Chapter Two: An Offer She Couldn’t Ignore
792 Words
By the time the gala ended, Ava’s feet ached, her smile had become painfully rehearsed, and all she wanted was a hot shower and eight uninterrupted hours of sleep.
Instead, she was packing away event schedules when her assistant rushed over once again.
“Ava.”
She didn’t even look up.
“If another speaker has disappeared, tell them they’re giving next year’s speech instead.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
Her assistant lowered her voice.
“Mr. Blake wants to see you.”
Ava froze.
“…Now?”
She nodded.
“His assistant is waiting outside.”
Ava sighed.
“I’ve already apologized.”
“I don’t think this is about the coffee.”
That somehow made it worse.
—
Five minutes later, Ava stepped into Blake Capital’s executive offices on the top floor.
The contrast between the lively ballroom downstairs and the silence up here was unsettling.
Dark wood.
Glass walls.
Modern artwork.
Every detail screamed power.
His assistant stopped outside a pair of double doors.
“Mr. Blake is expecting you.”
Ava knocked once.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside.
Ethan Blake stood beside the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan, his suit jacket replaced with a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms.
He didn’t turn immediately.
“You stayed until the last guest left.”
“I was working.”
“So I noticed.”
He finally faced her.
His expression was as unreadable as before.
“I hope your suit survived.”
“It will.”
Silence settled between them.
Ava shifted her weight.
“If this meeting is about the coffee, I’ll gladly pay for the dry cleaning.”
“You couldn’t.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Excuse me?”
“The jacket costs more than your event company made tonight.”
She crossed her arms.
“That was unnecessary.”
“It was factual.”
“And rude.”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
Interesting.
She was probably the first person in years who had dared call him rude.
He walked toward his desk and picked up a folder.
“I reviewed tonight’s event.”
Ava frowned.
“If you’re here to complain—”
“I’m here to compliment you.”
That stopped her completely.
“You reorganized the entire evening after the keynote speaker canceled.”
She blinked.
“You noticed?”
“I notice everything.”
He placed the folder on the desk.
“The guests never realized anything had gone wrong.”
“It was my job.”
“Most people would’ve panicked.”
“I don’t.”
His gaze lingered on her.
“No.”
“You don’t.”
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn’t awkward.
It was… curious.
As though they were trying to figure each other out.
Then Ethan reached into his desk drawer and slid a sleek black business card across the polished surface.
“I have another job for you.”
Ava looked at the card but didn’t touch it.
“I’m fully booked.”
“You aren’t.”
Her lips parted.
“You checked?”
“I did.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s slightly terrifying.”
“I prefer thorough.”
Despite herself, Ava almost smiled.
Almost.
“What kind of job?”
“It’s private.”
“I don’t do illegal.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Neither do I.”
“You sounded suspiciously mysterious.”
He ignored the comment.
“My assistant will send you the details tomorrow.”
“What if I say no?”
“You won’t.”
“And you’re so sure because…?”
“Because the payment is enough to save your company.”
Her heart skipped.
How did he know her business was struggling?
He seemed to read the question on her face.
“I make it my business to know who I’m hiring.”
Ava stared at him.
Every instinct told her to walk away.
Men like Ethan Blake didn’t hand out opportunities without expecting something in return.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
She turned toward the door.
“Ava.”
She looked back.
“The next time we meet…”
His gray eyes held hers.
“Try not to spill coffee on me.”
She smiled for the first time.
“No promises.”
The office door closed behind her.
Ethan remained where he was, watching the city lights.
His assistant entered moments later.
“Should I prepare the contract?”
Ethan’s gaze never left the window.
“Yes.”
“The fake engagement contract?”
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“She has no idea her life is about to change.”
- Writer
