Bryan finally reached her office, a hint of hesitation in his voice. " Hey, Ava. I'm sorry for the unexpected appearance. I was just passing by and thought I'd say hello. "
Ava managed a polite smile, trying to suppress the fluttering nerves. " Hi, Bryan. No need to apologize. I... I was just caught off guard, that's all. "
Before he could say anything else, he heard a chatty voice behind him " Hello Mr Hayes " It was Bella.
He turned, realizing she was the colleague Ava had been talking to before he appeared.
He smiled " Good day, Miss.... " His voice trailed off deliberately as he waited for her to provide her name.
" Bella " She finished cheerfully, smiling at him warmly.
He nodded " Miss Bella "
Bella moved a few distance away to give them privacy but she could hear them clearly if she strained her ears.
Bryan turned his attention back to Ava, hungry for her beautiful face. He could sense her slight unease. " I was out of town for a couple of days, handling some urgent business matters. Sorry for not informing anyone in the office. "
Ava's expression softened, understanding dawning on her. " Oh, that makes sense. It's just... your absence was noticed. "
Bryan offered an apologetic smile. " I'll make sure to keep everyone in the loop next time. Anyway, how have things been here? "
Their conversation continued, but Ava found herself struggling to concentrate. Bryan's presence seemed to have a magnetic effect on her, stirring a mix of emotions that she couldn't quite comprehend.
" I just wanted to say hello since I've been out of town. How's everything going? " He
Ava smiled warmly, a hint of apology in her expression. " Everything's good, thanks "
He shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed, praying she would agree to his request.
He took a deep breath, gathering his courage before looking up to stare straight into her eyes " Hey, Ava, I was thinking... would you like to have lunch with me today? "
Ava hesitated for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. Her gaze darted momentarily towards Bella, whose eyes bore into hers, silently communicating a wordless insistence.
Bella had overheard Bryan's invitation and was waiting to see Ava's response. Her expression was a mix of subtle warning and encouragement, and Ava knew Bella well enough to understand the unspoken message: Accept the invitation.
Ava shifted in her seat, feeling the weight of Bella's gaze. Reluctantly, she turned back to Bryan, her voice tinged with hesitation. " Uh, sure, Bryan. Lunch sounds nice. "
Bryan's face lit up with a genuine smile. " Great! There's this new place around the corner that serves amazing salads. We could head there if that works for you. "
Ava nodded, trying to push past her inner apprehension. " That sounds good. "
As Bryan walked away to gather his things, Bella approached Ava, her eyes still holding a hint of warning. " You better not stand him up, Ava. He seems nice enough. "
Ava sighed softly, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. " I know, Bella. I'll go. "
Bella's gaze softened slightly, a touch of concern replacing her earlier sternness. " Just be careful, alright? "
With a nod, Ava gathered her belongings and made her way to meet Bryan for lunch. Despite her internal reservations, she couldn't help but wonder about the dynamics between her, Bryan, and Bella. The unspoken tension hung in the air, leaving Ava feeling conflicted about the lunch she had reluctantly agreed to.
************************
As Ava approached the designated lunch spot, she found Bryan already waiting for her, a warm smile on his face. " Thanks for joining me, Ava. "
Ava returned the smile, trying to push aside the lingering unease. " And thanks for inviting me. "
They entered the bustling restaurant and found a quiet corner to sit. Bryan seemed eager to strike up a conversation, asking about Ava's interests, her work, and casually sharing anecdotes from his recent business trip.
Ava listened attentively, nodding and offering polite responses, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched, a sense that Bella's eyes were still fixed on her, silently urging her to proceed with the lunch despite her reservations.
As their conversation flowed, Bryan's easygoing nature began to break through Ava's initial discomfort. She found herself relaxing gradually, drawn in by his charm and genuine interest in getting to know her better.
" So, Ava, what do you do when you're not buried in work? " Bryan inquired, a genuine curiosity lacing his words.
Ava hesitated for a moment, not used to discussing her personal life at work. " Oh, um, I enjoy reading and painting. It helps me unwind after a long day. "
Bryan's eyes lit up. " That's interesting! I've always wanted to try painting, but I'm terrible at it. Maybe you could teach me sometime? "
Ava chuckled softly, feeling a hint of warmth at Bryan's openness. " Sure, I'd be happy to help. "
He stared deeply into her eyes and his gaze was filled with something like attraction? Lust? She couldn't decipher the look but she promised to ponder over it later.
Bryan didn't want to make her uncomfortable with his stare but he couldn't help it. She was like the delicacy he had wanted for a long time which was finally placed before him.
God, she looked so beautiful, he thought, feeling his little man perk up. No man, not now, he thought, wanting his d*ck to relax but the big thing down there refused to yield to the silent warning. Thank goodness he was still seated. The last thing he wanted was to scare her away.
Their conversation continued, the initial awkwardness giving way to a more comfortable exchange. Despite Ava's initial reluctance, she found herself enjoying Bryan's company and his genuine interest in getting to know her beyond the office environment.
As the lunch came to an end, Bryan smiled warmly at Ava. " Thanks for having lunch with me, Ava. I had a great time getting to know you better. "
Ava nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. " Likewise, Bryan. It was nice "