Matthew stepped out of his apartment, intending to head downstairs.
His apartment was only three inches away from Ava's, and unfortunately, that meant he could never be completely certain that opening his door wouldn't lead to another one of her surprises.
Today, however, he hadn't even taken three steps before a cheerful voice rang out behind him.
"Hubby!"
Matthew stopped.
Slowly, he turned his head.
And there she was.
A giant frog.
No, seriously. A giant, disturbingly realistic frog.
The person inside the costume was dressed in a bright green onesie with a rounded, oversized belly, short padded limbs, and webbed feet.
The hood was shaped like a frog's head, complete with bulging eyes perched on top and a wide mouth that stretched across the front.
A zipper ran along the mouth, allowing the hood to be opened and removed. Near the nose area, small concealed openings provided ventilation, so whoever was inside could actually breathe.
The hood was pulled all the way over the wearer's face, concealing every recognizable feature.
The frog was also holding a takeaway bag.
And it was looking directly at him.
"Hubby!" the frog repeated, bouncing excitedly on its padded feet.
Matthew's eyelid twitched.
He stared at the creature for another two seconds.
Then, without saying a word, Matthew turned around and walked towards the elevator as though he hadn't heard a single thing.
"Hey, Matthew! I know you can hear me!"
Ava followed him down the hallway
The giant frog waddled out, takeaway bag swinging in one hand.
"There are only five apartments on each floor, and we're the only ones standing at the hallway of the third floor, hubby!" Ava called sweetly as she hurried after him. "Who else could I possibly be calling?"
Matthew pressed the elevator button.
He had no intention of answering.
"Hubby!"
The elevator doors opened.
Matthew stepped forward.
Before he could enter, however, two padded green arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
He looked down.
The frog had caught him.
"Kiss me, hubby," Ava demanded cheerfully.
Matthew slowly turned around.
Ava immediately released his waist and stepped back, rising onto her tiptoes in an attempt to reach his lips.
Unfortunately, the enormous frog hood and the ridiculous costume made the entire exercise look less like a romantic moment and more like a frog preparing to swallow a particularly uncooperative insect.
Matthew stared at her.
"The more I look at you," he said calmly, "the more I feel like you hit your head when you were born."
Ava didn't even look offended.
If anything, the frog bounced more enthusiastically.
"Hubby!"
Matthew sighed.
Apparently, ignoring her wasn't going to work.
He reached forward, caught the zipper near the frog's mouth, and pulled it down.
Then he carefully removed the hood from her head.
Ava's face emerged from the green costume.
Her cheeks were lifted in a bright smile, her dimples showing prominently.
Her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him with the sort of shameless affection that suggested she had never experienced embarrassment in her entire life.
"Hubby," she repeated cutely.
Matthew's expression remained calm.
He looked at her left eye.
Then her right.
His gaze drifted down to her lips before returning to her eyes.
It was a slow, deliberate movement, his attention shifting between her eyes and mouth as though he were silently studying her.
Ava noticed.
Of course, she noticed.
Her smile widened.
Without waiting for permission, she rose onto her tiptoes again.
This time, Matthew didn't move away.
He didn't lean forward either.
He simply watched as she closed the remaining distance and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
Peck.
Ava lowered herself onto her feet, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
Matthew glanced at her.
"Do you kiss all your friends?"
His tone was cool, almost conversational.
Ava blinked innocently.
Then she smiled.
"No."
"No?"
"Only the handsome ones."
Matthew looked at her for a moment before reaching out and poking the enormous, rounded stomach of her onesie.
The padded belly sank beneath his finger before springing back into shape.
He poked it again.
Ava looked down at his hand, then back at his face.
Matthew's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What type of nightie is this, Ava?"
"I was feeling sexy, so I thought of wearing it," Ava said.
Matthew stared at her.
Before he could respond, she stepped back, placed one hand on her hip, and struck a seductive pose.
In a frog onesie.
She even tilted her head slightly, fluttered her eyelashes, and pushed out the costume's enormous padded belly as though she were modelling the latest luxury lingerie collection.
"Hubby, how do I look?"
For three whole seconds, Matthew remained silent.
