CHAPTER FOUR: THE TRUTH HE SHOULDN'T KNOW
1427 Words
Ava tried to forget about him.
She really did.
But it was impossible.
Every sound in the restaurant made her tense. Every glance over her shoulder felt like it would end with him standing there again watching, waiting, knowing.
Because he did know.
She just didn’t know how much.
“Ava!”
She flinched slightly at her manager’s voice.
“Table seven,” he said, handing her a tray. “And stay focused.”
“I am,” she replied quickly, even though her thoughts were anywhere but here.
Nathaniel Hale.
The way he looked at her.
The way he spoke like he already had all the answers.
It wasn’t just recognition.
It was certainty.
And that terrified her.
The night dragged.
Too slow.
Too heavy.
And just when she started to think maybe just maybe he had left…
“Ava.”
Her entire body went still.
No.
Not again.
Slowly, she turned.
Nathaniel stood near the entrance this time, his expression calm as ever, as if he hadn’t just walked straight back into her thoughts.
Like he belonged there.
Like he belonged everywhere.
“I need a moment,” he said.
Not to her manager.
Not to anyone else.
Just to her.
Her throat tightened. “I’m working.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then it’ll have to wait.”
A pause.
Then
“No,” he said simply. “It won’t.”
Her pulse spiked.
Around them, people moved, talked, laughed completely unaware of the tension tightening between them.
Ava glanced toward her manager instinctively.
Nathaniel followed her gaze.
Then, without looking away from her, he said
“Go.”
Her manager didn’t hesitate. “Yes, sir.”
Just like that.
Decision made.
Ava clenched her jaw.
Of course.
Of course it would be that easy for him.
“Fine,” she muttered under her breath.
The private lounge felt colder this time.
Or maybe it was just her.
Ava stepped inside, arms crossing slightly as the door shut behind them.
“Whatever this is,” she said immediately, “my answer is still no.”
Nathaniel didn’t respond right away.
He walked past her slowly, unbuttoning his jacket with that same effortless control.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Like she wasn’t already on edge.
“Sit,” he said.
“I’ll stand.”
A beat of silence.
Then
“As you wish.”
Ava frowned slightly at how easily he let that go.
Something felt off.
More than before.
“What do you want?” she asked.
Nathaniel turned to face her fully.
And this time
There was no trace of patience left.
“I gave you a simple solution,” he said. “And you refused.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No backing down.
“Then let’s try something else.”
Ava’s stomach tightened.
She didn’t like the sound of that.
At all.
“What does that mean?” she asked carefully.
Nathaniel took a step closer.
Then another.
Until the distance between them felt too small.
Too dangerous.
“You said you wanted nothing from me,” he continued quietly.
“I do.”
“Unfortunately,” he said, “that’s not how this works.”
Her brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”
A pause.
Then
“You’ve been very careful,” he said.
The words were calm.
Measured.
But they hit harder than anything else he had said so far.
Ava froze.
Her heart skipped.
“…what?”
Nathaniel watched her closely.
Too closely.
“New name,” he continued. “New life. New job.”
Each word felt like a step closer to something she had buried.
Something she had tried to forget.
Ava’s chest tightened painfully.
“You’re mistaken,” she said quickly. “I’ve always”
“Stop.”
The word was quiet.
But final.
And this time
She did.
Because something in his tone told her this wasn’t a conversation anymore.
It was a revelation.
Nathaniel tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving hers.
“You really thought it wouldn’t catch up to you?” he asked.
Her breath came faster now.
No.
No, no
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, but her voice lacked the confidence it had before.
Nathaniel didn’t argue.
Didn’t raise his voice.
He simply reached into his jacket pocket.
And pulled out his phone.
Ava’s stomach dropped instantly.
What is he doing?
He tapped the screen once.
Then turned it toward her.
“Then explain this.”
Her eyes fell to the screen.
And the world stopped.
A photograph.
Old.
Faded.
But clear enough.
Too clear.
Her breath caught sharply in her throat.
No.
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
No, no, no
“That’s not” she started, but the words died instantly.
Because she knew.
He knew.
There was no denying it.
Nathaniel lowered the phone slowly, watching her reaction with quiet precision.
“That’s what I thought,” he said.
Ava forced herself to look up at him, even though everything inside her was screaming not to.
“How do you have that?” she whispered.
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Nathaniel’s expression didn’t change.
“I have access to many things.”
Of course he did.
He’s Nathaniel Hale.
Powerful.
Connected.
Untouchable.
Her chest tightened.
“This doesn’t prove anything,” she said quickly, grasping for control. “It could be anyone”
“It’s you.”
The certainty in his voice crushed whatever argument she had left.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Ava swallowed hard.
“What do you want?” she asked again, but this time
Her voice was quieter.
Weaker.
Nathaniel stepped closer.
Close enough now that she couldn’t ignore him.
Couldn’t escape him.
“This time,” he said softly, “you’re going to listen.”
Her heart pounded.
“You’re going to take the deal,” he continued, “and in return…”
A pause.
Just long enough to make her chest tighten further.
“…this stays buried.”
The words hit like a blow.
Ava stared at him.
“You’re blackmailing me,” she said.
Nathaniel didn’t react to the accusation.
Didn’t deny it.
“I’m offering you a solution,” he replied calmly.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
“This is insane,” she said, shaking her head. “You can’t just”
“I can.”
Two words.
Flat.
Certain.
And the worst part?
She believed him.
Ava turned away, running a hand through her hair as she tried to think.
Think.
Think
This can’t be happening.
Not now.
Not like this.
“You don’t understand,” she said, her voice strained. “If that gets out”
“It won’t,” he interrupted smoothly.
She turned back to him sharply. “You don’t know that!”
“I do.”
His gaze locked onto hers.
Cold.
Unmoving.
“Because I control whether it does.”
Silence.
Ava’s chest tightened painfully.
He had her.
And they both knew it.
But
No.
Not yet.
She wasn’t giving in that easily.
“I said no,” she repeated, forcing strength back into her voice. “And my answer hasn’t changed.”
Nathaniel studied her for a long moment.
As if measuring something.
Weighing something.
Then
“Stubborn,” he murmured.
Ava didn’t respond.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t break.
Another pause.
Then he straightened slightly, stepping back just enough to create space again.
“Think about it,” he said.
Her brows furrowed. “I already have.”
“Think again.”
His tone was calm.
But there was something underneath it now.
Something darker.
More certain.
“Because next time,” he added quietly, “I won’t be as patient.”
A chill ran down her spine.
Ava held his gaze, refusing to let him see just how much that affected her.
Then
“I’ll take my chances,” she said.
For a moment
Just a moment
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest.
Challenge.
Then it was gone.
“Good,” he said softly.
That single word made her uneasy.
Because it didn’t sound like defeat.
It sounded like the beginning of something else.
Something worse.
Ava didn’t wait.
She turned.
Opened the door.
And walked out.
But this time
Her steps weren’t steady.
Her mind wasn’t calm.
Because now she knew the truth.
Nathaniel Hale didn’t just remember her.
He knew things he shouldn’t.
Things she had buried.
Things that could destroy everything.
And if she wasn’t careful
He would use them.
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