Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2) (17 page)

“Okay,” Tyler offered, dropping into his recliner.

“What the fuck, Tyler?” the angry voice snarled.

“I needed to let off some steam,” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“Let off some steam?”

“I was going fucking crazy cooped up in here,” Tyler answered honestly. He knew this conversation would happen but he hadn’t realised it would happen so quickly.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“What’s the big deal?”

“Surely you are not that dumb! You can’t challenge normal people to a race on the treadmill and expect they will take it well when you beat them. Do I have to remind you that you’re a fucking professional athlete? You should fucking beat them.”

“Seriously, Jonathan! What exactly are you bitching about?” Tyler asked, befuddled. He thought he was getting his arse kicked for running on a treadmill without supervision. But no, it was about some stupid challenge he didn’t even remember participating in.

Jonathan threw his phone to Tyler and watched as he took in grainy images. He was running on a treadmill, looking like a man possessed, with two men with more muscles than sense on either side of him.

“You’re fucking kidding me,” Tyler fumed, forcing himself to his feet as he stalked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

After silently downing the whole bottle, Tyler risked a glance at Jonathan. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

“You seem to be saying that a lot lately, Tyler.”

“Yeah,” Tyler admitted, defeated.

“I think from now on you need to do exactly what I tell you to do. Nothing more. Nothing less. At least until things calm down,” Jonathan tried to placate him.

Reluctantly Tyler agreed. He’d lost everything else. What was his freedom? “Okay.”

“Okay then.”

Jonathan stalked towards the door without expanding. “Oh, and Tyler, make sure your tux is clean and ready for Saturday night. You’ve got a fundraiser to attend,” Jonathan added before walking out the door, leaving Tyler alone with his thoughts.

Chapter 34

Ava

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Ava snapped, exasperated, hoping that she’d misheard Matthew’s request. But it wasn’t a request. It was a non-negotiable, direct, and specific instruction. And Ava hated it.

“Ava, come on, you know you’re great at doing this sort of stuff,” Matthew tried.

“I don’t care if I’m the world’s freaking best. This is bullshit. You know I hate this sort of shit,” Ava countered, grabbing fistfuls of hair and forcing it into a knot on the top of her head.

“Ava, stop being so dramatic. I knew you’d react like this, but I also know you. You can and you will do this, and it will be amazing. It always is,” Matthew admitted.

“But why me? Seriously?” Ava huffed as she flopped down in the chair opposite Matthew.

“Honestly? You weren’t here to object.”

“Seriously?”

“That’s the truth. Well, that and everyone around here knows that you can pull off miracles. For some reason you come up with ideas that others haven’t even considered. You see things in a different way. And that is exactly what we want. It’s what I need,” Matthew explained patiently.

Ava and Matthew had been working together for five years and had one of those brutally honest and volatile relationships. Each knew which button to push to set the other one off like a firework. They fought and argued like an old married couple but they seemed to always pull off miracles. They wouldn’t only meet the ridiculously tight deadlines but they usually made it with time to spare. And that’s what made them a winning combination that no one else wanted to get in the middle of.

“Seriously, this is bullshit, Matthew.” Ava grimaced, picking up the red folder from his desk.

As Ava flipped through the pages she instantly noticed the huge gaps in the work and started mentally making lists of all the things that still needed to be done. Never mind that she was coming into the project at the last minute and was the one that had to save this disaster before it imploded and embarrassed them all.

“How…”

“Ava, stop. Breathe. I’ve already talked to Christopher. Your whole week has been cleared. Others will cover for you in everything else. Just need to concentrate on this. Take this folder and go home. I want you to work from there as much as you can. If you come in here, you’re going to get dragged into helping someone else or doing a five-minute job, which before you know it becomes ten five-minute jobs, and then you’ll break. I don’t want that to happen. No one does. And we know how much pressure this is going to put on you. But Ava, the reality is we need your help.”

“No, you don’t. I’m just a last resort because everyone else said no,” Ava grumbled.

“Ava, no one else was asked,” Matthew said bluntly.

Ava looked up into Matthew’s face and saw nothing but blunt honesty. He wouldn’t lie to her. Not about this. “Have you even thought about what happens if I can’t do it?” she asked nervously, biting her bottom lip.

“Hasn’t even crossed my mind.” Matthew smirked.

