Chapter 12: The Confrontation
899 Words
Victoria appeared at the hotel the next morning.
Ava was in the lobby, waiting for Alexander, when Victoria walked through the doors.
"Hello, dear."
Ava's blood went cold. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you. Alone."
"We have nothing to talk about."
Victoria sat across from her. "We have everything to talk about."
Ava stood. "I'm leaving."
"Sit down."
"Excuse me?"
"Sit. Down."
Ava sat. Not because Victoria told her to. Because she wanted to hear what Victoria had to say.
---
"You think you've won," Victoria said.
"This isn't a game."
"Everything is a game. Alexander. This marriage. Your little contract."
Ava's hands clenched. "What do you want?"
"I want you to leave him."
"No."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "You don't love him."
"You don't know what I feel."
"I know he doesn't love you. He's incapable of love."
Ava leaned forward. "You're wrong."
"Am I? Has he said the words? Has he told you he loves you?"
Ava was silent.
---
Victoria smiled. "That's what I thought."
"He shows me."
"Shows you? How? With flowers? With gifts? That's not love. That's performance."
Ava stood. "You don't know anything about us."
"I know more than you think. I know about the contract. The one-year term. The divorce."
Ava's heart pounded. "How do you know that?"
"I have sources."
"Who?"
Victoria stood. "That's not important. What's important is that you understand. He's using you. When the year is up, he'll discard you. Just like he discarded me."
---
"Alexander didn't discard you. You discarded each other."
Victoria's mask slipped. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"I know he's not perfect. I know he's broken. But he's trying. With me. For me."
"Poor, naive girl."
"I'm not naive. I'm in love."
Victoria's eyes widened. "You love him?"
"Yes."
"Does he know?"
"Not yet."
Victoria laughed. "Then this will be fun to watch."
---
Alexander walked into the lobby.
He saw Victoria. His face went dark.
"What are you doing here?"
"Visiting an old friend."
"You're not welcome."
Victoria smiled. "Your wife and I were just having a chat."
Alexander looked at Ava. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
He turned to Victoria. "Leave. Now."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll make you leave."
---
Victoria stood. Walked to him. "You always were dramatic."
"I'm protective."
"Same thing."
She walked to the door. Stopped.
"Enjoy your contract marriage, Alexander. We both know how it ends."
She left.
Ava exhaled.
---
Alexander walked to her. "What did she say?"
"That I'm naive. That you don't love me. That the contract will end."
"And what did you say?"
"That I'm in love with you."
Alexander's eyes widened.
"Ava..."
"You don't have to say it back. I just wanted her to know."
He pulled her close. "I'm not good at words."
"I know."
"But I'm good at actions."
"I know that too."
---
They went back to the suite.
Ava sat on the couch. Alexander paced.
"Victoria knows about the contract," she said.
"How?"
"Someone told her. Someone close to you."
Alexander stopped pacing. "I'll find out who."
"And then what?"
"Then they're gone."
Ava stood. "You can't fire everyone who crosses you."
"I can try."
---
He sat beside her.
"I'm sorry. For all of this. The drama. The danger. Victoria."
"You didn't choose her."
"I chose to be with her. Once. A long time ago."
"We've all made mistakes."
"You're not a mistake."
She looked at him. "Neither are you."
---
He kissed her.
Soft. Slow.
"I don't deserve you."
"Probably not. But you have me anyway."
He almost smiled. "You're impossible."
"So you've said."
---
The business meeting was cancelled.
Alexander made calls. Secured the deal remotely.
Ava watched him work.
"You're good at this."
"I'm good at getting what I want."
"And what do you want?"
He looked at her. "You."
"You have me."
"For now."
"For as long as you want me."
"That's forever."
---
They flew home that night.
The plane was quiet. Ava stared out the window.
"You're thinking," Alexander said.
"I'm processing."
"Victoria?"
"Us. The contract. The future."
"What about the future?"
"What if she's right? What if you discard me when the year is up?"
Alexander took her hand.
"I won't."
"How do I know?"
"You don't. You have to trust me."
"I'm learning to."
---
They landed at midnight.
The car took them to the penthouse.
Ava was exhausted.
Alexander walked her to her room.
"Sleep. Tomorrow is a new day."
"Stay?"
"Here?"
"In my room. In my bed. Just sleeping."
He nodded.
---
They lay in her bed. Facing each other.
"Alexander?"
"Yes."
"I meant what I said. I'm in love with you."
He touched her face.
"I'm in love with you too."
Her heart soared.
"You've never said that before."
"I've never felt it before."
She kissed him.
Soft. Sweet.
"Say it again."
"I love you, Ava."
"I love you too, Alexander."
---
They slept in each other's arms.
No walls. No contracts. No fear.
Just love.
In the morning, Ava woke first.
Alexander was still sleeping. His face was peaceful.
She watched him for a long time.
This was the man she loved. Cold. Broken. Beautiful.
She kissed his forehead.
He stirred. "What time is it?"
"Early. Go back to sleep."
"Stay?"
"Always."
She lay beside him.
The future was uncertain.
But they would face it together.
And that was everything.
- Writer
