Secrets Between Sheets

Chapter 5: Shadows At The Table

Ava’s POV:

I woke with a sharp inhale, my heart already racing before I fully opened my eyes. The remnants of last night’s conversation clung to me, heavy and persistent, like a pressure against my chest that refused to lift. For a few seconds, I lay still, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that it had all been a bad dream.

It was not.

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the city beyond the walls. Early morning traffic murmured distantly, a reminder that life outside this house continued uninterrupted. My phone rested face down on the nightstand. I did not reach for it right away. I did not need to. The echo of Julian’s voice was still too clear in my mind.

You don’t have to choose tonight. Just don’t lie to yourself tomorrow.

I closed my eyes again, exhaling slowly. My chest felt tight, my thoughts too loud. Whatever illusion of distance I had tried to maintain between myself and him had shattered. He was there now, whether I wanted him to be or not, embedded in my thoughts, unraveling things I had spent years carefully suppressing.

Beside me, Sofia stirred.

“Ava,” she murmured softly. “You awake?”

I turned my head toward her, forcing my expression into something neutral. “Yeah. I’m awake.”

The words came out smaller than I intended. We both heard it.

“You need to get dressed. Breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes,” she said. Her tone was calm, but I knew her well enough to hear the tension beneath it. “They’ll expect you downstairs. Theodore will be there. Margaret too. And someone else.”

My stomach tightened. “Someone else?”

I pushed myself upright, the sheets pooling around my waist. My hands trembled slightly as I brushed my hair back from my face.

“Who?” I asked.

Sofia hesitated, just briefly. “A few of Theodore’s business associates. People important enough that you should stay composed.”

The familiar weight settled over me, heavy and suffocating. “Of course,” I whispered. “I have to play a part again.”

“Yes, but just for a while,” she said quickly. “We’ll figure things out later.” She reached out, gently pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Just don’t let them see you unravel.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The floor was cold beneath my feet, grounding and uncomfortable. Every step I took toward the wardrobe felt deliberate, like I was walking deeper into a space I could not escape.

Sofia handed me a navy blue dress, tailored and understated. Elegant, but safe.

“You’ll look like you belong,” she said. “That’s all we need for now.”

I changed quickly, avoiding my reflection until the last moment. When I finally looked, I barely recognized myself. The woman staring back at me was composed, polished, controlled. No one could see the anxiety coiled tightly beneath the surface. My pulse thudded loudly in my ears. My stomach twisted with unease.

I looked like someone who had everything together.

I did not feel like her at all.

Downstairs, the scent of fresh coffee drifted through the house, mixed with something sweet from the kitchen. The normalcy of it all felt surreal. Theodore was already seated at the table, his posture immaculate, his movements precise. His blue eyes scanned the room as I entered, calculating, observant.

Margaret sat opposite him, poised and unyielding, her presence alone enough to shift the atmosphere. The tension between them was subtle but unmistakable, tightening the air until it felt difficult to breathe.

“Good morning, Ava,” Margaret said, her voice measured and cool. “You look well.”

“Thank you,” I replied, keeping my tone even.

Theodore’s gaze flicked toward me. “Good morning. Sit. Breakfast will be brief. We have plans after.”

I did as I was told, sliding into my seat. Sofia joined me, close enough that I could feel the quiet reassurance of her presence. I wrapped my hands around my cup of tea, letting the warmth seep into my palms as I tried to steady myself.

The doorbell rang.

Margaret’s sharp look told me immediately that this was not casual. Theodore rose without a word and left the room to answer it.

Sofia leaned toward me. “Just remember to stay calm,” she whispered. “Let them lead the conversation. Watch and listen.”

“I know,” I whispered back. My voice faltered despite my efforts. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about him.”

She frowned slightly. “Julian?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “I shouldn’t. I need to pretend he doesn’t exist. But I can’t.”

Her green eyes softened. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

A small, strained smile crossed my lips. “I haven’t told anyone. Not even you.”

“Good,” she said quietly. “No one can know yet. You need a plan before anyone finds out.”

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder. Theodore returned, followed by two men I did not recognize. Both wore tailored suits, their expressions sharp and controlled.

“Mr. Hartley and Mr. Smith,” Theodore said. “They are handling some of the Blackwell interests.”

I nodded politely, keeping my face neutral.

Margaret interjected smoothly. “We are having dinner tonight. You will meet everyone properly. For now, observe.”

The men took their seats, and conversation began. Polite. Guarded. Calculated. They spoke of investments, of real estate and partnerships, of numbers that held more power than they let on. I stayed mostly quiet, sipping my tea, listening closely.

Sofia noticed my distraction. She leaned closer. “Ava, focus. There is something about how they speak that is important.”

“I’m trying,” I whispered.

Noah appeared suddenly, moving with practiced efficiency. “Ava, breakfast will have to wait. We need to leave soon for the meeting.”

“Already?” I asked.

“Yes. Margaret insists,” he replied. “You need to be sharp today. Pay attention. Do not falter.”

“I won’t,” I said, though my chest tightened with every instruction.

Theodore’s phone buzzed. He checked it briefly before looking at me. “We will leave in ten minutes. Be ready.”

I nodded and stood. My legs felt heavy, as if the floor were pulling me down. Sofia followed, resting a light hand on my arm.

“You can do this,” she said quietly.

The car ride was tense. Theodore barely spoke. Margaret observed the city through the window. Noah outlined the schedule in clipped sentences. I asked no questions. My thoughts were still tangled in the echoes of the night before.

When we arrived at the glass tower overlooking the city, recognition hit immediately. This was a place where power thrived behind polished surfaces. Appearances mattered more than truth here.

Inside, the air smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume. People moved with quiet authority. I recognized a few familiar faces. Others watched closely, assessing.

“Stay close,” Margaret instructed. “Observe. Speak only when necessary.”

Dinner unfolded slowly, every exchange deliberate. I answered when addressed, smiled when required. Theodore remained polite but distant. Margaret maintained control with ease. Noah whispered updates discreetly, alerting me to shifting alliances.

Halfway through, Sofia leaned toward me. “I need to know,” she whispered. “Tell me about him.”

I froze.

“It was before the wedding,” I said finally. “One night. I thought it was a mistake.”

“And now?”

“Now he will not leave me alone.”

Her jaw tightened. “Then we need a plan. They are watching.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I just do not know how much longer I can hold it.”

“We survive,” she said. “Step by step.”

The room felt smaller suddenly. Then a new man entered.

The atmosphere shifted.

He did not announce himself. He did not need to. Confidence radiated from him as his gaze swept the room. When his eyes met mine, my stomach dropped.

Margaret whispered to Theodore. He nodded.

Danger prickled along my skin.

The man smiled faintly. Not friendly. Not kind. Knowing.

Something was coming.

I did not know what it was yet. But I knew it would change everything.

And for the first time, I was not sure pretending would save me.