Finding Ava Read online

  Finding Ava

  Jennifer Loren

  Copyright © 2012 Jennifer Loren

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 0984733663

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9847336-6-8

  Table of Contents

  Other work

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Ava

  Chapter 2: Sean

  Chapter 3: Ava

  Chapter 4: Sean

  Chapter 5: Ava

  Chapter 6: Sean

  Chapter 7: Ava

  Chapter 8: Sean

  Chapter 9: Ava

  Chapter 10: Sean

  Chapter 11: Ava

  Chapter 12: Sean

  Chapter 13: Ava

  Chapter 14: Sean

  Chapter 15: Ava

  Chapter 16: Spencer

  Chapter 17: Sean

  Chapter 18: Ava

  Chapter 19: Sean

  Chapter 20: Ava

  Chapter 21: Sean

  Chapter 22: Ava

  Chapter 23: Sean

  Chapter 24: Ava

  Chapter 25: Sean

  Chapter 26: Ava

  Chapter 27: Sean

  Chapter 28: Spencer

  Chapter 29: Sean

  Chapter 30: Ava

  Chapter 31: Sean

  Chapter 32: Ava

  Chapter 33: Sean

  Chapter 34: Ava

  Preview of Reckless

  Other work

  The Devil’s Eyes: Available now.

  Nicholas Jayzon has broken through the chains of his destitute past by stealing, swindling and charming his way to owning his city. In the city where most everyone owes him a favor, Nick’s power is growing. The police can’t touch him and his enemies are becoming powerless to take him down. He is intelligent, cunning and above all … alluring. No woman can resist him. But, one woman is determined to bring him down and her reasons are personal. Kayla Donovan has spent years preparing for the time she faces him again and plans on denying Nick as much of her as she can. She knows him; she knows what gets his attention and what he can’t resist. Kayla is the only one that can possibly look into his devilish eyes and not be besieged by them or controlled by a single whisper of his desire. If she is able to manage her fears, then there is no reason for her not to succeed, and if she can’t … well, she has nothing to lose. She has no one left to care about her or to miss her if she fails in her mission. She has no one, not since her beloved sister fell for Nick, became controlled by him, and eventually died because of him.

  Driven by hate, Kayla is determined to find a way into Nick’s favor, find a way to make him trust her so she can find the heart of the devil and tear it apart before he captures hers.

  The Devil’s Eyes is a Dark, Intense, Romance novel. Not your typical story of two perfect people coming together after overcoming a life challenge. No, Nick and Kayla are two imperfect people, trying to overcome the brutal realities of their worlds and finding life as criminals comes naturally to them both.

  The Devil’s Revenge: A sequel to The Devil’s Eyes.

  The corrupt senator, Spencer Welch, the city’s old district attorney is making a bid for the Vice-Presidency. He has plenty of money to back him, considering his new ally, Joseph Estrella. What he never considered - is the enemies he made along the way would come back to haunt him. Coming Spring 2012.

  Reckless: A sequel to Finding Ava.

  This story dives deep into the making of the movie “Reckless”, and simultaneously takes you on a ride filled with sex, drama, disastrous sabotage, and battles of woman against woman and man against man. You will have to take a breath before you read this story because you won’t be able to take another until after it ends. Find a preview at the end of this book. Coming Summer 2012.

  Prologue

  It is disturbing how quickly my life has gone from being so assured to so mystifying. What I thought I always wanted now seems so meaningless. As hard as I try to curse the doubts and those debilitating feelings overtaking me, I am still being drawn to somewhere else, to someone else. I find myself night after night dreaming of a man I haven’t even met, dreaming of a life I never knew I wanted. Even during my nights spent with Jasper, my idol, my boss and the man who should be the one - he distracts me. My discontentment is forcing my usual runs through the park to become longer and faster paced as I sort out the details of my dreams and the shadowy man that vividly calls out for me. It was only a few days ago, I felt him or at least what I thought was him but - I was wrong. This new presence has nowhere near the same emotion of the man in my dreams. The watchful eyes are suddenly everywhere I go, I can hear them breathing in anticipation of my recognition of them but fear keeps me from seeking them out. I pretend I am only imagining the malice that has begun to haunt me but I can’t help wonder if I am being pulled toward something wonderful or pushed away from something sinister.

  Chapter 1: Ava

  I have worked my whole life striving to achieve that seemingly unattainable dream. Despite my barriers, I have been able to achieve all that I could have hoped for, that includes working alongside the one I have long admired the most, Jasper Andrews. He is inspiring and I have taken every opportunity I can to learn from him regardless of people questioning the elite projects that Jasper is assigning me too. No matter what they think about me, no one can question my work ethic or my dedication. In fact, Jasper has proven his confidence in me by inviting me to a board member dinner at his home tonight. I know this is my opportunity to prove myself, and hopefully an opportunity to pick my own team for the new city project. One person I already know for sure will be on my team is my best friend since eighth grade summer camp, Kyle. I met Kyle when we both fell in love with Billy Press, the summer camp’s king of all sports. If not for the Billy Press fan club, and the late nights discussing his joyous athletic abilities, Kyle and I might not be friends today. Even though Kyle is from Georgia and me from Kentucky we stayed in touch until we attended college together, all the way to Columbia. We earned our Masters in Architecture and both are now working for Jasper and living on the cheap, the wretchedly cheap, in a cramped apartment above Mr. Wong’s restaurant.

