Beneath the surface

Chapter 11

Ava walked out of the coffee shop with Max, laughing and chatting about their project. "I need to swing by my place to grab some documents before heading back to the office," she said.

Max nodded. "Want me to drop you off and meet you there?"

Ava agreed, and Max drove her home. As she got out of the car, she thanked him and waved goodbye.

As she entered her home, Ava headed straight to her place to grab the documents. Her eyes wandered to Ethan's study, and she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Ava pushed the door open and stepped inside. Her eyes scanned the room, and she spotted some documents on Ethan's desk.

She walked over to the desk and began flipping through the papers. That's when she saw it - evidence of suspicious transactions and financial records that looked like money embezzlement.

Ava's eyes widened as she realized the implications. She took some pictures of the documents with her phone, her mind racing with possibilities.

She knew she had to report this to her superiors. This could be the break she needed in her investigation.

Ava quickly gathered the documents she needed and left her place, her mind still reeling from the discovery. She headed to the office, eager to share her findings with her superiors.

As she arrived, she made her way to her boss's office and knocked on the door. "Sir, I need to show you something," she said, her voice urgent.

Her boss looked up from his work and nodded. "What is it, Ava?"

Ava handed him her phone, showing the pictures she took of the documents. Her boss's expression turned serious as he scrolled through the images.

"This is evidence of money embezzlement," he said, his voice firm. "We'll need to build a case against Ethan and bring him in for questioning."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She had finally found the proof they needed.

Ava walked into the office, already feeling the weight of the day ahead. Ethan was standing by the window, his eyes fixed on her as she approached.

"Late again, Ava," he said, his voice laced with disapproval. "I expect more punctuality from my team members."

Ava felt a surge of annoyance. "Sorry, Sir. Traffic was terrible."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Traffic? Or was it a certain coffee date that ran long?"

Ava's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

Ethan's expression was unreadable. "Just wondering if your coffee date with Max was worth being late for work."

Ava felt a flutter in her chest. Was Ethan jealous? She pushed the thought aside. "It was just a friendly meeting, Ethan. Nothing more."

Throughout the day, Ava couldn't shake off the feeling that Ethan was watching her. She caught him glancing at her multiple times, his expression a mix of disapproval and... something else.

As the day dragged on, Ava felt increasingly uneasy. She was relieved when the clock finally struck 5 PM.

She headed home, exhausted from the tension-filled day. As she pulled into her driveway, she noticed the house was buzzing with activity. The staff was scurrying around, cleaning, cooking, and tending to the lawn.

Ava's curiosity was piqued. "Ariel, what's going on?" she asked the maid.

Ariel's expression was tight-lipped. "Mr. Giovanni is coming, miss. Everyone's on edge."

Ava's heart skipped a beat. "Ethan's father?"

Ariel nodded. "Yes, miss. I've heard he's... not an easy man to deal with."

Ava's mind began to whirl. She remembered the head cook mentioning Don Giovanni's brutal reputation. A shiver ran down her spine.

As she entered the house, Ava felt the tension palpably. Everyone was on high alert, their movements swift and precise.

She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, but it only seemed to intensify. Why was she feeling this way? She didn't know much about Don Giovanni, but the little she'd heard didn't bode well.

As she changed into comfortable clothes, Ava couldn't help but wonder what Don Giovanni's visit would bring. Would Ethan's father approve of her? And what did he have in store for the household?

The uncertainty hung in the air like a challenge, and Ava felt her senses go on high alert. She had a bad feeling about this.

As she waited for Don Giovanni's arrival, Ava's thoughts turned to Ethan. What was his relationship like with his father? And how would Don Giovanni's presence affect the household dynamics?

The questions swirled in her mind, leaving her with more anxiety than answers.