HE’S NOT A GOOD MAN

Zachary Gonzalez hauled Ava into his bravura yet modest bedroom and bolted the door behind him.

Ava was awed by the interior design and just as she started to feed her eyes with the beautiful ornamentation, she was suddenly pulled onto a chaise longue.

Her chest heaved violently as Zac propped his arms on her sides. His eyebrows were smooth, making him look a lot less domineering.

The corners of his eyes were tilted upwards, and his eyes were twinkling with light; he looked really sexy male fairy.

“Who is Cole?” he asked, his voice was neither too low nor high.

Ava’s eyes and mouth instantly opened wide in surprise but her brain turned quickly after a few seconds, recalling that night she had first met Zachary and kept calling him Cole.

Zac’s arms softened as he leaned into her body.

The faint fragrance of lavender on his body made her feel intoxicated; she lowered her eyes, her brain scrambling for an escape route. Why is he suddenly asking about Cole?

Pressing close into her body, “Tinker bell?” he called out softly.

“He’s my ex-boyfriend,” she answered quickly. Her ears had become hot red and she felt frustrated to death.

After Ava’s words, Zac leaned his face even closer, his breath lingering around the tip of her nose.

It was sometimes hot and sometimes cold and she got goosebumps from his breath.

“Now that I’ve acknowledged you as a lady, Snow white, it wouldn’t be wise if you were seen with a random guy, don’t you think?” Zac affirmed and warmly suggested and then buried his head in her neck.

Ava’s hands that were on her side clutched together tightly.

She knew that he would never like this kind of woman like her, but she couldn’t understand his actions.

And what does he mean by not to be seen with random guys? Is he telling me not to keep a male friend or what?

Ava was dwelling on this thought and was on the verge of blurting out her mind when Zac suddenly kissed her fragrant hair, neck, and earlobes greedily.

The heat of his breath shattered her into a million pieces, making her feel numb and itchy at the same time.

He held her earlobes between his teeth, biting on them.

“I hope you understand the hidden meaning behind my words, Tinker bell?” he spelled every word clearly; the tip of his tongue was playing with her earlobe.

The following morning…

Ava strolled out of her house, all dressed for school. She was wearing casual clothes, and white sneakers with her sleeves rolled up.

She had barely taken two steps forward when she noticed a man wrapped in a black suit standing next to a white sleek and tiny Rolls-Royce.

Upon seeing Ava, the man bowed a little and went to open the back seat door, “Come in Miss,” he said politely.

Ava tilted her head back to see who was behind her but there was no one. It was an overcast morning with no one in sight except her and the man.

She faced the man again and pointed a finger to her chest, “I’m sorry, me?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

The man smiled gently, “Yes, Miss. Mr. Zachary Gonzalez had assigned me as your driver from now on,”

Ava’s shoulders dropped immediately.

“What? But I’m too young to be seen going around with this expensive car, sir,” she bemoaned, shaking her head in disapproval.

“If you’re not comfortable then you can report that to him later,” the man affirmed warmly.

Ava stared and breathed out heavily.

“You don’t want to be late for class, Miss,” the man reminded.

Ava then nodded perfunctorily before dallying toward the car and sat herself in the backseat.

The man shut the car door afterward and then settled behind the wheels.

Thirty minutes later, the car rolled to a stop in the school parking lot.

The driver got down first and scampered to the backseat door in an attempt to open it for Ava; however, Ava had beaten him to it.

“No, sir, you shouldn’t be doing that,” she cautioned him in a gentle voice while stepping away from the car, giving him the chance to close the door.

“Mr. Gonzalez had alleged that all the respect due to him should be passed down onto you as well, Miss,” the man said with a polite smile.

Ava then opened her mouth but failed to say a single word. She wasn’t comfortable with the whole idea.

“I’m sorry if you’re not comfortable, Miss,”

Ava smiled. Of course, she had no words for this man but Zac sure will hear from her later.

