74. Worse Mistake


    << Miles,>>


    I sit at my desk, surrounded by stacks of papers and aptop that never seems to stop buzzing with emails. It''s another typical day at work, and I''m in the middle of finishing up an important report.


    After knocking on the door, Isha excuses herself into the room.


    "Hey Miles, I finally figured out that issue with ounting in sales deed you were worried about."


    "Oh. I thought I would have to dig into myself," I say as I take the files from her to take a quick look. At an overlook, her analysis looks promising.


    She flushes at my remark.


    "I am sorry!" she mumbles. I was nning to do itst week, but your girlsister hijacked me.


    I grin. "How was your time with her?"


    She tilts her head at me.


    "What''s up with you guys? Is there something I don''t know? All of a sudden, everyone is treating me nicely. Why?"


    I frown. Who else?


    "What the fuck, Isha. I am always nice."


    She rolls her eyes and waves me off while making her way out, before I can ask her who else she is talking about.


    The mystery is solved soon after when Mom calls me that afternoon.


    "Honey, I have invited Isha to a family dinner over the weekend. Noah would be there too. Please join us."


    "You met her?" I ask with surprise.


    "Yes. I was at your office. I made up an excuse and invited her.... your dad is nning to tell her everything."


    "Wow. It''s a good thing though..."


    I cut the call and sit in my spot. Will Isha be happy or furious after knowing the truth? I need Avery around when this happens. She was right. So many tears would be shed. I am d she made an effort to get closer to Isha. I take out my phone, wondering what she''s up to right now?


    ncing at the clock, I see that it''s almost lunchtime. Perfect timing to call her.


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    "Hey, what''s up?" Avery''s voice rings through the speaker.


    “Just taking a break from work. How''s your trip to New York going?" I ask, happy to hear her voice.


    "It''s going well, but I already miss you."


    "I miss you too," I say, feeling a smile creep across my face. A few months back never had expected I would say these words to anyone.


    She goes on to tell me about her flight and how she has been busy cleaning the apartment to keep herself distracted from the De and Ethan mess.


    A strange sense of foreboding hits me. I don''t want to scare her off, so I say nothing and make a mental note to assign Ran to her again. She will probably get furious, but it will give me peace of mind.


    "So, what are your ns for the day?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.


    "I''m meeting up with Jake for dinner tonight," she says, and I can hear a hint of excitement in her voice.


    "Jake? As in Lena''s boysister?" I ask, my mind racing to ce the name.


    I am having a little hard time remembering all the names she tells me. But I have


    to do this. I have heard girls get angry when you forget things like this.


    Oh Fuck. I guess I need to remember the anniversaries too. I better make notes.


    "Yeah, I thought it would be nice to catch up." She takes a pause. "Miles, I am nning to hand him over the musicpany. Lena and Jake can take good care of it," she exins.


    Her statement takes me by surprise.


    "Okay.. I hope you don''t resent me, Avery. You worked hard for thatpany."


    "No Miles. It''s time for bigger things. For starters, I want to bring Collins construction back on its feet again."


    I nod. "Alright Have a great time tonight, and tell Jake I said hello. I would like to meet him someday."


    "I will, Miles. I''ll talk to you soon," she says before hanging up.


    After lunch, I get back to work and meetings. The hours drag on, and before I know it, it''ste at night. I make my way to lift while dialing her number. I frown when it goes straight to voicemail.


    So I send her a text.


    Me: ''Hey, How was dinner? I''ve been trying to reach you. Let me know if you made it back home safe.''


    A few minutester, a message pops up on my screen.


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    Official Girlsister: I''m sorry I missed your call. I''m really tired, I need to get some sleep. I will call you tomorrow after breakfast. Good night."


    The message feels off, but I cannot pinpoint it. Am I smothering her with too many calls and messages? Confused as hell, I simply reply.


    Me: ''Okay, sounds good. Sleep well, and I''ll talk to you tomorrow."


    I drive home and a sense of unease wash over me. A realization hits me. I forgot


    to send Ran to her ce.