Then he burst out laughing.
Not his usual quiet chuckle or the occasional amused laugh he let slip whenever Ava did something ridiculous.
He actually laughed.
His shoulders shook as he raised a hand to cover his mouth, but it did little to hide his amusement. He looked at Ava, then at the ridiculous green costume, and promptly lost it all over again.
Ava's smile froze.
"What's so funny?"
Matthew didn't answer.
Instead, he pulled out his phone, pointed it at her, and took a picture.
Click.
He examined the photograph for a moment before setting it as his wallpaper.
Ava stared at him in disbelief.
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Delete that! Delete that!"
She pointed at him accusingly, her eyes widening.
Matthew slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"No way."
"MATTHEW!"
"See you later."
He stepped into the elevator.
Ava scrambled after him, but the doors had already begun sliding shut.
Just before they could close completely, she darted inside.
Matthew had barely turned towards her when Ava grabbed his tie.
She pulled.
Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough that he had no choice except to bend down.
"Ava—"
The rest of his sentence disappeared against her mouth.
She kissed him first—quick, bold, and completely shameless—but she didn't pull away immediately this time.
Her lips were soft and warm against his, slightly parted, tasting faintly of something sweet.
Matthew's hand instinctively caught her waist through the thick frog costume, steadying her when she rose onto her toes.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Ava tilted her head, deepening the kiss.
Matthew felt the tip of her tongue brush against his lower lip—tentative at first, almost teasing, as though she were daring him to react.
He did.
His fingers tightened slightly at her waist, and he kissed her back.
The kiss turned hotter, slower, less playful.
Ava made a small sound against his mouth, something between a gasp and a laugh, and Matthew felt it more than heard it.
Her hand remained fisted in his tie, holding him close even though he was no longer trying to escape.
Their tongues met briefly, warm and slick, and the elevator seemed to shrink around them.
Matthew could feel the rapid flutter of Ava's heartbeat through the ridiculous padding of her costume.
Or maybe that was his own.
Her free hand slid up to the side of his neck, fingertips grazing the edge of his jaw.
Matthew's breath deepened.
He should have stopped her.
Instead, he tilted his head and kissed her once more—firmer this time, claiming the last inch of space between them.
Ava responded immediately, pressing closer, her body warm against his despite the absurd layers of green fabric between them.
Then, just as suddenly as she had started, Ava pulled back.
Her lips were parted, slightly swollen.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held that same shameless sparkle—but for one brief moment, she looked almost breathless.
Matthew stared down at her.
His tie was crooked.
Her fingers were still curled around it.
"Bye, hubby," she whispered.
Before he could react, Ava dashed out of the elevator and began hopping towards her apartment, the ridiculous frog costume bouncing with every step.
The elevator doors closed.
Silence settled inside.
Matthew remained where he was for a moment.
Then he slowly straightened his tie.
His tongue swept over his lower lip as he recalled the brief kiss, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
That girl.
He shook his head, still faintly amused.
The elevator continued descending.
A black customized Jeep waited outside the condominium's reception area.
By the time Matthew stepped out of the elevator and crossed the lobby, the vehicle's engine was already running.
He walked straight towards it and opened the passenger door.
Inside, a man sat behind the steering wheel, his cap pulled low enough to conceal most of his face.
From the lobby's security cameras to the people passing outside, there was nothing particularly memorable about his appearance.
Even looking directly at him, one would struggle to describe his features accurately.
He was the sort of man whose presence slipped through people's memories like a shadow.
Matthew entered the vehicle and closed the door.
The Jeep pulled away from the curb, gliding smoothly out of the condominium estate.
"Do you want me to keep an eye on Thaneo, the head bodyguard?" the shadow-like man asked.
Matthew rested his head against the seat and closed his eyes.
"No. Waste of energy."
He adjusted his position slightly, appearing far more interested in resting than discussing the matter.
"He's just worried. He might be the head of my personal bodyguard team, but at the end of the day, he's still under the Shaw family head—my father. His concerns will always revolve around making sure my succession isn't affected."
His voice remained quiet and unhurried.
"If I fall, they fall with me. My downfall is their downfall."
