In Love With My Rival

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: came over me

            “Please go to the Marketing Department and tell AJ to prepare the costume and everything that’s needed for the shoot. Please also inform them that the plane will take off at exactly five in the morning. Nobody must be late.”

            Ava requested Mason who was eagerly taking notes on his notepad.

            “Anything else?” Mason asked.

            “That’s all.”

            “Great. I’ll go now.”

            Ava nodded at him and sat down as Mason headed out of the door. Silence filled the room again and she decided to open her laptop to check her emails. Her eyes glanced at the time on her MacBook and it said it was already 3:30 in the afternoon. She must have been sleeping in the adjacent room for almost thirty minutes.

            “Are you hungry?”

            She suddenly heard someone ask. Glancing up from the monitor, she saw Zephyr staring at her with hopeful eyes. Hopeful? Why, though?

            “Why?”

            “Just asking?” He shrugged, standing up from the couch and walked over to her desk.

            She thought he would come close to her when he suddenly walked past her and stopped the glass walls. From her peripheral vision, she could see Zephyr leaning his back on the glass, staring at her.

            “I am.” She had no choice, but to be honest when she felt her stomach grumbled.

            “What do you want?”

            “You’re buying?” She asked, surprised at the offer.

            “Maybe.”

            “Why aren’t you sure?” She asked, shaking her head. There was a small smile playing on her lips, though.

            “Fine. I’ll buy you food. What do you want?”

            Ava smirked at the tone of helplessness in Zephyr’s voice. She was suddenly craving for lasagna so she did not waste more time and told him. “Get me the cheesiest lasagna.”

            “That’s all?”

            Ava’s brows went up in surprise.

            Is he rich?

            “I’m on a diet.” She just said, no because it was true, but because she did not want him to really spend that much.

            “Diet, my ass.”

            His voice was very low, but she still heard him, making him shake her head and continued on checking her personal emails. She did not find anything important or suspicious so she logged into her business email where she found many unread messages from stores they supply products to. She sorted them out before exiting the Window and turning around on her chair only to see Zephyr walking past her and to the door.

            “You’re leaving me?”

            Ava’s eyes widened in disbelief. Panic rose over her as her eyes followed Zephyr. At her voice, Zephyr stopped in his tracks and it took him a few moments before he finally turned around to look at her.

            “I’m just going to ask Mason if he wants something.” Zephyr calmly told her.

            “He’ll have the same food as I want.” Ava hurriedly said.

            Something was different in her tone.

            Zephyr’s brow slightly rose up as he studied Ava. Her brows were slightly furrowed I a small frown. Her eyes were telling him to stay or was it only his own imagination? But, he really thought he saw something in the way she looked at him like she did not want him to leave her alone. Maybe, she was just scared and he totally got that.

            Zephyr stuck to the realization that Ava might be just scared that something bad would happen to her again. His eyes softened at the thought. Before he even knew it, his feet were dragging him back to the chair in front of her desk and sat on it.

            “Are you scared I’m leaving you here alone?”

            “What? Of course, not.” Ava rolled her eyes at Zephyr.

            “Are you sure?” Zephyr’s tone was teasing.

            Ava scoffed at his smug look. He sounded so full himself at the moment.

            It’s actually charming.

            “Very sure.” She muttered. “Why don’t you just order food online?” She asked instead, to change the topic.

            “That’s what I’m thinking about.”

            Zephyr picked his old iPhone out of his jeans’ pocket and started ordering food. He chose whatever he liked and what Ava had requested. When he was done, he looked up and faced ahead to see Ava signing the contract he signed.

            The contract…

            Is valid…

            For three months…

            From the effective date…

            Three months… seemed to be a short time. That was the only thing stated in the agreement that bothered him a lot. Only thing. The rest were not really a problem such as a salary and the strictly professional relationship that needed to be established between them. She made the contract and he did not have any terms on it. He wished he could have more time, not because he wanted to be with her for a longer time, but because he was not confident enough that he could accomplish the mission in the span of three months. He hasn’t formally started yet.

            Zephyr bit his lip at the thought.

            I need to start some 'digging' soon.

            “There. It’s official. You’re now my personal bodyguard.”

            Ava’s cheerful voice pulled him out of his bothering thoughts.

            “At your service.” He smiled at her.

            This man is just something else.

            Ava could not help but think so. She was staring at Zephyr who was smiling in front of her. He was not just a beautiful man, but she knew she was someone pure with a thoughtful heart.

            “Zephyr?”

            Ava was half-awake, but she knew it was Zephyr because of the minty cologne of something that was put over her. His jacket. It wasn’t that long that she had fallen asleep. She slowly sat up on the bed, staring at his leather jacket in her arms.

            “How long have you been he–”

            “Just now.”

            His reply made her fall silent for a while. “Oh.”

            “I’ve signed the contract.”

            Ava did not miss the vulnerable tone in his voice and she wondered what happened.

            “Oh. That’s great. I’ll check it out later.”

            “Cool. I’ll be outside.”

            And he was out of the room… just like that.

            What do you expect?

            It was what exactly happened in the room. Nothing kinky. Nothing dirty. Ava stared at the jacket which he was now wearing. She had given it back to him earlier when she followed him out of the room. She did not realize she had zoned off until Zephyr waved his hand in front of her, trying to get her undivided attention.

            Blinking, she tore her eyes from space and focused on the man right in front of her.

            I can’t be possibly falling for this man. It’s been just a day. Just no way.

            “Hey.”

            Hey? That sounds so informal, Lauren.

