CHAPTER SEVEN
628 Words
Ava’s POV
The morning air was crisp and laced with the soft hum of city life waking up. Ava stood at her tiny apartment’s window, one hand gently resting on her baby bump. Her nerves buzzed under her skin like static. It was her first day back into the working world — and she wasn’t just returning to any job. She was stepping into a major corporation, trying to hold her ground while carrying twins and hiding a past she wasn’t ready to face.
“Okay, Ava,” she said to herself, tying her hair into a loose bun. “You’ve got this. You need this.”
She dressed in a pale pink maternity blouse that hugged her bump tastefully and a pair of comfortable black slacks. Her reflection in the mirror stared back, uncertain but determined. She applied a little mascara, some gloss, and nodded to herself.
The cab ride to Stonebridge Holdings was uneventful—except for her constantly adjusting her top and running over imaginary interview questions, even though she’d already secured the job.
The building stood like a tower of steel and glass, intimidating and elegant. Ava paused at the revolving doors, inhaled deeply, and stepped in.
Inside, she was greeted by the modern luxury of the lobby—marble floors, glass partitions, clean lines, and the low murmur of efficiency. She approached the front desk, and before she could speak, a woman in a navy dress stepped toward her.
“Ava Collins?” the woman asked with a warm smile. “I’m Clara, from HR. We’ve been expecting you.”
Clara was chatty but kind, and thankfully didn’t ask too many personal questions as she gave Ava a tour of the office. They passed by different departments—Marketing, Finance, Legal—and eventually arrived at Corporate Communications, where Ava would be working.
Her desk was small but neat, with a welcome note and a company mug waiting. The team greeted her politely. She met a few coworkers—Maria, a sarcastic senior writer; Jonah, the quiet IT guy who barely looked up from his keyboard; and Grace, an overly enthusiastic intern.
She was still settling in when Clara returned.
“There’s a company-wide meeting in the conference hall. Every new hire sits in on these. Just follow the crowd.”
Ava followed a stream of employees down a wide hallway, nerves picking at her again. She took a seat near the back and opened her notepad.
The room fell silent a few minutes later.
A man stepped to the front.
Dark hair. Sharp features. Black tailored suit. Presence like a punch in the chest.
Liam.
Her breath hitched.
He was speaking already—confident, poised, completely in control. His voice echoed across the room, deep and self-assured, delivering quarterly updates like they were minor matters. People nodded, took notes, hung on his words.
She ducked her head slightly, praying he wouldn't notice her.
But he did.
Mid-sentence, his eyes scanned the crowd, froze on her for half a heartbeat—then continued like nothing happened.
But that second stretched endlessly for Ava. His eyes hadn’t shown shock. They’d shown calculation. As if he was trying to figure out where he knew her from. Or why she looked so familiar.
After the meeting, she slipped out as quickly as she could.
Clara caught up. “You okay? You look a little pale.”
“Just a bit lightheaded,” Ava replied with a forced smile. “First-day jitters.”
Back at her desk, she tried to focus. Her screen blurred a few times from how hard she was trying not to think about Liam. But her heart wouldn’t stop hammering.
He’s the CEO.
I’m working in his company.
And he doesn’t know… yet.
- Writer
