Billionaire arranged marriage

Behind Closed Doors 2

Ava's POV.

The applause slowly faded as Damien and I stepped away from the stage.

The moment we were out of the cameras' view, I removed my hand from his arm.

"I can walk on my own."

"I never said you couldn't."

"Then stop acting like you own me."

"I was protecting our image."

"Our image?" I scoffed. "You mean your company's image."

He looked at me, his face unreadable.

From where I stand, there isn't much difference.

I stared at him.

"There is to me."

Without another word, I turned and walked toward the refreshment table.

A waiter offered me a glass of sparkling water.

"Thank you."

I took it, but before I could drink...

A hand gently took the glass from me.

I spun around.

Damien.

"What are you doing?"

He handed the drink back to the waiter.

"Bring her another one."

The waiter nodded quickly and disappeared.

I folded my arms.

"Have you completely lost your mind?"

His expression remained calm.

"I don't take chances at public events."

"I can decide what I drink."

"Not here."

"There you go again!"

Several guests glanced in our direction.

I lowered my voice.

"You think because you have money, you can control everyone."

His eyes hardened.

"This isn't about control."

"Then what is it?"

"Security."

I laughed bitterly.

"You're impossible."

"And you're reckless."

For a second, they simply stared at one another.

Neither willing to back down.

From across the ballroom...

Isabella watched with satisfaction.

She smiled into her champagne glass.

"They're already fighting."

Victor, standing beside her, didn't look impressed.

"Arguments don't end marriages."

"No."

She smirked.

"But they make cracks."

Victor's eyes followed Damien.

"I don't need cracks."

He took a slow sip of his drink.

"I need collapse."

A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Ava?"

I turned.

A handsome young man in a navy-blue suit smiled warmly.

"Daniel!"

Without thinking, I hugged him.

"It's been years!"

He laughed.

"It has."

"I thought you moved to Boston."

"I did."

"What are you doing here?"

"My architecture firm designed part of this hotel."

We talked for several minutes.

For the first time all evening...

I smiled naturally.

Across the room...

Damien noticed.

He watched as Daniel made me laugh.

Ethan leaned closer.

"Jealous?"

Damien's gaze never left them.

"No."

"Really?"

"They're talking."

"And?"

"It has nothing to do with me."

Ethan smiled.

"Keep telling yourself that."

Damien looked away.

He refused to examine the unfamiliar feeling settling in his chest.

It wasn't his business who Ava spoke to.

Their marriage wasn't real.

Neither were the expectations that came with it.

At least...

That's what he told himself.

As the evening came to an end, the event host approached the couple with a bright smile.

"Before everyone leaves, we'd love one final photograph."

Damien looked at me.

"For the press."

I sighed.

"Fine."

We stood together.

The photographer adjusted his camera.

"Closer, please."

Neither of us moved.

He laughed awkwardly.

"A little closer."

Damien stepped half a pace toward me.

I could smell his cologne.

Warm.

Clean.

Annoyingly nice.

"Perfect," the photographer said.

"Now look at each other."

I looked up.

He looked down.

For one brief second...

The ballroom disappeared.

Then—

Click.

The camera captured the moment forever.

Neither of us noticed the expression on Isabella's face.

She wasn't angry.

She was furious.

Because for the first time...

She saw something she hadn't expected.

Not love.

Not yet.

But a spark.

One neither Damien nor Ava had noticed themselves.