Page 57 of Ties That Bind Us

“Wow! You certainly look better today.” Nick came in shirtless and sweaty, having just finished his workout in the home gym. He snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me into him and peppering my cheek with salty kisses. “Where are you off to dressed like that?”

His eyes raked over my body as he held me out in front of him. I blushed slightly under his gaze.

“Thank you.” I laughed anxiously. He wasn’t going to be thrilled when he found out where I was headed. “I’m going to Bradford and Chambers. I have an interview at eleven.”

Nick’s face fell and his entire demeanor stiffened, as if preparing for a fight. “You’re what? I thought we talked about this.”

“We did. But my dad thinks it’s a good idea if I go. It’s a really prestigious firm and . . .” I turned back to the mirror, trying to finish my makeup so I could get on my way.

“It might be prestigious but it’s also a direct line between you and your drug dealing ex-boyfriend.” He reached for my wrist, turning me back around gently. “Ava, you know how I feel about Jimmy. I don’t want that scumbag anywhere near you, and if you’re working for his father . . .” He trailed off. “It’s like easy access.” He threw his hands in the air.

“Look, Nick, I get how you feel about it. I’m sorry, I obviously wasn’t planning to go otherwise I would have told you sooner. My dad set this up without even talking to me first. How am I supposed to say no?”

Nick laughed sharply. “Pretty easy, actually. You don’t have to listen to him anymore. I don’t care who he’s friends with. Jimmy didn’t tell you about the offer to help you, Ava. He wants to see you fail and he wants you to owe him. He’s made that very clear the last few weeks, don’t you think?” Nick said.

I rubbed my forehead roughly, immediately feeling my migraine coming back. “There is no harm in me going down there and going through the motions. I’m just trying to make everyone happy.”

“You don’t have to make anyone happy but yourself, baby. Fuck your dad. He hasn’t called in weeks and now suddenly he does because he has something else he wants you to do? It’s bullshit.”

“He’s still my dad, Nick.” I folded my arms across my chest in frustration. This was the last thing my nerves needed this morning. I was anxious enough as it was—having Nick’s support would have been nice. “Please just let this go. It’s not going to go anywhere.”

“You say that now, but what happens when your dad tells you to take the job? You’ll miraculously stand up to him then? It’s fucking sick that he’s even okay with you being around Jimmy in the first place.”

“Nick, it’s his dad!” I shrieked exasperatedly. “Jimmy won’t ever even be there.”

“If you believe that, Avs, you’re being naïve. Paul Bradford knows full well that his son is in love with you. That’s why he wants to hire you,” he said harshly. “That and it’ll put him in your father’s good graces.”

Nick’s words hit me like a bullet from a gun. I knew he hadn’t meant it the way it sounded, but all I could hear was that he didn’t think I could get a prestigious internship like Bradford and Chambers was offering on my own merit. It was only because of my ties to Jimmy.

He immediately regretted it. “Babe, I didn’t mean that how it sounded. You could work anywhere you want, and you deserve to be somewhere that hires you for more than your connections. It’s just that you’re in such a good spot right now. Are you sure it’s healthy to put yourself in a situation where you’ll be around Jimmy and that kind of temptation?”

“You don’t think I can resist getting drugs from Jimmy if I see him again,” I said flatly, realizing what he was insinuating. That stung the worst of all. I was fighting this as hard as I possibly could and to hear he didn’t have faith in me was a tough pill to swallow.

“No, no, no. That’s not what I said.” Nick held his hands up, desperately trying to backtrack. I could tell by the remorse in his eyes he realized what a low blow that was.

“I need to get going.” I sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed my phone from the counter. I wanted to put some space between us before things got worse. “I’ll see you later.”

“Ava, please,” Nick said, grabbing my arm. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I know you can resist it, I’m just . . .”

I held my hand up to quiet him. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. I am working as hard as I possibly can to turn it around and you can’t just throw my addiction in my face every time we’re arguing. You don’t get to bring it up when it’s convenient. I told you I have no intention of taking the internship, but I am going to go down there and meet with him because my father asked me to. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hurried out of the room before he could stop me again. Nick’s words had completely blindsided me. On one hand, I was furious with him for doubting me the way he had, but I also understood. It had only been a few weeks and even though I felt really good, it was going to take some time to build Nick’s trust back up. But I also didn’t feel like it was fair of him to bring it up and use it against me when I was working so hard to move on. How was I supposed to do that if I knew he didn’t think I could?

His father was supportive of him, so Nick had no clue what I went through trying to make my father proud of me. For my entire life, I’d felt like I constantly had to win his love and approval, and that wasn’t something I could just shake overnight. Honestly, I’d rather keep the peace than do anything to rock his boat. Nick didn’t understand that, and I knew that was a big obstacle to him understanding why I was doing this. I hated that my father had that kind of power over me still. I felt like I was making progress, but this was just proof it was a slow process.

I felt completely confused as I headed to Paul’s office. Angry with Nick, angry with myself, and spiraling. I pushed back my tears as best I could and took a deep breath. It would be a miracle if I made it through the day.

Nick

When I arrived alone at Ava’s parents’ for our engagement party, the place was already packed. Not wanting to mingle without Ava, I ducked into Alessandro’s office, hoping to hide out there until she arrived. I already wasn’t thrilled about the idea of this party, and now that Ava was pissed off, I was really dreading it. Families from both of our fathers’ groups would be here, and it would be the first big event Ava and I did together. My father harped about its importance to me, considering in the coming months all of these men would become mine. We really needed to put a strong face on for everyone, but I knew that wasn’t going to be easy to do.

I had royally fucked up with Ava this morning and her lack of response to my calls and texts had me on edge. I wanted to know how it had gone today, and I was anxious to talk to her. Once again, Alessandro had put her in a terrible position, and my anger with him had been taken out on her because she had been willing to appease him. Someday, I would break her of that habit, but for now, I could be a little more understanding.

When I heard her voice in the foyer, I peeked out and watched her greeting a couple who had come in a few seconds in front of her. I didn’t recognize them, so I figured they must have been friends of her parents. My eyes raked over every inch of her body in her tight, floor-length gown with a slit that went high up her thigh. I could already feel my pants tightening across the crotch at the sight of her. I was a lucky man, and I needed her desperately. Impatiently, I watched as she chatted with the older couple, smiling politely and nodding at something they were saying. All the while, I was imagining all the ways I wanted to have her in this very office. Once they walked away and she was finally alone, I reached for her wrist and pulled her into the darkness with me. Before she could protest, I pressed my lips roughly to hers, pulling her into my body and pressing her up against the wall. She gasped at first but once she realized it was me, relaxed into the kiss.

“Are you still mad at me?” I whispered huskily against her ear, pulling my lips away from hers. Her scent was intoxicating.

“Of course I’m still mad at you.”

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