Chapter Five: Meet My Fiancée
966 Words
The next morning, Ava was awakened by the persistent ringing of her phone.
She squinted at the screen.
Noah Hayes.
7:02 a.m.
She answered with a groan.
“Please tell me nobody died.”
“No.”
“Did the contract expire overnight?”
“No.”
“Then why are you calling before sunrise?”
“It’s after seven.”
“Exactly.”
There was the faintest hint of amusement in Noah’s voice.
“Mr. Blake asked me to inform you that he’ll pick you up at ten.”
“For what?”
“Your first appearance as his fiancée.”
Ava sat upright.
“…Today?”
“Yes.”
“He didn’t tell me.”
“He assumed I’d handle the details.”
She sighed.
“Of course he did.”
⸻
At exactly ten o’clock, a sleek black Rolls-Royce stopped outside Bennett Events.
Employees pressed themselves against the office windows.
“Oh my God…”
“Is that Blake’s car?”
“Is Ava dating a billionaire?”
“Impossible.”
Ava grabbed her coat before anyone could ask questions.
Outside, Noah opened the rear door.
“Good morning.”
She climbed in.
Ethan barely looked up from the financial report in his hands.
“You’re three minutes late.”
She stared at him.
“I was standing outside before your driver even stopped.”
“I measure from ten o’clock.”
“You must be fun at parties.”
“I rarely attend them.”
“I believe that.”
Noah quietly closed the partition between the front and back seats.
Probably to save himself from listening to them argue.
⸻
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of one of Manhattan’s most exclusive private clubs.
Valets rushed forward.
Business leaders filled the entrance.
Luxury cars lined the street.
Ava looked at Ethan.
“Where are we?”
“My grandfather’s birthday luncheon.”
She blinked.
“You didn’t mention family today.”
“I am now.”
She folded her arms.
“You’re impossible.”
“So you’ve said.”
He stepped out of the car before walking around to open her door himself.
Ava hesitated.
“What?”
“Smile.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Photographers.”
Camera flashes exploded the second she looked up.
Questions flew from every direction.
“Mr. Blake!”
“Who’s the woman?”
“Are wedding bells coming?”
“How long have you been together?”
Instinctively, Ava reached for Ethan.
Or perhaps he reached for her first.
She wasn’t sure.
His hand settled gently against the small of her back.
Comforting.
Protective.
Natural.
He leaned close enough for only her to hear.
“Relax.”
“You forgot to mention the paparazzi.”
“I assumed you’d notice.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
She forced a smile for the cameras.
“I strongly dislike you.”
“Better.”
⸻
Inside, the elegant dining hall buzzed with conversation.
Every head turned as Ethan entered.
Then every eye shifted to Ava.
Whispers followed them.
“Is that her?”
“I’ve never seen him bring anyone.”
“They look good together.”
Ava leaned closer.
“They’re staring.”
“They always do.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“I stopped noticing years ago.”
Lucky him.
⸻
An older gentleman stood from the head of the table.
Despite the silver in his hair, there was nothing fragile about him.
His sharp blue eyes landed on Ava immediately.
Then a slow smile spread across his face.
“Ethan.”
The older man embraced his grandson briefly before turning toward her.
“And this must be the young woman who’s stolen your attention.”
Ethan’s expression remained calm.
“Grandfather…”
“I’d like you to meet Ava Bennett.”
Ava offered her hand politely.
“It’s lovely to meet you, sir.”
The older man ignored her hand completely.
Instead…
He wrapped her in a warm hug.
“Oh, none of that.”
His eyes sparkled.
“If you’re marrying my grandson, you’ll call me Arthur.”
Ava glanced helplessly at Ethan.
He gave the tiniest nod.
“Arthur,” she corrected with a smile.
“Much better.”
Arthur beamed.
“I already like her more than you.”
Several family members laughed.
Even Ethan couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Ava caught it.
And for a split second…
She forgot this engagement wasn’t real.
⸻
As lunch progressed, Arthur watched the pair carefully.
Whenever Ethan reached for Ava’s chair…
Whenever Ava refilled Ethan’s water without thinking…
Whenever they teased each other…
Arthur noticed.
Across the table, Ethan’s cousin, Lucas Blake, noticed something else.
He watched them with narrowed eyes.
His smile never reached his eyes.
“Congratulations, cousin,” Lucas said smoothly, raising his glass.
“What wonderful timing.”
The room fell quiet.
Arthur frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Lucas’s gaze lingered on Ava.
“It’s just interesting.”
“Ethan spends years claiming marriage is a distraction…”
“…and suddenly appears with the perfect fiancée only weeks before the shareholders’ vote.”
Silence.
Ava’s heartbeat quickened.
Lucas smiled pleasantly.
“I hope she’s real.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
Ice settled in his gray eyes.
He reached beneath the table and took Ava’s hand.
His grip was firm.
Unshakable.
Without looking away from Lucas, he said calmly,
“Be careful.”
Lucas chuckled.
“Was that a warning?”
“It was advice.”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Ava realized something important.
This wasn’t just about an inheritance anymore.
Someone wanted Ethan to fail.
And if they discovered the engagement was fake…
She would become the easiest target.
- Writer
