Seven

I take a deep breath and hold it when I open the door, instantly meeting the angry, puffed out face of my mother.

"Where is she?" she asks and stands up.

"Not here, so don't bother searching the place." I already know she is referring to Ava.

"Oh, so you aren't even going to deny that you're seeing the little tramp?" she spits in disgust. I fight back the burning urge to hit my mother, throwing every sensible thought about family out the window.

"Talk like that again, and I won't hesitate to have you thrown out of this office by your feet."

She gasps loudly and places a hand over her chest. "You would do that to your own mother?" I can hear the fake tone dripping from her voice.

I roll my eyes. "Cut the crap, mother. I know you've been having me followed since this whole arranged marriage deal went down. You would do that to your own son? I already know what you're capable of, you have no idea what I'm capable and willing to do."

We stare each other down for a few minutes, before she finally backs down and walks over to the couch, sitting down as if she is exhausted. I doubt she has lifted a single finger all morning.

"Well, it seems I had a very good reason to have you followed, you've been meeting with her. How long has this been going on?" she demands. I can feel my blood boiling with every word out of her mouth.

"None of your god damn business, mother. I never agreed to this deal in the first place, you forged my signature. That is a violation of my rights, I have every sensible mind to sue you, but I already know you don't have anything. You're lucky I've been so generous thus far!"

For the first time ever, I see my mother cower away from me. She quickly composes herself, and narrows her eyes at me.

"I made you who you are, and gave you the abilities and education in order to start this business. You owe me your life, Ashton Bradford. I will not have you running around with this scuzzy, making a mockery of our name. Why is she so important to you? Why do you want to waste your life away with this–"

"Because she is currently raising my child!" I instantly regret the words as soon as they fly out of my mouth. I'm so overcome with anger towards my mother's words, I don't think about what I'm going to say next.

"W-what? She has a child?" my mother asks quietly, her mouth trembling slightly. "Are you certain it's your child?" There's no going back now.

"Ava became pregnant the night before she left, three years ago. She gave birth to a baby girl, and has been raising her on her own ever since," I explain, silently kicking myself in the ass for spilling the one secret I never wanted my mother to find out.

"When and how did you find this out?"

I glare at her. "You should know. The night you had your henchman taking pictures of me and Ava in the parking lot."

My mother frowns and thinks it over a bit, before realization dawns on her.

"That was the night I saw her for the first time, and discovered that she has a child. I had to find her again, and find out if she is mine, and she confirmed that she is."

I'm taken back when I hear my mother gasp lightly, genuine shock on her face. I guess today is a day for many firsts with her.

"You just found this out? Well, where is the girl?"

"That, I will never tell you. I don't ever want you near Ava or my daughter, do you understand?" I bark and point a threatening finger at her.

"Are you really going to deny me to see my only grandchild?"

I was appalled she had the nerve to ask that. I grip my fists in anger, trying to contain the storm brewing in me.

"I will deny it until the day you die. You've had your chance to be a mother, and you've failed every time. How can I ever trust you to even be a proper grandmother, when you could barely bother with your own kids?"

She remains silent.

"I will do everything in my power, to make sure my daughter never knows the vicious side of her family. You have been ruining any chance at happiness for me, since the day I was born. I have found true happiness in Ava, and now our daughter. You do not want to see the side of me that will emerge within seconds, if you ever try and mess with it again."

There is a roaring silence in the room now, and I am more than certain half my office just heard everything I said. I could care less. I want to make sure my mother understands Just how serious I am.

Then it hits me.

I am unraveling everything I just agreed to with Amber. I am ruining her chances at trying to escape, before any of this could blow up.

And I just blew it through the fucking roof.

***

I demand my mother leave after that, now having to think of how to undue all the damage I just caused. I would have to give it some time, for both my mother and I to cool off, before I can try any sort of recovery tactic.

I could always try the 'crawling back' method. Go back to her in a day or two and say I thought it over, and was wrong. Make up something about Ava being a cheater or not wanting me, and tell her I have agreed to forgo this arranged marriage.

