36

Chapter 36
It had been a stressful week for Ava. Almost every day was stressful for her. What with her fainting the previous day and adamantly rejecting the day off that Alpha Damon gave her?
It wasn’t even close to the weekend, but she already felt so exhausted. She needed a break and a well-soothing one at that. The weekend felt so far away, but she would rather get this project over and done with.
It was a busy day in the office as usual. The past few weeks had come with an increased workload, and a generous amount fell on her shoulders.
She loathed Jude all over when she had that much of the work to do, silently cursing him in her mind.
The only thing that was pushing her was the fact that as the workload increased, her work with alpha Damon was also coming to an end.
A part of her was happy, but a part of her was also sad. After all, the baby was his, and no matter how much she tried to run away from him, there was something that would always remind her of him forever.
It was something that, though she felt every day, she was still trying to process it. She remembered how devastated she felt when she found out but oddly happy that she’d be closer to alpha Damon, even though she hadn’t told him yet.
Yes, it haunted her that she was still keeping it from him, even though they saw each other almost every day and did other things.
She just hadn’t processed it enough to share it with him, even though she knew keeping it from him this long wasn’t the best idea at all.
Ava had tried her best to avoid him at the office, but he still seemed oblivious about the issue.
She’d thought he’d noticed something, anything at this point, but still nothing.
She preferred to leave it like that for now. Ava knew she needed to think. Of course, she was attracted to him more than ever, but it was still Damon. He was unpredictable.
Ava badly wanted to go with her heart and give him a chance after all, but what was the possibility that he would act right?
How could she know that he wasn’t the same person he was back then, even though he acted more maturely?
Collapsing back into her chair as she mentally prepared herself for the journey of going back and forth because of one paper.
Ava let out a tired breath before exiting her office and finding her way downstairs to the main office photocopier machine.
Since the break room was closed, and she hadn’t taken anything that morning, she decided to take a detour after using the photocopier machine.
She walked in, lost in thought about what to eat when she heard someone scream her name in a more than usual excited tone.
Ava turned to her right to see that it was Mika.
How could she forget? The one person she could tell anything about her life was Mika, and she had completely forgotten.
She stared at her in disbelief before running up to her to envelop her in a long hug that she needed more than she knew.
Holding back her tears when remembered where she was and comported herself. She absolutely couldn’t believe that Mika was here.
“Oh my God! You have to come to my office, we have a lot to catch up on.” Ava said in between her excitement, still holding on to Mika.
“I’ll be there, I just need to finish up something with alpha Damon. I’ll be right up.” Mika replied, her face buzzing with excitement, too.
It was then that Ava realized that alpha Damon was there the whole time, and she was completely oblivious to him.
So lost at the moment with Mika that she hadn’t realized that there could be others in the room too.
“Uhm… yeah… I’ll see you up,” Ava said awkwardly, hugging her again and flashing alpha Damon a little smile and nodding to acknowledge him.
She walked out of the break room, forgetting why she came at first. It was when she got to her office that it hit her.
Annoyed with herself, she couldn’t go back downstairs, so she ignored the rumbling in her tummy and just continued working until a knock on the door distracted her.
“Come in.” She answered, clearing her throat.
Mika walked in, her eyes beamed up, and she had been expecting her.
“Wow! This is beautiful.” Mika complimented her as she looked around her office, admiring every little thing. Ava closed down her laptop, pausing her work, and was excited to talk to her.
“Thank you. I’ve missed you so much.” Ava whined, her face frowning a bit as she walked closer to Mika.
“Well, if someone didn’t storm out of the mating ball, we wouldn’t be here like this,” Mika replied sarcastically, with a perfectly smug face.
“And you don’t have to apologize, too.” She added.
Ava smiled apologetically and leaned in to hug her. Mika had been the one person who understood her more than anybody could, sometimes even more than herself.
She’d been craving her presence, but she didn’t know how to talk to her after the ball. She felt guilty, but she forgot how patient and calm Mika was, never got angry or judgmental. She was always there to listen, on the bad days and good days.
“You have no idea the number of things we have to catch up on. But I don’t think now is appropriate. Maybe we could do early lunch tomorrow?” Ava proposed, she needed time and space alone with her best friend, and this office could not suffice.
Plus, most of the things she needed to talk about were only for ears, and she didn’t know who was listening to her.
“That’s perfect. Besides, I have another errand to run today. Let me get out of your hair, love.” Mika agreed as she got up to leave. They agreed that Mika would meet her at the office, and then they would go from there.
They hugged for the last time before Mika exited.
Ava’s mood was uplifted throughout the rest of the day. It was like she’d finally seen someone that she could share her burden with.
Thankfully, time went by fast and the day went by fast, it was already lunchtime.
The receptionist informed her that Mika was there.
Ava paused her work and then quickly informed Alpha Damon she was leaving for an early lunch before going downstairs to meet with her best friend.
They drove to their favorite spot ordered takeout, and then proceeded to their favorite picnic spot. The edge of a cliff gave an overview of the whole neighborhood.
Ava was happy, it was like she could read her mind and knew that she wanted to have a private discussion with her.
They parked the car and set up the place for their mini lunch picnic. Ava took in a deep breath, appreciating the generous amount of wind blowing.
She looked at Mika, who was already waiting for her to pour out everything she wanted to say.
Ava told her everything from the ball, to why she was working with alpha Damon, to when she first slept with alpha Damon, to her breaking up her engagement with Jude.
Even the part of her occasionally sleeping with Alpha Damon at the office and sometimes at a lodge, to how she was pregnant, and finally, how she hadn’t informed Alpha Damon that the baby was his.
Mika took a while to process it, she was part of the few people who knew why and how much Ava hated Damon, but she was beyond shocked that so much had happened.
Mika went close to Ava, enveloping her in a tight, long hug. Mika knew Ava had been holding it in for so long. She waited for her to calm down before she started speaking.
“You do know you have to tell him soon, right?” Mika said soothingly, softly reminding her of the one thing she had been dreading since she found out.
“I know, I just need more time to clear my head.” Ava exhaled, she was sobbing already.
Mika made her rest her head on her shoulder, comforting her as she cried, it was the only way she could let everything out.
“I understand. Just know I’ll be here for everything, you know I don’t give up easily.” Mika responded with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Ava knew Mika was right. It was no pressure but pressure at the same time.
Mika reminded her that she didn’t have to decide at that moment, so they just ate and continued to catch up.
Ava headed home immediately after. She didn’t have the energy to go back to work. After all, she needed the rest.
She went home a happier and lighter woman than she had left, a good nap would complete the day for her she thought as she walked into the house.