Chapter 5: I’ll Do It
1158 Words
The line went silent.
For a moment, Ava wondered if she’d made a mistake.
A huge mistake.
Then Ethan spoke.
“I didn’t expect you to call tonight.”
Ava tightened her grip on the phone.
“Don’t sound so confident.”
A faint chuckle came through the line.
The sound caught her completely off guard.
It was the first time she’d heard him laugh.
And somehow it made him seem more human.
Less like the untouchable billionaire everyone talked about.
“I’ll try,” he said.
Ava rolled her eyes.
“Are you always this annoying?”
“Only around you.”
The response came too quickly.
Almost instinctively.
For some reason, that made her heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, Ethan continued before she could dwell on it.
“Have you made your decision?”
There it was.
The question she’d been avoiding for two days.
Ava looked around her office.
The faded wallpaper.
The old wooden desk.
The framed photograph of her father sitting beside the hotel sign.
The dream he’d spent his life building.
Her chest tightened.
“Not completely.”
A lie.
A terrible lie.
Because deep down, she already knew.
The moment the bank reduced the deadline to thirty days, she’d known.
She simply hadn’t wanted to admit it.
Ethan remained silent.
Waiting.
Giving her space.
Finally, Ava took a deep breath.
“If I agree…”
She paused.
The words felt heavier than she expected.
“If I agree, will the hotel’s debt be cleared immediately?”
“Immediately.”
“And my employees keep their jobs?”
“Yes.”
“No hidden conditions?”
“No.”
Ava closed her eyes.
One year.
One stupid year.
People survived worse.
Didn’t they?
When she opened her eyes again, her father’s photograph seemed to be staring back at her.
As if waiting.
Trusting her.
Believing she’d save what he had built.
The knot in her chest tightened.
Then she whispered:
“I’ll do it.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
For a moment, she wondered whether the call had disconnected.
Then Ethan exhaled.
A slow breath, she wasn’t sure he’d been holding.
“Okay.”
Just one word.
Yet somehow it sounded different.
Relieved.
Ava frowned.
Why would he be relieved?
This was supposed to be a business arrangement.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
“That’s it?”
“What?”
“I just agreed to marry you.”
“Technically.”
“Technically?”
“We haven’t signed the final agreement yet.”
Ava groaned.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“From me.”
“And several others.”
Against her will, she smiled.
Then immediately stopped.
This man was dangerous.
Not because he was powerful.
Not because he was rich.
Because he had an annoying habit of making her forget she was supposed to dislike him.
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
A black luxury car was already waiting outside the hotel when Ava stepped onto the sidewalk.
Her stomach dropped.
She should have expected this.
Of course, Ethan wouldn’t waste time.
The driver opened the rear door.
“Miss Bennett.”
Ava stared at the vehicle.
Then at the driver.
Then back at the vehicle.
“This is ridiculous.”
The driver offered no opinion.
Clearly, he’d learned long ago not to comment on Ethan Blackwood’s decisions.
With a sigh, Ava climbed inside.
Forty minutes later, she found herself standing inside Blackwood Holdings.
The lobby alone was larger than her entire hotel.
Glass.
Marble.
Steel.
Everything looked expensive.
Even the air felt expensive.
Ava suddenly became very aware of her simple blouse and trousers.
She looked like she belonged in an entirely different world.
Maybe she did.
A woman approached.
Tall.
Elegant.
Professional.
“Miss Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Mr. Blackwood’s assistant.”
The woman smiled politely.
“He’s expecting you.”
Of course he was.
Apparently, Ethan expected everyone.
And somehow they all listened.
A few minutes later, Ava entered a private conference room.
Ethan was already there.
Reviewing documents.
Looking annoyingly perfect.
He glanced up as she entered.
For the briefest moment, his gaze softened.
Then it disappeared.
So quickly, she wondered if she’d imagined it.
“Good morning.”
Ava dropped into a chair.
“Is it?”
“You agreed to marry me.”
“That’s exactly why I’m questioning the quality of this morning.”
To her surprise, Ethan laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound was low and brief.
But real.
Ava stared.
“You can laugh.”
“I try not to.”
“Why?”
“I have a reputation to maintain.”
She blinked.
Then, despite herself, she laughed.
And just like that, the tension eased.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Hours passed reviewing contracts.
Lawyers arrived.
Documents were signed.
Terms were explained.
Every page made the arrangement feel more real.
More permanent.
More terrifying.
By the end, Ava’s hand hurt from signing paperwork.
She dropped the pen.
“I’m starting to regret this.”
“You’re free to walk away.”
The statement surprised her.
She looked at Ethan.
“You’d let me?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No pressure.
No manipulation.
Just certainty.
For some reason, that answer made her trust him slightly more.
Only slightly.
The final lawyer left.
The conference room fell silent.
Ava gathered her things.
Then froze when Ethan spoke.
“The wedding is Saturday.”
Her head snapped up.
“What?”
“Saturday.”
“This Saturday?”
“Yes.”
Ava stared at him.
Today was Tuesday.
“Telling me four days before my wedding feels like important information to share earlier.”
“It’s a small ceremony.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It is from my perspective.”
Ava groaned and buried her face in her hands.
She was marrying a billionaire.
A billionaire who clearly viewed chaos as a lifestyle choice.
When she finally looked up, Ethan seemed almost amused.
Almost.
Which somehow made everything worse.
“Four days?”
“Four days.”
Ava pointed a finger at him.
“I want you to know this is completely insane.”
“I know.”
“And you’re insane.”
“I know that too.”
Ava shook her head.
There was absolutely no reasoning with this man.
None.
Whatsoever.
Then Ethan reached into a folder and slid something across the table.
A photograph.
Old.
Faded.
Worn at the edges.
Ava frowned.
“What’s this?”
For the first time all day, Ethan’s expression changed.
Not much.
But enough.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Something almost vulnerable.
“A mistake,” he said quietly.
And before Ava could get a better look, he snatched the photograph back.
Too late.
She’d already seen enough.
The picture showed a teenage girl standing beside a beach.
A girl with dark hair.
A girl who looked remarkably familiar.
A girl who looked exactly like her.
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