CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 263: Musigny
Ava brought the ice cream that she made for her and Ash and put it on the coffee table in the living room in front of the television. But of course, she did not forget to make one for the good boy in the room who keeps on following her wherever she goes, Beethoven.
She filled Beethoven’s bowl with two scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream, decorating it with delectable slices of banana and strawberries, creating an irresistible treat that made Beethoven drool in anticipation.
"Come here, boy. You need to enjoy this treat inside your kennel, otherwise, you might ask for more, and we won’t be able to resist spoiling you, which wouldn’t be good for your health," Ava advised Beethoven, who attentively listened, tilting his head from side to side in response to her every word.
After a while, Ash emerged from the wine cellar wearing a broad, jubilant grin, leaving Ava curious about the reason behind his cheeriness. His radiant expression resembled that of a lottery winner, conveying a level of happiness that intrigued her.
"Have you discovered a hidden treasure in your wine cellar?" Ava playfully quipped, trying to uncover the source of Ash’s excitement.
Ash chuckled in response to her jest and queried, "How did you manage to figure it out?"
"Your expression gave it away," Ava chuckled along with him. "So, what did you discover?" she inquired, eager to learn about Ash’s exciting find.
Ash lifted the wine bottle he held, presenting it to Ava as though it were a precious gem. "1988 Musigny. It’s incredibly expensive... and you know what makes it special?" Ash paused, awaiting Ava’s response, and proceeded as she shrugged.
"I didn’t spend a penny on it. I stole it from my father’s wine cellar a few years ago. And I’m proud of what I did. Up to this date, he doesn’t know that it’s missing."
The two erupted into laughter, their mirth resounding loudly, causing Beethoven to join in the fun with a joyful bark.
"Oh, gosh. Stealing is undeniably a crime, but I never expected it to be this funny," Ava remarked once her laughter subsided.
"Well, I was furious with him back then, and I was also deeply depressed. Amy’s brother, who was my best friend, had passed away. So I stole this bottle, thinking Amy, Mary, and I could share a drink in his memory. However, Amy declined because she was constantly at the hospital, caring for Jayson. So I held onto it, just in case I needed it someday," Ash’s story stirred a pang of sorrow and pain within Ava’s heart.
Recognizing that the pain she felt was unrelated to Ash’s intentions and merely a result of the memories stirred by his story of the wine, she took several deep breaths, exhaling slowly each time, attempting to alleviate the discomfort. After all, it wasn’t Ash’s fault that he was unaware of her true feelings toward him.
"And why are you opening it now? Is there a special occasion or celebration?" Ava inquired with curiosity, intrigued by Ash’s decision, it is a very expensive bottle anyways.
"Well, it’s not exactly a celebration per se. However, I wanted to express my gratitude to you for assisting me with Amy. It wasn’t your responsibility, yet you still stepped in to help. So, Ava, I sincerely thank you from the depths of my heart," Ash expressed his appreciation, bowing down to her as a gesture of gratitude.
Ava scoffed and chuckled, finding Ash’s silly gesture amusing. "Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Ash. Amy isn’t just my boss; she’s my friend as well. She simply has a knack for winning people’s hearts, so it’s really not such a big deal," she remarked, downplaying her own role in helping Amy.
"If you say so. But that’s not all. I’ve made the decision to finally let go of my pursuit of her. ’If you love someone, set them free,’ right?" Ash declared, offering Ava a wine glass and pouring her a serving of the 1988 Musigny.
Ava’s expression turned into a frown upon hearing Ash’s words. It wasn’t the result of being intoxicated, but rather, she was perceiving things that sounded like music to her ears.
"Are you implying that you’ve moved on from her?" Ava contemplated, seeking clarification from Ash.
Ash let out a gasp and pressed his lips together. "Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get over her," he admitted. "But I’ve observed how she defends Henry and how much joy they bring to each other. I can see the genuine love between them; their eyes light up whenever they gaze at one another."
