Chapter 3: Rules Are Meant to Be Bent
1442 Words
Ava’s POV:
“Don’t hang up.”
Julian’s voice came through the line calm and steady, as if he already knew I would stay. As if the decision had been made for me the moment I answered.
“I should,” I said. My back pressed against the bedroom door, the wood cool through the thin fabric of my dress. My fingers tightened around the phone. “You shouldn’t have my number.”
“That’s not what you’re actually worried about.”
Silence stretched between us. I listened hard, straining for any sound outside my door. Footsteps. Voices. Anything. There was nothing. The house was too quiet, the kind of quiet that made every breath feel loud.
“How did you even get my number?” I asked again.
“A favor,” he replied easily. “They are very easy to collect when people owe you.”
“You shouldn’t be calling me.”
“And yet you answered.”
I closed my eyes. My pulse felt too fast, too present. “Say what you want and hang up.”
A soft exhale followed. Almost a laugh. “You’re shaking, sweetheart.”
“You can’t even see me.”
“I don’t need to.”
I swallowed, my throat tight. “What do you want, Julian?”
“To understand you.”
“That’s not your business.”
“Nothing is my business,” he said lightly. “Until it is.”
I shifted my weight, the phone pressed firmly to my ear. “You warned me. Consider it received.”
“That was not a warning.”
“Then what was it?”
“A courtesy.”
A faint sound echoed somewhere down the hallway. Footsteps. I froze, every muscle going rigid.
“You’re not alone,” Julian said calmly.
My chest tightened. “You don’t know that.”
“You stopped breathing,” he replied. “That only happens when someone is close enough to hear.”
I forced my voice steady. “If this is some kind of game to you, stop.”
He paused. Long enough to feel intentional. “You think this is a game?”
“Yes,” I said. “You like watching people flinch.”
“I like watching people lie,” he corrected. “You do both.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Tomorrow,” he said, ignoring me, “you’ll attend the Blackwell charity luncheon.”
My breath caught. “How do you know that?”
“Margaret doesn’t change routines,” he replied. “Neither does Theodore.”
“So you’re just assuming I’m going?”
“You will,” he said. “Because you don’t get to say no yet.”
My jaw clenched. “Yet.”
Another quiet pause. “Good night, Ava.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone long after the screen went dark. My heart was still racing, my thoughts scattered and sharp. Slowly, I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor, my knees pulled close.
I hated how certain he sounded. I hated that part of me believed him.
A knock broke the silence.
I flinched so hard the phone slipped from my hand.
“Ava,” Theodore’s voice came through the door. “Open up.”
I pushed myself to my feet, smoothing my dress, forcing my breathing to slow. I opened the door just enough to look composed.
“Yes?”
He studied my face closely. “You look pale.”
“I’m tired.”
He nodded. “You said that earlier.”
“I meant it.”
His gaze flicked past me, scanning the room. “Were you on the phone?”
“No.”
A pause followed. His eyes lingered, searching. Then he smiled. “Get some rest. Tomorrow will be long.”
“Tomorrow always is.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. The touch felt deliberate, claiming rather than comforting.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.”
I closed the door and locked it again, my hands trembling slightly as the lock clicked into place.
The luncheon the next day was crowded and precise. Everything was arranged perfectly, as if chaos had been carefully excluded at the door. White tablecloths. Polite smiles. Conversations chosen for safety rather than honesty.
I sat beside Theodore, posture straight, expression neutral. Margaret sat across from us, watching everyone and no one at once.
“You’re quiet,” she said.
“I’m listening.”
“Good,” she replied. “Listening is how you learn.”
Theodore leaned closer. “Smile.”
I did.
Voices blurred together around us. Names I did not need to remember. Compliments that slid off me without meaning.
Then the chair beside me scraped softly against the floor.
“May I?”
I turned.
Julian.
He did not look at me as he spoke. His attention remained on Theodore.
“Of course,” Theodore said easily. “You know my wife.”
Julian finally met my eyes. “Ava.”
“Julian.”
Margaret watched us closely. “You know each other?”
“Briefly,” Julian replied. “We share acquaintances.”
“That sounds vague,” she said.
“It usually is.”
She smiled thinly. “Sit.”
He did.
The conversation resumed, but the air shifted. I felt it immediately. Julian did not touch me. He did not lean close. Yet every word felt aimed, deliberate.
“You seem uncomfortable,” Margaret said suddenly, her gaze on me.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Julian spoke calmly. “She’s adjusting.”
Margaret looked at him. “To what?”
“Change,” he replied. “It unsettles people.”
Theodore laughed. “Ava handles change well.”
Julian’s eyes met mine again. “Do you?”
“Yes,” I said.
He tilted his head slightly. “Interesting.”
Margaret stood. “Excuse me.”
As she walked away, Theodore leaned back. “You always manage to stir things.”
Julian smiled. “Yet you always invite me.”
“Habit.”
“Dangerous ones usually are.”
“You sound bored.”
“Not at all,” Julian replied. “I’m entertained.”
His gaze slid back to me.
“By what?” I asked quietly.
“Watching people pretend they’re comfortable.”
I set my napkin down. “If you have something to say, say it.”
Theodore glanced between us. “Do I need to be concerned?”
Julian smiled easily. “Only if you stop paying attention.”
Theodore laughed it off, distracted by someone calling his name.
Julian leaned closer then. Not enough to be obvious. Enough to be dangerous.
“You didn’t hang up,” he said softly.
“You told me not to.”
“You listen well.”
“Whatever.”
“Good,” he said. “You’ll need that.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked under my breath.
“Because you’re already involved.”
“How am I involved?”
“You’re married to my best friend,” he replied. “That counts.”
I stiffened. “I don’t care. Stay away from me.”
“And yet you haven’t moved.”
I stood abruptly. “Enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
“Ava.”
I stopped.
“You should decide something soon.”
“Decide what?”
“How much you’re willing to lose.”
I faced him. “Are you threatening me, Mr Hart?”
“No, sweetheart,” he said quietly. “I’m simply asking a question.”
Theodore returned then. “We’re heading out.”
Julian stood. “Already?”
“Yes. Ava has had enough excitement for one day.”
Julian’s eyes met mine. “Have you?”
I ignored him.
In the car, Theodore was silent, his jaw tight.
“You seem distracted again,” he said eventually.
“I told you. I’m tired.”
“Julian enjoys testing boundaries.”
“So do you.”
“Careful.”
I looked out the window. “That seems to be everyone’s advice.”
That night, my phone vibrated again.
Unknown number.
One message.
You avoided the wrong question today.
My fingers hovered.
Leave me alone.
The reply came instantly.
How far will you go before pretending you’re safe?
My heart pounded.
Then the phone rang.
I answered.
“Don’t hang up, darling,” Julian said.
My voice was steady when I replied.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me?”
- Writer
