Betrayed by You

by Marilyn Williams

  “You wouldn’t feel that way if you noticed how he looks at you.”

  Ava shoved her laptop into her bag and retrieved her keys from her purse. “Justin is a nice guy, but I’m not interested.”

  She stood with a hand on her hip with her green eyes glaring directly at her. “May I asked why not?”

  “Goodnight, Meghan,” she said, exiting her office door.

  She followed behind. “Ava, wait!”

  Ava continued down the hall and didn’t look back. Once behind the closed elevator doors, she darted her eyes towards her phone. Three missed calls. She scrolled to her phone’s history and they were all from him. Maybe it was time to change her number. If so, it’ll be her third new number in a year. Annoyed, she shook her head. Her life had finally settled and she wouldn’t allow an ex, who can’t catch a hint, to disrupt her newfound peace.

  Chapter Two

  It was after five and Ava just wrapped an offsite meeting with a client and needed additional paperwork from her office. Before she headed upstairs to her floor, she stopped by the cafe for a slice of their overpriced banana nut bread and sparkling water. After she paid the cashier, she ran into Justin exiting the elevator. It had been three days since they’ve shared coffee on the patio. “I thought you weren’t working today?” he asked.

  “And why would you think that?” she smirked.

  “I stopped by your office and your friend Meghan, I mean I assume she’s your friend.”

  “She is.”

  “Well, she said you hadn’t been in all day.”

  “It’s been one client meeting after the next. I only stopped here for paperwork.”

  “Do you have time to talk?”

  Her lips formed a hint of a smile. “I have a few minutes. We can sit outside on the patio.” She led Justin outside to a free table near the door. She twist open the cap of her sparkling water, while he settled in the chair across from her.

  “I need your opinion,” he said.

  “On?” She broke off a piece of her banana nut bread. She hadn’t eaten since noon and her stomach ached for food. “Banana nut bread?” She slid the slice covered with wax paper towards him. It would be rude to eat and not offer him any.

  “No, thank you. I’ve found three properties to use as my temporary office.” He opened a folder that had three printouts of the properties available to rent. “I’m not familiar with any of the locations. The agent I’m working with said they’re all in good, low crime areas, but I would like your input.”

  “And Nina couldn’t advise you?”

  His lips curled revealing a dimple she hadn’t noticed before. “I didn’t ask her because I wanted your opinion.”

  She slid the papers closer. “These two… avoid,” said Ava, discarding two of the images. “Those areas are notorious for car break-ins.”

  “Since those two are out, what about this one?” He pointed to the image of the one-story white and gray brick office building.

  “The area is great. It’s close to a shopping mall and lots of places to eat. The afternoon traffic can be a nightmare, but you’ll get used to it.”

  “There’s one bonus you forgot to mention.”

  “I did?”

  “It’s just a ten-minute drive from here.”

  “Really? At least you won’t have to drive far to meet up with Nina.”

  He laughed before he rose to his feet. “I know you have more work to complete, so I thank you for your assistance.”

  “Sure, anytime.”

  “Have a good evening.”

  “You too.” She lifted her hand and waved goodbye.

  ∞∞∞

  Two weeks later, Ava learned from Nina that Justin moved into the office space she’d suggested. Because their office buildings were nearby, they continued to see each other over coffee on the days she wasn’t out meeting with clients. He no longer used Nina as an excuse and would call her office directly and they would meet in the lobby. She and Justin talked about everything and anything but always kept it professional. As they sipped coffee, she would hear Nina’s voice in her ear. Justin is an important potential client worth millions. It’s imperative we treat him with kid gloves. That meant always make yourself available to answer his questions and never give him a reason to seek funding from another lender. Every moment she spent with him, those words always played in the back of her mind.

  “Have you heard?” asked Meghan.

  Ava just returned from spending her lunch hour on the phone with her bank’s customer service. “Heard what?”

  “The company is assembling a team to assist Nina in San Diego. They will help with getting the new office up and running. I thought you would want to put your name in the hat.”

  She threw her a doubtful look. “Meghan, you know there is no way in hell Nina will choose me to go anywhere with her.”

  “She’s a professional who knows how valuable you are to the company.”

  “It doesn’t matter because I’m not interested.” She sat behind her desk and removed her computer from sleep mode.

  “Our west coast location is in the same city as your new friend.”

  Ava cut her eyes at her. “Sometimes you can be so juvenile. Nothing is happening with Justin and me.”

  “Sure. Whatever you say.” She slid a sheet of paper across her desk.

  “What’s this?” Ava eyed the paper.

  “New underwriting guidelines.”

  “It’s always something.”

  Meghan left her alone to review the fifth procedural change in a year. Instead of focusing on the words on the page, her mind drifted to Justin. She didn’t lie when she’d said nothing is going on between them. He hasn’t shown interest beyond sharing an occasional coffee. It’s probably for the best. She had no room for anything new. Ava came out of her thoughts and eyed her vibrating phone. She picked it up, hoping it was her bank with an apology for failing to add a deposit to her account. She read the incoming text message and frowned. It’s time he and I have a discussion.

