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“Ava, I have to say I’m concerned about you, and I don’t want you to push yourself too hard if your father needs you,” Freddie says.
“No, it will be fine. I need to be at work, especially with the opportunity to do the piece on Coral. I want to work hard to be considered.”
“You’re already being considered. I haven’t shared this with Brock, but I will share a few things with you to put your mind at ease.” He grins, and I listen on, eager to hear what he has to say. Brock is the competition, and he’s not the nicest of guys. If he’s not trying to grab my ass at work get-togethers and pretending to be drunk, he’s always staring at my breasts. “As you know, the decision will lie with the panel, but they’ll be deciding based on five of your articles chosen at random by me. Those were submitted last Friday.”
My eyes widen. I didn’t know that. We were given a host of things that covered work ethic and our contributions to the magazine over the years. There were originally ten people who were selected for the competition, then last month, that went down to two. Me and Brock. This is the final phase. I worked my ass off with everything, and I pray I do get chosen. Knowing this info about the articles helps ease my mind.
“Thank you. I’m grateful.”
“That’s my part done. As your manager, though, I want to make sure you take care of yourself. You’re a great writer, Ava, and you do good work here, so if you need time with your father, please ask.”
I appreciate his words and kindness. “Thanks, I will.”
I give him a smile as I leave and head to the coffeehouse where Holly will be already waiting for me.
I have roughly half an hour before I have to meet Pierbo. He’s been taking me to work and picking me up. I’ve met him in the car park of the magazine complex over the last few days, and everything has run smoothly. I do what I’m supposed to, and it’s been working.
Holly is sitting in the furthest booth. Today her hair is fiery red. She likes dyeing her hair different colors. Yesterday it blond.
I see she’s already started on drinks without me, and pastries. This is the girl who can eat whatever she wants and never gain an ounce.
She smiles when she sees me and gives me a hug when I get to her.
“Hey, did you have a good meeting with Freddie?” she asks. She’s gotten on Freddie’s bad side more than once so is cautious of him.
“Yes, it was good. He just wanted to make sure I’m okay.”
She nods, and we sit. Worry covers her face when she looks at me from across the table. She’s wanted to ask me more since Monday but held off. I feel today I’ll get the questions she’s been keeping at bay.
The Barista comes over with two steaming mugs of coffee. It’s our mixture that we’ve always ordered. Caramel and hazelnut lattes with a dash of chocolate sprinkled on top.
“I knew you’d be along soon, so I ordered for you.” Holly smiles.
“Thanks, I missed this,” I answer. Normally, I’d have at least two of these in any day.
“I thought so. It’s cheer-up drinks. And I’m possibly trying to create a chilled mood so maybe you’ll ease my troubled mind.” She gives me a hopeful smile.
“I’m okay, Holly,” I tell her. I can’t have her worrying about me, and I don’t want to add her to my ever-growing list of things I blame myself for.
“You say that, but I sense there’s something you aren’t telling me. You tell me everything, Ava,” she points out.
She’s right. I do tell her everything, or at least everything I can. She doesn’t know about my past. The everything she’s talking about is stuff from the time since she’s known me.
I’ll bet she’d get a shocker, or her hair might turn white if she ever knew that little old me not only went to The Dark Odyssey, but I had sex in public with a man so sexy you’d drool the minute you look at him.
She’d get more shockers if she knew I’d have sex with the said man like I needed oxygen to breathe. But maybe she’d be more shocked that I offered myself up to him in exchange for the debt Dad owes him.
There’s so much to say. So much I would love to get off my chest, but I can’t.
I couldn’t and end up fucking things up because as wild as Holly is, and as much as she’d think Vincent was hot as sin, she’d tell me to call the police if she knew what happened.
“I’m okay, Holly. Dad’s not in a good way.” That’s truth. I haven’t spoken to him, but I get to see him on Saturday. He’s being released from the clinic then.
She seems a little more at ease at my answer. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, there’s nothing anyone can do. He says he wants to change, so I’m hoping he will. I’m thinking of either getting a place for the both of us or having him move in with me.” If I don’t end up staying with Vincent forever.
“Really, Ava?”
