Ava's Pov:
I stared at the card for nearly an hour. I didn't know what to do with it.
Two thousand was a lot, but he was a creepy guy. I couldn't trust him.
"Although this'll help my social status, won't it." I whispered to myself.
I finally picked up the card. I dialed the number on it, and called. He answered in three rings.
"Ava, I hope."
I paused. "Yes, Ava Kessler."
"Have you decided?"
"Did you ever give me a choice?" I replied.
He took a moment before he spoke.
"I'll take that as a yes then. I'll have someone send my address and everything you need to know. You'll move in tomorrow. Don't bother going back to the restaurant."
"Huh? Tomorrow?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
I hesitated. "No."
"Good."
"Thank you, Ava." he whispered seconds before I hung up.
I dropped my phone on my bed.
"Ava what are you doing? You don't know this man."
My inner thoughts were running wild. I sensed something bad about him but I needed a better life. I could only hope I didn't regret it.
I called Alicia after. Just to let her know I was safe.
"So why'd you think they stopped following you?" she asked.
"They kinda offered me a job. It's really complicated and I can't explain over the phone."
"You know I have full shifts at the bar for the rest of the week."
"I know. We'll catch up I promise."
"If you say so Ava."
We hung up and I packed my bags silently.
I was still very skeptical about living with him but there was a contract and a really good pay. This could just be me being selfish again but I didn't care.
I took a long shower after I was done and tried to sleep. The thoughts of my life changing into something I didn't know scared me. I could barely close my eyes without imagining something going wrong.
By 6am, a phone call woke me up. It was an unknown number but I was sure it was Leon or one of his bodyguards at least. I answered and waited for the person to speak before saying anything.
"Good morning Miss Kissler. A car is on its way to pick you up from your motel. Be ready in fifteen minutes."
I sprouted up hearing that. I wanted to say something, anything, but the other person on the line didn't give room for that. He hung up immediately after talking. The voice didn't sound like Leon, neither did it sound like one of those guys but I didn't panic. I went into the shower and got ready. I was unimaginably calm about the situation.
Fifteen minutes later, I got a knock on my door.
I answered and saw Marvin standing in front of me. He didn't say anything, just moved his hands towards the car. I was going to pick up my bags but he didn't let me. He carried them himself and walked behind me to the car.
The drive to Leon's house was quiet, but my head wasn't. My mind couldn't stop telling me I was making the wrong decision. I couldn't even hear when Marvin asked me a question.
"Miss Kessler, are you listening?"
"What? yes, yes I am."
"Do you want music?"
"Oh no, I'm fine thank you."
He nodded and went back to driving.
I hesitated for a bit but I eventually got the courage to start small talk.
"Is Leon some kind of mafia leader who's kidnapping me?"
"Is that what you think?" his reply was cold, like he didn't want to be bothered.
"Kinda."
"If so, then why did you accept?"
I stayed quiet after that.
A few minutes later, we stopped at a big black gate, the opening to an estate. I was expecting one of those fancy, large mansions or penthouses. But, the whole estate was his.
For a moment, the fear washed away. I was walking into the life I always dreamed of. What was I so scared of?
We drove to the very end of the estate, where his penthouse was. I later found out the other buildings we passed were his as well but no one lived in them.
"Lovely seeing you Ava." Leon said from behind me. "You look fabulous."
"Really? I just whipped up the first outfit I saw."
"Do you want me to take back my compliment?"
"If you want to."
We both laughed.
Soon, there were multiple staff standing in front of me, each stating their names and roles in the house. Some took my bags inside, others just stared like I was some trophy.
"What is this?" I asked,
Leon handed me a contract the minute I sat down in his office.
"The contract that states you're now, strictly my personal assistant. You can read it if you want to."
I stared at it, pretending to read. Really I was just thinking about the downsides of signing it. What could possibly go wrong right?
"Signed." I said.
"Perfect." he replied with a smile. " I'll be heading out. If you need anything, ask for Pearl, she'll show you around too."
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"Could you explain? Exactly why you need a personal assistant."
He sat back down and sighed.
"I can't give you a full explanation now but….I have insomnia. I haven't found something that suppresses it, at least not until I met you."
"What does that mean?"
"The day you sang for me at the bar, while you thought I died, I was just asleep."
I stared at him.
"Embarrassing, I know."
"No, not embarrassing, just….weird."
"Agreed."
"So you need me to sing you to sleep?"
"Basically, yeah."
"Oh."
"You sound displeased."
"Not exactly. It's just a lot to take in."
"We'll talk about it later, and the contract. I could tell you didn't read it."
I nodded.
I asked for Pearl from the first staff I saw after Leon left. She came to my room shortly after. She barely said anything, just nodded every time I said something. She showed me around the Penthouse, except Leon's room which was off limits.
I went to sleep after that. All the overthinking wore me out.
Footsteps woke me up hours later. I checked my phone and saw it was already midnight. I didn't even know I could sleep for that long.
I wanted to check who kept pacing the halls but I was scared to. I remained quiet and tried to go back to bed but a knock on my door ruined that.
"Come in."
Leon walked in.
"Leon?"
"Good. You're awake."
"It's midnight, why are you awake?"
He gave me a plain look.
"Oh. Sorry." I apologized sincerely.
"Sing."
"What?"
He sat on my bed. "Sing Ava."
"Uh…what song?"
"Any song."
I was creeped out but I sang anyway. I did it before, I could do it again.
A few seconds in, Leon started to doze off. I let him lay down on my bed. I knew this was already crossing boundaries but I felt bad for him. After I made sure he was asleep, I walked out of the room to one of the other empty rooms.
I thought about it till I eventually dozed off.
Little did I know I was walking into a different world entirely.