Ava tried to focus.
She really did.
But it wasn't working.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the document in front of her, yet not a single word registered.
Her mind kept drifting.
Back to him.
Ethan.
The way he stood.
The way he spoke.
The way he looked at her… like he could see right through her.
She exhaled softly, closing the file.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered.
Why was she thinking about him this much?
It didn't make sense.
She had met men before.
Better men.
Men who were more attractive. More expressive. More… normal.
So why him?
"Ava?"
She blinked, looking up.
Her colleague stood beside her desk.
"You've been staring at that file for like ten minutes," she said, raising a brow.
Ava forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I said I'm fine."
Her tone came out sharper than intended.
Her colleague raised her hands slightly. "Alright… no problem."
Ava sighed as she walked away.
Great.
Now she was snapping at people too.
Later that evening…
Ava stepped out of the office, her bag hanging loosely on her shoulder.
The air outside felt different.
Cooler.
Quieter.
She needed that.
Something to clear her head.
She had barely taken a few steps when her phone buzzed.
Her heart reacted before her mind did.
Fast.
Unnecessary.
She frowned, pulling out her phone.
Unknown number.
Again.
She didn't need to check.
She already knew.
"You looked distracted today."
Ava stopped walking.
Her brows pulled together.
"What?"
She looked around instinctively.
Was he nearby?
Watching her?
Her grip on her phone tightened.
"Relax. I'm not following you."
Her eyes widened slightly.
As if he had read her mind.
"That's not funny," she muttered.
"Then don't think like that."
Her lips pressed together.
This man was annoying.
Very annoying.
"Why are you texting me?"
She typed quickly this time.
No hesitation.
The reply came almost immediately.
"Because you didn't block me."
Ava stared at the message.
Speechless for a second.
He was right.
And she hated that.
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means something."
Her heart skipped again.
That calm confidence in his words…
It was unsettling.
She started walking again, faster this time.
"You're assuming too much."
"Am I?"
Ava stopped again.
This time, she didn't reply.
She just stared at the screen.
Why did it feel like he was slowly pulling her into something she didn't understand?
Something she wasn't ready for?
"You're overthinking again."
Her breath caught slightly.
"How does he keep doing that…" she whispered.
She shook her head quickly.
No.
No, no.
This wasn't happening.
She wasn't going to let this happen.
"Stay away from me."
She finally sent.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From something else she refused to name.
There was a pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"If that's really what you want… I will."
Ava's chest tightened.
Her eyes lingered on the message.
Something about it felt…
Different.
Final.
Good.
That's what she wanted, right?
Distance.
Silence.
Peace.
So why did it feel like something just shifted?
She locked her phone and continued walking.
But this time…
Her steps were slower.
Back in his car, Ethan stared at his phone.
His expression unreadable.
He meant what he said.
If she wanted space…
He would give it.
But one thing was certain—
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
And deep down…
Ava knew it too.