Alone and desperate to get out of debt, Ava begins to work odd jobs to keep herself afloat. She calls her gift for singing a silly talent and uses it to earn small cash at local bars. But a simple song from her was able to put Leon Prescott to sleep in seconds. 

Leon is old, wealthy and has insomnia. He walked into the bar that night hoping to spend the money he didn’t need on girls who needed it. Ava was the lucky girl of the night. She sang to him, he fell asleep immediately. Something that never happened. He needed her, he had to find her but she was gone. 

Destined to meet again, Ava is handed a contract. Move into Leon’s mansion as a live-in personal assistant and sing him to bed every night and get a hefty pay. The desperation caved in and killed her independence. She accepted, thus walking into a life of love, pain, and war.

I was still thinking about last night. I couldn't tell if she was bothered by the thought of us having sex or if it was the fact that she still sang to me afterward.


I noticed there was something different. I didn't exactly need her to sing all the time, I just needed to feel her presence, to know that she was close. But she didn't need to know that. I was enjoying the awkwardness.


For the first time in years, I felt alive, like living felt worth it. I couldn't put together what was so special about her, but whatever it was, it was my reason to live.


I got ready for work that morning. I was in such a good mood that I asked Marvin to take the day off. He was adamant at first but I insisted on driving myself. Ava was still curled up in her room, and I didn't want to make her any more embarrassed or uncomfortable.


Chapter 36 - Close To You.