Chapter Three
1150 Words
The phone pressed tightly against her ear. For a moment, she wondered if she had heard the caller correctly.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty. "I think you have the wrong person."
There was a brief pause before the man spoke again.
"Am I speaking with Miss Ava Carter?"
"Yes..."
"Then there is no mistake, ma'am. Mr. Damien Blackwood has requested to see you at Blackwood Group Headquarters today."
Ava's heart pounded against her chest.
"But... why?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion. "I don't even work for Mr. Blackwood."
"I'm afraid I don't have that information, ma'am," the caller replied politely. "I was only instructed to contact you and ask that you report to the executive office by twelve o'clock noon."
Ava tightened her grip on the phone.
"Did he... did he say what this meeting is about?"
"No, ma'am. Mr. Blackwood prefers to discuss the matter with you in person."
Silence followed.
"Will you be coming, Miss Carter?"
Ava hesitated. Questions raced through her mind, but none of them had answers.
"...I'll be there," she said at last.
"Very well. We look forward to seeing you."
The call ended, leaving Ava staring at the dark phone screen, her heart filled with fear, confusion, and countless unanswered questions.
Ava lowered the phone slowly, her mind still replaying every word the caller had said. Before she could gather her thoughts, her phone rang again.
Karen.
Without hesitation, Ava answered.
"Karen..."
"You sound even worse than before,"
Karen said. "What happened? Did something else go wrong?"
Ava took a deep breath.
"I just got a call."
"What kind of call?"
"From Blackwood Group."
There was a brief silence.
"The Blackwood Group?" Karen repeated, sounding confused. "As in Damien Blackwood's company?"
"Yes."
Karen let out a surprised gasp.
"What on earth do they want with you?"
"I don't know," Ava admitted. "The caller said Damien wants to see me at twelve noon."
"What?" Karen almost shouted. "How does he even know who you are? Did you tell him about the pregnancy?"
"No," Ava replied quickly. "I haven't spoken to him since... that night."
Karen fell silent for a moment.
"This doesn't make any sense."
"I know," Ava whispered. "I'm scared,
Karen."
"Don't panic," Karen said gently. "Go and hear what he has to say first. Whatever happens, call me the moment you leave his office."
"I will," Ava promised.
After ending the call, she placed her phone on the bed and stood there for a moment. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. Whatever Damien wanted, she couldn't meet him looking like she had completely fallen apart.
She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Warm water ran over her skin, washing away the sweat and tears. She closed her eyes for a moment, silently praying for the strength to face whatever awaited her.
A few minutes later, she stepped out, dried herself, and opened her wardrobe. Her hand hovered over several outfits before she settled on a simple cream blouse, a pair of black trousers, and low heels. She wasn't trying to impress anyone. She only wanted to look presentable.
Standing before the mirror, she noticed how swollen her eyes were from crying. She applied a little concealer and brushed her hair into a neat ponytail. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.
Taking one last deep breath, she picked up her handbag.
"You are only going to hear what he had to say, nothing more," she whispered to herself.
Ava locked the door behind her and walked toward the roadside. The sun was already high in the sky, but she barely noticed the warmth on her skin. Her mind was too occupied with the questions that refused to leave her alone.
She raised her hand, and a taxi pulled over.
"Blackwood Group Headquarters, please," she said as she climbed into the back seat.
The driver nodded and drove into the busy traffic.
Ava rested her head against the window, watching people go about their day. Some laughed, and some hurried across the street, while others chatted as though life was perfectly normal. She wished she could trade places with any one of them, even for a few minutes.
Her thoughts drifted back to Damien. She remembered the way he had looked at her that night, the warmth in his eyes, and the kindness in his voice. It had all felt so real.
Now, she couldn't stop wondering why he had asked to see her.
As the taxi slowed to a stop in front of the towering Blackwood Group building, Ava took a deep breath, knowing there was no turning back now.
She paid the driver, stepped out of the taxi, and slowly lifted her eyes to the towering Blackwood Group headquarters. The sleek glass building stretched high into the sky, reflecting the afternoon sun. People in tailored suits walked briskly through the revolving doors, each of them looking as though they had somewhere important to be.
For a moment, Ava hesitated.
She tightened her grip on her handbag and took a deep breath before walking inside.
The lobby was elegant and spotless. Marble floors gleamed beneath the bright lights, while a large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Employees moved from one department to another, greeting each other with polite smiles. The atmosphere was calm, yet every person seemed focused on their work.
Ava suddenly became conscious of herself. She felt small in such a grand place.As she approached the reception desk, the young receptionist looked up with a warm smile.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"
Ava cleared her throat.
"I'm Ava Carter. I... I have an appointment with Mr. Damien Blackwood."
The receptionist glanced at her computer before smiling again.
"Yes, Miss Carter. Mr. Blackwood has been expecting you. Please follow me."
Ava's heartbeat quickened as she followed the receptionist toward the private elevators, and then the doors slid open with a soft chime.
She stepped out behind the receptionist, her heartbeat growing louder with every step they took down the quiet hallway. The executive floor was nothing like the busy lobby below. It was calm, elegant, and almost intimidating.
They stopped in front of a large wooden door.
The receptionist turned to her with a polite smile.
"Please wait here, Miss Carter. Mr. Blackwood will see you shortly."
She nodded, but her palms were already damp with sweat.
A few seconds later, the office door slowly opened.
Damien Blackwood walked out.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, looking every bit the powerful billionaire the world admired.
As he lifted his eyes, they met Ava's.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Ava's breath caught.
Damien stared at her. His expression was u readable.
Then, in a calm voice, he said,
"Come in."
Ava swallowed hard and stepped toward the open door.
- Writer