  “Okay you pretty, redhead girl, you go and sucker those Charlie Browns’ into giving us those promotions that we most certainly deserve.” Kyle said kissing me on the cheek and sending me out the door with my nice shoes in a bag and my coat covering everything else to keep it from getting dirty on the bus.

  My eagerness is building as I begin to count the stops and mentally pushing people to hurry, “on or off, make a decision - and let’s go!” Timing is everything, and I do not want my first invitation to attend a party with the board of directors, to seem as if I have taken it lightly. After I get off at the last possible stop, I wave down a cab to take me the short distance left, giving me a chance to quickly change my shoes, fine-tune the rest of my outfit, hair, and makeup and all the while practicing my well-planned lines. I rehearse all the way to Jasper’s building, through the lobby and up the elevator. One quick deep breath and I knock. Surprisingly Jasper answers, with drink in hand, looking casually sophisticated and smiling pleasingly at me.

  “Ava, I am so glad you could make it.” Taking my hand, he draws in close kissing my cheek while I notice the candles and the low volume symphony in the background. “You look beautiful as always.”

  I smile curiously, as I search for anyone else, “am I the first to arrive?”

  Jasper after taking my coat leads me to the dining room and the table set for two. “I am afraid I was a bit deceptive in my invitation but I was too nervous to simply ask you to have dinner with me.”

  “Jasper, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “It is only dinner, I promise. Please, sit we can talk about all your ideas and the possibilities
for your future at the firm.” Sitting down at the immaculately prepared table, I watch from the edge of my seat as Jasper pours us some wine. “You know I don’t believe I have ever met anyone with so much talent and promise in my entire career.”

  “Thank you, but I thought tonight was about my career not about …”

  “Ava, this is all about your career but I thought we could talk better alone and you could give me a better insight to what your goals are. You know I can’t do everything, the firm is growing rapidly, and I need someone I can trust to help take the reins.” My interest peeks as Jasper continues with questions and seeming interested in my every word. The night is unnerving but he never pushes for anything inappropriate, putting me a little more at ease and even more hopeful.

  Over the next couple of weeks, I have lunch at expensive restaurants and travel to meet the firm’s best clients. Jasper eventually asks me to help him present our latest design, which I did, helping win a high profile project for the firm. I celebrate with him - unreserved. The next morning is awkward and immediately regrettable. The “redheaded whore” title I have so easily dismissed now seems all so fitting. Still feeling his cold hands on my bare skin, I ease myself out from under his limp arm and try to make it to the door before he wakes.

  “Where are you going?” Jasper asked sitting up in bed with a superior smile.

  “I thought I … I really need to get home.”

  “Oh my darling, there is no need to rush out.” Jasper jumps up putting his robe on over his naked body and putting his arm around me as if he has done this same routine for years. “Have breakfast with me and then I will drive you home so you can prepare for our dinner tonight.”

  “Tonight?” I look up at him puzzled, while I try to finger my tousled hair back into place.

  “I will pick you up at seven. We have dinner reservations at Per Se tonight. And then.” He turns to me smiling, “and then you can decide if you stay over again or not.”

  Breakfast was wonderful, dinner was beyond words, but Jasper’s confidence is weakening me. I try to resist him, determined to keep our relationship, professional but with his always-charming poise, he reminds me of the future we can have together, like a dream I should have thought to have. Over time, I find my wordless acceptance has caused me to be deep in a relationship with my once idol, and my now boss. At first, he spoils me beyond anything I could have hoped for and I start to believe. However, the dizzying happiness comes to an abrupt halt when Jasper hires a new receptionist. Although, Jasper always reassures me just before he dismisses me for another meeting or another overnight trip. I can’t believe my once strong and respectable persona is now nothing but a background fool.

  ~

  A typical early morning, with my coffee and Kyle’s head lying on my shoulder, allowing him a few more minutes of sleep until the bus gets us to our stop where we will make our way with the masses up to the twenty-second floor. The morning is over before I know it, the afternoon seems to have come and gone without me even recognizing, and suddenly people are fleeing for home. Five o’clock again … and Jasper walks by making sure to give me his usual exiting nod on his way out of town, still believing that our relationship is somehow a secret. Today is my birthday and Jasper promises to do something special for me when he gets back. I tried to look disappointed, but all I could think about is that it will be nice to have a night without Jasper’s superior influences and enjoy Kyle’s always -energetic optimism. Speaking of the impatient devil, I can feel his frustrated eyes boring holes into my skull.

  “I am not going to allow you to work late tonight. I don’t care what you say.” Kyle said stretching back in his chair making his glare, even more obvious. “Ava it’s your birthday and we are going to celebrate tonight.”

