Love In Between

CHAPTER 11

Ava walked out of the boardroom, her mind still swirling with the information that had been discussed during the meeting. She turned to Bruce, who had been by her side the entire time.

“Bruce, we have to prepare for a trip to Italy tomorrow. I need you to start making the necessary arrangements,” Ava said, her voice serious and focused.

Bruce nodded, but before he could say anything, Ava continued.

“But for today, I’m giving you the day off. You’ve been working hard, and you deserve a break,” Ava said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Bruce’s face broke out into a smile. “Thank you, Ava. That sounds great,” he said.

“What are you going to do with your day off?” Ava asked, curious.

“I was actually thinking,” Bruce began, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “Maybe we could spend the day together? We could grab lunch, and maybe do some sightseeing. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to catch up outside of work.”

Ava considered his proposal for a moment. “That sounds like a great idea, Bruce. Let’s do it,” she said, smiling.

With that, they spent their day off exploring the city, enjoying each other’s company and catching up on things outside of work. It was a much-needed break for them both and it gave them a chance to strengthen their professional and personal relationship.

Ava, relieved and excited, happily accepted his offer.

She rushed to her bedroom as soon as she got home to pick out an outfit for their date. She opened her drawer, which was a large wooden chest with brass knobs and compartments. Inside, she found a collection of her favourite dresses, carefully folded and arranged by colour. She pulled out a beautiful red dress, made of soft silk and with a flowy skirt that fell elegantly to her knees. She paired it with a pair of black heels and some simple jewellery.

Feeling excited and happy, Ava decided to make something to eat before getting ready for her date. She walked to her kitchen, She was feeling famished and wanted something comforting and delicious. She decided to make her favourite dish, spaghetti bolognese. She put a pot of water to boil and began to chop some onions and garlic. As she cooked, she couldn’t help but smile, feeling grateful for Bruce’s return and excited for the evening ahead.

As she finished preparing, she took a moment to sit down, and savour her food, enjoying the warmth and comfort it provided. She couldn’t wait to see Bruce and talk to him, to find out why he had disappeared and what had happened. She was excited to hear his explanations, and ultimately, forgiving him, in the hopes they could move on. She finished her meal, took a quick shower and got ready for the date. She felt confident, excited and ready to see Bruce.

Ava drove into the supermarket in her new car. It was a sleek and sporty black convertible, with a glossy finish and shining chrome accents. It had low profile tires and it had the logo of a luxury car brand on the front grille.

Bruce arrived at the agreed meeting spot dressed to impress. Ava was surprised about the kind of car he owned but didn’t give it much thought.

He was wearing a tailored navy blue suit, which accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist. The suit jacket had a single button closure and the trousers were pressed to perfection. His white dress shirt was crisp and had a simple, classic cut. An elegant silver watch adorned his wrist, paired with a silver tie that had a subtle texture. The knot of the tie was well-proportioned to his collar and it was tucked neatly into his waistband. He finished his look with a polished pair of black leather dress shoes that shined in the light.

Ava and Bruce walked into the bustling supermarket, the neon lights illuminating their faces as they made their way through the entrance. The store was called “Fresh Choice” and it was known for its wide selection of fresh produce, organic options, and unique specialty items.

“Wow, this place is incredible,” Ava exclaimed as they walked down the first aisle. The store was immaculate, with gleaming floors and neatly stacked shelves, filled with every imaginable item.

“They continued through the store, picking up items and chatting as they went. Bruce seemed to know exactly where everything was, effortlessly navigating the store and pointing out different products he recommended.

As they made their way towards the checkout, Ava turned to Bruce with a smile. “Thank you for bringing me here. This has been a really enjoyable shopping experience.”

“My pleasure,” Bruce replied with a grin. “I’m glad you liked it.”

After that, Ava and Bruce walked into the trendy clothing store, their eyes immediately drawn to the colourful displays and racks of fashionable clothing. The store was called “Chic Streetwear” and it was known for its unique and trendy clothing options, perfect for the fashion-forward individual.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” Ava exclaimed as they walked through the entrance. The store was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in natural light. It was well-organised, with the clothing neatly displayed on racks, and mannequins showcasing the latest trends.

“Yeah, Chic Streetwear has a great selection of clothes,” Bruce said as he led the way through the store. “I come here all the time, it’s one of my favourite places to shop.”

As they walked through the store, Ava couldn’t help but be impressed by the variety on offer. There were racks of graphic tees, denim jackets, and trendy accessories, as well as a wide selection of streetwear-inspired shoes.

“You have to try on this jacket,” Bruce said, pulling out a faux leather jacket from a rack. “It would look great on you.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Ava said as she picked up the jacket and headed towards the fitting rooms.

They continued through the store, trying on clothes, and chatting as they went. Bruce seemed to know exactly what suited her and had a great sense of style, effortlessly navigating the store and pointing out different items he recommended.

As they made their way towards the checkout, Ava turned to Bruce with a smile. “Thank you for bringing me here. I found some great clothes”

“Anytime,” Bruce replied with a grin. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Ava sat at her desk, her eyes scanning the jewellery collection in front of her when Bruce suddenly went for one of them which looked pretty expensive. .

“Hey Ava, I was wondering if you like this.” He asked her, grinning from ear to ear.

Ava shook her head, “Bruce, I appreciate the offer but I can’t. I don’t want to put you in a situation where you have to spend all your salary on this for me. This is too expensive”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Bruce walked in and took a seat in front of her, “Ava, I promise you, it’s not going to cost me my entire salary. And even if it does, I’d be more than happy to spend it on you. I just want to see you looking and feeling good.”

Ava hesitated, “I don’t know Bruce, I don’t want to be a burden to you. I can buy my own clothes.”

Bruce leaned in, “Ava, please. You’re not a burden, I want to do this for you. Plus, it’s not often that we get to spend time together outside of work. Let me do this for you, please?”

Ava was still uncertain, but the sincerity in Bruce’s voice and the look in his eyes made her finally cave in. “Okay, fine. But you have to promise to stick to a budget.”

Bruce grinned, “I promise. You won’t even know how much we spend.”

Ava and Bruce were in the clothing store, trying on clothes and laughing together. Ava picked out a beautiful red dress that she fell in love with, but as she looked at the price tag, she hesitated.

Ava’s heart was touched by his words and she leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Bruce. You’re too sweet,” she said.

With that, they continued shopping, with Bruce promising to save up for the dress and Ava feeling more excited to wear it.

Later, they went for dinner at a fancy restaurant, but halfway through the meal, Bruce’s face suddenly became serious. He excused himself from the table, leaving Ava confused and wondering what was wrong.

As she sat alone, she saw Bruce talking to a man at the bar. The man was well-dressed and they seemed to be deep in conversation. She noticed Bruce’s body language was stiff, and he kept looking over to the table where she was sitting.

Eventually, Bruce returned to the table, his expression tight. “Ava, I’m sorry but I have to go. Something important came up,” he said as he quickly gathered his things and left the restaurant, leaving Ava sitting alone, confused and worried about what just happened.