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
Matthew showed no intention of elaborating.
After a brief silence, the man asked, "I thought you said you wanted to spend your days here as though you were on holiday. Isn't using the Elite Guards the opposite of what you said?"
Matthew opened his eyes halfway.
"Oh."
The driver waited.
"I want to open a branch of our business here," Matthew explained softly. "That will give them a legitimate reason for my extended stay."
The man fell silent.
He had another question.
Several, actually.
But he knew better than to ask unless he wanted to receive one of Matthew's favourite responses.
I'm the boss.
Or, depending on his mood
"Cause I feel like so do I need permission from you?"
Neither answer would provide the clarification he wanted.
The driver decided that his curiosity could wait.
He turned his attention back to the road.
In the passenger seat, Matthew closed his eyes again, seemingly content to enjoy the drive.
His phone vibrated once inside his pocket.
He ignored it.
A second vibration followed.
Still, he didn't move..
Then he remembered the photograph he had just taken.
The corner of his lips curved upwards.
Perhaps opening a branch of the family business wasn't the only interesting thing he could accomplish during his extended stay.
After all, he had a very entertaining neighbour.
One who apparently considered a giant frog costume appropriate seduction attire.
Matthew almost laughed again.
What a lunatic.
The black customized Jeep drove out of Silver Arc District, leaving the luxurious residential area behind as it approached the main gate separating the district from Verdale Street.
Verdale Street was one of the city's most prestigious residential areas.
Many of its residents held influential positions in major corporations, government institutions, and powerful organizations. Celebrities also lived along the street, their properties concealed behind towering walls, private gates, and carefully maintained landscaping.
Even the houses seemed to compete in understated displays of wealth, with elegant architecture, expansive gardens, and driveways that disappeared into private estates.
At the next intersection, the road divided.
The side street on the right led directly towards Crownside School. Once someone entered that road, there was practically no need to make another turn; it continued straight towards the school's grounds.
The road opposite it led in the other direction, opening into a bustling commercial stretch lined with restaurants, cafés, boutiques, convenience stores, and other businesses. The further one travelled, the more the quiet residential atmosphere gave way to the lively rhythm of the city's commercial district before eventually connecting back to Verdale Street.
However, the road leading towards Crownside School was an entirely different matter.
Although it appeared to be an ordinary street branching off a residential avenue, the surrounding area was effectively managed by the school. Dedicated facilities, designated transportation routes, and carefully regulated access made it an extension of Crownside's territory.
Even the high-end buses operating along that route weren't ordinary public transportation. They primarily served residents of the surrounding luxury neighbourhoods, stopping at designated points before continuing towards the school district.
But attending Crownside didn't automatically grant someone unrestricted access.
Students, teachers, and even senior members of the school's administration were subject to the same regulations. Not every student was permitted to drive into the school-access road. Among those who were granted permission, not everyone could park directly in front of the school gate. Access to the school compound's parking areas was even more restricted, while the privilege of using the school's private garage was reserved for those who met its specific requirements.
Status and money mattered.
However, neither could simply erase the rules. Whether someone was a student from an influential family, a teacher, or a senior member of the school administration, access depended on the privileges they had been granted.
The black Jeep turned onto the road leading towards Crownside.
As it approached the school entrance, the security personnel stationed at the gate immediately noticed the vehicle. One of the guards checked its identification before recognizing the access pass displayed by the driver.
He promptly stepped aside and opened the gate.
The Jeep rolled into the school grounds before slowing to a stop near the entrance.
Matthew reached for the door.
"Just stop here. There's no need to wait for me or leave the car here."
The driver glanced at him.
"Are you planning to take the bus back? I could return after the competition."
"No need. I can manage."
Matthew opened the door and stepped out.
He adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder before closing the door, his expression as relaxed as ever.
The driver watched him through the open window.
Matthew didn't look back. He simply slipped his hands into his pockets and walked towards the school building, blending into the stream of students arriving for the day's activities.
The Jeep remained by the roadside for a few seconds before pulling away.
Matthew continued walking.
For now, he decided, the competition deserved his attention
This is the Saturday stuff