  ∞∞∞

  Two years ago

  Ava peered out of the window into the night’s rumbling sky. A threat of rain had slowly approached, but not a single drop had fallen. She moved towards the front door, eyes fixated on the deadbolt, she turned the knob to ensure she’d locked it. After a quick check of every door and window, she retreated to the bathroom.

  Seated on the edge of the tub, she turned on the hot water faucet and poured a lavender-scented bubble bath into the rising water. As the tub filled, she grabbed a chilled bottle of white wine and a glass from the kitchen. Ava then slipped underneath the layer of bubbles. With relaxing tunes playing in the background, she brought the wine glass to her lips. Savoring its delicate, fruitful flavor. Ava drew her legs closer and adjusted her body underneath the hot water. She replaced the glass on the edge of the tub when suddenly the room became pitch black. She didn’t move a muscle, hoping it was just a power surge and the lights would soon flicker on.

  She exited the tub and wrapped her body with a towel. She then snatched her phone from off the vanity to turn on the flashlight option. With a sweeping motion, she reflected light into every corner. She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned. The thud of her heartbeat against her chest filled the silence of the darkness. In her gut, she knew it was him. He’d made it a habit of watching and waiting for her to be alone to make his move.

  She inched down the hall and moved closer to the front window. That’s when she heard the rattle of the doorknob. She froze. Her hand trembled as she scrolled through her phone’s contact list, stopping at the one person who could help. He answered on the third ring. “It’s him. I think he’s outside,” she whispered into the phone.

  “Get into a safe place. I’m coming over.”

  “I…I don’t want to hang up. What if…”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  She disconnected the call and bolted down the hall. Before she reached the doorway of
the bedroom, she froze from the shatter of the front window. Terror course through Ava’s veins, filling every cavity of her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying it was all a dream. With each shallow breath, Ava craned her neck over her shoulders and let out a heart-wrenching scream.

  Chapter Three

  The moment Ava arrived in the office, Nina had requested she and another Senior Loan Officer, Teresa Sutton meet her in the conference room. Ava entered and found Teresa at the table with her back to the door. “Any idea what this meeting is about?” asked Ava, sitting on the opposite side of the table.

  “Not a clue,” she said. She and Teresa were only business cordial. They only spoke to each other when necessary concerning job-related topics, never anything personal.

  Moments later Nina swung open the conference room door. “Good Morning, ladies,” she said, the curls of her shoulder-length bob bounced with the slightest head motion. Her hairstyle served as a reliable sign of her mood. Straight hair implied she was in a bad mood and you could enter her office at your own risk. Slick back in a bun meant only approach if it was a complete business emergency. Curls always signified a good mood. Since Justin’s been in town, she has worn curls every day.

  “I know both of you have a full day, so I’ll get straight to the point. I requested to meet you both because we need to discuss an important potential client.”

  “Shouldn’t the entire team be here?” asked Ava.

  “No.” Nina moved a lock of her dark brunette curl behind her ear. “You and Teresa are the top two specialists in the department. This account will require special handling.”

  Teresa leaned forward. “Who’s the client?”

  Nina swayed in her chair while her eyes shifted between her and Teresa. “Justin Harrington of JTH Properties.”

  Ava didn’t flinch at the sound of his name. She held her composure, not revealing any reaction to Nina. On the outside, she sat devoid of any emotion, but inside her stomach created its own turbulence at the notion of having to work closely with him. She can’t imagine working with someone you’re attracted to but unable to act upon it. However, the potential commission could easily make up for the misery, but Ava rather avoid the entire situation. She had already made up her mind. Teresa can have the account.

  “I’m not familiar with JTH Properties,” said Teresa.

  “Most of his business is in California,” said Nina. “Some time ago he purchased acres of land near Lake Azalea. He was unsure what to do with it, so I convinced him to use it to build a resort.”

  “Does he already has funding in place?”

  Ava remained quiet. If she showed no interest, hopefully, Nina wouldn’t consider her.

  “Justin has investment partners, but the construction will be completed in phases. He has a lender lined up for phase two of the project but hasn’t locked in. If we can offer him options with better rates, I believe we can get him to consider us. But we’re not stopping there. Hopefully, I can then persuade him to transfer his entire financial portfolio to Apex.”

  “Who are you giving the lead to? We both can’t work on it together?” asked Ava.

  Nina swung her chair in her direction. “I’m glad you finally asked a question. You’re never this quiet.”

  “I like to listen to all the facts first.”

  Nina turned her gaze towards Teresa. “I’m not sure. I will let you both know as soon as I’ve decided.”

  Ava knew Nina’s nuances well. Sitting with her back turned and direct eye contact with Teresa only meant one thing. She had already made up her mind. Nina only asked her to attend to appear fair. What Nina doesn’t know is she didn’t want to work with Justin in that capacity. She didn’t need any added complication to their friendship. Ava checked the time on her phone. “I have to get out of here. I have a conference call scheduled with Lance Tomlin.”

  “Ah, the Bradshaw account,” said Nina.

  Ava stood from her chair. “The one and only.”

