Chapter 6

Upon her return home, Ava immediately handed the earring Zoe Harper had retrieved back to Lily Johnson. Subsequently, in their group chat, she mentioned her upcoming interview, prompting a barrage of clapping cat emojis from Doris. In the midst of this emoji storm, Zoe inquired, "Are we still on for tomorrow at three?"

Regrettably, Ava had to decline, "Tomorrow won't work. My car's broken down right outside your office. I've got to call a tow, sort out insurance, then it's off to the auto shop for me."

They agreed to reschedule for the following morning.

With her plans reorganized, Ava fetched her pajamas and made her way to the shower. As she passed the living room, she noticed a light still burning in the spare bedroom. Inside, Lily was ensconced in pillows, her fingers flying over her laptop keyboard.

Ava brought her a glass of water, asking, "First day and you're already swamped?"

Lily, looking visibly overwhelmed, took a hefty swig before lamenting, "You wouldn't believe my luck. Turns out, three team members quit last week, and on my very first day, I inherit their workload!"

Ava, taken aback, asked, "How are you supposed to handle all that by yourself?"

Lily explained, "The manager mentioned more interviews tomorrow. Looks like I'll be on the hiring panel." She then sighed, a mixture of resignation and disbelief in her tone, "So, this is the adult life, huh?"

With a knowing smile, Ava replied, "Welcome to the grown-up world."

Post-shower, as midnight neared, Ava found herself lying awake in bed, her mind seemingly at ease for the first time in a while due to her resolving job situation. Their second-floor apartment allowed the night's cool breeze to gently sway the curtains, casting shifting shadows of the tall locust tree outside across the floor.

In a spontaneous moment, Ava called out "Dear" towards the vacant balcony. The sound of her own voice surprised her, and she chuckled at the absurdity of talking to thin air, imagining Adrian doing the same.

Shaking off the silliness of the moment, Ava closed her eyes, ready for sleep to take her.

The following day, Adrian sent a text at four o'clock, an hour ahead of schedule, notifying Ava he was already waiting at her apartment complex's entrance.

Ava, who had just gotten back from the auto repair shop with a handful of insurance forms, approached Adrian's car. "Can you wait for me for about half an hour?" she requested.

Adrian was casually resting in the passenger seat, an arm thrown over the window and a cigarette loosely held between his fingers. He gave her a once-over, likely inferring she intended to freshen up. With a relaxed "Hmm," he indicated, "Take your time."

Acknowledging with a nod, Ava quickly made her way back to her apartment.

The garage visit had left her with a lingering smell of motor oil. She opted for a shower first, and as her hair dried, she evaluated her wardrobe, finally selecting between a black velvet dress and a soft mauve one.

After deliberating for a moment on her bed, Ava decisively picked one.

Knowing she was to meet Adrian's parents, she went for a simple makeup look; elegance was essential. She applied a base layer of primer, subtly enhanced her eyebrows for a softer look, added mascara, and applied a natural pinkish-brown lipstick.

With her toiletries bag in hand, Ava stepped outside, immediately greeted by the late afternoon's dazzling sunlight, prompting her to retrieve a sunflower-patterned parasol for some shade.

Adrian, meanwhile, had repositioned the car under a tree for cooler air.

About to light another cigarette, he paused, remembering Ava's earlier caution to maintain distance. With a resigned sigh, he placed the cigarette pack back on the dashboard.

Looking up, he noticed Ava approaching with her parasol in hand.

Her minimal makeup did nothing to hide her radiant beauty, and even from afar, her approach, characterized by grace and the subtle charm of her dress, caught Adrian's attention.

As she got closer, Adrian looked away discreetly.

"Why are we heading out an hour early?" Ava inquired as she neared the passenger side, folding her umbrella.

Pressing the unlock button, Adrian mentioned, "We need to swing by the supermarket."

"Picking up groceries?" Ava asked, her interest piqued.

Adrian explained, "The fridge at home is practically empty."

Once inside the car, Ava was surprised. "Does this mean we're preparing dinner ourselves?"

Adrian glanced her way. "Would that be an issue?"

"Not really," Ava responded with genuine honesty, albeit adding, "Just so you know, my cooking skills leave much to be desired."

"Don't worry, I've got this," Adrian reassured her as he ignited the engine.

Ava anticipated perhaps witnessing some hidden culinary talent of Adrian's, but their supermarket stroll showcased his preference for semi-prepared meals—easy and quick to assemble, filling their cart halfway.

Watching him make selections with a sense of purpose yet simplicity brought a discreet smile to Ava's lips as she followed a few steps behind.

At the checkout, Adrian, with his trademark silence, started unloading the cart. Clad in a stark white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his silver watch caught the fluorescent light, casting a refined glow on his chiseled, yet detached features.