That seems to be my best option. There would be no way of convincing my mother otherwise, unless I admit that she was right. She loves shit like that, and will forgive anyone who can admit that they were wrong, and she is right. She lives for the attention and praise.

I try and rush through the work day, so I can go and see Ava. I'm contemplating telling her that I spilled the beans to my mother. I know she is going to be upset, as I am at myself for breathing a word. Sandra asked me several times today if I was alright, claiming I look pale and concerned. I am concerned.

I'm down right scared to death.

I'm scared the moment I tell Ava I betrayed her trust, she's going to push me out again. I barely have her by a hair strand right now. Any fuck up, and I'll push her away for good.

I can't bear that. Not again. I have to think of a way to tell her, and as much as I may regret it later, I have to keep it a secret for now. I doubt my grandmother is that passionate about seeing her only grandchild, and probably won't put an effort in, unless she needs something from them.

Like when this plan with Amber goes to shit, and she needs someone to take revenge on. She won't go at me directly; she will go after something I love.

My heart aches and anger flares in my stomach at just the thought of her doing anything to them. I can't put it past my mother, that when everything does hit the fan, she isn't going to want to take revenge on me in some way, for screwing up her life.

When the clock finally strikes, I rush out of the office like a tornado, barely dismissing Sandra as I whirl past her and jump in the elevator. My excitement grows as I ride the elevator down, and hop in my awaiting car outside. I'm picturing the quaint little bakery the entire ride there, imagining Ava and Emily standing inside, baking cupcakes behind the counter.

My mind quickly switches over, to the same scene of them, but in a kitchen.

Our kitchen. In our home.

The image hits me so strongly, I have to veer out of the way of oncoming traffic, having swerved a little into the other lane.

One day. Soon.

I keep repeating those words over in my head, until the little bakery storefront comes into view. I park out front, and a smile appears on my face the moment I see her through the glass window. She is serving an elderly customer, handing her a box of cupcakes.

Her smile is so radiant; I can see it lighting up the entire store. I stand outside the store for a few minutes longer, admiring her beauty from afar. After the elderly woman leaves, she turns around and spots be through the window.

I can see the small smile pull at the corner of her lips, before she presses them together. I know I affect her just as much as she affects me, and my heart does somersaults in my chest knowing that fact. She walks to the door and comes towards me, still wearing her dough and icing covered apron.

Despite how dirty it looks, she still looks gorgeous in it. I look up at her, and smirk a little when I spot a smudge of blue icing on her chin. I pull her towards me lightly, and she is about to protest, when I swipe the bit of icing off her chin with my thumb, pulling it back to show her.

I lick the icing off my thumb, watching her eyes as they watch the movement of my finger, before I capture her lips undermine, the slight taste of mint icing still on my tongue. It's the perfect combination with her sweet taste. I feel her try to pull away, so I tighten my grip on her waist, keeping her pressed against me.

Suddenly, I remember the photo Amber brought me from the newspaper. I reluctantly tear away from Ava and lead her back inside.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, looking a little nervous behind the large white counter. I walk over and my place my hands in front of her, leaning in until her intoxicating smell swirls around me, suffocating me in the best way.

"I can never stay away from you long, love." A grin appears on my face when she blushes and turns her head away to look busy with something behind her. I want to walk around the counter, and claim her right there, the scent of chocolate and mint in the air, mixed with her and the image of her laid out on the counter are driving me wild. I have to keep reminding myself that the store is still open, and all the windows are glass.

As is on cue, a customer walks in, the bell above the door ringing loudly and ripping me out of my perfect daydreams. I walk over to the small lounge area in the corner and take a seat, waiting for Ava to finish up her last deliveries and orders.

A group of girls walks in, looking to be a couple years younger than Ava. One of the girls, a petite blonde haired girl with large blue eyes, and heavy make-up, walks up to the counter and smiles brightly at Ava. She returns the smile, and the girl's is nothing compared to hers.

