Angel’s bliss by Dripping Creativity

50 

Zane knew something had changed, and he didn’t like it. Ava had always been comfortable around him, maybe with the exception of the first days. But now it was like she tried to put up a wall between them. It had started the night he and Jax had met with two of the other families to talk about Johnson. Jax had made an idiotic comment which had Zane wanting to kill his friend. Jax had made it sound like they were heading out to party with women. To make the fucking mess even better, Zane didn’t have time to get away and call Ava like he had said he would. When he had come home to find his bed empty, he had gone into panic for a moment, fearing something had happened. When he had found her sleeping in her room, he had been pissed. After that night, something was different. At first Zane had considered that Ava had been upset by him not calling. But she didn’t seem upset. She was her usual happy self, and she was just as passionate when they had sex. She just wasn’t as present. It was slowly driving him insane. 

Zane was sitting in his office with Ava next to him. She was concentrating on her latest crocheting project. Zane had a stack of mail he needed to go through. One of the envelopes caught his attention. It was cream white with black calligraphy letters; the back had the city seal. 

“Looks like your idea of the charity has worked splendidly, Angel,” Zane said as he read the invitation. 

“How’s so?” Ava asked. 

“We have been invited to a black–tic event to celebrate the success of the donation program. All the bigwigs in the city will be there. Including us,” he told her. 

“Us?” 

“It was your idea and I will need a date. I hope you will be available for me to take.” 

“Of course, it sounds like fun,” Ava said, and gave him a little smile. Zane didn’t think so at all. He wasn’t looking forward to spending an evening surrounded by boring people who were just as corrupt as he was, but didn’t have the balls to own up to it. Instead, they pretended they were better than everyone else. But he would take the opportunity to have a night with his angel. He would make it special for her. “Isn’t it a bit contradictory to have a program to get a donation from businesses because the city doesn’t have the money to care for its citizens, only to throw a fancy party to celebrate it? Couldn’t the money have been better spent?” Ava asked. Zane had to chuckle, she may be naïve and kinder than most. But she had a sharp mind. 

“It is. It’s the way the upper parts of society live,” he said. Ava put her project down and frowned at him. 

“Aren’t you part of that group?” That caused Zane to laugh, and he held his hand out to her. She knew what it meant, and, without hesitation, she came over and sat on his lap. 

“No, Angel. I’m firmly situated at the lowest part,” he told her. 

“Zane, you have more money than anyone I have ever met. You own countless businesses and live in a mansion with a staff. You are not at the bottom of society.” 

“I am, Angel. And I don’t mind it. I refuse to pretend to be something I’m not. Well, I pretend sometimes to avoid going to jail. But I don’t hide behind a mask of politeness. That means I don’t get to be part of the top part. But your idea has got me a way to be included with that crowd without stooping to their level. I’m grateful for that.” 

1/3 

“It wasn’t a big thing. I’m happy you can use some of your money and your reputation to help others,” Ava told him. Zane frowned. 

“Don’t make me out to be a good man, Ava. We both know that isn’t the case.” 

“I’m not. But you need to stop pretending you don’t have any redeeming qualities. And before you even say it, I’m not forcing you to be better or to pretend that you are someone you are not. People are complex, Zane. I know you can be dangerous, cruel and all those things. But it doesn’t mean you don’t have a kind side. Because you do. You are kind to me. You care about your men and the people on your staff. No person is one dimensional, not even you,” she said, placing a kiss on his lips. 

“You are amazing,” Zain said, and pulled her in for a deeper kiss. He felt honoured she thought so highly of him. Zane just didn’t think he deserved it. He was a fucking coward when it came to her. She may think he was kind to her, but he wasn’t. Zane teetered between wanting to possess her and wanting to let her go, and in both cases, he lied to her. Pretended she was just one of his many women. Apparently, Jax had received a similar invitation. He messaged Zane, wondering if they should strategize. Zane told him to come to the office and the three of them talked. Or rather, Jax and Zane talked, and Ava made an input here and there. Jax excused himself after a while, he had a mission of finding a date. Not any date, he needed someone they could trust to behave and who could help them with their agenda. 

“Zane, I will need to go shopping,” Ava pointed out, as they were alone. She had tried to get up and go over to her own chair, but Zane liked her in his lap. He thought about what she said. She needed a new dress for the gala. But he also knew that she would try to spend as little as she could. He wanted to spoil her; it was her night. 

“Why don’t you let me get you a dress?” 

You want to pick my dress?” she asked. 

“You shouldn’t answer a question with a question, Angel. But yes, I would like to pick out your dress for that occasion. I promise not to pick something inappropriate,” he told her. 

“I trust you. Just let me know the colour so I can get shoes. And I should book an appointment to get my hair and nails done that day,” she said 

“That sounds good.” 

“It will cost quite a lot if I go to the same salon I was last time. Or I can find a new one,” she said. 

“I thought you liked the last one? They did a good job,” Zane said, playing with a lock of her hair. 

“I did, and they are really good. But expensive, I could go somewhere cheaper.” 

“Angel, you don’t have to think about how much it costs, you just go to the place you like and that will be perfect. 

Okay?” 

“Okay. Zane, can I ask you for something?” 

“Anything, Angel. What is it you want?” 

“Would it be okay if I swing by my house tomorrow?” she asked hesitantly. Zane’s first instinct was to say no. Her uncle lived in that house and Zane knew her uncle was something that needed to be kept away from his angel. But 

2/3 

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then he saw the look in her eyes. 

“It’s not the first time you have asked me that. Why is it so important to you?” 

“It’s my house, the only place I ever lived before coming here. Sure, there are some bad memories there. But all my memories about my parents are tied to it and they left it to me to care for. I haven’t been there since that night. I just want to have a look to see that it’s okay,” she explained. Her answer tugged on his heartstrings. He hadn’t considered her attachment to the place. 

vo 

“I understand. It’s important to you. How about you and I take a ride and look at it before 

dinner?” 

“Really? I would love that.” 

“Good, I am curious to see what kind of place you were raised in,” he told her. She had given him a sunshine smile and for the first time in a week, Zane didn’t feel like there was an invisible wall between them. If all it took for Ava to become closer to him again was to go look at her house, he would do that. 

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