Chapter 6: Return to the City

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The city welcomed Ava Brown with open arms as she stepped off the plane, the cool breeze teasing her hair as she gripped Logan’s small hand. It felt like forever since she’d last been here, but this time, it was different. This time, she wasn’t just Ava Brown—she was a mom, and everything revolved around the bright-eyed boy at her side.

“Mommy, look!” Logan’s voice bubbled with excitement as he pointed at the moving walkway in front of them. “Can we ride it?”

Ava chuckled, her nerves easing a bit as she nodded. “Sure, but hang on tight, okay?”

They stepped onto the walkway, Logan’s laughter filling the air as they zipped past other travelers. Ava couldn’t help but smile, her heart swelling with love and a bit of relief. This new chapter was going to be challenging, but as long as she had Logan by her side, she knew she could handle anything.

The terminal was alive with chatter and the hum of rolling suitcases. Logan’s energy was infectious, and Ava found herself laughing at his amazement at every little thing. They were in the city now, a place filled with new opportunities—and memories Ava wasn’t quite ready to face.

As they reached the baggage claim, Logan tugged at her hand, his eyes wide. “Mommy, can we get ice cream?”

“First, let’s get our bags, and then we’ll see,” Ava said, ruffling his hair. She glanced around, her eyes searching for their luggage among the sea of people. It was then that she noticed a tall figure striding through the crowd, exuding an air of authority that made others step aside.

Logan, ever the curious one, was drawn to a nearby rack of colorful souvenirs. “Mommy, look at these! Can I see?”

“Okay, but stay where I can see you,” Ava called after him, her attention momentarily diverted by a large suitcase on the carousel.

In his excitement, Logan darted toward the display, unaware of the man walking in his direction. The inevitable collision happened in a blink, sending Logan stumbling back. The man stopped abruptly, turning with a look of surprise mixed with irritation.

Ava’s heart skipped a beat as she saw her son bump into the stranger. She hurried over, her eyes widening as she recognized the man standing in front of Logan.

It was him.

Mason Hernandez.

Wait. Why did he look so much like her son.

Mason looked down at Logan, his sharp features softening for a moment before a frown creased his brow. “Watch where you’re going, kid,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind.

Logan, unbothered by the scolding, looked up at Mason with wide eyes. “Sorry, mister,” he mumbled, his gaze flickering to Ava as she approached.

Ava’s breath caught in her throat as she finally stood face-to-face with Mason. Her heart pounded in her chest, the years they’d been apart melting away in an instant. Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.

“Logan, come here,” Ava said softly, holding out her hand. Logan quickly obeyed, slipping his small hand into hers.

Mason’s gaze shifted from Logan to Ava, something unreadable in his eyes. “You should be more careful,” he said, his tone now directed at Ava.

She nodded, unable to find her voice as a wave of memories crashed over her. This was not how she’d imagined their reunion. In fact, she hadn’t imagined any reunion at all. But here they were, in the middle of an airport, with her son—their son—standing between them.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hernandez,” she finally managed to say, her voice steadier than she felt. “Logan didn’t mean any harm.”

Mason’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, as if trying to place her in his mind. Then he gave a curt nod, his gaze shifting back to Logan. “No harm done,” he said, his tone neutral.

Ava felt a mixture of relief and disappointment as he turned to leave. It was as if he hadn’t recognized her at all—or maybe he had and just didn’t care. She squeezed Logan’s hand, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.

“Mommy, who was that man?” Logan asked, his voice filled with innocent curiosity.

“Just someone I used to know,” Ava replied, forcing a smile. “Come on, let’s get our bags and find that ice cream.”

But as they made their way to the exit, Ava couldn’t help but glance back at Mason. He was already disappearing into the crowd, his tall frame blending in with the sea of travelers.

She hadn’t expected to see him, and she definitely hadn’t expected Logan to run into him—literally. But something told her this wasn’t the last time their paths would cross.

Not by a long shot.

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The next morning, Ava found herself walking into the sleek, modern office building where she would be working. Logan was safely dropped off at his new school, and now, it was time for her to face her new reality.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she stepped into the elevator, clutching her bag. It had been so long since she’d worked in an office, and this one felt especially daunting. After all, this wasn’t just any company—this was Mason Hernandez’s company.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a bustling office space filled with people moving about with purpose. Ava took a deep breath and stepped out, trying to calm her nerves. She could do this. She had to do this—for Logan.

“Ms. Brown?”

Ava turned to see a friendly-looking woman approaching her. “Yes, that’s me,” she replied, offering a small smile.

“I’m Julia, Mr. Hernandez’s assistant. Welcome to the team,” Julia said warmly, extending her hand. “I’ll show you to your office.”

Ava shook her hand, feeling a bit more at ease. “Thank you, Julia. I appreciate it.”

