The Billionaire's Fake Forever

Chapter Five: The Proposal

Ava stepped out of the elevator and slowed to a stop.

The lobby looked exactly as it had the night before.

Fresh flowers decorated every corner, and soft music floated through the air, yet something felt strangely out of place.

There was nobody.

A bellboy crossed the lobby with an empty luggage cart before disappearing through a side door. Two receptionists stood behind the counter speaking in hushed voices. A housekeeper pushed a cleaning cart toward another hallway.

Apart from the staff, the hotel was empty.

Ava glanced around once more before walking to the reception desk.

The receptionist greeted her with a smile.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Good morning."

Ava returned the smile before looking around the lobby again.

"I hope you don't mind me asking..."

"Not at all."

"I haven't seen any guests since I came downstairs."

The receptionist smiled politely.

"Mr. Blackwood prefers privacy."

Ava waited for her to continue.

When she didn't, Ava asked, "Privacy?"

"Whenever Mr. Blackwood stays here, the hotel doesn't accept reservations from other guests."

For a moment, Ava simply stared at her.

"The entire hotel?"

"Yes, Miss Carter."

She looked around again, almost expecting people to appear out of nowhere.

Instead, she found the same quiet lobby.

"So it's just the staff... and me?"

"Yes."

Ava thanked her and walked away.

The thought stayed with her.

She had spent years counting every dollar before buying groceries.

Damian Blackwood reserved an entire luxury hotel because he preferred fewer people around him.

The gap between their lives felt impossible to measure.

The restaurant was no different.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows overlooking Manhattan, reflecting off neatly arranged tables that had no guests sitting around them.

She chose a seat near the window and reached for the menu.

A waiter approached almost immediately.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Good morning."

She opened the menu, but the waiter remained where he was.

"Mr. Blackwood has already arranged breakfast for you."

Ava looked up.

"He has?"

"Yes."

Her eyes searched the restaurant.

It didn't take long to find him.

Damian sat several tables away by the window.

A cup of black coffee rested beside an open file.

He appeared completely absorbed in whatever he was reading.

He hadn't looked in her direction once.

The waiter spoke again.

"Would you like your breakfast served here?"

Ava looked back at Damian.

Something about sitting alone while he sat across the room felt odd.

She closed the menu.

"I'll sit over there."

The waiter nodded and led her across the restaurant.

Damian closed the file just as she reached the table.

His eyes lifted briefly.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

She rested a hand on the back of the chair.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

He gave a small shake of his head.

Ava sat down.

Neither of them spoke.

A waiter placed a plate of blueberry pancakes in front of her, followed by a cup of coffee.

She looked at the breakfast before looking across the table.

"You ordered this?"

Damian picked up his coffee.

"Yes."

She looked back at the pancakes.

"I would have chosen something else."

His gaze remained on his cup.

"You'll like it."

Ava didn't reply.

She cut off a small piece and took a bite.

The pancakes were warm, light, and sweeter than she expected.

She quietly took another bite.

Across the table, Damian turned a page in the file without saying a word.

Ava found herself watching him again.

Everything about him seemed measured.

A member of staff approached, stopping a respectful distance away.

"Sir, your car is ready whenever you are."

Damian gave a slight nod.

The employee excused himself immediately.

Ava watched the exchange before lowering her eyes to her plate.

The receptionist's words returned to her.

Mr. Blackwood prefers privacy.

She glanced around the empty restaurant once more.

It suddenly made sense.

This wasn't a man who enjoyed attention.

He avoided it.

She looked across the table.

"You really don't like being around people."

Damian looked up.

"No."

Ava waited, expecting him to explain.

He didn't.

The silence settled between them again.

Surprisingly, she didn't feel the need to fill it.

She simply finished another bite of breakfast while wondering what kind of person reserved an entire hotel, spoke only when necessary, and somehow still made everyone around him pay attention.

Ava picked up her glass and took another sip of orange juice.