  “Well, Teresa and I will continue; we have another matter to discuss.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  Ava returned to her office and began her hour-long conference call. When she hung up, she stifled a yawn and rubbed her temples to clear the mental fog in her brain. She wished her name was never referred to Lance Tomlin. Every documentation requested for underwriting he either can’t locate it or she has to make multiple calls to obtain it before the deadline.

  She popped two aspirins in her mouth to ward off a headache and took a swallow of her sparkling water. She needed to get out of the office to clear her head, and a plate of burger and fries could do the trick. Ava grabbed her purse and made her way to the elevator.

  When she reached the third floor of the parking garage, in the distance she could see Nina standing outside her car speaking in a hushed tone to someone. From Ava’s vantage point, she couldn’t see the other person’s face because they stood behind a pillar. As she approached the row of cars, Justin’s face came into view. Overcome with curiosity, Ava inched closer on the tip of her toes to hear their conversation. Nina stood with her back turned inside her opened car door, and Justin never broke his eye contact with her. Both too engaged in their conversation to notice that Ava stood three cars away.

  “Why her, Justin?”

  “I have my reasons, and I expect you to make it happen.”

  Nina shook her head. “You’re wasting your time, but if it’s what you want…”

  “I do,”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Don’t see, Nina. Make it happen.”

  “You know, at times this feels like a one-sided friendship. I make the sacrifices and you reap all the rewards. It’s simply not fair.”

  He placed his hand on her shoulder. “You know it’s not one-sided. You’ve been a very good friend, and I would like my friend to do this one favor. Please.”

  Nina paused before speaking. “I don’t appreciate you telling me how to do my job, BUT I will reconsider for you.”

  Nina then gave Justin a hug before entering her car. Justin walked away without noticing Ava stood nearby. She wondered what and who they were discussing. She filed the conversation away in the back of her mind and proceeded to her car.

  Chapter Four

  The next day, Ava had just ended a call with a client when Nina barged into her office. “I’m glad I caught you before you left,” she said.

  “What do you need? I have an appointment I can’t miss,” said Ava, without moving her eyes away from the computer screen.

  “This won’t take long.” She closed the office door and sat. “I want you to handle Justin’s account.”

  Ava slowly swiveled in her chair to face her. Taking notice of her hair. No curls today, just flat, lifeless strands. “What about Teresa?”

  “Honestly, if it was up to me, I would handle the entire thing myself. But for obvious reasons, I can’t. Therefore, I want to place him in the best hands. That’s why I’ve chosen you.”

  “I can’t.”

  Nina cocked her head to the side. “Why not? Is it because you two shared a cup of coffee? That’s Justin being Justin.” She waved off the thought. “He’s a notorious flirt, and you’re a consummate professional.”

  Ava narrowed her eyes. “Nina, I’m already stretched thin. I can’t see how I can possibly…”

  “You’ll figure it out,” she interrupted and stood from her chair. “Make him a priority above all else. I lured him to Atlanta with the promise that we can offer him a better lending deal than any other financial institution. So, I expect you to do what you do best, and make it happen.”

  Ava expelled a frustrated sigh. Her resistance was not because of her heavy workload, but her growing attraction towards Justin. She hadn’t admitted to anyone that she looked forward to seeing him when he came to the office, and when he wasn’t around, she missed him. Suddenly, the mysterious conversation she’d overheard in the parking garage made sense. Nina wanted Teresa to work Justin’s acco
unt, but he had another idea. Ava picked up the phone hoping she could squeeze him in before her other appointments of the day.

  The following morning, she arrived bright and early at Justin’s office. Ava checked her makeup in the mirror. Perfect. She swung her legs out the opened car door allowing her three-inch red heels to hit the pavement. She stood and smooth the bottom portion of her black skirt. She glanced about the parking lot noticing Justin’s red Ferrari parked in the reserved space upfront. She smiled to herself knowing she was only moments away from seeing him. Ava opened the back door of the car to retrieve her briefcase that held her paperwork and laptop. The bag felt as if it held a ten-pound kettlebell inside as she trotted across the parking lot. As she made her way to the front of the multi-level building, she could see someone waiting by the doors in the distance. When she moved closer a smile slowly etched across her face.

  “I’m not a creeper. I saw you from the lobby when I walked a contractor out,” said Justin, holding the glass door open.

  “Thanks,” she said entering.

  “Here, let me take that for you.” He reached for the straps of her bag.

  She didn’t protest and allowed him to remove the heavyweight from off her shoulder. He led her to the elevator and up to the fifth floor.

  “I’m sorry I had you come in before normal business hours, but my schedule is tight.”

  “Same here. Nina sprung this on me last minute. So, scheduling this meeting for seven was perfect.”

  “Have you had eaten? We can make it a breakfast meeting?” he asked.

  “I had a bagel and orange juice on the way.”

  He opened his office door and placed her bag on a table in the corner. “That’s not breakfast. I can place an order…”

  “Justin, that’s kind of you, but I rather get down to business.” She would love to sit and stare into his blue eyes over pancakes, but she had to keep it professional.

  He grabbed his coffee mug from his desk and sat adjacent to her at the round glass table. She placed the company’s loan options that she had printed before him.