Married to My Billionaire Rival

The Enemy's Offer

Ava Bennett's POV

I couldn't speak right away after Karen said his name. It was as if my brain had stopped processing information for a moment.

Noah Kingston?

Here?

In my office?

At this hour?

I stared at Karen, hoping she would say she had made a mistake or that she was referring to a different Noah. But she remained standing in front of my desk, holding the tablet to her chest.

She looked serious and that only made my irritation worse.

"What is he doing here?" I asked.

Karen shook her head slightly.

"He didn't say."

I sighed.

Of all the days she could choose to mess with my life, tonight was the most important.

After my biggest loss of the year. After learning that the company I had worked so hard for for years was in jeopardy. And after listening to almost two hours of bad news.

He finally showed up.

It felt like fate had planned it.

"Or maybe he just wanted to celebrate his win," I whispered.

Karen frowned.

"I don't know."

Me too but I'm sure of one thing. Noah Kingston coming here won't do any good. Not in this situation. What happened at the conference wasn't over.

I took a deep breath then quickly fixed myself before facing him. I didn't want him to see me feeling sorry for myself after my defeat.

"Where is he?"

"He's in the conference lounge."

I gasped again and looked directly at Karen.

"Okay. Tell him to come in."

Karen hesitated and it was as if she could feel the tension in my chest.

"Are you sure?"

I smiled bitterly. My heart beat faster.

"No."

I immediately turned my back on Karen because it felt different. Why now? In my office. In my territory?

A few minutes later, the door opened again and Noah Kingston walked in. I don't know how he did it. Simply entering a room as if he owned the entire place.

His tie was off and the first button of his white shirt was unbuttoned under his expensive suit. He looked like he had just come back from a long day, but that didn't diminish the confidence he carried. In fact, he seemed to be even more annoying.

He just stood there for a few seconds, looking at me and I was looking back. It seemed like no one wanted to speak first and It was like a silent battle.

He was the first to break the silence.

"You look tired."

I felt embarrassed.

"And you look happy."

One corner of his lips lifted slightly.

"Shouldn't I be? I just won a major contract."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

I was even more annoyed. He said that so easily. It was as if he had no idea how important that contract was to my company.

Or maybe he did.

And that was why he was here.

"If you're here to show off your winnings, you can leave now."

His eyebrows rose slightly.

"Is this how you treat your guests?"

"Only the guests I didn't invite."

He smiled.

And that was an annoying thing.

Because he didn't seem to be affected in the slightest.

"Good to know."

I sighed.

"What do you need, Noah?"

For the first time since he'd entered, his expression had turned serious and that made me even more alert.

Because I knew him. When he stopped being sarcastic, there was a reason for it.

He didn't just waste time.

And he certainly didn't go to his biggest rival's office for no reason.

"I heard about your investors."

My whole body stiffened. It felt like cold water had been poured over my head.

I didn't immediately like the direction the conversation was taking.

"What do you mean?"

He just looked at me calmly.

"Three investors withdrew their funding."

My grip on the armrest of the chair tightened.

How did he know that? It had only been a few hours since Ethan had told me that. It wasn't public information yet and no one else was supposed to know yet. Especially him.

"How did you know that?"

He didn't answer right away and that made my head heat up even more.

"Noah."

"Business circles are small, Ava."

I laughed humorlessly.

"Business circles?"

I stood up from my chair.

"Don't make a fool of me."

He raised his eyebrows slightly.

"I'm not doing anything."

"Really?"

I approached the table.

"Because you seem to know everything that goes on in my company."

He looked at me silently.

And I became even more annoyed.

"Is someone feeding you information?"

"Ava."

"Do you have a spy in my company?"

Finally he shook his head.

"You're being ridiculous."

"Am I?"

I don't believe in coincidences and I even more so don't believe that Noah just found out about my company's biggest problem hours after it happened. But instead of getting angry, he seemed to become even calmer and that was the most annoying thing of all.

"Whatever you think of me, I didn't come here to fight."

I laughed.

"Funny. Because that's exactly what we do every time we see each other."

There was a few seconds of silence before he spoke again.

"I came because I can help."

I stopped.

A moment of silence.

Then I laughed. Weakly at first. Until I finally shook my head. I didn't know if he was serious or not. But I was sure of one thing. I didn't want to hear any help from him.

"Help me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He didn't answer right away and that made me even more suspicious.

"Why do you want to help the company you've been fighting for years?"

He looked at me silently and for the first time, I couldn't read his mind.

"Let's just say I don't want to see Bennett Innovations collapse."

I laughed.

"That's so touching."

He didn't smile and that's when I realized he was serious. I felt even more uncomfortable. Because it would be easier for me if he were just teasing. It would be easier if he were just arrogant. It would be easier if his motives were clear.

But no.

This guy is hiding something. And I don't like that.

"I can solve your problem."

I slowly sat back down nd I watched him even more closely.

"What kind of problem?"

"Your financial problem."

I smiled bitterly.

"And what's in return?"

He frowned slightly.

"Does it always have to be in return?"

"When I'm talking to you? Yes."

I wasn't born yesterday.

No one like Noah Kingston would just offer help for no reason.

Especially to a rival.

Especially to me.

He didn't answer right away.

And that was enough to confirm my suspicion.

"See? Knew it."

I stood up.

"Are we done?"

"Ava."

"I don't need your help."

That's not true.

And we both know that.

But I'd rather find another way than rely on him.

I'd rather fight to the end.

I'd rather fail in my own way.

He stared at me silently for a few seconds.

Then he stood up too.

And for the first time all night, there seemed to be a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

But it quickly disappeared.

"I've been waiting for your answer."

"Good."

He walked towards the door.

I thought he was going to leave without saying anything.

But before he could reach the doorknob, he stopped.

And didn't even look back.

"Soon you'll realize pride won't save your company."

I stopped.

My jaw tightened.

Because I knew he had a point.

And that's why it hurt more to hear that.

He didn't say anything more.

He opened the door and walked out.

I stood silently in the middle of the office while watching the door he had closed.

I don't know how many seconds passed before I could breathe normally again.

And then I noticed something.

Something was left on my desk.

I slowly approached.

And when I saw what it was, I frowned even more.

A business card.

Simple.

Clean.

And at the bottom of it was Noah Kingston's personal number.

It was as if he knew I would call.

It was as if he was sure I would get back to him.

My grip on the card tightened.

And as much as I wanted to throw it in the trash, I couldn't.