Leon's Pov:
"Have you seen the headlines, Leon?" Noah sounded furious the moment he walked into my office.
"I'm just as annoyed as you are, Noah. You don't have to remind me," I replied without looking up from my tablet.
"How did that even happen? And what were your bodyguards doing?"
"Chasing down the perpetrator."
"Who? The person that drugged you?"
"No. The girl that sang to me."
He stared at me like I had finally lost my mind. "For once in your life, speak like a normal person, Leon."
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "I asked a girl I've never seen before at Wine n Dine to sing. Her voice made me sleepy."
"Sleepy?" he repeated. "Are you sure she didn't drug you?"
"If she did, I would know, wouldn't I?"
"Then why are you so calm about this?" he asked. "You passed out in public. The media is tearing you apart."
"Noah, you're my best friend, not my father. Marvin already checked the bar for her. Last night was her final day there. I also have the press to attend to."
I stood up and walked past him. .
On my way out, I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Marvin again.
"I'm heading to the office now. Have you found anything yet?"
"Yes, I have," he replied immediately.
"Send it to me before I get there."
"Yes, sir."
"And Marvin," I added, pausing for a second. "Follow her. I want to know her routine."
"Just for today, sir?"
"Obviously not. Tell Tim to go with you. Follow her for a few days, maybe a week and tell me what you find out.
"Yes, sir."
As I got into the car, my mind was fixed on one thing.
I had not slept properly in seven years. Doctors had tried everything. Nothing has been able to put me to sleep that fast. Not drugs, not routines and therapy, even machines didn't work. I was always awake and tired. Then a random girl was able to do it in seconds. It didn't make sense to me since I had tried music too but I didn't care. I needed to find her by all means.
When I arrived at the office, a file was already waiting on my desk. I opened it and started reading.
Her name was Ava Kessler.
She was not who she pretended to be online. The pictures on her page were edited, the followers and likes were fake, her entire lifestyle was staged. On the surface, she looked like someone important. In reality, she was barely holding things together.
She moved often. There was little to no stability in her life. I kept reading and frowned when I saw the numbers attached to her name. She was owing more than anyone her age should've.
I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly.
Noah walked in without knocking.
"Don't mind me," he said. "Just came to see my friend who thinks I treat him like a son."
I ignored him and kept reading.
"I have a meeting with one of the board members later today," he continued. "I can clean up the issue from the other night if you want."
"Yes," I replied. "I need to focus on this Ava girl."
"Who?"
"The girl from the bar."
He pulled a chair and sat. "I'm listening."
"She seems open, but no one really knows her," I said. "I already sent Marvin after her."
Noah laughed. "What do you plan to do when you find her? Hire her as your personal assistant and make her sing you to sleep every night?"
"Yes, exactly that. "I said simply.
His laughter died instantly. "You can't be serious."
"What would you have me do?" I asked. "I've lived like this for seven years. She's the only way out"
"What if she refuses?"
I closed the file. "She won't."
He looked at me for a moment. "You sound confident."
"From what I've learnt about her, she needs stability," I replied. "I can give her that."
I left for New York the next morning. Business meetings filled my days, but my thoughts were always elsewhere. Marvin updated me regularly. Where she went, where she worked, who she spoke to. She lived quietly in a run down motel. Nothing about her matched the image she sold online.
At night, I replayed her voice in my head. It frustrated me that I could not hear it again.
On the third day, I made a decision.
I pulled strings quietly. I reached out to her bank and settled every bill tied to her name, including her motel fees. I made sure my identity stayed hidden. I wanted to help her without forcing her to face me yet.
When that was done, I asked Marvin for her number.
I stared at the screen for a long time before typing. I deleted several drafts. Simple felt boring and I wanted the opposite of that. I wanted her alert.
"Enjoy the relief while it lasts."
I sent it and put my phone away.
She did not reply and I didn't expect her to.
When I returned home a few days later, I asked Marvin to bring me fresh updates. That was when he told me about the restaurant. Kira's restaurant.
Kira was an old time friend. Also, a strict, self centered woman. I knew a girl like Ava wouldn't be able to last a month working with her. I used that to my advantage.
I still had a few things to take care of that morning so I sent Marvin and Tim to the restaurant.
They came back a few hours later with little to no information. I was furious.
I got ready and headed out. I barely made it before they closed but I was relieved to have met Kira there.
"Leon, It's so nice to see you again."
"Lovely meeting you too Kira." I gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat down.
"Before you ask, I'm not here to eat or to chat."
"Oh that's disappointing."
"I promise we'll talk and drink for hours the next time I come, but for now, I need to speak with one of your staff."
"My staff? Why?"
"It's complicated but you'll find out soon enough."
"Well then." She stood up. "I can't question Leon the Great. Which one of them?
"Ava. Ava Kessler."
"I'll go get her for you."
I stole a glance at her as Kira walked off. She was standing behind another girl. I couldn't help but laugh.
When she walked toward my table, I saw fear immediately.
The look on her face didn't say she recognized me.
I asked her to sit.
I told her I wanted her to work for me. Her reaction told me everything I needed to know. She was shocked, but not uninterested. She just needed time.
I handed her my card before leaving. I could tell she was desperate, but I admired her selfcontrol.