"Good evening, Ms. White. How is Emily doing?"

I perk up a little at the mention of Emily. Who is this girl? I notice her friends look over their shoulders, sending me flirty looks with her eyes, and snickering with each other when I catch them looking. I see Ava also watch them from the corner of my eye, a small frown on her face.

Damn, she looks adorable.

"She's doing great, Lily. Thank your grandmother for me again, Emily slept all through the night last night, whatever she did worked and I am so grateful. Usually she is up at least once in the night, wanting food or just cranky, I never get to sleep in."

They both share a laugh as it become more clear to me who this girl is, and how she has become so close with Emily. A pang of jealousy hits my chest, and I have to look away and drown out what they're saying. I hate that everyone else in this world can have the freedom and joy of being in her presence, being in her life, to watch her grow and learn. I never got the privilege, and I'm still not getting it.

I want to see her so desperately.

Hold her and tell her nothing is ever going to hurt her, as long as I'm with her. Be there for every birthday, school play or sport game, to cheer her on and give her pep talks when she feels she failed. Remind her who her parents are, especially her mother, and tell her how strong and beautiful she is.

Lily and her friends order a box of cupcakes, and Ava disappears into the back to grab the box and I few more options she has just made. When she is gone, another girl from the group, a short brunette girl with a busty build and obvious fake eyelashes turns to me, a smirk on her face.

"Hey handsome, haven't seen you around here before" she says and saunters over to me. However, in my eyes, she looks more like she is attempting to waddle like a penguin, and is even failing at that. She just looks ridiculous.

I try to smile politely, not wanting to cause a scene in Ava's store, with some of her best customers it seems.

"We men like our sweets, as well," I say, and grab a nearby newspaper to make it look like I'm busy reading. She doesn't take the hint, and sits down in the lounge chair next to me. Her hands comes up to touch my arm lightly, running her finger down the material of my coat.

"Well, if that's the case, I have something super sweet for you to try," she purrs and bites her bottom lip. It comes off as desperate rather than attractive. My senses go crazy when Ava bites her lip like that; this girl just makes me sick. I don't like the clingy, desperate type, never have.

Before I can respond, Ava is returns from the back holding a box of the cupcakes, and her coat in the other. She hands the box to Lily, then turns her eyes towards me and the brunette girl. I see her eyes narrow as she throws her coat on and disappears into the back again.

"Any chance I could get your number, who knows, maybe we can–"

"Ashton?" My world stops when she calls my name, my heart beating out for her. I lift my eyes away from the unappealing girl in front of me, and lay them on the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. I can never tire of looking at her.

I don't bother saying anything to the brunette girl, and immediately walk over to her. I can see the hint of jealousy raging behind her eyes, and as much as I hate that she is upset, I can't help writing in the feeling of knowing she is jealous because of me.

She still desires me.

The brunette girl is still sitting there, waiting for me. Ava gives her a sideways glance, and surprises me when she lifts herself up and presses her lips to mine in a heart-stopping, fiery kiss. I know part of her is only doing this, to make sure the other girl gets the message loud and clear.

I wrap my arms around her waist and push her against the counter a little, deepening the kiss further, until I hear the front door open and close. I try to pull away, but it's Ava who pulls me back in this time, keeping our lips and bodies glued together.

"What was that for?" I ask, when we finally part for much needed air.

She looks down sheepishly, her cheeks turning a bright red.

"Nothing, I just missed you," she mutters.

"I missed you too, love, always do." I bring her against my chest once more, kissing the top of her head like she is a fragile flower, before clasping our hands together and walking towards the front door.

"Where are we going?" she asks, and I actually have no idea. I came over here to see her, without a single reason why, other than I wanted to. Now, I have no plan.

"Wherever you want to go," I say and point to my car waiting outside. Ava bites her lip and smiles, thinking it over. She opens her mouth, but is cut off by a high pitched shriek down the street. We both turn and see a little brown haired girl rushing towards her.

Emily.