Mr. Billionaire's Criminal Obsession

Ava gaped like a fish at his words, then she slowly looked down at the packet of medicine In her hand and began to wonder if it was a mistake to come here after all.

She shook her head slowly. 'No… I didn't come here expecting it to be easy…'

She knew she was being reckless, she didn't even know Eitan's motive behind asking her to work for him, but more than anything, she was sure she would rather take a chance with him than go back to wherever Grahm was.

Ava clutched the drug packet in her hand tightly and looked up at Eitan with pleading eyes. "I… I know I'm scum… but please believe me."

Eitan folded his arms over his chest, stared her down for a few seconds before he said, "and why should I? Why should I even strike this deal with you in the first place? There's nothing particularly unique about you. There are so many others out there that would fit my criteria."

'So many others who would bring me much less trouble too.' He added as an afterthought.

Ava's blood ran cold as she stared at him wide-eyed. Was he rejecting her now? After all the emotional turmoil he put her through the other night?

When he didn't even call the police the moment she appeared on his doorstep? Was he just toying with her?

There was no way.

She wasn't about to leave this place like a fool, regretting ever coming in the first place.

Ava lowered her head. "I'll… I'll do anything… anything at all so please keep your offer open for me… please… I can't… I can't go back…"

She couldn't stop the tears that clouded her vision, as her entire body shook. 'Please take me in… you're my only hope…'

Eitan watched her with thin lips. 'So she came to me because she was desperate? Come to think of it…'

"Ava, was it?" He asked as he stood up from the chair, making her raise her glistening gaze toward him. "Come."

Ava didn't waste another second after hearing that. She sprang up from the bed so quickly her head spun. Before she could collapse to the ground, Eitan rushed to catch her by the arm.

"I told you I didn't have the resources to treat you again." He said coolly.

Ava swallowed as she looked up at him, straightening herself and slipping away from his grasp. "Right… s–sorry."

Eitan didn't respond. He turned and swiftly walked out of the room. Ava followed behind him, struggling to catch up, even almost running.

Her eyes darted left as they passed by the entrance to the living room. She couldn't help but think the almost empty apartment was way too simple for someone as rich as him to be living in.

There were no paintings on the walls just furniture, and those were sparse to begin with.

'This probably isn't his original living space...'

Eventually, they entered a smaller room resembling a private office and Ava watched as Eitan went to sit behind a desk in front of a large window, leaving her awkwardly standing in the middle of the room

He rested his chin on his fisted hand and watched her fidget nervously with the hem of her shirt.

He almost sighed out loud. 'I can't believe I'm doing this…'

"What exactly are you good at?" He asked, his index finger tapping the table. "Assuming I gave you… an office job?"

Ava froze. 'He…he wants to give me a job instead?! What happened to being his Wife?!'

But she wasn't in any position to question him, so she decided to answer instead. Not having a clue to where the conversation was going.

She began to pick at the bandages wrapped around her fingers. "I'm not… familiar with office work…"

"So you can't do calculations?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

"You can't collect data? Organise it?" Eitan pressed.

"No…"

"So… you're useless."

Ava flinched. "I'm not… useless." The bandages on her fingers had already come off and she began to pick at her nails… her skin. "I've just never done those things before…"

"I see…" Eitan hummed, then his gaze unconsciously shifted to her hands and he frowned. Without warning, he picked a pen off his table and threw it at her, making her jump.

"What was that–"

"Why do you do that?" He asked sharply, gesturing at the raw skin of her fingers. "Doesn't it hurt?"

Ava followed his gaze, her eyes settling on her hands. She looked away. "I don't mind it. It keeps me calm…"

His frown deepened. "Don't do that in front of me." He said flatly and she nodded. He then leaned back in his chair. "How old are you?"

Ava hesitated, clasping her hand.

He raised a brow. "What? You don't want to answer?"

Ava closed her eyes, as if finding difficulty giving in to his demand. "Ni–nineteen… I'm nineteen."

Eitan immediately sat up straight. "What…?"

"I'm… I'm not lying!" Ava rushed out.

"I never said you were." Eitan responded with a sigh, rubbing his forehead. "How long have you been working… with your organisation, I mean."

Ava tensed. She didn't want to answer that… but if she wanted him to trust her, even if it was only a little, she had no choice.

"I… I don't know if it counts as working…" She started, her hands at the edge of her shirt as she squeezed her eyes shut. "But I've been… I've been training there since I was e–eleven. That's eig–eight years… like i said, I don't know if it–"

Suddenly, Eitan sprang up from his seat, startling her. He rushed toward her and took a firm grip of her left hand, holding it up for both of them to see.

Ava's eyes widened when she saw that she had been peeling at her skin more intensely. It was torn in places and had become red with blood.

Her head began to spin. 'He–he told me not to do this, didn't he? Yes… yes he did.'

"I'm… I'm sorry." Ava said quietly with her head lowered, her entire body shaking. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disobey you. I'm sorry… I'm–"

"Hey." Eitan called firmly, but gently. "Let's get you treated."

Ava let her eyes drift tightly close again and nodded.

Eitan directed her to a sofa in front of his desk and let her settle in it, then he went to a drawer beside his work table and took out a first aid box from it.

Ava watched him warily. 'What is he doing? Does he want to treat my injuries himself?!'

There was no way she would let him do that, she was beneath him! She was about to spring up from her seat to protest when Eitan stopped her in her tracks.

"Sit." He said and she did as she was told without a moment's hesitation.

Her eyes followed him nervously as he sat beside her and took out a swab of Cotton and applied spirit to it.

He reached for her hand. The moment the cool sensation met her skin, she hissed and her body jerked on reflex.

"Does it hurt?" Eitan asked calmly.

Ava nodded, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Good." He said without looking up. "Always remember this, because this is what you'll endure whenever you decide to ignore what I tell you."