Ava did not notice Mia's eyes following her into the bathroom. Her heart still raced, her chest still tight remembering how close his face was and how serious he sounded. She washed her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror
"Breathe…just breathe. You got this, you always do"
By the time she returned to the sitting room, she was calmer but looked pale. Mia was laying on the sofa, her expression was so blunt.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I will" said Ava as she sank into the couch.
As she sat there, her memory ran through everything- the night she saw the masked men, the expensive mansion where Ethan lived, how he got to find her, the subtle but terrifying way he spoke to her earlier that day. And now, Mia's proposal. She hadn't noticed that she left her phone unlocked.
"You want some?" Mia asked like nothing happened,pointing at the bowl of cereal she was holding
"Sure" Ava replied
Her phone buzzed, then buzzed again…and for the third time. Her heart jumped and her eyes lit in fear.
Ethan Miller: I'm on my way
Ethan Miller: In 10 minutes
Ethan Miller: Do not move
"Oh my fucking heavens" Ava exclaimed, sitting up "why is he-…"
Her fingers trembled in fear as she tried to dial him. But before the call connected, she could hear the growl of a car engine outside.
"Ava, is everything okay?" Mia innocently asked.
"No. He's here!"
"Who?"
"Ethan Miller"
Before she could realize, a heavy knock landed on the door.
Mia's eyes widened, in what Ava saw as shock, but truly was satisfaction.
Ava hurried to the door and opened it slightly but Ethan pushed it fully open. He filled the doorway like a shadow in a suit, his presence could be felt as command in the room.
Mia couldn't take her eyes off him, he was tall, broad and his jaw was tight with barely controlled anger.
"You asked me to come" Ethan said as his blue eyes locked onto hers,his voice thundering.
"No, I didn't" Ava stumbled back
"Don't play games with me. The address was yours"
"I swear I didn't" Ava was shaking.
Mia coughed from behind "Mr Miller, nice to meet you"
Ethan did not reply, rather he grabbed Ava by her wrist and led her outside "I'll get back to this. But we need to talk Miss Jordan"
His grip was not harsh but firm. He pulled her through the hallway and didn't stop until her head hit the wall behind her.
"Do you understand the rules of discretion?" He whispered, his face hovering inches from hers. "If you screw this up, I told you already…you'll blame yourself"
"I didn't text you. I haven't even thought of your proposal"
There was silence, the air thickened. Suddenly, Mia appeared in the hallway, her steps soft but steady.
"Mr Miller" she called out, folding her hands under her chest "Ava is not ready to handle a job like this"
She walked slowly to where Ethan stood and ran flirty fingers down his chest "I know how to handle powerful men like you"
Ava's head snapped toward her. She didn't know that betrayal looked like this, it sliced deep.
"Mia, what the hell-…"
Mia looked spitefully at her and back at Ethan "I know your secrets already and I won't expose. I also won't question your past and your decisions"
Ethan smiled, Mia smiled back with the feeling that he was impressed
"You're bold" he paused "reckless…..and stupid"
Mia flinched but tried to hide. Ethan moved his hands towards hers and threw them back at her "I don't work with desperate people, especially the ones who backstab their friends to prove a point"
Ethan turned to Ava "Grab your stuff. You're leaving with me right away"
"What?Why? I haven't even made up my mind yet"
"I don't care. I have a deal and we are starting today" Ethan said quietly.
Something about Mia's desperate act had triggered something deep and personal in him, and for a second, Ava wondered what kind of lies he had grown up around… and what they had done to him.
"You didn't even consider me" Mia cried, stepping forward
"Stay off my business young lady," Ethan snapped immediately.
But before Ava could leave to get her things, her phone buzzed and buzzed again.
Ava and Ethan's eyes locked first then Ava and Mia. The three of them looked at the screen
"Ava Jordan. We know your secret and what you witnessed at Seduction Eclipse that night. Meet us tonight or we'll make sure the wrong people find out, especially the press" Ava read out loud.
Her heart sank, her breath stopped. Mia grabbed the phone from her. Ethan yanked it from Mia.