A sense of longing and helplessness filled Ash’s words as he continued, "She never looked at me the way she looks at Henry. I still love her, but I want her to be truly happy. I’ve come to realize that my actions stemmed from selfishness and insecurity.
However, ever since Beethoven came into my life, I’ve begun to accept my circumstances." Ash turned to Beethoven, seeking confirmation, "Right, Buddy?" and Beethoven responded with a bark as if understanding his owner’s sentiments.
Ava struggled to put her emotions into words. She experienced a mix of happiness and relief that Ash had taken the first step toward moving on. However, a profound sadness tugged at her heart as she could see the pain reflected in his eyes while he shared his plan. It was a bittersweet realization, knowing that his journey toward healing would also involve moments of sorrow.
In addition to her other emotions, Ava also harbored a sense of worry. Despite Ash’s efforts to move on, there was no guarantee that his feelings for her would change. Nevertheless, she made a firm decision to stand by Ash’s side, unwavering in her support, hoping that with time, he would become aware of her presence and come to love her in return.
"Alright, enough with the drama," Ash interjected, breaking the flow of Ava’s worrisome thoughts. "Let’s savor this delicious ice cream before it melts," he suggested, redirecting their attention to the delightful treat before them.
Ava settled into her seat, and to her astonishment, Ash took a spot right next to her, their bodies in intimate proximity. The closeness made her acutely aware of her own racing heartbeat, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of nervousness. If only she weren’t clothed, she thought, Ash would undoubtedly feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
Sensing Ava’s sudden tenseness, Ash became concerned and asked, "Am I making you uncomfortable? Would you like me to move?"
Ava shook her head and reassured Ash, "No, no, it’s not a problem. I’m fine, really."
’Oh my God, this is definitely not fine!’ she screamed inwardly, her thoughts filled with intense emotions.
"Alright, let’s find something good to watch," Ash suggested as he began scrolling through the list of shows on his online TV platform. They continued browsing until they reached a mutual agreement on what to watch.
After finishing their dessert, they proceeded to indulge in the wine, gradually consuming it in large quantities. Engrossed in sharing their amusing life stories, they found themselves more absorbed in conversation than in watching the television.
"I must confess, Ava, I never expected you to be this enjoyable to be around. When I first laid eyes on you, it seemed as though you were ready to pounce and protect Amy from me at any moment. I was genuinely intimidated by you back then. However, now I can confidently say that we should never judge a book by its cover," Ash cheerfully remarked, his words slightly slurred from the effects of the wine they had consumed.
"But still you don’t like me the way I like you," Ava murmured to herself before drinking from her glass.
"How do you like me, Ava?" Ash asked after hearing what she said.
Ava’s eyes widened in horror, she thought she said it in a low voice but seems like she did not. "What are you saying? You are drunk, so you are hearing things. Maybe you should stop drinking," Ava retorted.
"Drunk? Me? I don’t get drunk! Not ever!" Ash said as he laughs before standing up. He went towards his wine cellar swaying until he hit his head on the door making him sober up a bit.
"Aww! That hurts!" Ash exclaimed.
Ava just stood there laughing at him. She followed him when he stood up but didn’t bother to assist him, so she can prove to him how drunk he is.
"See, I told you, you are drunk," she said in a ’told-you-so’ tone.
"Yeah, yeah, maybe I was, but it’s so painful, I am now back to myself. Damn, what was I thinking..." Ash said as he rubs his head and check his hand if his head is bleeding.
Ava offered her hand, "Come on, let’s put some ice on it. It will definitely bruise."
Ash accepted her hand and pulled it hard. Hard enough to drag the also drunk Ava to the floor straight to his lap, and their heads collided. But instead of crying in pain, they both laugh in unison, manifesting how drunk they are.
"Looks like I am not the only one drunk here," Ash said.
Ava stared at the handsome face of Ash right before her as she sits on his lap on the floor. His green eyes looked directly at hers. His blonde hair and newly shaved face with cleft chin really captivate her heart.
Without any thought, Ava leaned in closer pressing her lips to Ash’s surprising them both.
