat, staring at me intently.

"I'm really sorry, I overslept! And it was hard getting a bus because everyone was just leaving work and had to get the bus too. I—"

"Enough. I don't want to hear it!" Aiden yelled before standing up from his chair sharply. I gasped and stepped backward fearfully.

"It's your responsibility to be here early. I employed you despite being the less fit candidate for this job. The least you can do is be here on time. You'll be punished for this," Aiden said calmly.

I nodded briefly. I was expecting it anyway, and I just wished he didn't cut my pay. I still had to buy Avery her violin.

"Mikhail's girlfriend is throwing a party to celebrate her new ambassadorship with Gray's Perfumes tomorrow evening at the Stars Center. You'll be joining the rest of the waitresses at the event," Aiden said, and my eyes widened in shock.

Mikhail's girlfriend? Karina?

Why did it have to be her of all people?

"A costume would be provided for you at the event. The theme is a masquerade ball. You should report there in the morning and let them know you're from me. I already told them you'll be coming. Don't fuck it up," Aiden said before waving his hand at me in dismissal.

I bowed gently before leaving his office, closing the door behind me and resting my back against it.

I didn't want to face Karina anymore, not even a day before a date with her boyfriend. This sounded so weird. She was mean and hated my guts. I rubbed my hands against my face as I went back to the club.

The only thing I was thankful for was the fact that it was a masquerade ball, and I knew I had to wear a mask. That was it! I'll get a mask to cover up my face so she wouldn't recognize me. That was the only way to avoid her.