chapter 13. The Blue moon designer

"Grandma...." Xavier pinched her waist and she inhaled a sharp breath.

She had wanted to refute his claims but he had to shut her up. This darn man.

Maybelline admired their love-filled scene. Ava blushed red when she saw her grandma's suggestive glance.

Who wouldn't want to be with this beautiful man? She was not the least interested in him and the man knew it hence he forced her to be with him.

"Can we talk outside?" Ava demanded while whispering.

"About what?"

"Do you want my grandmother to know that you forced me to marry you?"

"Really? Then it will be very interesting to know that you clung to me while sleeping. The photos look so good", Xavier smiled wickedly.

"Pervert", she mumbled and dragged him out of the room. Maybelline saw them whispering and how Ava blushed. The little girl has grown into a beautiful woman.

" What did you say?"

"I have your photos and videos. Like to see them?"

"How could you bully a girl like that?"

"Stay with me and I will hand them over to you".

"This is coercion not by consent, Do you know it's illegal to do that?"

"I am the law. I know you would also like your grandma to know that you play truancy in school", Ava turned abruptly to look at him.

"Can you be less shameless?"

"I can be but not before you", Ava glared at him.

Ava never wanted to be with him but this domineering man had his ways.

she knew that she had no escape route hence she decided to play along. Just two years and within the two years she must find a cure for the old man's heart disease and they would divorce. Her eyes shone brightly at the newfound idea.

"After two years, we can divorce?" Her expectancy eyes glowed.

Xavier hated to be apart from her, he was beginning to be addicted to her scent and everything about her. How will he explain this to her? She would jump up and throw him over her shoulders.

He had never been attracted to a woman much less have emotional feelings for one but everything changed that night.

That night about a month ago, the hair scent had lingered in his senses. When he was informed that Quincy Hobbs wished to see him, he felt disgusted on hearing her shrill voice. His saviour's voice was so soft and velvety.

"Yes, we can divorce", his voice became gloomy, What is she up to?

"Okay, let's sign a prenuptial agreement".

" Huh"

"We're you not in a hurry to get married to me? I'm ready, let's go to the marriage bureau today".

"Are you in such a hurry to get married to me such that you can't wait?" Xavier teased.

"You wish".

Ava gave him a cursory glance, his facial profile can overturn kingdoms but... tsk tsk tsk.

Xavier squinted at her and tried to guess her train of thought through her expression but hers was neutral. Darn this emotionless woman.

Xavier received an urgent call from the company, he gave her a quick peck on the lips and went away. Ava felt disgusted at his actions and wiped her lips hard. Xavier turned back just in time to see her actions and narrowed his eyes in anger.

Ava gave a provocative glance as if to say what can you do to me?

Xavier didn't have time to deal with her properly.

Ava returned to her grandma's hospital room.

The grandmother's face lit up with a captivating smile, she beckoned her to come closer.

"That young man.... who is he?"

"Grandma he is...."

"My grandson-in-law?"

"No", she denied.

"Why are you being so fierce? Is there something I have to know?"

"Grandma it's just that everything was fast-paced and I didn't have time to tell you but he is yet to be your grandson-in-law".

"You will miss a lot If you let this man slip off your hands. I m to be your Ava", Maybelline grabbed Ava's hands emotionally.

Ava's face reddened and she felt bad for her grandma. Ever since she grew up they had never had a male figure in the family so she kind of understood how her grandma felt. Xavier's appearance was at the right time and it brought a glow of light into Maybelline's life.

"Grandma I promise you that he will be your grandson-in-law. If you like him, who am I to say no as long you like him", Ava made a funny face.

" No way child, your happiness is my priority and if you don't feel comfortable around him then stop seeing him. I will not like him either", she nervously grabbed Ava's hand. She looked like a child who was afraid he would be denied candy.

Ava felt her eyes teared, if her grandma liked him then she would try to like him too after all he doesn't seem like a bad person.

"Ok grandma, he doesn't look like a bad guy"

Maybelline's eyes crinkled when she smiled at Ava. Her wrinkled hands looked frail and boneless.

The grandmother-granddaughter duo shared a nice time after which Ava let her take a nap.

She asked for directions to Lionel's Office. The research centre was quite big and the entire facility looked like a maze.

