Restaurant.

<General perspective>

Ava, Regina, and Elena were enjoying their date at the amusement park. After trying out various rides, they headed to a nearby restaurant. As they stepped inside, Ava's phone began to ring.

Ava glanced at her phone and turned to Elena and Regina. "I'll be back in a minute," she said.

She made her way to the restroom, checking to see if anyone else was inside. She answered the call, and John's urgent voice came through. "Ava, what happened in Santa Monica? Is Helen safe?"

Ava rubbed her temples. "Yes, she's safe now. I've arranged for a bodyguard to protect her." She decided not to mention that the bodyguard was the same person who had caused trouble for Helen in the first place.

John sighed in relief. "That's good news. But leaving evidence behind—that's unexpected for someone like you."

Ava sighed. "Well, some idiot uploaded it online before I could delete it, and it went viral instantly."

Ava continued, "And if I delete it now, it won't do me any good since my face was hidden, so no one will know."

John chuckled. "You can't handle everything alone, Ava."

Ava nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Anyway, is that Ares girl trustworthy?"

John hesitated. "I'll need to check. But why do you want her?"

Ava replied, "If she's reliable, I'd like her to be my secretary."

John choked on his words. "You need a secretary?"

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Why not? If she is loyal and trustworthy, I can hire her."

John asked, "Yeah, I know. But isn't Ares more of a brute assassin than a secretary?"

____

In the mall, Ares was waiting for John with Lucia while John went to the restroom. Ares sneezed and thought, 'Is someone talking about me?' Lucia pulled on Ares's shirt sleeve and asked, "Are you alright?"

Ares nodded and said in sign language, "Yeah, I'm alright."

_____

Ava replied, "She works as a secretary and can serve as a bodyguard if trained properly, so check if she is trustworthy."

John sighed and said, "Got it, boss."

As Ava hung up the phone and exited the restroom, she walked to the table she had booked. As she approached the table, she noticed Elena's sad face.

Ava looked at Regina and asked, "What happened?"

Regina started to explain.

While Ava was in the restroom, a man wearing a suit insulted Elena when she declined his offer to join him for lunch. Regina tried to punch the man, but Elena stopped her, saying it wouldn't be good if he called the police because Regina punched him.

Ava nodded and asked in a cold voice, "Where is he now?"

Elena held Ava's hand gently. "You don't have to do anything; it's just that I'm emotional," she said softly.

Ava patted Elena's head affectionately. "You're not just emotional; you're my girlfriend. And you don't have to worry, I won't let him touch you."

Regina frowned, concern evident on her face. "But Ava, that man..."

Ava silenced Regina by placing a finger on her lips. "Do you think I would leave him after he insulted my girlfriend?"

Regina smiled and nodded. "He went to the upper floor."

Ava gestured for the waiter to come over. As he approached, she said, "Could you please call the manager?"

After a few minutes, the manager arrived at Ava's table. "What seems to be the issue, miss?"

Ava surveyed the restaurant and then turned to the manager. "Are you the owner of this establishment?"

The manager nodded. "Yes, ma'am, I am the owner of this fine restaurant."

Ava glanced around again before speaking. "Would you be interested in selling this restaurant? I'm willing to pay double the market price."

The manager was surprised but smiled. "I can arrange that, ma'am, but you'll need to send the money first." He provided Ava with his own DiGiPay account details to receive the payment.

Ava nodded and opened her phone to initiate the transfer of funds to the manager's account.

As the manager received the notification of the $2,000,000 deposit, he looked at Ava in shock.

He furrowed his brow, concern evident in his voice. "Ma'am, this isn't illegal money, is it?"

Ava chuckled. "No, not at all."

Regina and Elena were confused by Ava's actions as they didn't know why Ava bought the restaurant. The manager was still fearful, despite having CCTV in the restaurant, unaware that Ava had hacked the CCTV and now had control.

Ava looked at the manager and said, "Now, this restaurant is mine, right?"

The manager nodded and replied, "Yes, ma'am, this restaurant is yours now," informing all the waiters that Ava was the new owner.

Ava nodded and took Elena to the first floor, with Regina guiding them. Upon reaching the first floor, Regina pointed out a man in a suit talking with his friends.

The man seated beside another man in a suit said, "Why did you insult that woman, Nick?"

Nick responds, "I invited that woman because of her beauty, yet she rebuffed my good intention."

Another man chuckles, "Good intention? Do you truly expect me to believe that?"

Ava approached Nick while holding Elena's hand and said, "Apologize to her politely."

Nick looked at Ava and replied, "Go away, bitch," continuing his conversation with his friends.

Ava started laughing and gave the man an evil smirk. Elena grabbed Ava's hand, knowing that Ava had killed some people earlier this morning, and didn't want her to kill someone in front of everyone. Nick felt shiver as he heard Ava's laughter.

Ava turned to Elena and calmly said, "I said I won't touch him."

Ava whispered something into the waiter's ear, who was standing nearby. As the waiter nodded.

Ava smiled and went back downstairs with Elena and Regina to sit with them in a private room. Regina looked at Ava and asked, "What did you say to that waiter?"

Ava chuckled and replied, "I just need a private room." She then said in a low voice, "Katie, you know what to do, right?"

Katie replied through the earpiece, "Yes, miss, I'm on it."

Elena, surprised, said, "I thought you would kill him after what he called you."

"Well, I can't kill anyone who insults me, right?" Ava said with a smirk on her face.

Elena sighed and said, "Okay, let's order something."

Ava smiled and said, "You can order; I will eat anything you order."

Elena chuckled, "What if I order something that you don't like?"

Ava replied, "I don't think you will order something I don't like."

Elena asked, "Do you really trust me?"

As Elena and Ava's faces got close, as if about to kiss, Regina placed her head between them, and they kissed Regina's left and right cheeks.

Regina felt pleasure on the right cheek where Ava had kissed. She looked at Elena with a blush on her face, saying, "We promised that we wouldn't do that while we are in public places."

Elena's face turned red as she was embarrassed that she forgot about her promise with Regina.

Ava looked at them and said, "What kind of promise are you guys talking about?"

To be Continued...

[Author's note: Please write a review; it motivates me to write.]