DYLAN

I am sitting on the table having my third drink. Well yeah, I plan on getting some more. Especially after what I just saw. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company, Mike and Avery. I should have seen that coming. Avery doesn't like me. All that act of jealousy was just an 'act' then. Well played Avery. And here my dumbass was thinking that she was actually jealous. I can't get the picture out of my head when I saw them walk out into the balcony through the glass doors. After coming back into the hall, I went to the bar and got myself a drink and even spoke to other people but nothing helped. What happens when the deal ends. Will they get together? Wow. No, Mike wouldn't do that to me. He knows how I feel about Avery but then again Avery does not. What's the point of stopping them then? But maybe I could just do myself a favour and not imagine them together for once.

Groaning, I rub my face with one hand. Everyone starts to gather around that stage in their respective places as they announce that the auction is about to begin. My heart starts to beat faster with my hands getting sweaty 'cause I know they are coming back right now. An image of then walking in hand in hand flashes in front of me. Damnit.  Did they kiss? God Dylan stop. "Dylan..." I turn my head towards Avery who sits down on her stool. Keeping her hands on the table, she looks at me with glassy eyes. Not a good sign at all. Maybe they did kiss after all. Oh no. "I—" she starts to say something but gets interfered by the voice of a man, who happens to be the auctioneer, coming from the stage. Everyone's head gets turned in that direction. Honestly, I don't want to hear what she has to say. Seems like I am running away. If that is the case, then so be it. I dont want to deal with this right now.

"Welcome ladies and gentleman to the last Fundraiser of the year. Before we begin, I would like to thank you all for participating in the event. It was a great evening. As everyone might know, this money is going to a charity which will take care of the education of all those little kids. Your active participation in the auction makes it possible for us to send out a generous amount of money that makes those little kids' dream come true." Everyone starts clapping their hands together. I have already made a donation of two million dollars towards the charity like I do every year. "Without further ado, let's start with the first item that we have—" He begins the auction and a beautiful painting of a lady— rather naked — comes on the big screen behind the auctioneer.

He continues with the auction. It was a silent auction so this part involves declaring the results. Soon a picture of a book flashed on the screen. However, through the whole time, I could see Avery picking her nails or fidgeting in her place from the corner of my eyes. "Lot number thirty-three— is a very special first edition copy of one of the greatest books in the history of literature, 'Jane Eyre,' by Charlotte Brontë which was published in 1847. This magnificent book was bought by Dr Olivia Walker at a high bid of 70,000 dollars." My head snaps towards Avery. She said she wanted to donate but spending it on a book? To be fair, it is the first edition. I've seen her reading a lot of times but I didn't know she loved these so much. Hearing her name, her head snaps up. Everyone starts clapping while she sits there with a blank expression. I can feel that she is deep into her cloud of thoughts.

The auction continues and she looks at me through her lashes then goes back to playing with her fingers. As the auction ends and the people start writing cheques, Avery pulls out her chequebook from the little clutch in her hand, still distracted in her mind. I see Mike making his way towards us. Maybe I should leave them alone. As he reaches us, I get down from my stool and mutter "Excuse me, " then walk away towards the washroom.

I am standing in the washroom, washing my hands in the sink, when I hear the door open. I look at the door through the mirror to find Avery stepping in. "It is men's washroom. What are you doing here?" I ask, in a grave tone.

"I needed to talk to you," she says and walks up to my side after closing the door. Pressing a palm against the edge of the sink, she tilts her head to look at me.

"About what?" I dont turn my face towards her. I keep looking at the mirror.

"Something that Mike told me today." My heart sinks to the floor but I dont let it show on my face.

"What? Is he asking you out? Go ahead, do it," I shrug nonchalantly and pull put tissue and wipe the water off my hand.

"What? Why would he ask me out?" Avery asks to frown. I shift my body to face her.

"I don't know just seems like you like him a lot." I shrug again. Though I am shivering from the inside, I maintain a steady exterior. That is something I've learned doing throughout my time is a businessman.

"Why would you think so?" Her frown deepens.

"Just the fact that you love to spend some alone time with him."

"What?"

"Oh no no, I was not eavesdropping on you. I didn't want to interrupt your quality time with each other on the balcony. It was quite romantic, wasn't it?" I say in a bitter tone.

"Dylan, we were talking about you," she screeches.

"Oh yeah? Discussing how I would feel? Well, I have no problem. My best friend and my wife— that would be great!" I lift my arms in the air and let out a dry laugh.

"Dylan John Walker, would you let me complete saying something?" Avery grits her teeth and pointing a finger at my chest, she says, "And don't you dare open your mouth when I am talking."

Yeah, she is intimidating. I am afraid of her. Haha, so funny. Pressing my lips into a thin line, I nod and say, "Okay."

