Chapter 6: THE CHARITY GALA
692 Words
7:00 PM. The Grand Plaza Hotel.
Crystal chandeliers. $1000 plates. Flashing cameras.
New York’s elite in diamonds and lies.
Ava stood in front of the mirror and almost didn’t recognize herself.
The red dress. Valentino.
It hugged her body like it was made for her.
Strapless. Silk. It fell to the floor in waves.
Her hair was up. Red lips. Diamond earrings she had to return tomorrow.
She looked like a billionaire’s wife.
Because she was.
A knock. Ethan.
He opened the door and stopped.
His eyes dragged from her heels to her neck. Slow.
For the first time since they met, his mask cracked.
Surprise. Heat. Something dangerous.
"Wow," he said. Just that. One word. Rough.
Ava’s stomach flipped. "Is it... too much?"
Ethan walked in. Closed the door behind him.
"No," he said. Voice low. "It’s perfect.
Too perfect. You’re going to be the only woman anyone looks at tonight."
He held out his arm.
"Ready, Mrs. Carter?"
---
The car ride was silent.
Ethan on his phone. But his eyes kept flicking to her.
To the dress. To her bare shoulders.
"Stop looking at me like that," Ava whispered.
"Like what?" Ethan didn’t look up from his phone.
"Like you want to—" Ava cut herself off.
Ethan finally looked at her. Smirked.
"Like I want to what?"
Ava turned to the window. Face burning.
The hotel was chaos.
Reporters. Cameras.
"MR. CARTER! WHO IS SHE?"
"MRS. CARTER! IS IT TRUE ABOUT THE $5 MILLION?"
Ethan’s hand found hers immediately.
Tight. Protective.
He pulled her through the crowd, shielding her with his body.
Inside, it was worse.
The ballroom was gold and white.
A stage for speeches. A dance floor.
And at the center of it all—
Victoria Hayes.
Red dress too. But hers was cheaper. And her smile was sharper.
She saw them. And her smile dropped.
"Well well," Victoria said, walking over. Two glasses of champagne in hand.
"If it isn’t the bride and groom."
She handed one glass to Ethan. Touched his hand on purpose. Lingering.
Then she looked Ava up and down.
"Red. Bold choice. Trying to stand out?"
Ava straightened her spine. "Just wearing what I was told to wear."
Victoria laughed. Fake. "Of course. The stylist did a great job."
Her eyes flicked to Ethan. "She cleans up nice. For a waitress."
The word was a slap.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
"Victoria," his voice was ice. "Watch your mouth."
Victoria gasped. Dramatic. "Ethan! I’m just being friendly.
I was worried about you. Marrying so fast. To a stranger."
She turned to Ava. Sweet smile. Venom underneath.
"How’s your mother, Ava? Still in the hospital?
I heard the bills were... expensive."
Ava’s blood went cold. How did she know?
Ethan stepped forward. Between them.
"That’s enough," he said. Quiet. Dangerous.
"Don’t talk about her family."
Victoria’s eyes widened. "Wow. White knight already?
It’s only been 3 days, Ethan."
She walked away. But not before whispering to Ava:
"Count the days, sweetheart. He’ll get bored."
---
Dinner was torture.
Ava sat beside Ethan at the head table.
12 courses. Speeches. Cameras flashing.
Every time she reached for her water, Ethan’s hand was there first.
Every time someone talked to her, Ethan answered for her.
Possessive.
After dessert, the music started.
A slow song. Waltz.
"Stand up," Ethan said.
Ava blinked. "What?"
"Dance with me," Ethan said. Like it wasn’t a question.
They walked to the dance floor.
His hand on her back. His other hand holding hers.
Too close.
"You don’t have to do this," Ava whispered. "For the cameras."
Ethan looked down at her. Dark eyes.
"I’m not," he said quietly.
The music started. He spun her once. Twice.
He was a good dancer. Too good.
"You’re shaking," Ethan murmured.
"There are 200 people watching us," Ava whispered back.
"No," Ethan said. His hand tightened on her waist.
"They’re watching me. I’m watching you."
Ava’s breath caught.
Across the room, Victoria was watching.
Phone in hand. Taking pictures.
Smiling.
The song ended. But Ethan didn’t let go.
Not right away.
He leaned down. His mouth by her ear.
"You looked beautiful tonight, Ava,"
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