DEADLY DECEPTION

CHAPTER 11

Avery's POV

I stood before the gathered community, my heart pounding with both nervousness and determination. The meeting was called to discuss the plans we had decided on to save the orphanage. I took a deep breath and addressed the room.

"Thank you all for coming today. I know we're still grieving the loss of Maria, but we can't let that stop us from moving forward. We've decided on a course of action, and we're going to proceed with it. We need to raise funds to convince the landlord and secure the property for the orphanage. Together, we can make it happen. Maria's dream was to see this place flourish, and we owe it to her memory to keep fighting."

The room filled with nods and murmurs of agreement, and I could feel the support of the community behind me. Sophia stood beside me, offering a reassuring smile.

After the meeting, I made my way to the bookstore. Mr Thompson and Clara were surprised to see me so soon after Maria's demise.

"Avery, are you sure you should be here? You need time to grieve," Clara said, concern evident in her voice.

I nodded, my voice steady. "I know, but we need to keep going. We have a lot to do, and we can't afford to wait. Besides, being here helps me find some peace of mind."

I busied myself with arranging some new arrival books on the shelf. As I reached for the books, I realized I had placed them on the wrong shelf. I tried to take them down, but they were on the upper shelf, just out of my reach.

As I stretched, my grip on the books slipped, and they almost fell on my head. My eyes closed tightly, waiting for the impact, but suddenly, I felt a presence behind me, hovering around protectively.

When I opened my eyes, I was met with the sight of strong, masculine hands, veiny and yet oddly graceful, hovering just inches above my head, firmly holding the shelf. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as I felt the warmth of someone's breath gently brushing against the back of my ears, sending shivers down my spine.

Turning around to see who had come to my rescue, I found myself locking eyes with him once again—the intriguing guy from my first day at the bookstore, the same one I had collided with that unexpected encounter. His captivating grey eyes were like a swirling storm, full of depth and mystery, and at that moment, I felt as if I was falling into their mesmerizing depths.

We stood there, our gazes locked and I couldn't help but get lost in the intensity of his eyes. It was as if he could see through my soul, igniting a spark deep within me. A subtle smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, and my heart skipped another beat.

"Well, well, Avery," he said, his voice low. "I can see you've been quite intrigued by my handsome features."

His words caught me off guard, and a blush crept onto my cheeks. It was true that I had been studying his face, unable to deny the undeniable attractiveness that seemed to emanate from him. I quickly regained my composure, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he had affected me.

"Don't flatter yourself," I retorted, trying to sound unfazed.

"I was just wondering why someone like you seems to be everywhere I go. Wait...wait... How do you know my name?" I asked, my curiosity tinged with a hint of suspicion.

"I have my ways of finding things."

There was something about his confident demeanour that made me want to challenge him. I collected the fallen books from the floor, and the sudden realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.