“Hey, Ava,” Ava looked up to see Freya and Caleb striding fast toward her.

“Hey, guys,” her face wreathed in smiles as she moved closer to them.

Freya’s gaze flicked to the eye-catching car behind Ava then back to her face.

“Alright, Miss. I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” the suit man notified with a chivalrous bow.

Ava nodded curtly at him and then turned back to face her friend’s.

Freya’s mouth curled up into a deep smirk while she dotingly reached out her index finger to touch the tip of Ava's nose.

“Would you tell us something already? Whose car is this?” she sneered.

Ava blew out some air and some strands of her hair fluttered, “Could you believe that the kid I was supposed to babysit is Zachary's niece?”

Freya’s forehead wrinkled at once, “What? Are you serious?”

Ava nodded slowly, “Come on, let’s go. It’s a long story,”

She began strolling forward after her words.

“You don’t dare tell the story behind me, Ava,” Hazel’s voice resounded at their back all of a sudden.

Ava instantly turned around and saw her walking over, looking regal in track pants and a Penn sweatshirt together with a pair of Nike sneakers.

“Hazel,” both she and Freya called out in unison, having a growing smile on their faces.

“It’s been like ages since we last saw you. What’s up?” Caleb spoke up for the first time.

Hazel’s lips turned into a pout, “I’m sorry guys but you wouldn’t blame,” as she said her words, she raised her hand and slapped the back of the guy standing next to her and it was at this moment Ava noticed the guy.

He was dressed in clean jeans and a black crew neck long sleeve. His angular handsome face was accentuated by his well-groomed golden hair that was cut in a bob, looking responsibly ever.

“Oh my goodness, Mason! Is that really you?” Ava’s voice rose to an excited shriek as she rushed over and hugged him tightly.

Mason’s face was covered with a full smile as they both disengaged from the brief hug.

“I thought you were just going to ignore your beloved husband,” he said, his gaze wrapping around Ava’s and holding it.

Ava swatted his broad chest playfully, “You still haven’t changed? You’ll probably need to go back there one more time,” she asserted jokingly.

Mason’s full brows furrowed, “Does this mean you didn’t miss your husband?” he asked with wild eyes.

Ava gladly nodded.

A touch of disappointment flashed across his face. “What kind of a wife are you, Ava?”

His gaze then flicked to Hazel, “I’m filing a divorce, Hazel. I need your help with it,” he uttered with a playful pout, bringing a pleasing smile to Ava’s face.

By now, Freya and Caleb could no longer hide their puzzlement as they kept stealing glances at each other’s faces. Was Ava really married to this man?

Hazel soon noticed their bewilderment and let out a soft chuckle as she walked nearer to them.

“Pardon my manners, guys,” she said, “This is Mason. My little brother. He had been away from his camouflage wife for a long time and as you can see… ” she shed light on the matter and Freya found herself heaving a deep sigh of relief.

She then put on a smile and crossed her arms over her chest, “It would be best you file the divorce as soon as possible before the real owner catches you,”

Mason slightly looked over and caught Freya’s eyes.

“What do you mean?” the line on his face creases.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, bro,” Hazel chimed in, “You know Zachary Gonzalez, don’t you?”

Mason only kept his straight face.

Ava’s lips thinned into a tight frown, already aware of what Hazel was about to say.

“He likes our Ava, and guess what? They are now both in a monogamous relationship,” Hazel said with a wide smile.

Ava frowned, “What do you mean monogamous? We are not in such a relationship,” she defended and blinked away from them.

“Then explain to us why an expensive car like this had come to drop you off at school?”

Freya focused on the costly car and others also turned their attention to it before returning their gazes back to Ava’s face.

She opened her mouth, at a loss of how to reply to that.

“Stay away from him, Ava. He’s not a good man,” Mason blurted out and exited their midst right after his words.

Everyone was suddenly rendered speechless as they stared after him.