Chapter Twelve: The Leak
945 Words
The applause from the first dance still echoed through the ballroom.
Champagne glasses clinked.
The orchestra transitioned into a lively jazz piece.
Guests flooded the dance floor.
From the outside, the engagement party looked perfect.
Inside…
The first c***k had already appeared.
Ethan excused himself from a conversation with several board members.
“I’ll be back.”
Ava nodded.
“I’ll survive five minutes without you.”
“I sincerely hope so.”
She smiled as he disappeared toward the grand staircase.
Arthur wandered over moments later, carrying two champagne flutes.
“I’ve stolen one for you.”
Ava laughed.
“I don’t think that’s stealing.”
“It sounds more exciting that way.”
He handed her a glass.
“You’ve made my grandson happier than he’ll ever admit.”
Ava’s smile faltered.
“I’m not sure about that.”
Arthur chuckled knowingly.
“Oh, my dear…”
“I’ve known Ethan since the day he was born.”
“When he’s pretending…”
“His eyes never soften.”
Ava’s heart skipped.
Arthur gently patted her hand before walking away to greet another guest.
His words lingered in her mind.
Upstairs…
Ethan stepped into his private office.
Something felt wrong immediately.
The desk drawer was slightly open.
He never left it open.
His gaze swept across the room.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
Until he opened the drawer completely.
The black folder was gone.
His expression hardened.
He pressed the intercom.
“Noah.”
His assistant answered instantly.
“Yes, sir?”
“Come upstairs.”
Now.”
Three minutes later…
Noah entered.
“You called?”
“My office was searched.”
Noah’s face drained of color.
“What was taken?”
Ethan looked toward the empty drawer.
“Our engagement contract.”
Silence.
Noah stared.
“The original?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“Someone knows.”
Downstairs…
Ava was cornered by Victoria near the dessert table.
Victoria smiled sweetly.
“I must admit…”
“You’ve exceeded my expectations.”
“I didn’t realize you had any.”
“I didn’t.”
Victoria picked up a strawberry from a silver tray.
“But here you are.”
She took a bite.
“Playing the perfect fiancée.”
Ava remained calm.
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
“You don’t need to.”
Victoria leaned closer.
“You’re hiding something.”
Ava’s pulse remained steady.
“What makes you think that?”
“Women’s intuition.”
She smiled.
“And yours?”
Ava met her gaze.
“Tells me you’re still in love with a man who moved on.”
Victoria’s smile disappeared.
“Be careful.”
“So should you.”
Before Victoria could answer…
Noah hurried across the ballroom.
His face was unusually tense.
“Miss Bennett.”
“Mr. Blake needs you.”
Immediately.”
The moment Ava entered Ethan’s office, she knew something was wrong.
He stood by the window, hands in his pockets.
Noah quietly closed the door behind her.
“What happened?”
Ethan turned.
“The contract is gone.”
She frowned.
“What contract?”
“Our engagement contract.”
The color drained from her face.
“You mean…”
“The one we signed.”
He nodded once.
“It was stolen.”
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Ava whispered,
“If someone finds it…”
“They’ll know everything.”
Noah placed a tablet on the desk.
“There’s more.”
He played a security recording.
A waiter entered Ethan’s office.
Minutes later…
The same waiter left carrying a black folder.
Ava recognized him immediately.
“He served drinks tonight.”
Ethan paused the footage.
“I’ve never seen him before.”
“So he wasn’t your employee?”
“No.”
Noah spoke quietly.
“We’re identifying him now.”
Ava began pacing.
“What if he gives the contract to the press?”
“He won’t.”
She stopped.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because if publicity were the goal…”
“It would’ve been online already.”
He looked at the paused footage.
“This was planned.”
“For leverage.”
“For blackmail.”
“For something bigger.”
Ava wrapped her arms around herself.
For the first time since this arrangement had begun…
She was genuinely afraid.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Arthur stepped inside.
“I hate to interrupt…”
His smile faded the moment he saw their expressions.
“What happened?”
Ethan answered without hesitation.
“Nothing.”
Arthur frowned.
“I know that look.”
“You’ve had it since you were sixteen.”
“It’s never ‘nothing.’”
For a long moment…
Ethan considered telling him the truth.
Instead…
“We’re handling a business issue.”
Arthur studied him carefully.
Then nodded.
“I trust you.”
As Arthur turned to leave, he stopped.
“Oh…”
“One last thing.”
He smiled warmly.
“I’ve invited the press tomorrow morning.”
Ava froze.
“Tomorrow?”
“I thought it would be lovely to announce your wedding date.”
The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the office.
Ava slowly turned toward Ethan.
“We don’t even have a wedding date.”
He exhaled slowly.
“And now…”
“We have until tomorrow morning to invent one.”
Outside the office door, hidden in the shadows of the hallway…
Lucas Blake smiled.
The contract was no longer in his possession.
It didn’t need to be.
He had already made a copy.
And by sunrise…
Someone else would be holding the evidence that could destroy Ethan Blake’s future.
- Writer
