Some laughed, others murmured congratulations.
Lucas froze, his face pale. He stepped forward without realizing it, then halted.
Zayden turned to Ava, his eyes softening.
"Smile," he said quietly. She obeyed, smiling faintly.
Zayden lifted his glass, and said to the audience, "Thank you."
The moment passed, as music and conversations returned even louder.
Lucas stood, his wine glass midway to his lips, his gaze fixed on her. His eyes were raw with hurt, that struck her chest like a knife.
She hadn't expected to see him. Not here, not now. Their past still lingered between them.
Ava looked away first.
Zayden pulled her closer; his hand rested firmly on her waist, as if to remind anyone watching that she belonged exactly where she stood.
Lucas finally tore his eyes away from her.
"You did well," Zayden said.
"You didn't warn me about this earlier," Ava complained.
"I did tell you this was a public appearance."
Ava stayed quiet, biting her lips nervously.
The noise returned, laughter and voices filling the room.
Zayden led her through the crowd, his hand firm at her waist. People spoke to him like nothing had changed, like he hadn't just turned her world upside down.
She answered when spoken to, and smiled when expected. It all felt rehearsed.
Her eyes swept the room with hopes of seeing Lucas, but he was gone.
Zayden saw her tense slightly and leaned closer. "Focus," he said.
She nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
Time passed quickly, and when Zayden glanced at his watch, she felt relieved.
"It's late, we should go," he said, and Ava gave a small nod.
They excused themselves and left quietly. Outside, the night air felt cool against her skin. Ava sucked in air as they got into the car, the door closing softly behind them. She realized how tense she had been.
Her thoughts returned to Lucas, his face, the hurt he hadn't hidden.
When they got home, the house felt quiet, empty, almost too still.
Zayden loosened his tie and set his jacket aside. "Want something to drink?"
"Yes. Wine."
He looked at her and nodded. "Red?"
"Yes."
He poured two glasses and handed one to her before sitting across from her. Ava sank onto the couch, holding the glass with both hands.
They sat quietly for a moment.
Then she laughed. It slipped out before she realized, startling even herself. Zayden raised his brows slightly, confused.
"I'm married," she said, shaking her head.
"Legally," Zayden said, and laughed softly.
Ava took a sip of her wine, then another. The tension had eased from her shoulders.
"This is not how I expected tonight to go," she murmured.
He watched her calmly. "Life rarely goes as planned."
She shifted, leaning toward him a little. "And you… stayed so calm at the event."
"I had to."
She studied his face, eyes half-closed. "Do you ever get nervous?"
"Rarely."
She gave a soft, tipsy laugh. "I figured."
"You know, Lucas… he always hated events like that," she murmured, cheeks warm, her words slurring slightly from the wine.
Zayden glanced at her, his fingers tapping lightly against the side of his glass.
"He said people smiled too much when they wanted something. He'd stand beside me, and... and whisper jokes just to make me laugh," she went on, leaning slightly against the couch.
Her words caught in her throat. "I thought… I thought he'd fight for me, for us."
Zayden said nothing, staring blankly at her.
Ava moved closer. Her fingers brushed his cheek, then rested against his face.
"Why didn't you fight for us? Why did you let them win?" she whispered, tears falling.
Zayden stiffened.
For a moment he didn't move. Then slowly, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. His eyes took her in, her clear skin, well shaped nose, soft, moisturized lips, and eyes that seemed to shine even in the dark.
How have I never noticed this before? he thought, stunned.
"You aren't talking to the right man," he said softly.
She didn't hear him. Her eyes closed, and she leaned in.
And kissed him.
He didn't pull away at first.
Ava's lips brushed his, carrying the faint taste of wine. She lingered for a second too long, as if she expected him to pull her closer, or stop her entirely. Her hands rested against his face.
Then reality hit him.
"Ms. Morre," he said quietly.
He took her wrists gently and lowered her hands, leaning back enough to create space.
Her eyes jerked opened. She blinked, realizing what she had done.
Her lips still carried the faint taste of wine, but her thoughts were clearer now.
"I… I thought…" her voice trailed, as heat rushed to her face.
She pulled back fully, covering her mouth. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I thought you were…"
She couldn't say the name.
Lucas.
The name hung between them without being said.
Zayden breathed out and put his glass down. "You're drunk."
She shook her head weakly. "Not that drunk."
"Enough," he said quietly.
Ava laughed nervously and stood up. "Tonight was a mess. I embarrassed myself."
You didn't," he said.
She turned to him, and said, "I kissed my husband thinking he was someone else."
"You kissed me because you were hurting. That's different."
Ava sighed, the fight leaving her all at once.
"I still love him, or maybe I love who he used to be. I don't know," she said.
Zayden watched her closely, noticing her hands fidgeting, and how her tough act had faded.
"You're allowed to feel that. This arrangement doesn't erase your past."
She looked at him, surprised. "You aren't annoyed?"
"No."
"Not even a little bit?" she asked.
"Trust me when I say I'm not," he assured her.
She swallowed and nodded. "Thank you."
She rubbed her arms, suddenly exhausted. "I think I need to bed."
"Agreed."
He stood and motioned to the stairs. "I will make sure you get upstairs safely."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to fall."
She took a step, then another, her legs still unsteady from the wine.
Zayden held her firmly until she regained her balance. She laughed quietly, embarrassed but relieved.
""Okay, maybe the wine hit me a bit harder than I thought" she admitted.
He guided her upstairs, his hand resting lightly on her elbow. At her door, she paused and looked at him.
"Mr. Zayden?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you… for tonight."
He nodded, and said, "Get some rest."
She gave a small smile. "Goodnight, Mr. Zayden."
"Goodnight, Ms. Morre."
She closed the door behind her. He stared at the door for a moment, lost in thought.
He had noticed Ava before, of course. But tonight, without her usual walls, she caught him off guard.
This arrangement was meant to be simple. He suspected it wasn't anymore.
Morning would bring consequences, and keeping things professional was about to get harder.