Chapter 10 - The Press Conference
430 Words
6:00PM. News cameras. 50 reporters.
Ethan stood at the podium alone. No lawyer. No PR team.
And me, watching from backstage, heart in my throat.
Sophia was in the front row. Smirking. Phone in hand, ready to send the photo.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ethan began. "Thank you for coming."
He looked directly into the cameras.
"3 weeks ago, I married Ava Carter. The marriage was... arranged.
For business reasons. A contract."
The crowd gasped. Sophia’s smile got wider.
"Clause 7 of that contract stated no emotional involvement," he continued.
"Last night, I broke that clause."
My knees went weak.
"I kissed my wife," he said. "Because I wanted to. Because I do have feelings for her."
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Sophia stood up. "This is a lie! I have proof it’s all fake!"
She held up her phone. The photo of us kissing.
Ethan didn’t flinch. "Yes. That photo is real. Because the feelings are real."
He turned to the side. "Ava. Come here."
Everyone looked at me.
I walked out. Shaking. He took my hand. His was steady.
"This is my wife," Ethan said, loud enough for everyone. "Not a contract.
Not a business deal. Mine. And if the board has a problem with that,
they can fire me. I choose her."
Silence. Then chaos.
Sophia threw her phone down and stormed out.
Ethan leaned down to my ear. "Was that okay?" he whispered.
"That was insane," I whispered back. "You could lose everything."
"I’d rather lose everything than lose you," he said.
And he kissed me. On live TV.
---
Back at the penthouse, we didn’t speak for an hour.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence.
"The board called," he said. "They’re not firing me.
Grandpa saw the conference. He said... he’s proud of me."
"For breaking the contract?"
"For choosing something real," Ethan said. He looked at me. Really looked.
"Ava, I’m sorry I lied. About it being business. About not having feelings."
I stepped closer. "What happens now?"
"Now," he said, "we start over. No contract. No clauses.
Just you and me. If you want that."
I thought about the $50,000. About going home. About being safe.
Then I thought about his hand in mine. About hot chocolate at 2AM.
About "Ava" instead of "Mrs. Blake".
"I want that," I said.
He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath.
"Good," he said. And he pulled me into a hug.
For the first time, it didn’t feel like acting.
On the table, my new phone buzzed.
Unknown number: `You think you won? This isn’t over. -S`
Sofia wasn’t done
- Writer
