Facade of Desire

of the conference room. The familiar thrill of victory coursed through h

s Company. Her sharp mind and total professionalism came from dealing with really difficult personal challenges when she

Jake teased her, "Time for celebratory drinks? O

either of those things," she scoffed, tucking a loo

p forever, you know. And remember all work no pla

nstant attempts to set her up on dates only reminded her of how bad she was at rom

he door, the bitter screaming echoing through the huge halls of their mansion. Ava had been 12 years old, old enoug

nto an unshakable cynicism about romance inside her. Success was her one driv

of the New York City skyline. She took off her blazer and loosened her silk blouse, finally

ents standing stiffly beside her with frozen, fake smiles. Even back then, the hostility between them had

those ghosts, not when her future at Malicon looked so promising. Landing that huge Crestotech business acqu

ed her thoughts. "What is it?" she called

ck to reveal her anxi

other is on line two. She says it's, um..

in her stomach. The word "urgent" was never

e phone with a resigned sigh. "He

way to greet your own mother, Ava? Honestly, I don't know where you ge

s up to the ceilin

ust had a really long day. W

tours, the whole experience as you know we only live once," Her mother's voice took on a wistful, dreamy tone. "But I'll need someone to keep an

for her call was poorly disguised

e estate hours away," Ava said through gritted teeth, trying to control her frustration.

home in the hands of total strangers? When I have a daug

a's chest. As if their family wasn't shattered into a million dysfunctiona

y in years," she blurted out

ents and emotional wounds. Ava instantly regretted her harsh words hitting so c

le with barely restrained emotion. "If that's how you reall

ng emotions: anger, guilt, frustration, swirled inside her chest. Those messy, tangl

atigue. So much for unwinding and feeling satisfied after her big career win earlier. Leave it to her mother to find a

e glittering New York skyline. She had fought like hell to claw her way into this life, to esca

es she racked up, the deep emotional scars from her traumatic childhood refused to fully heal. The same

e forever. Love is jus

or messy emotional entanglements slowing her down and holding her back. All she truly needed was her own unstoppable drive and rele

sibilities and potential conquests waiting to be seized. And Ava was more

or any of the trappings and comforts of conventional domestic life in order to find purpose and fulfillment. H

rdize the gleaming empire of wealth and success she was so singlemindedly building for herself, not h