Damian set his coffee cup down.

"There's something I want to discuss with you."

Ava looked up.

Instead of answering, Damian reached beside him and placed a slim black folder on the table.

He slid it across to her.

"Read it."

Ava looked at the folder before looking back at him.

"What is it?"

He didn't answer.

She hesitated for a second before opening it.

The first page immediately caught her attention.

CONFIDENTIAL PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT

Her brows knitted together.

She looked up so quickly their eyes met.

"I'm sorry... what?"

As if on cue, another man approached their table.

He looked to be in his early forties and wore a navy suit.

He stopped beside Damian.

"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."

Damian gave a slight nod.

The man turned to Ava with a polite smile.

"Miss Carter. My name is Benjamin Hayes, legal counsel for Blackwood Global."

Ava looked between the two men.

"This isn't some kind of joke?"

Benjamin pulled out the empty chair beside Damian and took his seat.

"I'm afraid it is not."

She looked back at the agreement.

"A fake engagement?"

Benjamin folded his hands neatly on the table.

"Yes, Miss Carter."

"I met him yesterday."

"You did."

"And somehow we've skipped straight to pretending we're engaged?"

"This proposal was prepared at Mr. Blackwood's personal instruction. He specifically requested that it be presented to you."

Benjamin opened another copy of the agreement.

"The proposed arrangement would remain in effect for a period of six months."

Ava frowned.

"Why?"

Benjamin looked at Damian briefly before returning his attention to her.

"I'm not at liberty to disclose Mr. Blackwood's personal reasons. I can only explain the terms of the agreement he has authorized."

She looked at Damian again.

"You really don't like talking, do you?"

Damian simply held her gaze without responding.

Benjamin continued.

"In return for your cooperation, Mr. Blackwood will provide financial compensation for the duration of the agreement."

"I don't want money."

"You haven't heard the full proposal yet."

"I'm still not interested."

Benjamin acknowledged her response with a small nod.

"You would accompany Mr. Blackwood to public engagements, corporate functions, charity galas, and any event where your presence as his fiancée would be required."

"There would be no obligation beyond maintaining the public appearance of the engagement."

Ava lowered her eyes to the papers again.

Another page caught her attention.

She stopped reading.

Then looked again.

Five million dollars.

She stared at the figure for several seconds before looking at Damian.

"You're offering me five million dollars?"

Benjamin answered before Damian could.

"That amount represents the compensation authorized by Mr. Blackwood for the successful completion of the agreement."

She closed the folder.

"I can't accept this."

Benjamin remained composed.

"Whether you choose to accept it is entirely your decision, Miss Carter."

She held Damian's gaze.

"Why me?"

Benjamin answered calmly.

"Mr. Blackwood is satisfied that he knows everything necessary to make this offer."

The answer only left her with more questions.

"You don't know me."

Benjamin offered a polite smile.

"I believe Mr. Blackwood would say otherwise."

She looked back at the agreement.

"If I say yes..."

Benjamin answered.

"The agreement will remain in force for six months unless both parties mutually decide to terminate it earlier."

"And if I say no?"

This time Damian spoke.

"Then you walk away."

She blinked.

"Just like that?"

He gave a slight nod.

"I won't force you."

The table fell quiet.

Ava slowly closed the folder and rested one hand over it.

"I need time to think."

Damian nodded once.

"Take your time. My office will expect your answer tomorrow."

Benjamin gathered the remaining documents, leaving the agreement in front of her.

Damian rose from his chair.

"So, that's it?" Ava asked before she could stop herself.

He looked at her.

"For now."

Without another word, he buttoned his suit jacket and walked toward the restaurant exit.

Benjamin offered Ava a courteous nod before following after him.

Ava remained seated, staring at the folder.

She looked through the window as Damian's car pulled away from the hotel.

One question refused to leave her mind.

Why had Damian Blackwood searched for her... only to ask her to become his fake fiancée?