Chapter Eight: The Dress
918 Words
The engagement party was in ten days.
Ava hadn’t realized how terrifying those words could be until she found herself standing inside one of Manhattan’s most exclusive fashion houses.
She stared at the price tag.
Then looked again.
“There has to be a mistake.”
The sales consultant smiled politely.
“There isn’t, Miss Bennett.”
Ava swallowed.
“This dress costs more than my office.”
“It was reserved by Mr. Blake.”
“Of course it was.”
She rubbed her temple.
“Does he always solve problems by throwing money at them?”
“As far as I know…”
The woman smiled.
“…yes.”
⸻
“You look like you’re planning an escape.”
Ava turned.
Ethan stood by the entrance, one hand tucked into the pocket of his navy suit.
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“The price.”
“I did.”
“And you still bought it?”
“I rented it.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t believe you.”
“You shouldn’t.”
He walked over to the mannequin displaying the midnight-blue gown.
“It suits you.”
“I haven’t even tried it on.”
“I know.”
“You really are impossible.”
“And yet…”
His gaze lingered on her for a second longer than necessary.
“…you’re still here.”
⸻
Half an hour later…
Ava stepped out of the fitting room.
The boutique fell silent.
The gown hugged her figure perfectly, flowing to the floor in shimmering folds of silk.
She looked elegant.
Confident.
Like she belonged among New York’s elite.
She didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her in the mirror.
She looked at Ethan.
“So?”
He didn’t answer.
Not immediately.
His usually composed expression faltered for the briefest moment.
No sarcasm.
No observation.
Nothing.
Noah, standing nearby, hid a smile.
“Sir?”
Ethan blinked.
“You look…”
He cleared his throat.
“…beautiful.”
The word surprised both of them.
Ava felt warmth creep into her cheeks.
“Thank you.”
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
⸻
“Perfect.”
A sharp female voice cut through the moment.
Ava turned.
Victoria Sinclair stood near the entrance, dressed in red from head to toe.
Her smile was flawless.
Her intentions clearly weren’t.
“What a lovely coincidence.”
Ethan’s expression cooled.
“What are you doing here?”
Victoria ignored him.
Instead, she circled Ava slowly.
“The dress is beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“It almost makes this engagement believable.”
Ava’s smile faded.
“Almost?”
Victoria folded her arms.
“I know Ethan.”
“He doesn’t fall in love.”
“He makes calculated decisions.”
She looked directly at Ava.
“So tell me…”
“How much is he paying you?”
The boutique became painfully quiet.
The consultants exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Ava held Victoria’s gaze.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“It became my business the day you started pretending to replace me.”
Before Ava could answer…
Ethan stepped between them.
His voice remained calm.
But his eyes were ice.
“Leave.”
Victoria smiled.
“You always defend people you don’t care about?”
“I won’t ask again.”
For a heartbeat, Victoria looked as though she might argue.
Instead, she picked up her handbag.
“This won’t last.”
She looked at Ava one final time.
“When he gets tired of pretending…”
Her smile turned cruel.
“…don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Then she walked away.
⸻
The silence that followed felt heavy.
“I’m sorry,” Ethan said quietly.
Ava looked at him in surprise.
“For what?”
“She had no right to speak to you like that.”
Ava shrugged.
“I’ve dealt with worse.”
He frowned.
“You shouldn’t have to.”
She looked away before answering.
“It’s part of life.”
“No.”
His voice was firmer now.
“It’s not.”
For reasons she couldn’t explain…
Those two words affected her more than Victoria’s insults ever could.
⸻
That evening…
Ethan insisted on dropping Ava home.
The city lights shimmered through the car windows as silence settled between them.
Finally…
“You almost smiled today.”
Ava looked at him.
“I almost did?”
“When you saw yourself in the mirror.”
“I was shocked.”
“You looked happy.”
“I was.”
She hesitated.
“I haven’t felt… beautiful in a long time.”
The confession slipped out before she could stop it.
Ethan turned toward her.
“You should.”
She laughed softly.
“You’re terrible at compliments.”
“I know.”
“But I meant that one.”
Ava met his eyes.
Neither of them looked away.
The driver pulled up outside her apartment.
Neither of them moved.
Until Noah politely cleared his throat from the front seat.
“We’ve arrived.”
Ava blinked, suddenly aware of how long they’d been staring at each other.
She quickly reached for the door.
“Goodnight, Ethan.”
“Goodnight, Ava.”
She stepped onto the sidewalk.
As the car drove away, Ethan glanced out of the window.
For the first time in years, the engagement no longer felt like a strategy.
It felt personal.
And that was exactly what he had sworn would never happen.
- Writer
