Resolution (Heart of Stone) (15 page)

We pulled
into the car park and Neo exited the car and did a swift scan of our
surroundings, coming round and opening my door when he deemed it safe.

Silently, we
both made our way up to the 50
^th
floor and I sombrely made coffee
for us all, knowing my first task of the day was to face Nate after yesterday’s
episode with Kade and taking a deep breath, I opened his office door. “Fuck,
sorry” I swiftly turned, my eyes burning against the image of Liv bent over Nate’s
desk, his arse pumping away at her.

I groaned
and climbed into my desk chair, leaning my elbows on the desk and burying my
face in my hands. Neo smirked at me when I looked up, his eyes flashing with
humour and a sparkle that had been missing since yesterday. “That’s bloody
twice now” I shook my head in despair as the image of them in William’s club
sprang forward.

Neo sucked
on his lips but couldn’t hold back the laughter. “Shush” I giggled, “I know
he’s one of my best friends but he’s also my boss and I should have fucking
knocked… and he should’ve locked the bloody door!”

I swiftly
switched on my PC as his door opened. Braving it out I looked up straight into
Liv’s eyes, a twinkle shone in them and she winked at me as she made her way to
the elevator with a chuckle.

“Ava!” Nate
boomed and I cringed.

“Oops” Neo
chuckled and I glared at him. “Revenge is sweet” he smirked and I knew he was referring
to the time when we made him think we were having a threesome in Nate’s office.

I sighed,
pushed my chair back and this time I knocked before I entered. I walked in
timidly, hiding my face behind my hair. “I’m so sorry” I whispered and I heard
his sigh.

“Sit down
Ava” he grumbled.

 
Shit!
This didn’t sound good.

“How are
you? I heard about what happened and I’ve had the buildings security raised” he
asked and I just shrugged.

“Thanks” I
said quietly.

“Jesus, Ava”
he breathed quite angrily as he came round the desk to me and squatted in front
of me. He palmed my cheek and sighed heavily. “Talk to me sweetheart. I wanna
help” he said softly and I shrugged again.

“What’s to
say? Nothing will bring Frank back, nothing will help get Mason clean, nothing
will take away my nightmares of Dane and that damn fucking room” I sobbed,
everything finally bursting free.

“Oh,
sweetheart” he pulled me off the chair and huddled me up, both of us embracing
on the carpet. This is what I needed, a friend, an ear and a good hug.

***

“I’m afraid
we have another business lunch today” Nate informed me when we were sat on his
couch synchronizing our diaries and some documents.

 I nodded as
I stood and helped myself to his coffee machine. “It’s with Gary Thornton
again” he raised his eyebrows and smirked when I groaned.

“Well this
should be fun” I said as I handed him his coffee.

He pursed
his lips as his phone beeped and he read a text, frowning severely and I
noticed his eyes darken. “Everything okay?” I asked as I cocked my head.

“Mmmm” he
seemed angry about something and I took it as my cue to leave but as I put my
hand on the door handle he shouted me back.

“Ava, if Eleanor
St Clair comes in,
do not
let her in my office” he told me sharply and I
frowned.

“Can I use
force?” I wiggled my eyebrows at him and his face transformed in to a lovely
smile.

“Please do,
lots of it.”

I laughed
and shook my head as I went back to my desk and laughed to myself as I found
Neo asleep on the reception couch

“Some
bodyguard you are!” I laughed quietly as I switched the phone to ‘light up
only’ mode to kill the ring tone; he’d obviously had a bad night’s sleep with
everything that had happened last night and I set to work quietly.

After about
an hour I looked up as I heard someone approach and I stared straight into
Eleanor St Clair’s flinty eyes. Smiling falsely, I stood up to greet her. No
way was she getting a head start this time.

“Can I help
you Miss St Clair?” I asked politely. He eyes swept over me and I could see the
coldness in her eyes.

Why did men
go for these kind of women; hard, cold and callous? I knew she was an ex-lover
of Nate’s and I couldn’t help comparing her to Rebecca. I couldn’t find much
that wasn’t similar about these women and I wondered if I should swap their
numbers between them, they’d get on brilliantly; two evil bitches together.

She tipped
her head to me, “Yes, I’d like to see Nate.”

‘No please?’
I felt like saying but I doubted she’d ever used the word in her whole life.

“I’m sorry
but Mr Carter is busy today” I informed her and her lip curled at me and she
took a step towards me in a challenge and I smiled inwardly.

Bring it
on Bitch!!

Her eyes
narrowed on me as I took a step towards her.
“I said Mr Carter is busy
and hasn’t time for any new appointments today” I said more firmly.

“Oh he’ll
see me” she said with a sneer and I scrunched up my nose at her.

“Oh, he
won’t see you” I retorted and the sneer fell as she narrowed her eyes on me.

She took two
large strides across the room towards Nate’s office and I grabbed her wrist as
she went to pass me. “I’m sorry, but as I’ve already told you, you won’t be
seeing Mr Carter today.” She pulled her wrist but I didn’t let go.

“Let go of
me” she spat and I raised my eyebrows at her.

“If you turn
around and leave then I will let go of you, but if you continue to be awkward I
will have no choice but to call security and have you removed from the
building” I said and then cringed as I saw Liv strolling down the corridor
towards us.

I noticed
her step falter as she spotted Eleanor and her shoulders heaved. I trained my
eyes on her and she caught my expression and her lips curved wickedly. I
suppressed my own grin as she approached us.

“Good
morning Ava, I’ll go in, he’s just rang and said he needs me bent over his
desk” she laughed as she walked straight past us and completely ignored Eleanor
as she entered his room and I heard the lock click behind her.

I smirked
slyly at Eleanor. “Well he’s definitely busy now” I mocked. She snatched her
hand back, gave his office door one quick glance as we heard giggles coming
from his office and then she turned and stormed out.