On getting to the office, she pushed open the door and entered just in time to see him frolic with one of the nurses.

The nurse glared at her while adjusting her clothes. Licking her lips, she clicked her tongue at Ava and stormed out of the office.

"interrupted your romp hour? Sorry about that. Work or pleasure? The latter causes the downfall of most men", Ava strolled while taking a cursory look at his office environment.

"Nice office arrangement", she picked up the monthly medical magazine. Flipped to the exact page she wanted. All this while, Lionel didn't drop his guard around her. The more he looked at her, the more convinced he is that Xavier has met his match.

"The journal is hard to come by, I especially love the unique articles of Dr A".

Startled, he jumped up and looked excited.

"Do you know Dr A?"

"Not much, I have heard about him before", Ava looked nonchalant.

"Why have such a condescending look on your face? You will never reach the level of Dr A. That medical professional is known worldwide and his identity is a mystery"

"So I learnt". She crossed her legs in a bossy manner.

"What do you want?"

"I want to know my grandma's post-surgery tests".

Lionel picked up some sheets of paper and passed them to her. Ava scanned the results and sighed.

Lionel was shocked at her ready rate he used subtle ways to test her.

"There is no need to test my memory capability. it's far better than yours", he felt insulted and glared at her.

Ava gave him a casual glance and stood up.

"Hurry up with your treatments, I need to take her out of here".

" This is the best hospital you can find in the whole world"

"Coming from someone who can barely control intraoperative bleeding".

Lionel's face puffed up.

" That was a mistake, it won't repeat itself".

Ava stopped her track without turning back, "They're supposed to be no room for mistakes, you know it better than I".

"Who do you think you are? Just because you got lucky and the measure you used worked".

"Lionel Jessi, 26years old Brazilian doctor who carried out an 8hrs operation on 3rd November 2021 on a female pregnant patient but the patient died in the process. You know who helped you cover things up else your license would have been destroyed".

Lionel went pale and shuddered when Ava's frozen eyes met his. How did she know all these? This issue was well hidden by Xavier when he found him but he had been sabotaged by a fellow doctor.

"Don't worry, no one else knows about it apart from I, you, Xavier Charles Lawson and the doctor who sabotaged you".

" You...", Lionel took staggering steps back. "Who are you?"

"I am no enemy or friend, don't try to find out my identity also my secret is safe with you?"

"Yes....s". He bobbed his head. He agreed without hesitation because he didn't know what else she knew.

Ava left his office and returned to the room allocated to her, she turned on her phone cum palmtop computer and typed a few lines of codes. The exam timetable is yet to be released and she had no patience to wait for that. She copied the timetable into her Google Drive and laid down to rest.

Quincy Hobbs decided to take a breather and get away from home. She was super bored because she had to lay low after the most embarrassing phase of her life. She took out one of her favourite sports cars just to show off.

Even if the marriage arrangement failed her family still had wealth and power.

Her first port of call was a shopping mall.

The manager came out to welcome her as she stepped out of the car with securities flanking her on both sides.

"Welcome to our humble, Miss Hobbs".

Quincy gave off the air of a magnanimous superior. She waved him away and head in the direction of the new season's collections.

" Welcome Miss Hobbs", the attendant bowed and the rest crowded around her while clamouring to serve her.

Quincy felt smug on witnessing this scene before her, the new collections were brought out and she selected the Ines she wanted.

"I need to see your dinner gowns catalogue"

They immediately brought it and her eye caught particulate which suited her temperament and disposition.

"I want this dinner given to be ready by this time next week"

"I'm sorry Miss Hobbs, this dinner gown is out of stock in our mall. This designer doesn't design clothes frequently. He designs once in a while.

"You mean the designer "Blue Moon" designed this gown?"

"Exactly Miss Hobbs".

"I need his contact details now".

" I....", the attendant hesitated.

"You will not give me?"

"That's not the problem Miss Hobbs but the issue is that we can't contact him directly and he takes a long time before he replies.

" Who does he think he is? A common designer?"

"He is not a common designer Miss Hobbs, he is the most sought-after designer around the globe"

The manager came out after learning about her request. Although she sounded rude, he had no choice but to do her every bidding.