  “I don’t want to be tired for my meeting tomorrow, Kyle.”

  “We at least need to get a bottle of wine tonight.”

  “Wine?” I laughed. “Do tell, what goes with peanut butter and crackers or do we have any frozen waffles left?” I giggled with him.

  “No, I ate the last one for dinner last night. Oh and we are going to have to pick up some more crackers from the cafeteria on our way out. As far as the wine, I think that a Merlot might be nice since we do have a creamy peanut butter. Or whatever they have for less than ten dollars because that’s all I have until payday.” He said pulling out his lint filled pockets.

  “Oh you poor pitiful boy,” I said pulling out a fifty dollar bill.

  “Hey, where did you get that?”

  “Jasper gave me some money to buy myself some flowers or any other dying organism that I might like to waste money on.” I said with a sarcastic tone.

  “Uggghhh, I don’t get what you see in him but at least the jerk gave you cash and left town, the best gift of all.” Kyle smiles.

  “Anyway. I thought we could get some nicer wine with this and maybe a movie and use the rest to put towards our … We have a dream jar.”

  “So you have decided?” Kyle asked with a vibrating expectation.

  “I don’t know for sure yet but it can’t hurt to dream.”

  “I’ll accept that for now but I know it’s only a matter of time before I get to say, GOOD-BYE Mr. Jasper Andrews, and hello Kyle Brice and Ava Kelley Architecture and Design.” Kyle said exaggerating his glamorous walk out the door. “Come on girl let’s get out of here, these bright gray walls are starting to close in on me.”

  “I’m coming but I need to go by the library first. I want to do some research.”

  “Ava, Jasper already said he liked your ideas, don’t over analyze what you have already done.”

  “I am not over analyzing. I simply want to be prepared for an important client.”

  “Well when it’s my birthday, we are calling in sick and watching Lifetime in bed and eating cheddar popcorn all-day, because I’m worth it.” He said waiting for me to agree.

  “Of course you are, sweetie,” I laughed kissing him gently on the cheek.

  As soon as we get to the library, we both take to a computer searching for anything and everything helpful, Kyle a little less eagerly. Once I feel satisfied, I gather what I have found while Kyle throws a book on my pile of notes, about why not to sleep with your boss. “Funny.” I said rolling my eyes at him and ignoring his laughter. Preparing for the cold, I overly bundle up, barely leaving enough room for my eyes to see where I am going and as expected, one-step outside and we both let out a frigid gasp.

  “Let’s go to the liquor store near that fancy little Italian restaurant, I love the smells,” I yelled through the blistering wind and the layers of fabric.

  “You’re only going to torture yourself,” Kyle said shaking his head.

  “I don’t care, at least this way I can dream my wretched dinner is a lavish Italian meal,” I said earning a reluctant sigh of acceptance before we cross the street, huddled close together. I pay for the bottle of wine and wait outside for Kyle while he searches through the market across the street for an extra surprise birthday treat. I might have complained or even followed if not for the seductive aroma of the restaurant next door. Its torturous smells carry me away to a better place. With one last inhale, I take a short step back before hearing a screaming mob approaching me rapidly. With no time to prepare a safe exit, I curl around my wine and brace for impact. Unexpectedly, warm strong arms surround me and carry me safely through the hormonal girls.

  “Don’t worry they’ll be gone in a minute,” he said continuing to hover over me. I lie peacefully between his open coat and against his warm, taut chest, letting a new alluring scent fill my nose.” Okay I think it is safe now. You okay?”

  “What?” I asked feeling his rhythmic heart beat against his chest while mine speeds.

  “Are you okay?” He stressed with a sarcastic chuckle.

  “Yes, I think so,” I said lifting my head only to be stunned into silence again by his deep green eyes and warm smile. The cold wind barely moves his expertly styled dark hair and his sw
eater gently highlights his athletic build but when his smile stretches across his handsome face, I imagine my heavy beating heart jumping from body into his.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Kyle yelled reminding me of my scattered books and notes that are beginning to blow out of reach.

  “Oh no!” I yell jumping from the man’s arms to try to rescue my hours of work, managing to grab most everything in sight except the book Kyle got me, which the stranger hands me with the rest of my notes. I respond shyly, thanking him while unable to take my eyes off him, I can barely grasp what he is saying to me. Just smile and nod Ava. Damn what is wrong with me! He said good-bye … I think. Say something you idiot. “Bye.” Wow, that was impressive. I watch him walk away as Kyle grabs my arm turning me back towards our apartment but I look back once more to see him doing the same before disappearing into the restaurant.

  “Ava, do you know who that was?” Kyle asked.

  “I think that guy called him Sean.”

  Kyle laughs, “no ridiculous girl not him, the other one, the one the mob was herding towards.” Shaking my head, I can already foresee the informative celebrity news coming by way of dramatic explanation. “It was Ethan Grant, the actor, the hottest and the sexiest movie star I can think of and he …”

  “Oh, well I didn’t talk to him.”