Can You Keep A Secret?

17. Ava

"Ava, your father is requesting your presence in his office," my maid and personal assistant, Sabrina, announces from the doorway with a straight posture. I had been working late while waiting for Neal to come and keep me company for the evening, but it seemed plans had changed. "Tell him I'm not in the mood to come," I responded, still focused on reviewing the company's finances that my father had put me in charge of every now and then.
I expected Sabrina to turn back and relay my message to my father, but she unexpectedly remained frozen in place, as if she was afraid to move. Her body tensed and panicked a little bit.

She glances around and lowers her voice carefully, not wanting to be heard by any one, "You know how your father can be when he's angry..." I drop the papers and look up. "Father's angry?" She nods with approval, confirming my question. "Then tell him I'll be down in five minutes," I commanded. Sabrina shakes her head disapprovingly. What's her problem now?

"Your father wants you downstairs immediately," she says, still looking around to make sure no one is listening. I groan in annoyance as I stand up, leaving my room and making sure to lock the door in case Neal had snuck in- A habit of his since this place was guarded all the time. I didn't want my father anywhere near him, or to find out that I've been dating someone and am happy, since he would be able to do anything to prevent my happiness and joy. If he wasn't happy, then no one was allowed to be. Simple as that.

My only focus and care for him was me making sure the town was a better place and developing new companies and relationships with several clients that may be interested in sponsoring my father. "Thank you, Ava, for understanding," Sabrina says, walking behind me cautiously. The cameras were always watching, tracking our every move. They could hear us, see us clearly, and even recognize our faces. Damn Iris and her parents. I head to my father's office, with Sabrina walking ahead of me to open the door.

"Take the night off," I abruptly say, not bothering to stick around and chat. I walk straight into the giant space, remembering the good old days when I used to run around here with my mother by my side. Those were happy memories, when mother was still healthy and things were different. But like everything else, people change too.

The first thing I took in was Anna standing by my father's side, her hands resting on his shoulders. It was becoming clear to me what this was all about. Daniel Steel never calls me to his office unless it's important. He knows I have a scheduled check-in for the company's funds and progress in BrookSville today. Yet, he chose to send Sabrina to interrupt me...why? Oh, right. Because the snake ordered him to.

"I see what this is about," I point out, shifting my gaze between Anna and my father. I feel a sense of betrayal, but not as strong as I expected. "Take a seat, Ava," my father's empty chair beckons to me, calling my name. “I've been sitting all day, so excuse me if I don't feel like sitting anymore,” I retorted with a smile, earning a disapproving scoff from Anna. “I told you, Daniel…” I hear her whisper.
My father raises his hand, silencing her. "Can you explain what's been going on between the two of you?" His voice fills the room, commanding and intimidating, meant to be used to corner people; But I learned from the best, and he knew there was no chance it was ever going to work on me. It might have had an effect on the old Ava, but I was an entirely different person now.

"What do you mean?" I pretend to be clueless, even though the situation unfolding before me was crystal clear. The stepmonster must have told him about my detention, the leaked information, and the threat against her. "Ava, please stop pretending and let's resolve this," I hear her fake sincerity and apologetic eyes.
I laugh, not even bothering to look at her. "I'm sorry, were you speaking to me?" I ask, pointedly ignoring her. My father slams his hand on the table, making Anna jump in surpirse. Pathetic. “Enough!”