            Ava could hear her father’s voice in her head. Adam hated informality. But this was Zephyr and she could talk in whatever way she wanted to.

            “Yes?”

            “We should go home early today. We will be flying to California tomorrow. The plane will be at the rooftop of this building until four forty-five.” She said.

            California. California. California.

            The state itself kept repeating in Zephyr’s mind like an old country song played on a retro vinyl player. Why Cali? Now, he hated agreeing to be the model for the advertisement.

            “Why did we have to travel all the way from New York to Cali? Can’t we do that short ad here?”

            “No!”

            “That’s exactly why I’m asking. Why not here? Is it not possible to just be filming in a studio or somewhere in this state?” Zephyr said in a matter of fact tone.

            “You already agreed earlier. Why are you complaining now?”

            “Because I’ll be waking up early and I hate not having a good sleep.”

            “That’s exactly why I just told you that we will be going home early today. We can go home right when we’re done eating.”

            Just in time, there was a knock on the door. Ava hurried to open it and smiled at the boxes of food she requested.

            “Miss Ava Lauren?”

            “Yes, that’s me.”

            “Here you go.”

            “Thank you.” She smiled gratefully at the delivery boy as she received the order.

            Before the blonde teenage boy could turn around and leave, she called out for him. “You can have this.” She handed him a hundred dollar note.

            “But it’s already paid.”

            “That’s a tip. Thank you again.” Without waiting for the guy’s refusal, she walked back inside her office and waved at him.

            “You are so kind.”

            “I’m not.” Ava made a face and shook her head at Zephyr as she sat at her desk, moved her MacBook aside, and laid the foods on her desk.

            “Can you give Mason the lasagna and fries?”

            “Sure.”

            Zephyr obliged, getting a box of lasagna and a regular fries. He walked out of the office and knocked on Mason’s office door. He heard a tired ‘Come in’. When he pushed the door open and walked inside, Mason was working with something on his MacBook.

            “You bought this?”

            Mason asked in surprise as Zephyr put the food down on his desk.

            “Consider it my treat.”

            “Thanks.” Mason smiled.

            “You’re welcome. Enjoy it.”

            Zephyr laughed when Mason dug in right away. He took it as a cue to leave the room and went back to Ava’s. He wasn’t wrong when he expected that she should be finished on a box of lasagna by the time he walked in. An empty food box was already on the side and she was now on her second one. He actually found it sexy when he saw a woman who eats a lot.

            “Slow down.” He chuckled, sitting back on the chair in front of her.

            “Can’t help it,” Ava replied with her mouth full.

            Zephyr joined her, enjoying all the food he ordered for them. Aside from the cheesy baked lasagna and potato fries, there were fried chicken wings, shanghai rolls, and coke float. Random conversations were exchanged with smiles, chuckles, and laughter. They were having a good time until it was finally four in the afternoon and finally time to go home. They cleaned up the desk before walking out of the office. Mason just got out of his too and the three, headed towards the elevator, riding down to the basement parking lot.

            “See you tomorrow!” Mason waved his hand at his boss as he got inside his car.

            Ava smiled at waved her hand back at Mason. “See ya!”

            When Mason drove off, Zephyr opened the passenger seat door but frowned when Ava was not getting inside.

            “What about your motorcycle?”

            “Oh.” He completely forgot about that.

            Closing the passenger seat door, he rounded the car and opened the driver’s side instead.

            Ava shook her head and got inside, their faces almost touching in the process.

            “I’ll be right beside you.” He told her before closing the door and walked to where his motorcycle was parked. He put on his back helmet and waited for Ava to maneuver out of the basement. When he finally saw her making her way, he began following her. Not so long after, they were already on the road and Zephyr was right beside her on the driver’s side as they drove to her place.

            Ava was driving fast and Zephyr was amazed by her driving skills. The traffic was quite heavy. After almost thirty minutes, they finally were finally parked in another basement.

            Ava walked out of her car and towards Zephyr who was taking off his helmet and getting off his bike.

            “I’ll walk you up there.”

            “Of course, you’re my bodyguard after all.”

            “Right.” Zephyr shook his head and followed Ava towards the elevator.

            Comfortable silence enveloped the small space as they rode up to the top floor where Ava’s unit was. They were standing a meter distance from each other. Zephyr had his hands in his pockets as he patiently waited for the lift to stop. When they finally arrived, Zephyr was the first one to go out. He checked the hallways and when he saw it clear, he signaled for Ava to walk out.

            Ava entered the passcode to her unit and the door opened. She got inside and when she turned around, Zephyr was waking in too.

            “Aren’t you going home?”

            “I’m not going home until you go to sleep.”

            “What? You have to go home and start packing.”

             "I don't have to pack so many things. It's just one day."

             Ava sighed in defeat. "I'll be fine here alone. The security here is very high-tech. If something goes wrong, I'll call you. Okay?"

               Zephyr stared at Ava, really hesitating whether he should leave her or not. And then, Xavier popped into his mind. He still has to pick him up from college. 

              "Okay. You have my number. We'll see each other at the rooftop tomorrow." His voice was oddly sad. He was not sure why but the thought of leaving her alone in her house was just disturbing. "Call me."

               Ava could not help but laugh at Zephyr. "I will." 

               "Okay," Zephyr muttered, nodding his head slowly before finally turning around.                   

               "Wait?"

               "Wh-"

                Zephyr's words were cut off when he suddenly felt a pair of soft lips on his own. Before he even knew it, his own lips were moving against Ava's in a soft kiss.