The billionaire's vow.

Chapter 11: The Business Trip

Alexander announced the business trip on Friday morning.

"London. Three days. You're coming with me."

Ava looked up from her coffee. "I am?"

"You're my wife. You go where I go."

"What about my father?"

"The nurse is with him. He'll be fine."

Ava wanted to argue. But she was tired of fighting.

"Fine."

---

They flew private.

The plane was luxurious. Leather seats. A bedroom. A bathroom with gold fixtures.

Ava stared out the window. "I've never flown private."

"First time for everything."

The plane took off. The city shrank beneath them.

"Scared?" Alexander asked.

"Excited."

"Same thing."

She laughed. "You're quoting me again."

"You're quotable."

---

The flight was six hours.

Alexander worked. Ava read.

But every few minutes, he would look at her. Just a glance. Just a moment.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"You keep staring."

"I'm admiring."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I have."

---

They landed in London at 8 PM.

A car was waiting. Black. Tinted windows.

The hotel was historic. Old. Elegant.

Alexander had booked the penthouse suite.

"Of course you did," Ava said.

"I don't do small."

"This isn't small. This is excessive."

"You're learning."

---

The suite had two bedrooms.

Ava chose the smaller one. Alexander took the larger.

But neither of them closed their doors.

"Can't sleep?" Alexander asked from his room.

"It's the time difference."

"It's the tension."

"What tension?"

He walked to her doorway. "This. Us. The elephant in the room."

"We agreed to take it slow."

"We are taking it slow. But slow doesn't mean ignoring."

Ava sat on her bed. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Us. After the contract."

"There is no after. There's just now."

"Now is not enough."

---

He walked into her room. Sat on the edge of her bed.

"I want more, Ava. More time. More nights. More mornings."

"You're asking for forever."

"Yes."

Her heart pounded. "That's a long time."

"I have patience."

"What if I'm not worth it?"

He reached out. Touched her face. "You're worth everything."

---

She leaned into his hand.

"Alexander..."

"I'm not asking for an answer tonight. I'm asking you to think about it."

"I think about it every day."

"Good."

He kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Ava."

"Goodnight, Alexander."

---

The next morning, they had breakfast in the suite.

English breakfast. Eggs. Bacon. Beans. Toast.

"This is strange," Ava said.

"What?"

"Beans for breakfast."

"It's English."

"It's weird."

He almost smiled. "You're weird."

"I'm honest. There's a difference."

---

The business meeting was at 10 AM.

Alexander wore a black suit. Ava wore a red dress.

She sat in the corner. Watched him work.

He was different in meetings. Commanding. Confident. Cold.

This was the Alexander the world saw.

But she knew the other Alexander. The one who cooked pasta. Who held her hand. Who said she was worth everything.

---

After the meeting, they walked through London.

The streets were busy. The buildings were old.

"This is beautiful," Ava said.

"It's historic."

"Same thing."

He took her hand. Didn't let go.

---

They had lunch at a small café.

Fish and chips. Mushy peas. More beans.

"You're not eating your peas," Alexander said.

"They're mushy."

"That's the point."

"It's a bad point."

He ate her peas. She laughed.

"You're ridiculous."

"You're beautiful."

"Same thing."

"No. Beautiful is different."

---

They walked along the Thames.

The water was gray. The sky was gray. But Ava felt warm.

"Alexander?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for bringing me."

"Thank you for coming."

She stopped walking. Turned to face him.

"I think about it every day. Forever. You. Us."

"And?"

"And I'm scared. But I'm not running."

He pulled her close. "That's all I ask."

---

They returned to the hotel at 5 PM.

Ava was tired. Alexander had another meeting.

"Rest," he said. "I'll be back by 8."

"Be careful."

"Always."

---

She lay on the bed. Stared at the ceiling.

She was falling for him. Fast. Deep. Irreversible.

She didn't know if that was good or bad.

But she knew she couldn't stop.

---

Alexander returned at 8 PM.

He looked tired. Tense.

"What happened?" Ava asked.

"Victoria. She's in London."

"Here?"

"She followed us. She's trying to sabotage the deal."

Ava's stomach turned. "What are you going to do?"

"Handle it."

"How?"

He walked to the window. "The way I always do."

"By threatening her?"

"By protecting what's mine."

---

Ava stood. Walked to him.

"I'm not a possession."

"I know. But you're mine. And I don't share."

She touched his face. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good."

He kissed her.

Hard. Desperate.

She kissed him back.

---

When they pulled apart, Alexander rested his forehead against hers.

"Stay with me tonight."

"Here?"

"In my room. In my bed."

"Just sleeping?"

"Just sleeping."

She nodded.

---

They lay in his bed. Facing each other.

"Victoria won't stop," Ava said.

"Neither will I."

"What if she hurts you?"

"She can try."

"What if she hurts me?"

Alexander's eyes went dark. "Then there's no place on earth she can hide."

Ava believed him.

---

She closed her eyes.

His arms wrapped around her.

"I've got you," he whispered.

"I know."

"Sleep."

She slept.

No dreams. No fears.

Just him.

---

In the morning, the sun streamed through the curtains.

Ava woke in Alexander's arms.

He was already awake. Watching her.

"You're staring again," she said.

"You're worth staring at."

She smiled.

The future was uncertain.

But in this moment, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.