Married For One Year

Ava Bennett stared at the envelope lying on her desk. She already knew what it was. The logo of the bank was printed in the top left corner, mocking her before she had even opened it. For a long moment, she sat there, listening to the faint hum of the old air conditioner and the distant sounds of guests moving through the lobby downstairs. The Bennett Hotel had been her father’s pride. Now it was slowly becoming her greatest failure. With trembling fingers, she tore open the envelope. No, her eyes scanned the page. Then scanned it again. And again. As if the words might somehow change. FINAL NOTICE Failure to settle the outstanding debt within ninety days will result in foreclosure proceedings… Ava let out a shaky breath and dropped the letter onto the desk. Ninety days. Three months. That was all she had left. Three months before the bank took the hotel. Three months before everything her father had spent thirty years building disappeared. A knock sounded at her office door. “Come in.” The door opened, and her receptionist, Lily, stepped inside. Lily was only twenty-two, but lately she looked ten years older. Everyone in the hotel looked exhausted. Everyone knew things were getting worse. “Sorry to interrupt,” Lily said carefully. “The supplier called again.” Ava closed her eyes. Of course, they had. “They want payment by Friday.” Another bill. Another deadline. Another problem. “Tell them I’ll call back.” Lily hesitated. “Ava…” The concern in her voice hurt more than the actual words. “We’re going to be okay,” Ava said quickly. The lie came naturally now. Lily nodded, though neither of them believed it. After she left, silence filled the office once more. Ava leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. She missed her father. God, she missed him. Two years ago, she had been planning marketing campaigns and dreaming about expanding the hotel. Then a heart attack had stolen everything overnight. At twenty-four years old, she’d inherited not only the hotel but also the debts her father had hidden from everyone. She had spent two years fighting. Two years working sixteen-hour days. Two years trying to save something that seemed determined to sink. And now she was losing. A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. Before she could answer, Lily rushed back into the office. “Ava.” Something in her expression made Ava sit up straight. “What happened?” “There’s someone here to see you.” Ava frowned. “If it’s another creditor, tell them to make an appointment.” “It’s not.” Lily glanced toward the hallway. Then lowered her voice. “You should probably come see for yourself.” Ava sighed and pushed herself to her feet. The last thing she needed today was another surprise. Together, they walked through the hallway toward the lobby. The moment she stepped through the doors, she saw him. A tall man stood near the reception desk. His dark suit probably cost more than her monthly salary. Everything about him seemed expensive. Controlled. Powerful. He looked completely out of place inside the aging hotel. The man turned. Their eyes met. For some reason, Ava’s pulse skipped. His face was strikingly handsome, but it wasn’t that. It was the way he looked at her. As though he already knew her. As though he’d been expecting this moment. The stranger crossed the lobby with calm, deliberate steps. When he stopped in front of her, Ava had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze. His expression revealed nothing. Not a smile. Not a hint of emotion. Just those dark eyes studying her. “Miss Bennett?” His voice was deep and smooth. “Yes.” “I’d like a few minutes of your time.” Ava folded her arms. “What is this about?” “Business.” She almost laughed. The last thing she needed was another businessman telling her how badly things were going. “Then make an appointment.” The stranger’s gaze didn’t waver. “It won’t take long.” Something about his confidence irritated her. Most people asked. This man expected. “Fine,” she said finally. “Five minutes.” A strange look flickered through his eyes. Relief. Gone so quickly she wasn’t sure she’d seen it. “Thank you.” Ten minutes later, they were sitting across from each other in her office. The stranger placed a leather folder on the desk between them. Ava waited. “So?” she asked. “What business couldn’t wait for an appointment?” He studied her for a moment. Then, I opened the folder. A contract sat inside. A very thick contract. Ava frowned. “What is this?” The man slid it toward her. “An agreement.” She looked down. Then froze. For a second, she was convinced she’d read it wrong. Slowly, she looked back up. “What?” The stranger’s expression remained perfectly calm. “I’d like you to marry me.” Silence. Ava stared at him. Waiting for the punchline. It never came. The man wasn’t joking. He was completely serious. A laugh escaped her lips. Then another. “You can’t be serious.” “I’m very serious.” The laughter died instantly. Ava looked from the contract to the stranger. Then back again. The room suddenly felt too small. Too warm. Too unreal. “Who are you?” she whispered. For the first time, the stranger extended his hand. “Ethan Blackwood.” And the moment she heard the name, her blood ran cold. Because everyone knew who Ethan Blackwood was. And billionaires didn’t walk into failing hotels asking strangers to marry them.