    After reaching home, I contemte and dial Liam''s number.


    "Yes, Boss!"


    You are experienced with rtionships. Tell me one thing."


    "Okayyy... Shoot."


    "So Avery is in New York.... and with Ethan missing and all. I was wondering if I should send Ran to guard her. Would Avery be pissed at this?"


    "Oh... you should ask for her permission. Because Ran will hover around her."


    I scratch my head, making my way into my apartment. "She went to bed early and yes, I know she won''t like that."


    "Hmmm... Wait until morning. That''s alright Miles. She will be alright."


    After talking to Liam, I feel better. When I reach my room, I am so exhausted that I


    drift into a restless sleep pretty quickly.


    The next morning, I wake up to the


    sound of my phone ringing. I groan when I realize I overslept. It''s a


    I meeting reminder. I grab my things and head out the door, my mind already racing with the tasks need to aplish.  s?novel


    I ask Isha to bring me something to eat while I rush to attend the emergency meeting.


    After a few hours, I finally have a moment to breathe. That''s when I realize Avery hasn''t called me back. I dial her number. But as before, she cuts the call and sends me a text message.


    Official Girlsister: ''I forgot to call you. I am at a hair salon and will call you back in


    an hour.''


    Official Girlsister: ''and stop being clingy Miles.''


    Her message throws me off.


    what the fuck?


    Feeling a little offended, I put the phone down and get busy with work. Fuck. That


    was offensive. I think to myself, bitterly.


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    An hour passes, and she will heart called in anayew, 1 do and cahay wither. That was one of the sermidales


    of my life.


    When she doesn''t call me even 2 hourster, 1 dial her womber, faming in anger.


    My hears sinks when I realize har


    number is ewitched off


    My fingers shake asi dial lene''s number. Something it right and I need to find or what''s going on


    Have you heard from Avery? I''ve been trying to get in touch with her, but her phone is offnk as soon as the picks up.


    Lena''s voice sounds surprised on the other end of the line. "No, she was supposed to call me this morning bur I haven''t heard anything yet."


    My anxiety begins to turn into full-blown panic.


    "Okay, Can you ask your boysister to check on her apartmed?


    Yes yes. I will call you back."


    My mind races with different scenarios, and my heart pounding in my chest.


    I shouldn''t have listened to Liam. I should have sent Ran to NYCn night Fuck, I should have trusted my


    instinct.


    My mind races as I wait for Lena to call back. But irs Jake who calls me after a


    while.


    "Hey, Miles, her house is locked, and her car it here either. I don''t know where the could be?


    "Fuck. Call the police, Jake. Request a wellness check. I aming there.


    "But wait. What did she tell you?"


    I received a text saying she was at some hair salon. I got that message 2.5


    hours ago."


    "Hmm, Miles it''s possible that her appointment dragged. You are panicking for no


    reason."


    I shake my head.


    "No. Something is wrong


    I grab my things and head straight


    to the airport. As I sit on my private jet, I can''t help but think about what could have happened to her. I freaking hope I am just being paranoid. Avery would be annoyed. But it''s been over 3 hours since her


    Jakest saw her.


    Ran is traveling with me. In my desperation, I have called everyone I can think


    of. Nobody knows where she is. I


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    casually brushed it off while talking to Avery''s dad. I didn''t want to worry him. I


    need to focus on the job in hand. I


    can inform her fatherter.


    The five hour flight to New York


    feels like an eternity. My mind is in overdrive, and I can''t seem to calm down. reach for my phone every few minutes, hoping that I''ll see a missed call or a message from Avery.


    As the ne descends, my phone rings, and I almost drop it in my panic. It''s


    unknown number, and my heart races as I answer the call.


    "Hello?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady.


    There''s a brief pause on the other end of the line before a familiar voice speaks


    up. "Miles? It''s Avery."


    Relief washes over me as I hear her voice. "Avery! What the fuck. Where are


    you?"


    Avery''s voice sounds shaky on the other end of the line.


    "Uhmmm Miles... Can you meet me?"


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