An Unexpected Romance

Chapter 7

AVA

When Monday comes around I still haven’t heard anything from him, and it stays that way for the rest of the week and the following one after that. I try my hardest to keep myself busy, waking up at 5 am every morning to go for a run, and once at work focusing on the current project we have just started helping to provide school meals and uniform vouchers to those who need it. I am extremely grateful Ivy can sense my mood, and  doesn’t mention him either. However after the meetings and i'm alone in my office this doesn’t stop me from googling him, checking the press releases from the event, eager to catch a glimpse. Seeing his face sends a flood of warmth through my body, betraying the attempt I make to convince myself that I do not care. By Friday I was getting annoyed at myself over the constant pining that I decided enough was enough, I knew where he worked, and who said men have to contact you first. After finding the firm's website I quickly source the phone number for his London office. Picking up the wired old style phone, I dial in the number, take a deep breath and hold it to my ear. The phone rings twice before answered by a cheery female voice,

“Hello, Moretti Management. Bianca speaking, how can i help you today? “

I panic a little, I didn’t think this far ahead. 

“Urm...Yes...hello… I am ringing to speak to Mr Moretti actually. Is he available?”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t usually take calls without a prior appointment” I hear her fingers tapping across the keys “However one of best associates has a break in his schedule if you..”

“No” I interrupted a bit more aggressively than I intended “I’m sorry. It is just really important that I speak to him directly”

The line remains quiet for a long time that i almost begin to wonder if she has hung up on me,

“Hmm let me check his availability for you” Her tone is more serious as i hear tapping across a keyboard  “I’m afraid he has a conference call scheduled in for 2.30, if you leave a name and number I can pass it along to Mr Moretti“

So much for storming the castle walls, more like knocking politely and turning away with my tail between my legs. Sighing, I begin to accept defeat before I catch the time on my computer clock..2.26, 4 minutes left till his meeting physically starts...

“It is very important I speak to him now ” hearing myself I realise I sound like I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown. I regain my composure quickly and continue more firmly “If you could please ask him personally”

“I’m not sure..” she says hesitantly,

“2 minutes is all i need, If you tell him my name he will understand” I insist further

The line stays silent as I watch the time on the computer change to 2.27. Finally her voice cuts the silence,

“Who shall I say is calling?”

“Ava Sinclair..Thank you so much ” I replied, pleased that my time wasn't wasted. It all rests on whether Angel wants to speak to me; either way answers my question about whether it was a one night stand or just something else.

“Okay please hold”

I twiddle the phone line around my fingers,  my stomach doing somersaults in time with the beeping of hold sound on the telephone line,

“Good afternoon Miss Sinclair,” Angels gruff voice greets me, i smile brightly unintentionally “What an unexpected surprise”

“Mr Moretti” I reply, keeping my tone derived from anything but politeness.

“Bianca said you were keen to talk to me, insistent in fact” he chuckles, his voice taunting. My jaw tightens, and the nerves shift to anger,

“Well I would have called your personal number if you weren’t in such a rush to piss off” I snap shortly, still his tone remains with a matter of fact tone that just angers me further,

“I have been out of town until this morning”

“Oh I am sure you have Mr big boss. That is no excuse, it takes two minutes to say goodbye to the virgin you just f****d. Unless that's the problem, I didn't want to waste your time with someone who was as inexperienced as me. Ive seen you online Mr Moretti, you f**k boys are all the same, clearly it was my mistake for thinking any f*****g different”

I slam the phone down as hard as I can hoping he gets the harsh sound in his ear. In anger, I throw my pen across the room, a frustrated scream exiting my mouth.

A knock on my office door makes me start, and I take a deep breath before answering,

“Come in,” 

 Ivy trots in followed by a gentleman in blue overalls and big brown boots

“Delivery for you”  she grins, wiggling her eyebrows at me. Ivy steps to the side revealing  a large bouquet of Lily’s that the man then plants on my desk. He passes me a clipboard and pen,

“Sign here” he grumbles. I scribble my signature and pass it back before he turns and leaves quickly  before I can ask any questions.

“Who’s it from??” Ivy noses stepping closer to my desk, and delicately touching the petals of the white and pink Lilies.

I shrug in response before spotting the small card and pulling it out to read. My face goes hot with embarrassment as soon as I realise who it’s from,

‘Have dinner with me?

Angel’

Flipping it over I see his mobile number scribbled on the back. Oh no.

“What's wrong? Who’s it from?” Ivy asks again, this time leaning over the desk to see,

“It’s from Angel” i reply meekly,

“That’s good right! Means he wants to see you again!” she exclaims, smiling brightly, I nod in reply. She squints her eyes at me, when she notices my expression hasn’t changed,

“What did you do ?”  

