The Price For A Vow

With her brush's bristles swaying across the surface like a ballerina in the throes of a passionate performance, Ava Marshall stood in front of her canvas. The varieties mixed and whirled, each stroke a demonstration of her assurance to hold her family's reality back from disentangling. She used her studio, a small room in her apartment, as a haven from the burden of late payments and her mother's medical bills. Michael, her brother, peered in when the door creaked open. He said, his voice tinged with guilt, "Hey, Ava." "The landlord came back here. He won't be waiting very long for the rent." As she put her palette down, Ava sighed. "I know, Mikey. "I'll figure something out," she said in a tired but determined tone. I'm attempting to sell a few pieces, but it's just... insufficient." Michael looked around the room full of vibrant paintings as he shuffled his feet. "Ava, your artwork is amazing. People simply do not yet comprehend it." As her eyes met his, Ava smiled wryly. "Sorry, little brother. However, we are in trouble unless "people" includes a wealthy art collector who enjoys abstracts." Michael drew nearer, now concentrating on a painting of a turbulent sea. "Which one is this? This is your best work to date. It must have some value." Ava looked at him. "That? Mikey, that is a canvas of my heart. It cannot be purchased. Michael acknowledged this with a nod. "Okay. Ava, however, we'll figure this out. Always have." With a combination of love and fear in her grip, Ava pulled him into a hug. We'll do so. We need to." Ava's phone buzzed as Michael left. The screen flashed an unidentified number. She answered, expecting to hear from yet another creditor, but the person speaking to her was completely foreign, confident, and smooth. "Is this the artist, Ava Marshall?" The voice called out. Ava, intrigued, responded, "Yes, speaking." "I'm Jonathan Sterling here. Ms., I've seen your work. Marshall. It's... interesting. I have an offer for you." Ava's pulse quickened. She was on her phone with billionaire Sterling Enterprises CEO Jonathan Sterling. She had known about him, obviously, who in New York hadn't? Yet, how could a man of his height be keen on her craft? "Mr. Sterling, I'm listening," despite the flutter in her chest, Ava said in a steady voice. "I would like to talk about the specifics with you in person. Tomorrow, at the Authentic Pinnacle. Noon. I'll send you the information through my assistant." The call ended without Ava being able to respond. She gazed at the telephone, a blend of energy and dread beating inside her. Ava stood in Sterling Tower's opulent lobby the following day in her finest attire, feeling out of place among the marble and chrome. She was led to a lift that took her to the top floor, where Jonathan Sterling's office was waiting for her. Jonathan's office was a glaring difference to Ava's beautiful studio. Sharp lines and cold elegance were all there. As she entered, he stood with his back to her by the window. "Ms. "Marshall, thank you for coming," he said without turning. Ava took a cautious approach. "Mr. Sterling. You brought up a proposal? When Jonathan made his turn, he focused briefly on her. "Yes. I've looked at your work. The section with the turbulent sea—." Ava became stiff. "It cannot be purchased." "I know," Jonathan said with a glimmer of a smile on his lips. "Be that as it may, I would have paid liberally for it. However, I have a different idea. Something of a greater magnitude." Despite herself, Ava's curiosity was piqued. "I'm in all ears." Jonathan strolled towards his work area, getting a report. "Ms. Marshall , I need a wife. A marriage contract. I am aware that this is an unusual request. However, it comes at a cost that could alleviate all of your financial problems." Ava's thoughts raced. A marriage? To him? "Why me?" She asked, sounding both skeptical and intrigued at the same time. Jonathan said, vaguely pointing to the city beyond his window, "Because you're not like them." "You are sincere and devoted to your work. You don't take cover behind a veneer. A real partner, even if it's just for show, is what I need. It comes with my inheritance. Furthermore, I believe you require financial safety. I'm willing to propose a legally binding marriage to you. You will receive a substantial payment." Ava's thoughts raced. This was insane. A marriage contract? to a man she had never met? However, the prospect of her mom's hospital expenses and the expulsion notice that lingered over them made her heart weighty. His words gave Ava an odd sense of power. Even though he could have anyone, this man was asking her to be his wife. It was a risky game, but it had the potential to solve all of her problems. Ava weighed his words as the gravity of her circumstance held her in place. "And what are the results, exactly?" She saw a steeliness in Jonathan's eyes when they met. "Control over my business and future. And maybe something else that can't be seen." The air between them popped with an implicit comprehension. This was more than just a business deal. It was a risky move into the dark. Ava said, her voice firmer than she felt, "I'll need time to think about it." "Of course". The contract will be sent to you by my assistant. Check it out. Choose what is best for you. The city seemed different to Ava as she left Sterling Tower, as if she were seeing it through new eyes. The agreement marriage was a material of an alternate sort, one that could either be a work of art or a calamity. That evening, Ava lay in bed, the agreement on her end table. A debt-free future was promised by the numbers on the page, but at what cost? Her opportunity? Her soul? She considered her brother and mother and the lives they might have led. She took a deep breath and made her choice. She would execute the agreement. She would wed Jonathan Authentic. However, as she fell asleep, a part of her questioned whether she was negotiating a deal with the devil or an imposter angel.