Chapter 6: The Dinner Invitation
851 Words
The roses lasted a week.
Every morning, fresh flowers appeared on Ava's nightstand. Red. White. Pink. Always with a card.
*"Good morning."*
*"You looked beautiful at breakfast."*
*"Thank you for being here."*
Ava saved every card. She didn't know why. They were just words.
But they made her smile.
---
On the eighth day, Alexander knocked on her door.
"Get dressed. We're going to dinner."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise."
Ava wore a red dress. Simple. Elegant. The one Claire had chosen.
Alexander was waiting in the living room. Black suit. Gray tie.
"You look beautiful."
"You look handsome."
"Shall we?"
---
The car drove for an hour.
Ava watched the city fade. The suburbs. The countryside.
"Where are we going?"
"My family's estate."
"You have an estate?"
"I had an estate. It's yours now too."
The estate was enormous.
Stone walls. Iron gates. A long driveway lined with trees.
The house was old. Historic. Beautiful.
Alexander helped her out of the car.
"This was my mother's favorite place."
"It's stunning."
"It was. Now it's empty."
---
Inside, a housekeeper greeted them.
"Mr. King. Welcome home."
"Thank you, Margaret."
Margaret looked at Ava. "You must be Mrs. King."
"Ava. Please."
Margaret smiled. "Dinner will be served in an hour."
---
Alexander gave Ava a tour.
The ballroom. The library. The garden.
"The roses were my mother's," he said.
"They're beautiful."
"She planted them herself."
Ava touched a red petal. "She had good taste."
"She had good everything."
---
Dinner was served in the formal dining room.
Candles. Crystal. Silver.
Ava felt like she was in a movie.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked.
Alexander set down his fork.
"Because I wanted you to see where I come from."
"Why?"
"Because you asked about my past. I'm showing you."
Ava's heart softened. "Thank you."
---
After dinner, they walked through the garden.
The moon was full. The stars were bright.
"I used to play here as a child," Alexander said. "My mother would watch from the porch."
"What did you play?"
"Hide and seek. Tag. Anything that let me run."
"Did you have friends?"
"None. Just my mother."
Ava looked at him. His profile was sharp. Sad.
"That's lonely."
"It was. But I didn't know any different."
---
They sat on a stone bench.
"Tell me about your mother," Ava said.
"She was kind. Patient. She believed in love."
"And your father?"
Alexander's jaw tightened. "He was cold. Distant. He loved her. But he didn't know how to show it."
"Sounds familiar."
He looked at her. "What does that mean?"
"My father was distant too. After my mother died, he closed himself off. Gambled. Drank. Ignored me."
"But you stayed."
"He was all I had."
"Now you have me."
Ava's heart pounded. "Do I?"
Alexander reached out. Took her hand.
"Yes."
---
They sat in silence.
The garden was quiet. The roses were dark.
"Why did you really bring me here?" Ava asked.
Alexander was quiet for a moment.
"Because I wanted to see if you would run."
"Run from what?"
"From this. From me. From the truth."
"What truth?"
"That I'm starting to care about you."
Ava's breath caught.
"Alexander..."
"I know. We signed a contract. No feelings. But I can't help it."
"You can't help it?"
"You're different. You're real. You don't pretend."
Ava stood. Walked to the roses.
"I'm scared," she admitted.
"Of what?"
"Of falling for you. Of getting hurt."
"I won't hurt you."
"You can't promise that."
"I can promise to try."
---
She turned to face him.
"Why me?"
"Because you're not afraid of me."
"I am afraid of you."
"You don't show it."
"I'm good at hiding."
"So am I."
He walked to her. Stood close.
"Maybe we can stop hiding. Together."
"Maybe."
He kissed her forehead.
"Let's go home."
"Home?"
"The penthouse. Our home."
Ava nodded.
They walked to the car.
---
The drive back was quiet.
Alexander held her hand. She didn't pull away.
When they arrived at the penthouse, he walked her to her door.
"Goodnight, Ava."
"Goodnight, Alexander."
He didn't leave.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I just... I don't want to go to my room."
"Then don't."
She opened her door. He followed.
---
They sat on her bed.
"This is dangerous," she said.
"I know."
"We shouldn't."
"I know."
But neither of them moved.
"Ava."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to kiss you now."
"Okay."
He leaned in. His lips brushed hers. Soft. Gentle.
Ava kissed him back.
The world fell away.
---
When they pulled apart, Alexander's eyes were soft.
"I've wanted to do that for weeks."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of feeling something."
Ava touched his face.
"Feel something."
He kissed her again.
---
That night, Alexander slept in her bed.
Not touching. Just near.
Ava listened to his breathing. Steady. Peaceful.
He wasn't dreaming.
She smiled.
In the morning, he was gone.
But a note was on her pillow.
*"Thank you for letting me stay. — A"*
Ava held the note to her chest.
The walls were crumbling.
And she was falling fast.
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