“Erm.. I rang him.. His office I mean” i mumble avoiding eye contact and twiddling the card between my fingers,

“I take from your expression that it didn’t go well” she questions,

“I shouted at him for leaving and then hung up” I groaned before hiding my face in my hands. The anger from before has disappeared and now I feel just embarrassed. The whole rant feels so stupid and petty now. Why didn’t I give him a chance to explain himself, I went from 0 to 100 so quick. 

“Hey, hey. Ava it's okay” Ivy comforts, she walks around to wear I’m sitting and pulls me to her. I wipe away unexpected tears that have streamed down my face, “If he can’t handle you when your mad, you don’t want him anyway”

“I just feel so silly, like a teenage girl with a crush” I sniffle, sitting up to look at her Ivy pulls back and leans on my desk

“We’ve all been there, plus despite this he had two weeks to call you” she reminds me.

The phone ringing breaks the conversation and I see the familiar number that i just dialed,

“That’s him” I mumble and she nods pushing off my desk

“I’ll leave you to it” she replies and exits the room as i pull the receiver up to my ear

“Hello” I answer, skipping the formalities

“Miss Sinclair? Its Bianca from Moretti Management” Her familiar voice has regained its chirpiness “I have Mr Moretti on the line. Can I pop you through?”

Taking a deep breath I calm myself before answering “Yes please”

“Okay, please hold” I hear a button click, and the same beeping as before fills the line. My head is spinning, and I fight every urge I have to hang up before he answers. Suddenly the beeping stops, but the line stays quiet. After a few moments I hesitantly ask,

“Angel?”

“Ava” he replies, his tone void of any clear emotion. Again I wait, but the line remains quiet, and I find it unbearable, so i start my apology in the most sincere tone i can muster;

“Angel about before,I am so sorry. I was out of line, I judged you based on things I read online which I of all people should know is not true...”

“I refuse your apology” He interrupts, his tone blunt

“You refuse it?” I question shocked,

“Yes”

“Why?” I ask my face scrunches in confusion, “I really am sorry”

“I know, but what you said was justified, not correct entirely but justified” 

“Huh?” I am now even more confused,

“Look, I do want to apologise for being rude and sneaking out that night. I was… overwhelmed and didn’t think it through. I had an early flight booked and I honestly was out of London until this morning. I wish I did leave you a note, but even though I didn’t it doesn’t mean you haven't been on my mind everyday since” Angel’s confession sends my tummy into an explosion of butterflies and a smile fills my face

“You are forgiven” I breathe through the phone, and Angel chuckles. The sound so wonderful i hope to hear it more often

“You got my flowers?” he asks, and i look to the bouquet with joy this time,

“Yes I did, they are beautiful” I grin, feeling the petel with my fingers “how did you know I like lilies?”

“Miss Sinclair, a man never spills his secrets” He jokes, “ I am pleased you like them”

“Perhaps when i see you, i can show you how much” I flirt, feeling more daring than my usual self. Angel groans in response,

“Mhm I cannot wait” I instantly pool at his response, how can one mans groan be so goddamn sexy

“So is that you agreeing to dinner?” Angel hints, his tone sounds hopeful 

“I suppose it is” I reply mock teasing him, which he rewards me with another chuckle.

“Wonderful” He declares “Saturday then. I’ll book the table for seven, and text you later to let you know what time I shall pick you up”

“Actually, can i meet you there?” I insist, remembering my Mother's warning from before.

“Are you sure? It’s no trouble” angel queries, his tone slightly confused,

“Yes, I’ll meet you there. Just text me where and i’ll meet you there” I reassure him firmly,

“As long as i don't get stood up for revenge” he chuckles in response

“You’ll just have to wait and see” I say teasingly,

I hear his buzzer going crazy in the background and look at the time- 2.37

“s**t, your conference call!” I exclaim- surprised he didn’t say anything

“Don't worry about it beautiful" he shrugs off my concern “I’m boss here”

I roll my eyes “Mhm, now go boss man, before I hang up” 

“Okay, Saturday at seven?” he chuckles

“Yes” i laugh in agreement, “Now go”

“One last thing” he mumbles quietly so I strain to hear him “Don’t wear any underwear Saturday, you won’t need it”

He hangs up without my response and I sit there shocked. If someone else said something  like that to me I would be disgusted, but from Angel…I’ve never been more turned on. I groan a horny frustrated moan. I am so intrigued and borderline obsessed with Angel Moretti