"I said, not a word!" She snaps. I clap my mouth shut. She waits a moment to see if I say anything before she begins, "Mike said that..." My heart starts pounding even harder in my chest. She looks down at her hand on the sink and says in a soft voice, "You told him that you wanted to cancel the deal...?" I blink a few times before she looks up at me with questioning eyes.

I begin to give her an excuse "Yeah, actually—" but she cuts me off.

"Sush!" I close my mouth again and let her talk. "So did you mean that you didn't want this marriage to be a business deal anymore?" Her voice is changing from dominant to soft within seconds. I wait for her to say something. She looks up to my face and shaking her head she says, "You can talk."

"Yeah but..." I pause unable to find a good excuse. Why didn't I think of one when my mouth was closed?

"Did you tell that to him on Sunday?" Avery asks.

Taking in a deep breath, I look away and nod, "Yeah..." She looks at me and her eyes start turning watery again. Her lower lip trembles and before I know, she throws her hands around my neck and hugs me. My hands wrap around her waist as I stumble back a little. I am so confused I dont know how to react. I thought she came in here to tell me that she wanted out. Or that she didn't want the deal to be cancelled. Suddenly, her body starts to tremble and she starts sobbing in my arms. Frowning I bring an arm to the back of her head, and touch her hair gently, "Avery? Are you ok? What's..."

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry, Dylan. I promise you that I won't pull away and then I do. I was being so selfish. I am always so selfish." She starts sobbing again. I stand there confused and feeling a little burning sensation in my throat. First I think this is over and I won't be able to touch her ever again then all that happened throughout the evening and now having her wrapped in my arms after a week. It is too overwhelming.

I pull her away and cup her face in my hand. "Hey hey. What happened?" Her face is wet with tears. I am sure so is my coat but I can't feel it through the thick fabric.

She sniffs a little and looks up, "You remember when I wanted to leave your room that night?"

Pursing my lips, I nod slowly, "Yeah...?" That was painful. I dont know where she is going with this, I hope not anywhere bad.

"Well, the reason was..." she looks down again and says though her sniffs, "I didn't ....want to.... fall for you... and end up having to..... l-leave after three months. I have lost a lot of people I love but you... I couldn't. As selfish as it sounds....it's true." She looks up again and says "I am sorry I hurt you. I am so so sorry." Wrapping her arms around my neck, she starts sobbing. I stand there with my arms around her waist, while she sobs in my neck.

After a moment,  she pulls away and looking at my face, she says, "Say something..."

"I don't know what to say..." I answer honestly. I am a little scared this time. I can't take another chance, can I? What if she pulls away again? She just said that she was afraid of losing me as was I. I've already risked it all by cancelling the deal. I look at her face. She is staring at me expectantly. Her hair, makeup everything is a mess but I can't seem to look away. I can always take a chance with her. At the end of the day, she is worth it.

When I dont say, anything, she asks, "Do you...? Do you not feel the same anymore?" Her lower lip quivers a little as she adds, "Did I mess up that bad?"

I open my mouth to say 'no' but instead I choose not to. I can mess a bit with her, after what she has sent me through. So, I decide to have a little fun. "Yeah, you did," I say in a serious tone. "You were selfish and didn't even consider my feelings!" I feel bad for calling her selfish. And I swear, I don't feel that about her but it was to add spice to the fun.

Her lower lip starts to quiver and she spins around on her heel, putting her face in her hands. Her whole body starts shaking with sobs. I quickly move to stand in front of her and cupping her face in my hands, I say, "Hey! I was just messing with you. I was not serious." I pull her to my chest as she cries. My eyes are getting a little watery too. "But when you feel something like this, you say. I can't read your mind," I say running my hand over her back.

Pulling away, she says, "Neither can I. Why didn't you tell me that you were thinking of cancelling the deal?"

"I was going to when I knew how you feel..." I need to tell her that it is cancelled. Will she get angry? Probably. What was I thinking cancelling the deal without her consent? I look down and hold her hands in mine. Rubbing my thumb over her knuckles, I say, "Okay. I won't keep anything from you and the first thing you need you to know is...the deal is already cancelled." Looking up at her, I find her staring blankly at my face, blinking repeatedly. I quickly add,  "Before you say something, I am sorry for not informing you before but that day when you had the accident, I just knew that there was no way I could bear to lose you or let you go. I had almost lost you and I was scared. Damn was I scared. I just didn't want to have to worry about you leaving me. I knew I could do anything to keep you with me. I know I should've—"

I get cut off when she smacks her lips against mine, catching me off guard.

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How was it? I am sleepy so I can't judge on my own. Btw, another chapter to go and volume one shall be over. 👏

Anyways,

Good night 😴