CHAPTER FIVE: THE DEAL SHE COULDN’T ESCAPE
1036 Words
Ava didn’t sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes
She saw it.
The photograph.
The past she had buried staring back at her like it had never left.
Like it had just been waiting.
Waiting for the right moment to come back.
And now
It had.
She sat on the edge of her bed, the room dark except for the faint light coming through the window.
Her hands rested in her lap, fingers curled tightly together.
Think.
There has to be another way.
But every thought led back to the same place.
Nathaniel Hale.
His voice.
His eyes.
The way he said it so calmly
“This stays buried.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
If that gets out…
No.
She couldn’t let that happen.
She wouldn’t survive it.
Not again.
The next morning felt heavier.
Like something had already been decided… even if she hadn’t said the words yet.
Ava moved through her shift in a blur.
Orders.
Tables.
Voices.
None of it really registered.
Because deep down
She already knew.
Running wasn’t an option anymore.
And fighting him?
That felt impossible.
Still…
She held on to one last piece of resistance.
Until
“Ava.”
Her body stilled instantly.
Of course.
Slowly, she turned.
Nathaniel stood near the entrance again.
Exactly where she had hoped he wouldn’t be.
Waiting.
Like he knew she would come.
Like he knew she had been thinking about him all night.
Her throat tightened.
“Give me a minute,” she told her manager quietly.
He nodded immediately.
Because of course he did.
Ava wiped her hands against her uniform, trying to steady herself before walking toward Nathaniel.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
This is it.
“Walk with me,” he said.
She didn’t argue this time.
The private lounge felt even smaller now.
More suffocating.
Ava stepped inside, turning to face him before the door had even fully closed.
“I thought about it,” she said.
No greetings.
No pretending.
Nathaniel watched her carefully.
“And?” he asked.
Her chest rose and fell slowly.
This was it.
The moment she didn’t want to reach.
But couldn’t avoid.
“I don’t like this,” she said honestly. “I don’t trust you. And whatever you think you know”
“I know enough.”
The interruption was quiet.
Certain.
Ava’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Then you also know why I can’t let it come out.”
A pause.
Nathaniel didn’t deny it.
Didn’t soften.
He simply watched her.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
Ava looked away briefly, gathering herself.
Then back at him.
“If I do this,” she continued, her voice steadier now, “it stays buried. Completely.”
Nathaniel’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“That’s the agreement.”
“And when it’s over,” she added, “you leave me alone.”
Silence.
A beat.
Then
“We’ll see.”
Her stomach dropped.
“That’s not what I said.”
Nathaniel stepped closer.
Not aggressively.
But enough.
“You’re in no position to negotiate terms you can’t enforce.”
The words were calm.
But they hit hard.
Ava exhaled slowly, forcing herself not to react.
He’s right.
And she hated that.
“Fine,” she said quietly.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Nathaniel studied her face like he was reading something beneath the surface.
“Say it,” he said.
Her heart skipped.
“What?”
“Say that you agree.”
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
This was the moment.
The line she couldn’t uncross.
Once she said it
Everything would change.
Her life.
Her choices.
Her distance from him.
Gone.
Ava swallowed hard.
“I…” she started, then stopped.
Her chest tightened.
This isn’t what I wanted.
This isn’t the life I chose.
But it was the only option left.
Slowly
She met his eyes.
“I’ll do it.”
The words came out quiet.
But clear.
Final.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Real.
Nathaniel didn’t react immediately.
He just watched her.
And for a brief second
Something shifted in his expression.
Something unreadable.
Then it was gone.
Replaced by calm control.
“Good.”
One word.
Simple.
Like he had expected nothing less.
Ava’s chest tightened.
Of course he did.
“What exactly does this involve?” she asked, needing something, anything to hold onto.
Nathaniel turned slightly, reaching for his jacket.
“Public appearances,” he said. “Events. Dinners. Situations where your presence is required.”
“Required for what?”
“To be convincing.”
Ava frowned slightly. “Convincing enough for who?”
Nathaniel paused briefly.
Then
“For the people who need to believe you belong beside me.”
Her stomach twisted.
That sounded like more than just rumors.
“Starting when?” she asked.
“Tonight.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not enough time”
“It is.”
Of course it was.
For him.
Ava ran a hand lightly through her hair, trying to process everything.
“This is insane,” she muttered.
“Efficient,” he corrected calmly.
She let out a small breath, shaking her head.
“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be to you.”
Nathaniel looked at her then.
Really looked.
And for a moment
The air shifted again.
“Someone important,” he said.
The words caught her off guard.
Because they didn’t sound like part of a plan.
They sounded…
Real.
But just as quickly as it came
It disappeared.
Replaced by distance.
Control.
“Be ready,” he added.
Ava frowned slightly. “For what?”
“I’ll have someone send you what you need.”
“What I need?”
“Clothes,” he said simply. “Details. Instructions.”
Of course.
Everything controlled.
Everything planned.
Ava nodded slowly, even though none of this felt real yet.
“Fine.”
Nathaniel moved toward the door, then paused.
Without turning, he said
“Don’t disappear.”
The words sent a quiet chill through her.
Because this time
It didn’t sound like a warning.
It sounded like a rule.
Ava didn’t respond.
She couldn’t.
Because deep down
She knew.
There was nowhere left to run.
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