Love In Between

CHAPTER 54

Ava walked into the party and scanned the crowd, searching for Andrew. She finally spotted him in the corner, talking with a group of his friends. As she made her way over to him, she could feel his gaze on her, studying her. When she finally reached him, she could see the disappointment in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“You didn’t wear the earrings I picked out for you,” he said, his voice tight with anger.

Ava felt a flicker of defiance spark within her. She had deliberately chosen to wear a different pair of earrings, knowing that it would upset Andrew. She was tired of feeling controlled and manipulated by him.

“I’m sorry, Andrew,” she said, her voice steady. “But I felt like I needed to make a statement. I don’t like feeling controlled.”

Andrew’s expression softened and he reached out to touch her cheek. “I just want to make sure you look perfect at all times,” he said, his voice full of tenderness.

Ava felt her resolve begin to falter. She had always been drawn to Andrew’s confidence and charisma, but now she was starting to see him in a different light. She knew she needed to make a decision, and soon.

As Andrew’s irritation grew, Ava tried to play it down by saying it was not a big deal but it only made it worse, Andrew pulled her by the hand and led her to the lounge he had reserved for them.

In the lounge, Andrew sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to him, indicating for Ava to sit. Ava hesitantly complied, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Ava, I know you don’t understand why I want you to wear certain things or act a certain way,” he began, his voice soft and calm. “But it’s because I care about you. I want you to be the best version of yourself, and I believe that starts with how you present yourself to the world.”

Ava felt a lump form in her throat. She knew that Andrew cared about her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was trying to mould her into something she wasn’t.

“But you can’t control me, Andrew,” she said, her voice trembling. “I need to be able to express myself in my own way, not the way you want me to.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Andrew’s expression grew serious. “I know that, Ava,” he said. “And I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way. I just want to be able to take care of you, to make sure you’re always happy and fulfilled.”

Ava could see the sincerity in his eyes. But she also knew that she couldn’t let him control her life any longer.

“Andrew, I care about you too,” she said, taking a deep breath. “But I can’t be in a relationship where I feel like I’m being controlled. I need to be able to be myself, and I can’t do that with you.”

Ava’s words seemed to hit Andrew hard. He sat there in silence for a moment, processing what she had said. And then, suddenly, he reached out and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.

For a moment, Ava was caught off guard by the intensity of his kiss. But then she found herself responding in kind, her body melting into his as they locked lips. The tension between them was palpable, and Ava could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

As their kiss deepened, Andrew’s hands began to roam over Ava’s body, pulling her closer to him. She could feel the heat rising within her, and she knew that she needed to pull away before things went too far.

“Andrew,” she breathed, breaking away from his kiss. “We need to talk about this.”

Andrew looked at her, his eyes dark with desire. “I know,” he said, his voice husky. “I’m sorry, Ava. I didn’t mean to control you. I just want you to be happy.”

Ava looked at him, her heart aching. She knew that he was sorry, and that he truly cared about her. But she also knew that she couldn’t let him control her life any longer.

“I care about you too, Andrew,” she said, her voice soft. “But I need to be able to be myself. I can’t let you control me.”

Andrew nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes. “I understand,” he said. “I just hope we can work through this.”

Ava nodded, a small smile on her lips. “I hope so too,” she said.

With that, Andrew took her hand and led her back into the party, and the rest of the night was spent dancing, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

As Ava and Andrew made their way back into the party, Ava couldn’t help but notice that the crowd had grown. More guests had arrived, and the room was now buzzing with energy. Andrew greeted everyone he passed with a smile and a handshake, but Ava could see the confusion in their eyes. They were happy to be at such a lavish party, but they couldn’t help but wonder why they were there.

Ava found herself caught up in a sea of people as she was introduced to Andrew’s colleagues, friends and acquaintances. She smiled and made small talk, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She couldn’t help but feel like she was at a loss, not knowing what the purpose of the party was or what Andrew’s intentions were.

As the night went on, Ava couldn’t help but notice how Andrew seemed to be in his element, mingling and networking with ease. She, on the other hand, felt out of place and out of her depth. She knew that she needed to talk to Andrew, to understand why he had invited all these people and what his plans were.

As Ava continued to make small talk with Andrew’s colleagues, friends, and acquaintances, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Roxie, her assistant and best friend, standing behind her with a look of concern on her face.

“Ava, can I talk to you for a second?” Roxie asked, her voice low.

Ava nodded, and the two of them stepped away from the crowd. “What’s up?” Ava asked, her voice barely audible above the noise of the party.

“I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re okay,” Roxie said, her voice full of concern. “I know this party is a bit overwhelming, and I just wanted to make sure you’re holding up.”

Ava let out a sigh. “To be honest, I’m not really sure what this party is all about,” she admitted. “Andrew hasn’t really explained it to me, and I feel like I’m just going through the motions.”

Roxie nodded sympathetically. “I know it can be tough when you feel like you’re not in the loop,” she said. “But you know you can always talk to me if you need anything. I’m here for you.”

Ava smiled gratefully at her friend. “Thanks, Roxie,” she said. “I really appreciate it.”

Just as Ava was about to respond, she noticed that the crowd was beginning to part, and a group of people with cameras and microphones were making their way into the room. The media had arrived. Ava immediately felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew that there was more to this party than Andrew was revealing.