The Code Between Us

Chapter Two

Ava's Pov

I stood there as I felt deja vu. It was all coming back again before I could stop them.

I was hearing it loud in my f*****g ears. This laughter when I tripped down or when he tripped me down. How my books spilled through the hall. The way he didn't waste time mocking me or calling me a 'nerd' if I answered any question.

He humiliates me with every f*****g chance he gets.

This was my way of avenging and now he knows.

"You shouldn't have taken the f*****g bait, Ava." He said my name like he owned it. "Did you think I wouldn't get used to your style after all these years?"

I shurrged, "I guess I just thought you were stupid but you…..you hacked me." I smirked, as I tried to put up a strong front.

"Ahh, correct. You can finally admit it."

My brows raised, "Admit what, Ethan?"

"I'm better."

I scoffed, "Don't flatter yourself." I snapped, "You just got lucky…"

"Luck? It doesn't look like it." I could hear the pride in his voice and I rolled my eyes. "You are done, Ava. I could have you behind bars with a flick of my fingers, by the FBI, Interpol, you f*****g name it. Is this your s**t show? Over."

Fear sliced through me. I knew who Ethan was–a man of is f*****g words. He had the money, connections and I don't even think he needs that to ruin my life.

He just needs to give my identity to the FBI.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying my luck to find a way out of this or buy myself some time.

"Why the f**k would I need anything from you?"

"Because it has been over twenty minutes now and I don't hear sirens. So, what do you want, Ethan?" I asked again and the room went silent.

"You had always been clever, even right from high school…"

The memories flooded me, and I shut my eyes to keep them out.

"Just talk…."

He chuckled, "calm down. What I want is not a big deal." he paused, tapping his word hand in silence.

"Come work for me."

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me alright. Come work for me, personally. I would admit that you are too f*****g talented…"

"Thank you….." I smiled

He paused, ".....as I was saying, you are too talented to rot in jail."

I shurrged as I drew back the chair which was by my desk. "True….can you turn my monitors on. I need to see the face of the man who checkmated me after two years."

The room went silent, minutes later my laptop came on and Ethan's face was plastered on the screen.

"Don't try anything stupid. I made sure to lock you out." He said.

I smile, "Ahh, the student is finally catching up." I teased. His brows furrowed and I loved it.

"as I was saying…."

"You want me to come work for you?" I asked again, confused and he nodded his head in approval.

I laughed loudly. It was a harsh and mocking sound. I was practically tearing up.

"Are you done?" Ethan asked. His face told me he wasn't finding fnnig.

"Sorry, yes, but it is just ironic. So let me get this straight, you spent years trying to hunt me down, and now that you've gotten me, you want to hire me? Did you hit your head on those gold doors in your fancy house?"

"This isn't a f*****g joke, Ava." his voice hardened. "I wouldn't be talking to you if I couldn't find someone as talented as you but right now, there is none."

I leaned into the chair, I stared at him and I could see that he wasfucking serious.

"What do you want me to do first before I can give my answer?"

"There is a group out there, breaking through government, corporations, banks, and wiping out everything clean." He said and swallowed hard.

My mind raised…. hoping it isn't what it was,

"The Black Veil."

Fuck s**t. The name hit me like a punch into the gut, my chest tightened as old scars reopened.

"They tried to hit my company but I was able to stop them."

"That's great.."

"But they will be back and I know it. So I need you to work for me."

I inhaled, "I don't think you understand what you are asking me to do."

"I know exactly what I am asking." Ethan's voice softened, which is just a fraction. "You are the only one who could help me with the code for counterattack."

I sat there staring at him through my laptop. I was genuinely being pushed into doing something I didn't want to do. I closed my eyes and tried to remain calm.

He is here offering me choices, like it isn't the same. If I work for him, I am still going to be placed in chains.

The difference is that his chains are emotionally tied to me.

"You have got twenty-four hours," his voice went cold again. "You either work with me or I will begin to make that one phone call, and your face is plastered across every new channel in America."

The line goes dead and my screens flicker back to life, like nothing happened but everything had changed.

I could see my hands trembling hard. I had been untouchable for the past five years after I had left high school. I was all alone but that's what kept me alive.

I had no parents to turn back to. My uncle and aunt rejected me.

Going to school as an orphan was the worst. I had to face endless bullies, with Ethan always at the top of that list.

Now, he is back like he never left. He was the worst person I had ever met. He pushed to the dark side and now, he is doing it again.

I was being forced to work with the man I truly hated.

He ruined my life and I was going to ruin his.