Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 197: Resemblances

Chapter 197: Resemblances

He reached the end of the hall, exhaled sharply, and thumbed through his contacts. With a decisive swipe, he called his brother.

It rang only once before the line picked up.

"Ian," he said, voice low but urgent. "Help me, please. Just tell me what you want me to do in return and I’ll provide it. Right now!"

There was a moment of silence, then his brother’s voice came through with calm but steel-lined disapproval.

"All I want from you is to stop trying to kill yourself at every twist and turn of your life. And that’s why I won’t be helping you."

Orion scoffed. "You really are a whack brother."

"Maybe. I don’t care," Ian replied bluntly. "But stay away from Arch’s wife. He’ll kill both of us if you keep pushing this."

"I’m not making advances anymore," Orion replied flatly. "We made a deal. I’ll just be her safe space. Someone she can come to... if she needs protection."

Ian gave a short laugh, bitter. "Protection? From what? She’s married to Arch. The guy breathes control."

Orion’s voice dipped, serious now. "Exactly. He can protect her from the world. But who protects her from him?"

There was a slight pause before Ian’s tone dropped. "You’re saying Arch knows about this?"

"He asked," Orion said softly, his steps slowing as he neared the elevator. "And I agreed. So no, you don’t have to worry."

There was a beat of silence before the former let out a weary sigh. "Jeez, Orion. This is unhealthy... and toxic. A stupid-ass decision if you ask me."

Orion chuckled dryly. "Good thing I didn’t ask you," he stated, coming to a stop in front of the elevator, watching the numbers descend.

"Look, Ian," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Are you going to tell me the number of their suite or not?"

Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

Ian’s voice faltered. "Never mind."

Then the line went dead.

Orion blinked, lowering the phone as Neil stepped out of the elevator, clearly surprised to see him.

"Oh... Orion," Neil said, adjusting his blazer. "Didn’t know you flew in too."

Orion forced a smile. "Took an impromptu flight. Thought I’d drop in."

Neil’s brow furrowed. "Then why’d you get off on the wrong floor?"

Orion shrugged, slipping into the elevator. "Made a mistake," he lied smoothly.

The truth? He had started from the first floor of the hotel, working his way up in frustration. His reputation as a member of the Smith family had gotten him past the reception desk, but not past protocol. The concierge refused to give him the suite number for Ava Donovan so he’d settled for a rigorous, ridiculous, and completely stupid task.

Knocking on every suite door.

Asking if Ava Donovan was inside.

He’d annoyed a fair number of guests, but most had recognized him and, oddly enough, some even offered to help continue the search.

Now, as the elevator doors closed after him, he sighed and leaned against the mirrored wall.

This was madness. But it was his kind of madness.

And he wasn’t stopping.

Not yet.

The elevator doors slid open, and Orion stepped out after Neil, his gaze sweeping the lavish hallway. It was brighter here, wider too, the carpeting plush and seamless.

Now that he thought about it, why the hell hadn’t he come to this floor first?

It was obvious, wasn’t it?

Arch would only ever give his wife and her friends the best accommodations available, the presidential suite. And yet, maybe some twisted, self destructive part of him had hoped Arch hadn’t. Hoped he’d find Ava stuffed in some mid tier corner suite, a subtle sign she wasn’t being treated like royalty.

Then he’d be assured that she still had a reason to need him. Still had room to come to him.

"Did Arch ask you to come get him something?" Neil’s voice cut into his thoughts, snapping Orion’s gaze away from the gold plated door plaques.

He shook his head. "No. Of course not."

Neil gave him a slow, thoughtful nod. "Yeah, I figured. I was wondering why I wasn’t the one called instead. So... why are you here?"

His brows drew in slightly. "I’m here to see Ava."

Neil blinked. "You came here to see Ava? Here?" he asked, pointing toward the far end of the hallway. "Oh... If you’re talking about the suite that was booked for her which she didn’t end up using, then that’s it over there. Jodi’s next to it, and Miss Sherman’s is the third one."

Orion gave a confused shake of his head. "No. I mean... where is Ava?"

Neil tilted his head, almost amused. "You didn’t know? She’s not staying in a hotel when her husband has a whole villa all to himself in the same area. Of course, she stayed with Arch."

Orion blinked.

Shock rippled through him, not because he hadn’t considered the possibility, but because deep down, he had. He just didn’t want it to be true. It made sense. Arch would never leave her alone when there was a chance for him to stay with her.

Not when he truly wanted her to stay close.

But still... to actually stay with him? Weren’t they worried the press might catch on to something?

He looked up and cleared his throat. "So... what are you doing here?"

Neil grinned and turned toward one of the doors. "Here for Jodi. Obviously." He pressed the bell and raised a hand in farewell. "You should go ahead and call Miss Donovan if it’s urgent."

He watched as Neil’s face lit up in a grin, when the door opened, at whoever greeted him. He stepped inside, leaving Orion standing in the now-silent hallway.

Alone.

Again.

He sighed and turned, preparing to head back to the elevator when the door directly beside him opened with a soft click.

A woman stepped out.

They froze, staring at each other for a few seconds before her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. "You! I know you! Ava’s friend... Professor Smith, right?!"

Orion tilted his head, brows pinching together. "Uh... I do know you, Ms. Sherman. But I don’t think I’ve ever taught your class. Or spoken to you before."

She gave an exaggerated pout, eyes squinting like he’d just hurt her feelings. "Yes, you haven’t taught my class, but I met you when I bumped into you and Ava, a few weeks ago, the day you called her over to sit in front. We uh..." she hesitated, "We talked! Did you forget so soon? Is my face that forgettable?"

Orion blinked, taken aback by her energy. "No, no. Of course not," he said quickly, his hands half lifting in apology. "Your face isn’t forgettable... at all."

He gave a slow nod, as if to reassure her—and himself.

Now that he was looking at her properly, she really wasn’t forgettable.

In fact, she looked oddly familiar.

It hit him suddenly. Ava.

She had the same high cheekbones, same gentle slope to the jawline. The same curious-confused spark flickering in her eyes. Brown hair swept into a lazy bun, rosy lips pursed in thought. Her outfit was casual but effortlessly feminine—an off-shoulder lilac sweater that draped around her collarbone and a pair of slim white jeans with a pearl chain belt hanging loosely at her hips. Open-toed sandals with little gold clasps.

Beautiful.

Subtle.

Just like Ava.

His gaze dipped lower, tracing the delicate sway of her form.

And then—

Snap.

He jerked his eyes away, heat rising to his face. Wait. What the hell?

He must be going insane.

Now he was finding resemblances where they didn’t even belong.

Alice’s voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.

"So, uh... why are you here?"

Orion blinked, stepping back slightly as if to reorient himself. "I came for Ava," he admitted, his tone clipped. "But she’s apparently not here."

Alice gave a small nod, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah. She has a friend who owns a villa. That’s where she’s staying." There was a beat of silence, then she tilted her head, her gaze expectant. "So... where are you going now?"

Orion hesitated. "Well... I’m not sure yet. But—"

"Then come eat with me," she blurted, cutting him off before he could finish. "I was going to order room service, but last night was so boring I figured I’d just head down to the dining hall alone."

She paused, chewing the inside of her cheek, then added quickly—too quickly—"Unless you don’t like hotel food. We can go out instead. I don’t mind."

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