Chapter 2: Rules of Proximity
1486 Words
Ava’s POV:
“Ava.”
I stopped mid step, the sound of my heels fading into the hum of the apartment behind me. I had almost reached the hallway. Almost far enough to breathe.
Theodore’s hand closed around my wrist. Firm enough to remind me exactly where I belonged. Gentle enough to look affectionate to anyone who might glance in our direction.
“Don’t ever walk away from me like that,” he said quietly.
“I needed air,” I replied, keeping my voice even.
“You need what I tell you to need,” he said, his fingers tightening just slightly, “and right now you need composure. These people notice everything.”
I looked around slowly. The apartment was still crowded, filled with overlapping voices, laughter pitched just a little too loud, music selected to sound effortless and expensive. Crystal glasses caught the light. People drifted in clusters, absorbed in their own conversations. No one was looking at us.
Everyone was looking at everything.
“I am composed,” I said.
His thumb pressed into my wrist. “You are distracted.”
“I’m tired.”
“You are my wife,” he said calmly. “And tonight matters.”
“Every night matters,” I replied before I could stop myself.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Exactly.”
We rejoined the room together. His hand slid to the small of my back, guiding me forward with practiced ease. To anyone watching, the gesture would look intimate. Possessive in a romantic way.
It was anything but that.
“Smile,” he murmured.
I did.
My face felt tight as Sofia spotted me instantly. She stood near the bar, one eyebrow already raised, her body angled as if she had been waiting for the moment I reappeared.
“About damn time,” she said as I reached her. “I was starting to think he locked you in a room.”
Theodore laughed easily. “Not yet.”
Sofia smiled back, sharp and knowing. “Give it time.”
He excused himself to greet someone important. He always had someone important. The moment he stepped away, the space around me loosened just enough for my lungs to expand.
Sofia leaned closer. “You look like you are holding your breath.”
“Oh me?” I said lightly. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She handed me a drink anyway. “You say that every time you are not.”
“I’m serious.”
She studied my face longer this time, her gaze narrowing slightly. “Did something happen?”
“No.”
She waited. Sofia always waited. She never rushed the truth.
I lowered my voice. “He just doesn’t let go.”
Her eyes flicked briefly across the room, landing on Theodore. “That’s the point, Ava.”
“I know,” I said. “I just didn’t realize how literal it would feel.”
“Welcome to marriage,” she said dryly. “The expensive kind.”
I took a sip of my drink, letting the burn settle my nerves.
“You’re shaking,” Sofia added.
“No, I’m not.”
“You are,” she said calmly. “And before you say it again, yes, I noticed.”
I exhaled slowly. “I saw him.”
Her expression shifted immediately. “Saw who?”
I hesitated, only for a moment. Long enough for my pulse to quicken.
“Julian Hart,” I said.
Sofia’s mouth tightened. “Here?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Tonight. Earlier.”
“And?”
“And nothing,” I said quickly. “He just watched.”
“That sounds like something,” she replied.
“It was not,” I insisted, too fast.
She studied me again. “Do you know him?”
“No.”
The lie slipped out easier than I expected. That scared me more than the truth would have.
Sofia nodded once. “Good. He is not someone you want knowing you.”
“Why?” I asked.
She paused, choosing her words carefully. “Because men like that don’t do anything halfway.”
Before I could ask what she meant, Theodore returned.
“We are leaving soon,” he said. “My mother wants a word.”
My stomach tightened instantly. “Now?”
“She has been patient,” he replied. “Don’t make her regret it.”
Margaret Blackwell stood near the windows, posture flawless, expression carved from restraint. She looked at me the way people inspect investments. Carefully. Critically.
“Ava,” she said. “Come here.”
I obeyed.
“Seems like you’re settling in,” she said, not phrased as a question.
“Yes.”
“You understand the expectations,” she continued.
“Yes.”
She smiled thinly. “Good. Appearances are everything. Especially now.”
“Of course.”
Her gaze sharpened. “You will attend the family dinner on Sunday.”
“I will.”
“And you will remember that your behavior reflects on all of us.”
“I understand.”
Her eyes shifted past me, settling briefly on someone across the room.
“Dangerous company,” she said softly.
I followed her line of sight before I could stop myself.
Julian stood near the balcony doors, speaking to a man I did not recognize. He looked relaxed, one hand in his pocket, head tilted slightly as he listened. He did not look back.
“I did not know he would be here,” Theodore said casually.
Margaret’s lips pressed together. “Julian goes where he wants.”
“And you allow it,” Theodore replied.
Her gaze flicked to him. “We all do.”
She dismissed us with a nod.
As we walked away, Theodore laughed quietly. “She dislikes unpredictability.”
“So do you,” I said.
“Yes,” he replied. “But I tolerate it better.”
The crowd began to thin. Coats were retrieved. Names exchanged. Goodbyes stretched longer than necessary.
Julian crossed the room then. Not toward me. Toward Theodore.
“Congratulations,” Julian said, offering his hand. “You clean up well.”
Theodore shook it. “You are late.”
“I like to make an entrance,” Julian replied.
“And did you enjoy yourself?”
Julian’s gaze flicked to me. Brief. Assessing. “Immensely.”
My pulse stumbled.
“You should join us for dinner soon,” Theodore said. “Family only.”
Julian smiled. “I would hate to intrude.”
“You never have before,” Theodore replied.
Julian chuckled softly. “That is because you never noticed.”
I looked away.
“We should go,” Theodore said to me.
“Yes,” I replied.
As we moved toward the door, Julian spoke again.
“Ava.”
I stopped.
Theodore did not notice. He was busy thanking someone else.
“Yes?” I asked.
Julian stepped closer, just enough for only me to hear. “Be careful.”
“With what?” I asked.
“With pretending,” he said.
“I am not pretending.”
“You are,” he replied quietly. “You just do it beautifully.”
My throat tightened. “Good night, Julian.”
“Good night, Ava.”
We left.
The car ride was silent at first.
“You were quiet tonight,” Theodore said eventually.
“I was tired.”
“You always say that.”
“It is usually true.”
He glanced at me. “Did Julian say anything to you?”
My heart skipped. “No.”
“Good,” he said. “He enjoys games.”
“So do you,” I said before I could stop myself.
His jaw tightened. “Choose your words carefully.”
I turned toward the window.
At home, the silence followed us inside.
“I have meetings tomorrow,” Theodore said, removing his jacket. “You will stay in.”
“I had plans.”
“Cancel them.”
“I cannot keep doing this,” I said softly.
He stopped. Slowly.
“You can,” he said. “And you will.”
“Because of my father?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. “Then good night.”
I turned to leave.
“Ava.”
I paused.
“You are learning,” he said. “That is good.”
I did not reply.
In my room, I locked the door and leaned against it, breath shallow.
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I stared at the screen.
Another vibration.
A message appeared.
You should not ignore warnings.
My fingers trembled as I typed.
Who is this?
The response came instantly.
Oh darling, I think you know.
My pulse roared in my ears.
What do you want?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then the phone rang.
I answered without thinking.
- Writer
