Leon's Pov:
"Your reason for barging into my office better be good." I looked up at Noah, who seemed oddly displeased.
"And your reason for planning a suicide better be good."
"What?"
"You're planning on killing Max? And you didn't tell me?"
I could feel my body tense up. "How did you find out about that?"
"So you weren't planning on telling me?"
"That wasn't the answer to my question."
"Ava heard your conversation with him earlier today."
So that was why she left. I figured walking around a large company wasn't her style but now I know that wasn't just it.
"And you know this how?"
"Can you stop with the interrogations? I'm trying to figure out why you're planning something so reckless without me."
"I'd never keep things like this from you and you know it so quit whining."
"Ha."
He pulled out a chair and sat opposite me.
"She's onto you just so you know."
"What do you mean?"
"She thinks you're keeping things from her."
I laughed. "Well I am. It's for the best."
"Exactly what I told her, but she seems stubborn."
"She'll understand someday."
"She asked about Brielle too. I didn't tell her anything, just got out of there as fast as I could."
"Wait, why is she even telling you all these things?"
"A mysterious man walks in claiming to be my boss's best friend, I'd want answers as well."
"Whatever."
I wanted the conversation to end as soon as possible. Partly because I had better things to worry about but also because a part of me couldn't feel anything other than jealousy.
She never really got the answers she wanted from me so it wasn't exactly surprising but still, did she just give up on asking me?
"Mind telling me what your master plan is?"
I snapped back to reality.
"You're not going to like it."
"Try me."
I took a long pause.
"The day she got kidnapped, he took her phone. He used it to get a reaction out of me when she was in the hospital."
"He texted you pretending to be her?"
I nodded.
"He's been texting me through her phone ever since."
"What are we going to do now?"
"I'm thinking of calling Alvin. He's the only one that can help us."
"Alvin is too reckless, you know that."
"Well what do you want me to do? Everyone around us is in danger because he's in town. We can't run from him. You know that.
I could feel his mood shift. So did mine. I wasn't happy with calling Alvin, but I wasn't happy with how things were going either.
"If you're trying to protect her, why did you take her to the party?"
"Hiding her will only give him more reasons to find her."
"So you're offering her as bait?"
"No, just letting him know we're not scared."
"But we are."
"Noah, now's not the time."
"Let's do it."
"Do what?"
"Call Alvin. Arrange a meeting with Max, see what he wants."
"Already on it. Alvin's currently in Atlanta but I asked him to bring some of his guys with him. He'll be here in a few days."
"You know what could happen if this goes wrong, right?"
I didn't say anything but I knew. I could risk the lives of Ava, Pearl, and everyone I ever loved. It wasn't an easy decision but I had no other choice.
Noah and I spent years running from him. I wasn't doing that anymore.
"When Alvin gets here, we'll decide what happens next." I said.
"What happens in the meantime?"
"Pray he doesn't attack us."
A knock distracted our conversation.
"Mr Presscot, the board members are ready for you."
"Thank you."
I stood up to get ready, then a call came in on Noah's phone.
Not that it was any of my concern, but he looked bothered by it.
He moved his hands, blocking my way from leaving the room.
I could hear the other person on the line yell before they hung up.
"Who was that?"
"Ava." he said plainly.
"What? How did she get your number?"
"Max showed up where she was shopping."
My eyes widened.
I could feel the rage erupt and all I wanted to do was run out of the room to find him and kill him myself, but Noah wouldn't let me.
"Calm down, we need to work smart, not fast."
He stood up and slowly got me to sit.
Then a notification popped up on my phone.
I rushed to check it. I knew it was him.
"Don't try to play smart."
"I'm always one step ahead."
I looked at Noah, he looked at me.
We both said it aloud.
"Fuck."