CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 275: Surprise Me

Amy attempted to dismiss Henry’s suspicion by waving her hands and insisting, "We were merely joking." However, despite her efforts, Henry overheard everything.

Henry reassured Amy, saying, "Just kidding, don’t worry. I believe Ash is genuinely serious about Ava."

Amy’s eyes widened with a mix of disbelief and surprise as she exclaimed, "You knew? Why didn’t you inform me?"

"Because it’s not my place to inform you," Henry explained. "Besides, it’s still too early. You need to maintain your distance. Ash is putting in a lot of effort to build a new life with Ava, and if you were to get close to him, it might divert his focus from his goals and undermine all the hard work he’s put in. The last thing I want to happen is for him to run after you again. That would be a lot of trouble. Don’t you agree?"

Amy nodded, her smile fading slightly as she comprehended Henry’s perspective and agreed with him. However, a hint of disappointment lingered in her heart. She had been excited at the prospect of having Ash back as one of her closest friends and returning to the bond they once shared.

"Ok, I am already happy with the fact that he is trying to move forward with his life. And that’s all I wanted for now," Amy said with a contented smile.

"By the way, we had a video conference with our lawyers, and they informed us that Josephine’s case is still ongoing, while the cases involving Kevin and Alex are making progress," Amy shared. "Given the substantial amount of video evidence involving Alex, they may only need to call you to testify once or twice."

Henry added, "Regarding Kevin, there won’t be a need for you to testify since he has already pleaded guilty. We have a strong chance of winning the case against Alex. However, with Josephine’s passing, it might take a while before we can uncover the true mastermind. Therefore, the enhanced security measures will remain in place."

Mary and Sandra pouted, visibly displaying their disappointment at the restricted freedom. However, everyone recognized the significance of their safety and was committed to not jeopardizing it.

********

Seated in the passenger seat of Ash’s car, Ava wore a radiant smile as she gazed at the flowers Ash had given her.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Ash asked, "Do you really like them that much?" after noticing how joyful and giddy Ava appeared.

"Keep your eyes on the road and stop staring at me," Ava playfully teased, flashing a smile. "Don’t mind me, I’m just delighted in the beauty of these exquisite flowers."

Ash chuckled, pleased with how easily he could bring happiness to Ava. "Would you like to go somewhere else?" he asked, offering the possibility of exploring further.

Ava furrowed her brows as she looked at Ash, a hint of confusion in her expression. "What do you mean?" she asked, seeking clarification, since she thought that they will go straight to Ash’s home and be with Beethoven.

Ash clarified his question, saying, "I meant if there’s a specific place you’d like to visit or go to, like a mall, cinema, park, restaurant, or anything else you have in mind."

Ava’s frown deepened as she questioned, "But why? Aren’t you in a hurry to go home to Beethoven?"

Ash explained, "I actually hired a dog sitter yesterday to see if he could handle Beethoven. He’s the nephew of my housekeeper, and they get along quite well. I asked him to come today after school and dogsit Beethoven." As he finished speaking, Ash reached out and firmly squeezed Ava’s hand, catching her by surprise.

"I realized that I haven’t taken you on a proper date, Ava," Ash admitted, his voice filled with sincerity. "When I told you that I want you in my life, I meant it. I want us to create beautiful memories together. But only if you want that too." He glanced back and forth between Ava and the road, awaiting her response.

Ava’s heart fluttered, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. Ash was undoubtedly someone special, and she couldn’t help but think how fortunate it was that Amy hadn’t witnessed this side of him. Otherwise, she might never have had the chance to meet him.

Ava’s face lit up with a smile as she responded, "Surprise me." Her words conveyed her willingness to let Ash take the lead and create a memorable experience for both of them.

Ash pondered for a moment, then replied with a hint of uncertainty, "Hmm... Are you sure? I’m not exactly an expert when it comes to dating, but I’ll do my best." He expressed his willingness to step out of his comfort zone and make the date special, despite his lack of experience.

Ash remained quiet throughout the journey until they reached their destination. While it may not have been an exceptionally unique place, it certainly turned out to be a memorable one for it surprised Ava again that Ash would choose this for their first instead of fine dining or a visit to a gallery, something that rich people usually do.

"Are we really going to watch this movie?" Ava asked, her voice filled with amusement as she chuckled.

Ash brought them to a drive-in cinema, and to Ava’s surprise, the movie being shown was none other than ’Beethoven’.

Ava couldn’t help but chuckle at Ash’s reasoning. "So, you thought this would be the best way to be with Beethoven, at least in name?" she remarked with a hint of playful sarcasm. She found his reasoning both cringey and amusing at the same time.

For Ava, it didn’t matter where they went or what movie they watched. The mere fact that Ash was thoughtful and considerate in their relationship was more than sufficient for her. His gestures of care and attention meant the world to her.

With clear eyes, Ava could perceive every small effort that Ash made for her. She genuinely appreciated each gesture, and it only deepened her feelings for him. Determined, she vowed to ensure that Ash would never feel alone again, as long as she was alive and by his side. Her commitment to him was unwavering, and she was ready to support and love him unconditionally.