Chapter 4 Shattered hope

Ava turns the lock of her door open, making her way in. She closes the door behind her, crashing down to the ground with her back sliding against the door. She breaks down into uncontrollable tears, everything didn't seem alright at this point. No comforting words could ease her pain. It didn't hurt that she lost her job but the little she did with the wages gave her a reasons to crash out.

Who does she turn to for help, her helpless mother or her little sister. She couldn't bring herself to inform them about this. Her mother's little businesses could barely put food on thier table, let alone settle her late father's debtors. She knows she shouldn't be hard on herself even her mom tells her so. Watching them suffer was the last thing she wanted for them; she needed to ease their worries if not entirely just a little bit.

She seats on the floor with her check totally drenched in tears. Picking up her phone to see if Jane might have responded. She did respond just as she thought, her hands grabbed the phone, her fingers punched against it's screen dialing Jane's number. She hears it ring at the other end of the line, Jane picks up. Ava breaks down in tears as soon as Jane answers,

"Oh my God, Ava, I'm so sorry! I just got the message. I'm truly sorry," Jane said over the line.

"I fucked up big time, Jane. Now what will happen to me?" she replied under her breath.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, okay? You know what? I'm coming there right away. Okay, just hang in there," Jane replies, cutting the call on her own end.

Ava put away her phone slowly, her eyes fell on a hard firm picture of her mother, her and her sister. She stands up and walks towards the picture, picking it up and placing it close to her chest she cries her eyes out. They meant everything to her and it breaks her heart to see them suffer. Her gaze meet the picture one more time, as she ran her finger slightly across their faces. Looking at them from the hard firm picture, a ray of hope finds her. She needs to be strong, if not for herself then for them - they mattered a lot to her.

Drying her checks with her palms, she sets the picture frame aside. She enters into the bathroom to shower, standing under the lukewarm water as it beats on her tired skin. She steps out from the shower, drying her body with a towel. She wraps it around her chest and collapses on the bed with her face looking up to the ceiling. Her hands spread widely open, the doorbell rang.

Ava steps forward, not paying attention to her towel wrapped around her chest. She opens the door, her eyes meets Jane. Jane goes in for a hug, her hands wrapped around Ava. She whispers comforting words into her ear,

"It's alright, dear."

Ava ushers her in, Jane grabs a bottle of water, gobbling it all in.

"Wow, you must be really thirsty. Take it easy," Ava said to Jane, who gobbles in some more.

Jane let out a relieved expression, setting the bottle down. She moves close to Ava and wipes her cheeks clean. She plays around with her face, pulling her lips in opposite directions causing her to smile.

"There you go. You look beautiful when you smile," Jane complimented.

"You never cease to make me happy," Ava said, leaning in for a hug.

"Wait, look what I have here," Jane said, pulling out from the hug. She grabs her bag and removes a bottle of wine.

Ava's face beams with smiles,

"You sure do know what makes me happy," she said as she went to get two glasses from her counter.

They both fill up their glass, Jane raised her glass to a toast with Ava joining in.

"To better days ahead," Jane said, clicking her glass against Ava's.

"To better days ahead," Ava repeated after Jane. The both ladies giggled.

"We drink tonight, forgetting about our sorrows, while reminiscing on our upcoming success," Jane added as they both consumed the content in their glasses. They reach out for the bottle pouring in a generous amount into their glasses. The evening that was once sad for Ava, turned out to be a lovely one.

---

Xavier arrives at his penthouse, he makes his way to his bar. Taking a bottle of whiskey alongside a glass. He goes to have a seat in the living room, sinking his whole weight into his soft sofa. He relaxes and pours himself a small quantity of whiskey. He reaches out for a remote control turning the TV on while sipping his drink. The interior decoration of his house screamed luxury. From his beautiful white sofa, to his elegant crystal chandelier that dazzled right above the room to the marbled grey and white flooring. To crown it all, this wasn't his main house, his penthouse served as his getaway home.

He hears a knock on his door,

"Come in," he says, ushering the person in.

Only two people knew about his secret hideout, Adrian and Peter. Adrian makes his way in,

"Still slouching as usual," Adrian teases.

He makes his way to sit next to Xavier, he takes the glass from him and pours in some whiskey. His action causes Xavier to stare, he was already used to this, nothing new.

"I'm not slouching, just finding a good distraction," he replied Adrian.

"Distraction?! Doesn't seem like something you normally would like," Adrian replies, sipping his drink. "So tell me, what is this distraction all about?" he added.

"I don't really know but I think I might have developed feeling for someone" Xavier says, as his eyes meet with that of his brother.

Adrian bursted into laughter, he looks at Xavier to make sure he was alright. Confirming this by placing his hand on his forehead. The seriousness on his face and in his voice clears his suspicion,.He stops laughing.

"Okay, now that sounds weird. Come to think of it, you don't even like women," Adrian teases.

"I do like women," Xavier claps back, proving Adrian's claim otherwise.

"But I don't really see you with any of them. Just curious," Adrian said, setting his glass down on the center table.

"So you don't know the lady in question?" Adrian asks.

"That's the thing, bro, I have no idea who she is but she has everything I want in a woman," Xavier says excitedly.

"Well, you have to do something about it then," Adrian said, making his way up the staircase. "I need to get ready, I'm going out tonight," Adrian says, tapping Xavier on his lap as he makes his way up the staircase.

"To do what, if I may ask?" Xavier turns to face Adrian.

"To woo some beautiful ladies, something you don't normally do. So I get it, you can't relate," Adrian teases him some more. They both laugh it off as Adrian enters into the bedroom.

Xavier laid on the sofa, his mind flashing back to Ava's image. He mumbled to the invisible image in his head,

"Just watch as I make you mine."

These words he said, departing into his room to get some rest.