Ethan's words pierced her like a blade. His eyes staring straight at her, no blinking, no movement, just deep stares.
"So…what now?" She whispered and swallowed real hard.
Ethan signed and took a step back, not too far. He shove his both hands into his pocket and looked at the marbled floor.
"Now, we'll set rules"
"Rules??" Ava let out a scoff "who sets rules when in need? You need my help right now, you know?"
Ethan said nothing at first, circling her slowly "Miss Jordan, you saw something you were not meant to see" Ava's face stiffened in seriousness. "Say a word and you'll have yourself to blame"
Ava threw a cold glance at him. She should have been scared of what he just said, but then it didn't feel like a threat to her. It felt like he was stating facts.
"You're going to help me Ava Jordan, or should I say Tia Starr, and I'm going to give you lots of money" His voice rang calmly.
Ava bit her lips as though she had been searching for her voice "just to pretend to be your wife?"
"Don't flatter yourself…it's fiancé. My father will only hand over the empire to me when he sees I'm settled. He's the kind of man that feels having a family will make a man responsible" Ethan explained, hands akimbo "that's where you come in"
"What if I can't do the job properly?"
"Then I'll assume you intend to expose what you saw" he whispered "your choice to make"
Ethan turned to work away "you start tomorrow, driver picks you up by 9a.m. Send your account details to the number you called, make sure to get yourself something to look good in"
"I need time to think-…" Ava stammered
"You don't. You need the money and I need a fiancé. You may go now" Ethan said and walked to the door.
Ava stood still for a while. He was right, but he did not need to sound controlling. He needed her to make this work afterall. As she stepped out, chills ran down her spine. She had not accepted the proposal yet but in a way, she felt in the middle of everything already.
********************************************************
Later that evening, Ava sprawled across the couch. It seemed like she was watching the television, but she wasn't. Her thoughts were buried in her conversation with Mr Ethan from earlier. Her mind was spinning so fast, she could barely breathe.
Mia walked into the sitting room, carrying a bowl of cereal and wearing a soft smile.
"You got home late, you have a new sneaky link? Or-…?"
Ava laughed "I can't even remember when last I thought of having a sneaky link"
"What happened"
Ava sat up a little straight "you won't believe if I tell you"
"You always trust me Ava" said Mia as she sat beside Ava
"Ethan Miller hired me"
"Oh my heavens!!!" Mia blinked repeatedly "how did he even meet you?" She paused "or wait, now you're lying to me"
"I'm not" Ava replied, her voice cracking.
Ava explained everything, the mansion, his looks and personality from what she encountered, his proposal, the threat that felt subtle. She showed Mia the texts from that morning and finally talked about the scene she couldn't unsee from that night.
Mia listened quietly and with rapt attention.
Mia leaned closer, too calm, too attentive, her fingers tapping lightly on her knee, matching the rhythm of Ava's nervous pacing. It made Ava's stomach twist. She wanted comfort from her best friend, but instead she felt watched… studied… like Mia was fitting pieces together for reasons Ava couldn't see yet.
When Ava finished, she placed a hand on her thighs "Ava, do you trust me?"
Ava nodded innocently
"I can fill in for you if you really don't want to you know" said Mia
Ava frowned,how had Mia gotten just this from all her explanations.
"Maybe this is meant for me. You know I'm better at leading men on" Mia continued
"Not this man that I don't trust Mia, he may be dangerous"
"Not too dangerous for me to handle, love" Mia let out a soft smile and moved her hand from Ava's thighs to her face.
"No. I'll handle it myself" Ava slapped Mia's hand off her face "it's my job and I'll do it" she angrily stood up from the couch and headed to the bathroom. Something about everything Mia said made her very uneasy. She went into the bathroom, leaving her phone unlocked on the couch.
Mia watched her loathsomely until she got into the bathroom. The moment she closed the door, Mia picked up Ava's phone.
She typed a number she had memorized while Ava while telling her the story. A number Ava said she wasn't going to call for a while till she's done thinking.
Ethan Miller
She picked up her phone and inputed the number on it, then sent a text.
"Hello Mr Miller, we need to talk about Ava"