“Goodbye
Miss St Clair” I shouted at her swiftly retreating back.

***

     Nate and I were sat chatting in ‘La Roche’ waiting for
Gary Thornton when my hairs suddenly stood on end at a familiar screeching
laugh. “Oh Fuck!” I grated through clenched teeth.

Nate turned
in his chair to inspect the horrific sound and swiftly turned back round. “Yep”
he sighed and I groaned.

“Could this
day get any fucking worse?” I asked, more to myself than Nate.

“Yep” Nate
retorted as I frowned at him and his eyes shifted to me, “she’s coming over.”

Nate
suddenly shot from his chair at Gary’s arrival and I groaned inwardly, could
Gary have chosen a worse time to join us? He grinned at us both as he raised my
hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles

“How lovely
to see you again, Miss Stone” he beamed, his face full of humour and I knew he
was recalling our last lunch.

I tipped my
head to him and scrunched my nose in a grimace. I leaned in to his ear while he
still grasped my hand “I apologise for our last lunch, Gary.”

He frowned
and shook his head. “No need, Miss Stone” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

I nodded and
clicked my tongue as I saw Rebecca in my peripheral vision. “I also apologise
for this lunch” I grimaced apologetically and he gave me a quizzical look.

Holding up a
finger to him, I took a deep breath before I spun round to Rebecca. “Fuck off”
I spat, wasting no time to show her my disgust and hatred.

I caught the
flash in her eyes before I saw the evil curl of her lips and I knew exactly
what was coming but I spoilt her fun.

“I know you
fucked him and now I want you to fuck off before I rip every single strand of
your false hair out of your head and feed each one personally through each of
your veins” I hissed.

She took a
step backwards and I saw the fear flick through her eyes. “Oh I would
definitely fear me, Rebecca” I snarled in her ear as I leaned in close to her,
“I’m giving you one more chance to keep your claws off Mason before I make you
regret it, and don’t think I won’t follow through Rebecca because I will, and I
will enjoy every fucking moment I tear you apart.”

I grabbed
the top of her arm in a tight grip and she flinched in pain, her teeth sunk
into her bottom lip. “He’s mine” I growled and her eyes shot to mine.

“Oh yeah,
I’m just as fucking possessive as he is and I have the same reactions as he
does to someone else touching what’s his… understand?” she glared at me for a moment
and then sighed, gave me a nod and turned on her heel.

Taking a
large breath and closing my eyes to regain my composure, I turned back to my
lunch dates. “Sorry about that gentlemen” I smiled at them both and noticed
Gary’s wide eyes. “Now that bitch is off the menu shall we order?” I grinned
and Nate snorted loudly and then laughed.

“You are so
hot when you’re mad” he mocked as he side huddled me and laughed. Gary grinned
at me and his eyebrows rose.

“Shall we
get down to business?” he smirked and he gave me a wicked grin.

“Of course
Mr Thornton, you now have my undivided attention” I gave him a wry smile and he
shook his head in humour.

I was
starting to feel a little uncomfortable with Gary’s inquisitive looks at me and
then he gave up hiding them and just started staring at me with a puzzled
frown.

I cleared my
throat and shifted in my seat, trying not to attract any more of his attention.
Nate was giving Gary some warning looks but there was something in Gary’s eyes
that showed me he wasn’t sexually attracted to me, but there was still
something troubling him. Eventually I sighed heavily and turned my stare to his.

“Is there
something you want to ask, Gary?” I asked forthright and he grimaced.

“Sorry” he
muttered and looked away but then his eyes shot to mine and they widened. “Fuck
me” he declared and I shrank back in my chair at his outburst. “Ava Peridot!”
he exclaimed and my own eyes widened as I stared back at him.

He beamed
and then flung his head back and laughed loudly. “Well damn!” he couldn’t hide his
grin and I frowned at him. He certainly knew me… he’d called me by my birth
name but I couldn’t recall him at all.

“I’m sorry
I…” I shrugged and he shook his head.

“You won’t
remember me.”

He looked
quite sad for a moment, something close to grief spilled across his eyes. His
hand shot across the table and settled over mine. “I was your Dad’s best
friend’s son” he explained softly. “We always used to hang out together but
you’re a good six years younger than me so I don’t think you’ll remember me
much” he said softly.

I gasped and
sucked on my lips. “Liam?” I asked more to my memories than Gary.

He smiled
widely and nodded, “Yeah, you remember him?”

I frowned.
“A little, I don’t really know where his name came from but it was just kind
of… there” I explained and then my mind delved back, far, far back as I
searched through the miniscule memories I had of my early childhood and a small
smile curved my lips.

“You made me
eat worms!” I declared.

He nodded
and then laughed heartily. “Oh my God!”

I was… I
don’t know what I was but a small bubble of nostalgia and home warmed my
insides.

“Jesus, wait
till I tell my Dad” he shook his head in astonishment. “I’m so sorry about your
parents, Ava. I can remember my mum and dad were so distraught. They were all
best friends’ right through school and into parenthood and it hit them hard.” He
smiled sadly as if playing the visions in his head. “I know they tried to adopt
you but the authorities said my parents weren’t secure enough… whatever that
meant, they didn’t tell me too much” he shrugged and cocked his head at me. “So
what happened to you?” he asked and I stiffened.

Nate’s hand
settled on my forearm and he squeezed gently. “Oh you know” I laughed
nervously.

Gary frowned
at me and his eyes shot down to Nate’s hand. “I take it wasn’t good then?” he
said quietly and I shook my head and sucked in my lips and then shrugged. “But
never mind” I said brightly, perhaps a little too brightly. “We all have shit
to go through. So what are your parents doing?” I asked, steering the
conversation into safer ground.