Anita


    +15 BONUS


    Ava


    I sat at a private booth enjoying a piece of cake. Noah was spending the night at Rowan’s so I was


    child free tonight.


    I was feeling good for some reason. In that good feeling, I decided to grab something to eat. I was in


    the mood for somefort food. That’s why I was currently here eating dessert like I’ve been


    starved for days.


    My visit to prison was eventful. I had fully expected Ethan to tell me he doesn’t want the baby. Instead I


    got more than I had bargained for.


    His confession of love left me feeling empty in a way. He had to understand that it was toote now. I


    wouldn’t ever think about being with him. He tried killing me for heaven’s sake! If I go back


    to him, what does that say about me?


    I wasn’t cruel enough to deny him his rights as a father. Even if I didn’t want to see him personally. I


    could always ask Nora to take the baby to him. That was the furthest I was willing to go. The biggest


    effort I was willing to make when it came to Ethan. Anything beyond that would


    be downright stupid.


    I decided that I was done with men. I mean no good cane out of chasing love. I wanted love from


    two men and what I got was heartbreak and pain.


    It was time for me to give up on love, because the way I see it, it doesn’t want me. It never has. I am


    learning to make peace with that. Now I was going to focus on being my best version. Focus on


    being the best mother.


    I push another piece of cake in my mouth and moan. It felt like heaven as the taste explodes in


    my mouth.


    “Aren’t you afraid you’ll get fat? I mean you already are, but I fear you will get fatter” the shrill


    voice makes me snap my eyes open.


    I groan when I open my eyes and find Anita staring at me with a mean look. Behind her were


    some of her co–workers. Theyugh when they hear her insulting me, but I honestly don’t care.


    Right now they were all insignificant.


    She was one of Rowan’s financial advisors and as you can tell, she doesn’t like me. She and


    I never really understood where their hate came from Sure I was married to Rowan. Who they both


    wanted, but anyone with a brain could tell that Rowan hated my guts.


    “I’m talking to you fat bitch” she screeches when I continue to ignore her.


    “Sure, talk away. Doesn’t mean I have to listen to a fucking word you say” I respond before


    drinking a ss of juice.


    Back when we married, I always kept quiet when she would say awful things to me. I was so desperate


    to please Rowan, to get him to like me, that I let his workers walk all over me. Part of me wanted to


    believe he was oblivious to their mean treatments, but I just can’t let myself think


    that he didn’t know.


    “You think you’re something now that you’re apparently rich?” she sneers. “I bet you got your


    money by getting on your back”


    At that, Iugh. These kind of women are so insecure that they think everyone gets to the top by


    spreading their legs.


    I speak after myugh dies down. “I’m not you, Anita”


    “You bitch! How dare you” she goes to lunge at me, but I stand up and re at her.


    I was done letting these stupid idiots walk over me.


    “Take one more step towards me and you’re going to regret it” I snap, my eyes narrowing in slits.” The


    Ava you knew took your insults lying down, I promise I won’t. You push me, I’ll push back


    harder and I fucking swear you won’t like what I do”


    She looks behind her, before fixing her green eyes on me. She dragged her friends to my table


    expecting to humiliate me. The jokes on her, though.


    “Are you threatening me?” she walks towards me, trying to intimidate me.


    I shrug “Sure, if that’s how you want to take it”


    “One word from me and Rowan will be on your ass….we’ve danced this game before Ava. You know


    all I have to tell Rowan is that you’ve been rude to me and he will blow up on you”


    Before, that would have made me bow down. I desperately didn’t want to have any more problems


    with Rowan, so I would let her humiliate me. She would revel in it. Feeling powerful that she was


    ”


    15 BONUSI give her a smile “Go ahead. I honestly don’t give a fuck. In fact, why don’t you take your


    phone out right now and call him? I challenge her


    “You think I won’t?”


    I’m counting on you doing it” I reply smugly.


    Slowly by slowly, the self–esteem I thought I had lost after Ethan betrayed me was starting toe


    back. Never will I allow a man to make me hit rock bottom again.


    “What’s going on here?” a stern voice says.


    I look up to find Corrine staring between us. We weren’t friends, more like acquaintances or business


    partner. Her father’s construction firm is the one I use when building Hope Houses. She is the owner of


    this restaurant. The construction firm is a familypany and she was a


    shareholder, but the restaurants were all hers.


    “This woman here is causing a disturbance, I suggest you kick her out” Anita rushes to speak. “We


    were just minding our own business when she started calling me names”


    I smirk. Folding my hands across my chest as I watch her make a fool of herself.


    Everyone knows who Corrine is. No one though, knows that we know each other. I was waiting for the


    show to start. Unlike Rowan, Corinne wasn’t easily fooled.


    “Is that so?” she asks, her voice low.


    I never let myself get too close to her. She wanted us to be friends, but at that time I thought that no


    one would want a loser like me as a friend. Instead I kept her at arm length. Only talking to her


    when business was involved.


    Anita nods her head. She gives her friends a small signal and they all agree with her. What a


    bunch of idiots.


    “Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think this entire ce has no cameras?” he asks them. “I saw


    everything and then you dare lie to me?”


    I see the moment Anita realizes she has fucked up. She swallows hard, panic etched on her face.


    “It’s just a misunderstanding” she struggles to say, clutching at straws.


    “Get out!”


    “I said get out of my fucking restaurant! I won’t have a lowly bitch with no manners try and humiliate my


    friend in my own fucking restaurant” Corrine was seething and it was written all


    over her face.


    I was suprised she called me her friend, but I push the thought away.


    “Are you going to leave or do you want me to have my body guards drag you out?”


    “Fine, the food here isn’t even good” she huffs.


    We all know that she’s lying. This was one of the best restaurants in the city. Everyone knew that.


    Anita turns around to leave, it’s only then I realize that we had attracted attention. Before she can


    leave, Corrine calls her name.


    “And Anita?”


    “What?” she snaps.


    “You’re no longer weed at any of my restaurants. That goes for you friends too”


    I smirk when her mouth falls open in shock. She then stomps away. Her friends hot on her heels.


    Cursing her for getting them banned.


    “Thank you for that, Corrine. She was starting to get on my damn nerves” I humph.


    “It’s okay…it was no problem” she gives me a small smile.


    I go to tell her something more, when my name is called.


    “Ava?” I freeze at the sound of her voice.


    I turn around to find Rowan’s mom standing behind me. Next to her with tears in her eyes, is the


    woman I thought was my mother. The woman who called me her daughter, but treated me like I was


    nothing.