Ava's Point of view
When I walked into the building, the sound of my heels echoed marble floor, I went into this almost empty hall.
After two weeks of being absent. I was not really prepared to know what was waiting for me.
In just two weeks, my life was a total mess, but I have to move on isn't it?
I walked into my office with the hope that things will return to normal and I could pick up the pieces in my life.
Well, that was my hope until the minute I booted the computer and accessed my inbox.
And there it was, the notice that the promotion that was supposed to be mine, which I worked my ass off for and was promised, was off the table.
Denied.
My heart joined my stomach. This was what had brought me to associate partner level, kept me pushing through all those endless exhaustive hours, and now… it was gone. I stared with absolute confusion at the email.
How? Why?
I pushed the heavy door leading to the conference room where the head jury sat, they were speaking amongst themselves, but when I arrived, they stopped.
"Ms. Sinclair," said the head jury Gregory Patel, looking up with a smitten smile. "Back so soon."
I could feel the tension rise high in my chest. I wasn't here for pleasantries.
"I need to speak with you," I said, crossing toward the big table in the middle of the room.
"I just saw that my request for advancement had been denied. Mind to explain why?."
For a second, the smile faltered, "Yes, well, that decision was reconsidered."
"What does that mean?" I pressed.
"It means we've decided to go in another direction, Ms. Sinclair. Your performance was…satisfactory, but we felt that the other candidates were a better fit for that position."
I blinked, my throat going tight. "What other candidates?
He eyed the room as if waiting for a sign.
"Ms. Sinclair," Patel began,"I don't believe this is a discussion we should continue further."
I felt my anger bubbling inside, and I knew fully well that this was far from going to be swept under the rug. "I want an explanation for being by passed. Five years I've here, and after all is said and done, you are basically telling me I am not good enough?"
Silence.
"Let me be clear," said Patel, standing up, "this is not a pity house. Our decision has been made, deal with it."
I didn't say anything, I turned and walked out, the color in my face now red from the anger and humiliation. Now more than ever,
I need to call her, to tell her all that just happened. I was already breaking down, I knew it.
While still walking down, the hallway, I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
"Ava! Hey, how's everything going?" Elise answered,
"I just got turned down for the promotion that was supposed to get.They gave it to someone else and I don't have a clue why," I stammered.
"What?" Elise asked surprised as I had been. "That doesn't make any sense. What did they say?
I leaned into the side of the building as my mind ran wild. "Nothing. He said they were reconsidering and decided to go in another direction. He wouldn't give me a straight answer."
"That's not right," she said. "You've worked your ass off, Ava. You deserve that promotion. I'm so sorry."
I took a deep breath. "I'm going to try and figure this out, I'll try to get any answers.".
Elise was silent for a few moments. "Alright, listen, keep cool, Okay ? I'll be back from Spain in a couple of days. Just give me some time when I get back , we'll look into this, all right? Meanwhile, don't do anything insane"
I forced a weak smile, though she could not see that. "Thanks, Elise. I do not know what I'd do without you."
I didn't stay on the phone any longer, but that gnawing anxiety did not leave me.
I walked, frustrated and puzzled. How could they do this to me? At such a time when I almost have lost everything which I worked for?
And then someone snook up on me.
When I turned, startled, it was Nolan.
He was staring into my eyes and then almost immediately the blood in my body just went cold.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I screamed, my anger already boiling over in the stomach.
He took few steps forward, he came towards me with a seductive expression. "I should be asking the same thing. Why are you always so uptight, Ava?"
I gave him an evil glare . "Stop following me, Nolan. Just… stop it."
He didn't bat an eyelid, but the shadows in his eyes darkened; ii felt irritated with him. "You started all this, remember? You left without a word, and now you acting just like nothing happened."
I clenched my fist. "You feel this is my fault? I tried to explain to you what happened, but you broke up with me and got Married, Nolan. This? All of this is not my fault."
I was about to turn away, but he snatched my arm, yanking me back toward him.
"Let me go!" I yelled, yanking my arm free, but he kept hold of my arm.
Just listen to me for a second," Nolan pleaded, his face close to mine. " You can't ignore me Ava"
A disgusted feeling rolled over me, my chest tightened. "I don't want to hear it, Nolan."
His lips crashed into mine, the force it came with silenced me even before I could pull away. I pulled out from him in disgust and instinctively bit his bottom lip.
He yelped in pain, stumbling backward. "What the hell?"
I didn't give him even a second. I shoved him hard, sending him tumbling backward, then I turned to run.
I didn't care if he followed me. I couldn't stand him anymore. I needed to run away.
Not let him destroy all the f
ew things that I have left.
I ran, feeling my heartbeat beating and not stopping until it reached my car.