“Well, you’re an idiot!” Ava reminded him, flicking through the binder.

“Everything you need is in there, but if it’s not, just ask. Christopher and I will help where we can but we need you to tell us what to do,” Matthew offered as Ava shook her head with defeat. “Now get out of here! There’s a meeting at eleven across town you need to attend, and after that you’ll be fine.”

“I hate you, you know that, right?” Ava grumbled, scooping the folder up in her arms and heading out the door.

“Yep! Fully aware of that.” Matthew teased, full of arrogance.

“As long as you know.” Ava smiled back.

Just as she was about to step out the door, Matthew called out to her, “Ava. Good luck. And call if you need anything, okay?”

Ava didn’t respond but instead just forced a tight smile and disappeared, her mind dancing a million miles an hour at all the things she had to do. First she’d go to the hotel and meet with the function manager, then head to a coffee shop for a much needed caffeine and chocolate hit before she began to muddle her way through the pile of paperwork. If she could figure out where everything was up to and then make a list of what was left to do, maybe, just maybe she could pull off the miracle that everyone expected.

Five exhausting hours later, Ava dropped her phone onto the lounge beside her and stretched her arms high above her head, grimacing at the loud cracking noises that accompanied her every movement. She’d met with the function coordinator before jumping headfirst into the decision-making. Ava no longer cared if they were the wrong ones, someone had to make the call, and Ava was the only one left standing. So she did what needed to be done. She made more decisions in a couple of hours than she’d made in the last couple of months. She’d confirmed the decorators, the band, and the photographer, and everything was back on schedule. Well, almost everything.

“Good afternoon and welcome to…”

“Amanda, it’s me,” Ava said, cutting off Amanda’s practiced, plastic spiel.

“Oh, hey. What’s this I hear about you getting a week to work from home? Who’d you screw to get that?” Amanda taunted.

Ava scowled. “Trust me, I wish it was a cushy week off. Nope. They’ve left me in charge of pulling off the gala on Saturday,” Ava admitted wearily.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Ava deadpanned.

“That’s awesome. It’s going to be amazing,” Amanda gushed. She’d heard the ongoing conversations for the past couple of weeks. Talks about ball gowns and hairstyles and makeup and dates and shoes. Some days they were just too much and Ava wanted to stab herself in the side of the head with a stiletto just so she didn’t have to hear about it.

“Yeah, fucking fantastic,” Ava growled. “Listen, is Christopher around? I have some questions,” Ava asked hopefully. She needed Christopher to clarify a few details so she could keep going. She knew she had hours of work to be done, not to mention getting herself organised. When she’d arrived at work, Ava had no intention of even attending the gala, and now she was the sole person responsible for the whole thing. Finding a dress also had to be added to her to-do list.

“Hang on, I’ll check,” Amanda told her, putting her on hold. The whinging and whining music that played down the phone made Ava want to slam the phone and give up. But with the day she was having she was likely to hang up the exact moment Christopher came on the line. Probably not the best thing to do to the guy who signs your pay cheque.

Without warning, Christopher’s jovial voice came through the phone. “Ava? How’s it going?”

Ava could picture him sitting at his desk in his high-backed leather executive chair, feet perched on the window sill as he watched the people scurrying below him like ants. His trademark half-smile plastered on his face all the time hiding his real thoughts. “Uh, hi, Christopher,” Ava murmured, suddenly not sure of herself.

“Thanks for calling, Ava. I was going to get in touch with you later on this afternoon. Firstly, I wanted to thank you for what you are doing. I know it was a huge thing to ask of you at such short notice, but I have every confidence that you are the best person for the job.”

Gulping down her own emotions, Ava squeaked her reply. “Thanks, Christopher. I wish I had your confidence.”

“You’ll do just fine, Ava. You always do,” he assured her.

“Thanks.”

“But Ava, I want you to know you’re not in this on your own. So, how can I help?” Christopher offered.

Ava felt her strength and resolve came rushing back. “Actually that’s why I’m calling.”

“No probs. Shoot.”

“I’m pretty much fine with everything but the auction. The notes I have only say that there are two types being run on the night. A silent auction which will be open from seven thirty till the winners are announced at ten, and a live auction.”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Christopher acknowledged.