As they walked through the office, Ava couldn’t help but take in the sleek design and the hum of productivity around her. This was a far cry from the small, cozy life she and Logan had built abroad, but it was a change they needed.

Julia led her to a spacious office with large windows that offered a stunning view of the city. “Here we are,” Julia said, gesturing for Ava to step inside. “You’ll have everything you need here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Ava smiled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the luxury of it all. “This is wonderful, thank you.”

Julia nodded, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “Mr. Hernandez asked me to let you know that he’ll be in meetings for most of the day, but he’s looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow.”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mason’s name. She’d managed to avoid thinking about their encounter at the airport, but now, the reality of working in his company was sinking in.

“Of course,” Ava said, keeping her voice steady. “I’ll be ready.”

As Julia left, Ava set her bag down on the desk and looked out the window, the city stretching out before her. This was her chance to start fresh, to build a new life for herself and Logan. But the thought of facing Mason again, of working in such close proximity to him, sent a shiver down her spine.

What if he recognized her? What if he remembered that night all those years ago? And what if he found out the truth about Logan?

Not that she was 100% sure that he was the one but anyway it would be better to be careful.

So much for a peaceful life. Funny ho what she wished for was always not granted.

Ava shook her head, trying to push those thoughts aside. She needed to focus on her work, on making a good impression and proving herself in this new job. The last thing she needed was to get caught up in the past.

But as she settled into her office and started unpacking her things, she couldn’t shake the feeling that fate had other plans. The past had a funny way of catching up with you when you least expected it.

And Ava had a feeling that her past with Mason was about to come crashing into her present—whether she was ready for it or not.

Chapter 8: The Suspicion

Ava was determined to make this day go smoothly. It was her second day at Hernandez Corporation, and today she was scheduled to meet Mason Hernandez officially as her boss. Despite her resolve, a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She took a deep breath and reminded herself why she was here—for Logan and for herself.

The morning passed in a blur of paperwork and brief introductions with the team. But as the clock ticked closer to her meeting with Mason, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. Their encounter at the airport had been awkward and tense, and now she had to face him in a professional setting. What if he remembered her too well? What if he started asking questions she wasn’t ready to answer?

Lily, Mason’s assistant, knocked lightly on her office door, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Miss Brown, Mr. Hernandez is ready to see you now.”

Ava nodded, trying to steady her nerves. “Thank you, Lily.”

She followed Lily down the corridor, her heart pounding with each step. The closer they got to Mason’s office, the more she felt the tension build. When they finally reached his door, Lily offered her a reassuring smile before knocking.

“Come in,” Mason’s voice called from inside.

Lily pushed the door open, ushering Ava in before closing it behind her. Mason was seated behind a large mahogany desk, his eyes fixed on a document in front of him. He didn’t look up immediately, giving Ava a moment to take in her surroundings. His office was a reflection of the man himself—powerful, intimidating, yet refined.

“Miss Brown,” Mason finally said, looking up. His gaze was steady, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—recognition, maybe? “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hernandez,” Ava replied, keeping her tone as professional as she could. She took the chair across from him, trying to ignore the tension thickening in the room.

Mason leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. “I trust your first day went well?”

“It did, thank you,” Ava answered, meeting his gaze. There was a part of her that wanted to look away, to avoid the intensity in his eyes, but she held firm.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Mason said, though his expression remained unreadable. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, Miss Brown, and I expect nothing but the best from my team.”

“Of course,” Ava agreed, keeping her voice steady.

Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to watch her. The air between them was charged, the unspoken tension from their past encounter hanging over them. But Mason didn’t mention the airport. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, discussing the projects she would be involved in and what he expected from her.

Yet, as he spoke, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that he was studying her—searching for something. It was subtle, but it was there. His gaze would linger just a moment too long, his questions slightly probing, as if he was trying to connect the dots in his mind.

Finally, as the meeting drew to a close, Mason’s tone softened slightly. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hernandez,” Ava replied, standing as the meeting ended.

As she turned to leave, Mason’s voice stopped her. “Miss Brown.”

She paused, glancing back at him. “Yes?”

He hesitated for just a second, but it was enough to make Ava’s heart skip a beat. “I hope you’ll find your time here fulfilling.”

Ava nodded, a small, polite smile on her lips. “I’m sure I will.”

With that, she exited the office, the door closing softly behind her. The moment she was out of Mason’s sight, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. The tension between them was palpable, and she couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated than she had anticipated.

As she walked back to her office, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that Mason knew more than he was letting on. She had seen the way he looked at Logan at the airport, the suspicion in his eyes. Was it possible that he had connected the dots? She pushed the thought aside. There was no way he could know, not without proof.

But the nagging feeling remained, and Ava knew that it was only a matter of time before the truth came out—one way or another.