Chapter ten: The Woman in Red
942 Words
The engagement party was forty-eight hours away.
Ava had convinced herself she was ready.
She wasn’t.
The moment she stepped into Blake Manor—a sprawling estate overlooking the Hudson River—she realized this wasn’t just another glamorous event.
Staff hurried through the marble hallways carrying flower arrangements.
A string quartet rehearsed in the ballroom.
Florists covered every surface with white roses.
The entire mansion looked as though a royal wedding was about to take place.
“This is an engagement party,” Ava muttered.
“Not a coronation.”
Beside her, Ethan loosened his tie.
“My grandmother enjoys making statements.”
“I can see that.”
⸻
A wedding planner hurried over.
“Mr. Blake.”
She handed him a clipboard.
“We’ve finalized tomorrow’s schedule.”
“Good.”
“There’s one last thing.”
She looked at Ava.
“The couple’s first dance.”
Ava blinked.
“Our what?”
“The engagement party tradition.”
Ethan frowned.
“I wasn’t informed.”
“My apologies, sir.”
The planner looked horrified.
“I assumed you knew.”
She hurried away before either of them could object.
Ava slowly turned toward Ethan.
“You dance?”
“Rarely.”
“I don’t.”
Silence.
“We’re in trouble.”
⸻
An hour later…
The ballroom had emptied.
Only soft piano music echoed through the room.
Ethan stood in the center of the polished floor.
He held out his hand.
“We should practice.”
Ava stared at it suspiciously.
“This feels like a trap.”
“It isn’t.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“And?”
“It turned out to be a fake engagement.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Fair point.”
She finally slipped her hand into his.
His fingers closed gently around hers.
His other hand rested lightly against her waist.
Not possessive.
Not forceful.
Just enough to guide her.
“Follow my lead.”
“I hate those words.”
“I noticed.”
⸻
The music began.
One step.
Then another.
Ava managed exactly six seconds before stepping on his foot.
“Oh!”
She immediately let go.
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan looked down.
Then back at her.
“Again.”
“You still have toes?”
“I believe so.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
⸻
The second attempt lasted longer.
Nearly a full minute.
Until Ava spun the wrong direction.
Instead of turning gracefully…
She crashed straight into Ethan’s chest.
Strong arms instinctively steadied her before she could fall.
Neither of them moved.
The music continued around them.
“You did that on purpose.”
She looked up.
“I absolutely did not.”
“I’ll choose to believe you.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You have an enormous ego.”
“So I’ve heard.”
⸻
The doors suddenly opened.
Clapping echoed through the ballroom.
“Beautiful.”
Arthur Blake walked inside, smiling from ear to ear.
“I knew the two of you would look perfect together.”
Ava immediately stepped away.
“We were just practicing.”
Arthur laughed.
“Of course.”
He looked far too pleased.
“As long as you’re this comfortable tomorrow night, everything will be wonderful.”
He winked at Ethan before leaving again.
The silence that followed was awkward.
For the first time…
Neither of them knew what to say.
⸻
The next afternoon…
Guests began arriving hours before sunset.
Luxury cars filled the circular driveway.
Security lined the entrance.
Reporters gathered outside the gates.
Inside, Ava stood in front of a mirror, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her gown.
A gentle knock sounded.
“Come in.”
Ethan stepped inside.
For a moment…
He simply looked at her.
The champagne-colored gown shimmered under the lights, elegant without trying too hard. Her hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder, and the diamond ring on her finger sparkled every time she moved.
“You clean up well,” Ava teased, breaking the silence.
He glanced down at his tuxedo.
“So do you.”
She smiled.
“That’s twice now.”
“What is?”
“You’ve complimented me.”
“I’m making progress.”
A laugh escaped her.
“Slowly.”
Before either of them could say more, Noah appeared at the door.
“Mr. Blake.”
“They’re ready.”
Ethan offered Ava his arm.
“Shall we?”
She slipped her hand through his.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
⸻
Outside the ballroom doors, cameras flashed endlessly.
A staff member announced them.
“Mr. Ethan Blake and his fiancée, Miss Ava Bennett.”
The doors swung open.
Every conversation stopped.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward them.
Ethan leaned closer without looking at her.
“Smile.”
“I am smiling.”
“Try looking less terrified.”
“I’m trying.”
Together, they walked into the ballroom.
Applause erupted.
Arthur watched proudly from the front.
Business leaders nodded approvingly.
Even the reporters seemed captivated.
Everything was going perfectly.
Until the grand entrance doors opened once more.
A woman in a crimson evening gown stepped inside.
Elegant.
Confident.
Dangerously composed.
Victoria.
She wasn’t alone.
Walking beside her was a tall, silver-haired man whose commanding presence immediately drew attention.
Nathan Sinclair.
Victoria’s father.
One of Blake Capital’s biggest rivals.
Nathan raised his glass toward Ethan with a polite smile that held no warmth.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”
His gaze shifted to Ava.
“I do hope…”
“…this one lasts.”
Across the ballroom, Lucas Blake smiled into his champagne glass.
The game had begun.
- Writer