“Okay. Well my question is about the live auction. I have no details. All it says is ‘
Live auction, ten o’clock. Details to be confirmed.
’” Ava read directly from the notes that were scattered about her lounge room in what she lovingly referred to as organised chaos.

“That’s right, Ava. The live auction is mine. I’ll be the auctioneer, so no need to arrange anything there, and I have all the information on the auction items. I guess if you can just make sure there are some tables to lay out, say, eight items for the silent auction, then make sure the half an hour between ten and ten thirty is free to announce the winners and conduct the live auction, that would be perfect,” Christopher explained, not giving much away.

“So, basically you’re not going to tell me and I don’t have to worry about it?” Ava confirmed, more intrigued than annoyed.

“Yeah, that’s about it. How about you make sure there’s a time slot for me, and if everything falls to shit in that half hour, then that’s my fault and I’ll take full responsibility,” Christopher offered.

Although Ava wasn’t entirely comfortable with it, she didn’t have a choice. Christopher was the boss and if he said trust me, then that’s what Ava had to do. Besides, she had more than enough to keep her occupied without worrying about the auction. “Sounds fair,” she consented.

After a few more moments of confirming details and swapping information, Ava hung up and tried to focus on the task at hand. The running sheet. Now she had all the imperative bits locked down, it was time to fill in the gaps.

Ava knew she should be focusing, but when she glanced at the clock, it was already after six and she was completely wiped out. Instead of pushing through and starting the unenviable task of seating arrangements, she poured herself a large glass of wine and slipped into the bath, hoping the bubbles and the wine would soothe away the anxiety that was slowly but surely taking control.

Emerging from the bath even more exhausted than when she’d dipped her toes into the perfectly scented, steaming water, all she could think about was collapsing into her bed and snuggling under the covers. And even more surprisingly, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t even have to strength or the energy to read.

The next morning her ringing phone woke her. “Fuck!” she exclaimed as she groped around her darkened room, searching for the incessant noise maker. When her fingers finally clutched the offending, vibrating phone, she answered it rudely. “What?”

“Well, good morning to you too, Ava,” Amanda chirped down the phone, even brighter and more bubbly than normal.

“What’s bloody good about it?” Ava grumbled, sitting up and running her hands through her hair, trying to untangle the bird’s nest.

“It’s a beautiful day.”

“Bite me!”

“Have you had your coffee yet?”

“Why would I have? Do you know what time it is? I’m still fucking sleeping,” Ava admitted as she kicked away the blankets. She was awake now, might as well get up and get on with it.

“Do you know what time it is?”

“What?” Ava retorted as she spotted the clock on the microwave. “How the fuck is it nine thirty already?”

“You were seriously sleeping, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, but…but…I don’t know how that happened,” Amanda admitted as she slumped into a chair, her head already running at a million miles an hour.

“It’s cool, Ava. Don’t stress about it. Besides, you have much bigger problems than an extra couple of hours’ beauty sleep.” Amanda giggled.

“Thanks for reminding me,” Ava grumbled. “So, now I’m awake, are you going to tell me the reason for your call?”

“Oh, yeah. So I have the final RSVPs and their dietary requirements, so I’ll email them through so you can start on the table settings, unless you have already finished?”

“No, that was this morning’s project.”

“No troubles then. I’ll shoot this through to you now. There are a total of three hundred and twenty-eight people coming and forty-seven of them have special requirements—”

“Pains in the arse,” Ava cut her off.

“Anyway, I’ll send the info over. Also the place cards just arrived here, so did you want me to get them brought to you or did you want to stop in and grab them?” Amanda offered helpfully.

Although Ava was thankful for Amanda’s enthusiasm and help right now, she just couldn’t handle it. “Damn Matthew and Christopher,” Ava muttered under her breath. The truth was all she wanted was ten minutes’ peace where she could sit in silence and drink her coffee. Then she might feel human enough to function. “Um, I’m not sure what my movements are. How about I call you back around lunchtime when I have a plan? That’ll give me time to confirm a few things and figure out where I’ll be before we arrange courier options?”

“Sounds good. Well, then, I’ll leave you to it. But, Ava, if you need anything, call,” Amanda offered genuinely.

“Thanks. I will,” Ava agreed, knowing deep down she wouldn’t. This was her problem to solve and she would—or she’d die trying.

“I’ll email you. See ya,” Amanda tweeted before Ava heard the phone click off.