ElaraShadowheart

Ava, a college student inexperienced in love, crosses paths with Liam Blackwood, the city's most formidable bachelor.  Their initial encounters spark Liam's curiosity, but Ava, intimidated by their differing social statuses, rejects his advances.  Undeterred, Liam strives to win her over, but their budding romance is complicated by the sudden reappearance of his ex-girlfriend, a woman who betrayed him in the past.  Pressure mounts as Liam's family pushes him to reconcile with his ex, a demand he firmly refuses.  Caught in the crossfire, Ava finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Liam and the overwhelming complexities of his life.  Will she risk it all for love, or will the weight of his past and the disapproval of his family force them apart?

Not a Chance, Mr.Blackwood

Liam paced the floor of his penthouse office overlooking the Thames, the phone pressed to his ear, his anxiety growing with each unanswered ring. Finally, Sarah, his ever-reliable assistant, picked up.

He took a deep breath, trying to organize the whirlwind of thoughts in his head. "I need you to find someone for me. Ava Bennett. She's in London. Works at Aesher Solutions."

"Ava Bennett..." Sarah repeated, the sound of keyboard clicks filling the silence. "Ah, here we go. Head of Innovation at Aesher. Impressive. Quite the high-flyer, your Ava."

Liam winced at her casual use of "your Ava." It had been five months, not five years, but it still felt like a lifetime ago that he could claim any kind of ownership over Ava, especially after the way he'd left things.

"Yeah, well, about that..." he began, then hesitated. He hadn't actually told anyone about Ava, about their history, about the way he'd stormed out of her life and the city they shared, building his empire in London as a way to escape the pain of her rejection.

"What about her?" Sarah prompted, her voice laced with curiosity.

"I, uh... I saw her today," he confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. "At the supermarket with Mia. It was... unexpected."

"Wow, what a coincidence!" Sarah exclaimed. "After all this time... What happened? Did you talk?"

"Not really," Liam admitted. "I kind of froze up. And then Mia introduced me as her uncle, and... well, it was awkward. I left before things got any weirder."

He could practically hear Sarah's eyebrows rising in surprise. Liam Blackwood, the ruthless business tycoon who negotiated multi-million dollar deals without blinking an eye, had been rendered speechless by a girl? It was almost laughable, if it wasn't so painfully true.

"So, what now?" Sarah asked, her voice gentle.

Liam sighed. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't know whether I should try to contact her, apologize for the way I left things... or just leave her alone."

The memory of Ava's hurt expression at the restaurant flashed through his mind. He'd been arrogant, entitled, and when she'd rejected his advances, he'd reacted childishly, leaving her and the city behind in a fit of pique.

"Do you regret leaving her at the restaurant, Liam?" Sarah asked, her voice surprisingly perceptive.

He didn't hesitate. "Yes. Every single day."

The admission hung heavy in the air. He hadn't even admitted that to himself until this moment. He'd buried the regret, pushed it down, focused on building his business empire. But seeing Ava again had brought it all back to the surface.

"Then maybe you should tell her that," Sarah suggested.

Liam considered her words. It wouldn't be easy. He'd hurt Ava, deeply. But maybe she deserved an explanation, an apology. Maybe he owed her that much.

"Maybe you're right," he said slowly. "But I don't even know where to start. She probably hates me."

"Well, you won't know unless you try," Sarah said encouragingly. "But maybe start by finding out how she feels. Didn't you say she had a friend, Chloe? Maybe reach out to her first."

Chloe. Ava's best friend, her confidante. He vaguely remembered meeting her a few times, a whirlwind of energy and vibrant colours. Maybe she could shed some light on Ava's current state of mind, whether she was still angry, whether she'd moved on.

"That's a good idea," Liam said, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Do you think you could find Chloe's contact information?"

"Leave it to me," Sarah said confidently. "I'll see what I can do."

Liam thanked Sarah and hung up, a renewed sense of purpose filling him. He had a plan, a starting point. He was going to find out how Ava felt, and then, maybe, just maybe, he'd get a chance to explain himself, to apologize, to see if there was still a chance for them, after all this time.

Chapter 19: Reaching Out - The Tycoon's Regret