Chapter 10 Ava

• There is a weird relationship between principles and choice because even if I find myself repulsive at this moment I still remember how soaked and dripping I ended up yesterday and my body wants it again. _ stupid hormones_.
• Staring at my ceiling_such dumb choice but there is no time to be depressed about it, I go to the fridge to get a bottle of milk just to see it empty.
• I have to go grocery shopping and I am low on cash, the payment for the last job wasn’t substantial and I might not last this week. I pick up my phone and dial a number.
• “Hey Jane it's Ava, do you have an available spot for the month” asking hoping there was a spot she could place me in or might go hungry for the week.
• “I’m sorry Ava, all the spots are occupied but I'll drop a message if there’s any shift that needs to be filled okay.”
• “Okay Jane, thanks.”
• “You done with your movie” she asks.
• “Yes I am” smiling as she is the only one who asks about my work, I do not have a lot of people close to me .
• Jane has been someone I could rely on since I was in school, she helped me get into a cleaning agency.
• “I thought so, you only seem to remember me when that happens.”
• “You know it isn’t that, I have been preoccupied lately, but the job was good, payment wasn’t much though.”
• “Give yourself a break, you are doing okay, the big ones are coming Ava, you know that right” her voice reassuring and it brings a sad smile to my face, nodding my head even though she can’t see it.
• “I know” finally answering her.
• “Are you okay Ava “her voice soft on the other end.
• “I’m okay,” I tell her before she starts snooping as usual.
• “I sense something going on, come in this evening I’ll cook your favourite” she says.
• “Okay, I’ll come by later” Great, see you then” the call ends .
• _sigh_ chugging down the water not wanting to think about a certain offer that will pay well.
• My phone pings with a text and I read it.
• Can it get any worse it’s a notice for rent and I’ll have to pay up soon, I can’t afford to move again there is a knock on the door.
• I wonder if that could be the building owner but a man in a black suit and brown hair stands in front of me holding an envelope, his face blank when he greets me.
• “Good morning ma’am, Mr Gordon sends his regards,” Gregory tells me handing over the envelope.
• Regards? then I remembered he said he was going to send the contract, does that man have no idea of what emails are?
• “You could have emailed this to me” taking the envelope.
• “Mr. Gordon wants me to return with it signed” Greg says.
• “He gets on your nerves too right” I ask but he doesn’t even give the pleasure of a reaction.
• Opening the envelope and removing the papers, a lady and her son walk past us and exchange glances between the both of us before hurrying her son down the staircase.
• I sigh looking at them turning back into my room but then Gordon doesn’t follow me.
• “Are you going to stand there?” looking at him as he refuses to move.
• “Yes ma’am.”
• “No you’re not, get the hell inside before you scare my neighbours.”
• “I’m afraid I can’t“ he says.
• "And why is that?”
• “I just need the deliver the paper to you and back.”
• Is this guy serious right now?
• Looking at how misplaced he is in this environment?
• “Look you are hindering this as long as you stand there” folding my hands and waving the papers at him,
• “I’m pretty sure your Mr. Gordon wouldn’t be happy about that.”
• He sighs before taking a step inside closing the door behind him.
• “What would you like, though I only have water.”
• “The signed papers ma’am “he retorts and I turn to him after pulling out the water from the fridge, but instead of offering it to him I drink it.
• “Suit yourself, I’ll have to read it all” he doesn’t even answer me.
• I read through the contract and it has been reviewed as he said, I will be free after six months and a small hope blossoms in my chest as I read that part.
• My mind going back to a certain man with grey eyes and thick light brown hair, his words from yesterday suddenly plays in my mind.
• “You are mine and so is the scar.”
• _Arrogant much_ no way is he finding out that was a lie, I’ll have to play this carefully now that I agreed to his terms, my mind still wonders what deal he made Gordon.
• “When did you start working with Gordon” I ask Greg and when he doesn’t reply, I find him staring at my stuffed dog.
• “Your Mr. Gordon wouldn’t want you talking about that too?”
• “When did you?” he faces me.
• I guess not.
• I sign the papers and hand them to him with a glass of water.
• “I don’t suppose you can tell me about Ethan” but his face tells me that’s a no too.
• “Fine, you can leave now but tell Gordon I’ll only work weekends.”
• He looks at me like he wants to say something but thinks otherwise about it
• “Have a great day Miss Ava” and then he closes the door.
• Yeah, a great day for me indeed.
• My belle rumbles, I decide to head to the market for street food and a few groceries.
• The market is full of people with different foodstuffs, fresh and packaged, two little girls playing around their mom.
• I never went to market with mom, she always left me with my sister but that wasn’t my best experience either, I could be crying for all the time mom was away and she wouldn’t even care.
• After buying all I needed I headed for my favourite part of the market.
• “Manny” the food truck owner bellows out the nickname he gave to me years ago.
• “Mr David” I call out when I near the food truck “The usual please.”
• “Good to see you, where have you been” he asks while attending to other customers who give a weird look but I ignore it.
• “I just finished a project” I tell him
• “Oh that’s wonderful, is it out yet? As a big fan, I have to see it.”
• I laugh at this “not yet.”
• I notice the queue is getting longer and he is the only one.
• “You need a hand? I can help” I tell him going to the back to grab an apron.
• “No Manny you are a customer now.”
• “Well... I can wait but these customers, not likely” I tell him wearing the apron
• ”Where is Gabby?” asking about his niece who helps out.
• “Went to see her mother, got hit by a bus” he says steaming some buns .
• “ I’m so sorry, when will she be back.”
• “Might take a while” he says handing over the food while I take the payment and then a good idea pops into my head.
• “How about I fill in for her, just for the time being.”
• "You would do that?"
• “Of course, I would, besides I’m looking for a part-time job” he smiles at this.
• Mr David isn’t against having me working for him again and for the next hour we battle fries with cheese, serving hotdogs and burgers until there are no customers left.
• He hands me my food with an extra serving on the side.
• I take out cash to pay but he gives me a side eye that makes me put it back.
• I sit and have my food looking over the busyness of the market.
• “Is this seat taken” someone calls my attention
• “No” I smile at him as he joins me, he is handsome with blue eyes and striking features.
• “What do you think” he asks.
• “What?”
• “The market, what do you think about it?”
• “It’s busy?”
• He smiles at this.
• “It is busy“ he agrees eyes gleaming.
• “I saw you staring and wondered what was going through such a beautiful mind.”
• I blush at this.
• “You have such beautiful eyes” staring intently at me.
• “Thank you”
• “Pardon me, I’m Josh by the way” holding out his hands
• “I’m Ava” taking it.
• “To answer your question Josh, nothing, just people watching, the noise of the market makes it impossible for any thought to come through …except how delicious this is,” I tell him and this earns me a laugh.
• “I will take your word for it “he orders the same thing and I watch him take a bite.
• “This tastes awesome” he smiles mouth full and I shrug.
• “This is the best place for any street food."
• “If you aren’t busy, you could show me other places, I just got into town.”
• “I….” my phone rings interrupting me.
• “Miss Ava, I’ve been waiting for your call.”