chapter 5
1028 Words
It was unreal the whole way to Blackwood Tower. Ava asked herself the same question again and over.
What are you doing?
The response remained the same.
protecting Ethan.
Nothing else was important, not her ego, Not her liberty, Not the unpleasant feeling she got from Damian Blackwood.
Only Ethan.
Blackwood Tower's lobby was just as frightening as she had remembered.Workers moved purposefully, no one grinned, No one stayed… The woman behind the reception desk got up as soon as she walked up to it.
"Miss Sinclair."
Ava scowled. "I’m sure you know who I am?"
The woman flashed a pleasant grin.
"Mr. Blackwood has been anticipating your arrival."
He had, of course. Ava felt her stomach tighten… She was waiting outside Damian's office once more after a few minutes of being ushered there. Before she could knock this time, the doors opened, As though someone had been observing, waiting. She shuddered at the thought.
Damian was by the window. Just as she had left him the day before. Behind him, the city itself extended. icy and far away. Like the man himself, As she came in, he turned. His eyes instantly fell on the folder she was holding. the contract, His face flashed with something.
satisfaction.
She nearly missed it since it was gone so fast.
"You came." He sounded so assured that Ava detested it.
"You predicted that I would."
"Yes."
She was annoyed by the assurance in his response. She approached him and placed the contract on his desk.
"I don’t have enough time."
"No." He spoke in a composed tone. "You don't."
Ava's jaw tightened. "I want answers before I sign anything."
Damian said nothing.
"I deserve all of that."
He watched her for some moments and shook his head after that. "No."
She felt a wave of disbelief. "No?"
"No."
Ava gave a sour laugh. "You don't explain why you want me to marry you?"
"Yes."
"Are you crazy?"
His face didn't change. "No."
There was an overwhelming impulse to hurl something at him. Rather, she inhaled deeply. "Why me?" Quiet. "Why isn't there another woman?" More quiet. "What is the purpose of a marriage contract?"
Nothing. Ava gave him a frustrated look. At last, Damian said something.
"You'll know when the time comes."
She lost her patience. "Time shouldn't exist! There ought to be right now!
There was silence in the room. Damian’s eyes darkened slightly. She believed she glimpsed feeling beneath all that control for the first time. suffering. Before she could be sure, it disappeared.
"You want your brother to be set free." He now spoke in a quieter tone. dangerously serene.
"I want my answers."
"You can’t have both."
Ava froze. She was taken aback by the raw honesty. No deception, Only the truth. A decision. Her brother. or her enquiries.
She felt nauseous at the realization. because she was already certain of the option she would select. Damian pulled open a drawer. took out a fountain pen.
Then put it next to the contract.
It was almost sacred. Lastly. Ava gazed at the writing tool. Her future is just a few inches away. One signature. It would only require that. Everything would alter with just one signature. She considered Ethan. His voice was scared. The terms of his plea deal. His future was vanishing in front of her. She picked up the pen slowly. Her hand shuddered. Not from ambiguity. out of terror.
Because she understood in her heart that she wasn't merely signing a contract. She was giving a stranger her life. A hazardous outsider. There was an oppressive hush in the office. After that, she signed. Sinclair, Ava. Almost immediately, the ink dried.
They were silent for a moment. Neither made a move. The room was filled with an odd vibe. As though an important event had just occurred. Something that cannot be changed. Damian gazed at her signature. longer than is necessary.
When he finally looked up, there was something odd in his gaze. Something she couldn’t identify. relief. She felt uneasy with the realisation.
Why would he appear relieved? This was what he wanted. Not her.
“Now what?”
With caution, Damian shut the folder. He never took his eyes off hers. "Now?" A small smile came to his lips. It was the first sincere smile she had seen on his face. And for some reason, it was more terrifying than his icy demeanour.
"Now, Mrs. Blackwood..." Ava's heart skipped a beat. The title didn't sound right. foreign. As if it were someone else's. "We tie the knot tomorrow."
Her breath caught.
Tomorrow?
Everything was moving too quickly. Far too quickly. Damian's phone rang before she could argue. His face instantly became stern. He responded. listened and nodded when the call had ended. There was something dangerous in his eyes. Ava questioned, "What happened?"
Damian gave her a look. "The plea deal."
Her stomach fell. "How about it?"
A slow grin appeared on his face. Predatory and victorious. Ava froze, "It's been withdrawn."
The space whirled. “And Ethan?”
“He‘ll not be signing anything today." Inside her chest, hope exploded. She was able to breathe for the first time in days. Her eyes were full with tears. It was successful.l. Damian had fulfilled his commitment.
And it Rather scared her. Because if he were capable of doing this...
What more could he do?
Damian moved in closer, as though he could read her thoughts. He was close enough for her to sense his presence. It was close enough to cause her anxiety.
"One more thing."
Ava took a swallow. "What?"
His grey eyes met hers. chilly. intense and possessive. Then he uttered the words that made her shudder.
"From this moment on..."
He took one cautious step toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. A surge of discomfort settled deep in Ava's chest as her breath halted in her throat. She was unable to move despite her instincts telling her to retreat. All she could do was stand there, frightened by the intensity of his gaze. And then, He continued more softly and lower,
“You are MINE.”
- Writer