The cashier, unable to resist casting multiple glances his way, looked somewhat uneasy upon realizing he was alone. "Do you have a membership?" she inquired as Adrian placed the final box of sushi on the belt.

Before Adrian could utter a word, Ava, having been observing from afar, came forward. "Yes, we do," she said, shooting Adrian a look, "Let's not waste the points."

Adrian barely lifted his eyelids to respond when a playful voice echoed from the entrance. A young man, standing about five meters away, grinned at Adrian. "Busy as always, huh? Now you're busy cooking?"

His eyes then discreetly drifted to Ava Sinclair.

"Just give them your membership number," Adrian said before heading toward the newcomer.

In the afternoon lull, the supermarket was mostly filled with elderly shoppers, making the tall, young men a noticeable sight.

Ava turned back to the cashier and gave her phone number. The cashier, sneakily glancing towards the commotion at the entrance, quickly wrapped up the transaction as a man behind Ava, growing impatient, urged, "Come on, there's a queue here!"

"That'll be $1,498," announced the cashier, her gaze fixed on Ava. "How would you like to pay?"

It was at that moment Ava realized she hadn't considered how to settle the bill. Seeing no sign of Adrian's return, she reluctantly reached for her credit card.

But just as she was about to hand it over, a laid-back, smoky voice said, "Put it on mine."

After dealing with Simon Russell, Adrian made his way back, only to catch Ava hastily putting away her card as if to prevent any chance of it being used. A hint of amusement played on his lips as he pulled out his phone.

The ride back to Adrian's was enveloped in silence. Stopped at a red light, Adrian's phone vibrated. He picked it up, and a smooth voice message played out: "When will you be free tonight? Wesley's reserved Mystic Haven for us. He was just asking about you."

Ava, recognizing the voice as the young man from the supermarket, discreetly watched as Adrian typed a response. She then opened her phone, only to find a message from the elderly woman she'd met at a coffee shop.

Smiling slightly, she typed, "Fancy a game of chess, grandma?"

Waiting for a reply, Adrian took a peek. Soon, a message came through. Ava glanced at Adrian before reading it.

"Oh dear, I sent that to the wrong person. I was trying to reach my grandson, not you. I don't feel like playing chess right now. Let's plan for tonight," it read.

Imagining the elderly woman's voice, Ava sent a teary-eyed cat emoji, about to type "okay" when Adrian abruptly hit the brakes. Caught off guard, Ava's phone slipped from her grasp, and she braced against the sudden stop.

Ava caught sight of two young girls at the pedestrian crossing, backpacks strapped on and clearly local elementary school students. They were so engrossed in their game that they missed the changing light and darted into the street.

"Hold on," Adrian said lowly, killing the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt to step out. He approached the girls, who looked startled by the sudden halt, and guided them safely across the road.

From the car, Ava, phone in hand, observed Adrian's assertive stride with a mix of worry and anticipation, mistakenly bracing for a bout of road rage. Instead, she watched him lead the children to safety with a gentle firmness, dispelling her initial fears.

Adrian lingered to offer the girls some advice, pointing towards the traffic lights and speaking with a calm authority that seemed at odds with his distant demeanor. Ava watched, intrigued by the complexity of his character.

Returning to the car, Adrian asked, "Everything okay?" Ava nodded, "Yeah, all good."

His phone vibrated just then, drawing both their attentions. After a brief glance, Adrian shared, "They'll be here soon," hinting at a call from his grandmother, to which Ava listened to his dutiful responses with surprise.

"Ask the driver to take it slow. We're not home yet," he concluded before hanging up.

The remainder of their drive was silent, filled with Ava's nervous anticipation. She lowered the window, hoping the breeze might ease her growing tension. Adrian, noticing her discomfort, inquired, "Scared?"

"Not at all," she lied, back ramrod straight.

Upon reaching the apartment, their unease climaxed. Adrian carried the groceries to the kitchen while Ava headed to the downstairs bathroom, laden with her personal care items. The small space quickly became cluttered, and in her attempt to organize, Ava accidentally broke a bottle of serum.

Adrian entered upon hearing the crash.

He found Ava on the floor, trying to salvage what remained of the expensive liquid, and couldn't resist asking, "Was that costly?"

"Yes, quite," Ava responded, facing him. The serum was a lavish purchase from a recent sale, not even a week in use.

"Forget it," Adrian insisted, fetching a mop and removing the glass from her grasp. "Send me the details later. I'll cover it."

As Ava processed his offer, the doorbell's ring cut her off. "I didn't mean for you to pay," she began, but Adrian, handing her the mop, advised, "Be careful with your hands," before the conversation was interrupted by the doorbell once again.