Chapter 10: The Visitor
844 Words
Victoria Kensington came to the penthouse on a Tuesday.
Ava was in the living room, reading, when Claire announced her.
"Mrs. King, you have a visitor."
"Who?"
"Victoria Kensington."
Ava's stomach turned. "Send her in."
Victoria walked in like she owned the place. Designer dress. Perfect hair. Cold smile.
"Ava, darling. You look... comfortable."
"I am comfortable. It's my home."
Victoria's smile tightened. "May I sit?"
"Please."
---
Victoria sat across from her.
"I came to warn you."
"Warn me about what?"
"Alexander. He's not who you think he is."
Ava set down her book. "I know exactly who he is."
"Do you? Do you know about his past? His temper? The people he's destroyed?"
"I know he's my husband."
"A business arrangement."
"Not anymore."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "You think he loves you?"
"I think it's none of your business."
---
Victoria leaned forward.
"I've known Alexander for ten years. I've seen him destroy rivals. Crush enemies. Break hearts."
"And yet you still want him."
Victoria's mask slipped. Just for a moment.
"He was mine first."
"He was never yours. People aren't possessions."
Victoria stood. "You're naive. He'll use you. Discard you. Just like he did to me."
Ava stood too. "If that happens, that's between me and him. Not you."
---
Victoria walked to the door. Stopped.
"He has a temper. When he gets angry, he gets dangerous."
"I'm not afraid of him."
"You should be."
Victoria left.
Ava sat back down. Her hands were shaking.
---
Alexander came home at 6 PM.
He found Ava in the living room. Staring at the wall.
"What's wrong?"
"Victoria was here."
His face went dark. "What did she want?"
"To warn me about you."
"About what?"
"Your temper. Your past. The people you've destroyed."
Alexander sat beside her. "And what did you say?"
"I said it's none of her business."
He was quiet for a moment.
"She's not wrong. I've done terrible things."
"I know."
"But I've never hurt someone I love."
"Do you love me?"
Alexander looked at her. His gray eyes were soft.
"I'm learning to."
---
They sat in silence.
The city lights sparkled through the windows.
"Why did you and Victoria break up?" Ava asked.
"Because she wanted the version of me that doesn't exist."
"What version?"
"The one who feels. Who cares. Who loves."
"And you don't feel?"
"I didn't. Until you."
Ava's heart pounded.
---
"Victoria wants to destroy us," Alexander said.
"She can try."
"She's powerful. Connected. Vengeful."
"So am I."
Alexander almost smiled. "You're something else."
"I'm your wife."
"Yes. You are."
---
That night, Alexander held her on the couch.
Not kissing. Not talking. Just holding.
"Alexander?"
"Yes."
"I'm not afraid of her."
"Good."
"I'm not afraid of you."
"Good."
"I'm afraid of losing you."
He pulled her closer.
"You won't."
---
The next morning, Ava called her father.
"Papa, how are you feeling?"
"Better. The nurse is driving me crazy."
"She's paid to drive you crazy."
"She's paid to take care of me. There's a difference."
Ava laughed. "I love you, Papa."
"I love you too, baby. Is Alexander treating you well?"
"He's... complicated."
"Complicated good or complicated bad?"
"Complicated good."
"Then I'm happy."
---
After the call, Ava walked to Alexander's office.
He was on the phone. He hung up when she entered.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to see you."
"You saw me at breakfast."
"Twenty minutes ago. A lot can change in twenty minutes."
He stood. Walked to her.
"Victoria won't bother you again."
"What did you do?"
"I had a conversation with her."
"What kind of conversation?"
"The kind she won't forget."
Ava studied his face. "You threatened her."
"I protected my wife. There's a difference."
---
She should have been scared. But she wasn't.
"Thank you," she said.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I want to."
He kissed her forehead.
"Dinner?"
"Dinner."
---
That night, they cooked together again.
Pasta. Salad. Wine.
"This is becoming our thing," Ava said.
"What?"
"Cooking together. Eating together. Being together."
"I like our thing."
"Me too."
---
After dinner, they sat on the balcony.
The stars were bright. The air was cool.
"Alexander?"
"Yes."
"Do you think we would have found each other? Without the contract?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"I don't believe in fate. I believe in choices."
"What choice led you to me?"
"Signing that contract. Letting you into my life. Letting you stay."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"I know."
---
She leaned against him.
"Victoria said you have a temper."
"I do."
"Will I ever see it?"
"I hope not."
"Why?"
"Because if you see it, that means someone hurt you. And I won't let that happen."
Ava closed her eyes.
She was safe. Protected. Loved.
Maybe not in words. But in actions.
And that was enough.
---
The next morning, Ava woke to flowers.
Red roses. Her favorite.
A card.
*"For my wife. Thank you for staying. — A"*
She smiled.
The walls were gone.
The fear was fading.
And she was falling deeper every day.
- Writer
