Ava sat on the edge of her bed, her laptop open in front of her, the screen filled with spreadsheets and overdue notices. She rubbed her temples, trying to will away the pounding headache that had been her constant companion since the previous night. The image of her parents tied up and terrified haunted her, and the men’s threats echoed in her ears.
One week. That was all the time they’d given her to come up with an astronomical amount of money which was far more than she could ever hope to earn on her meager accountant’s salary.
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. It was her best friend, Layla.
“How’s it going? Have you figured out anything yet?”
Ava sighed, typing back a quick response. “No. It’s bad, Layla. Really bad. Nothing is coming forth anywhere.”
Within seconds, Layla was calling. Ava picked up, grateful for the sound of her friend’s voice.
“Ava, talk to me,” Layla said, her usual confident tone replaced with concern.
Ava let out a shaky breath. “They showed up at my apartment last night. They tied up my parents, Layla. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“What?!” Layla’s voice was sharp. “Ava, that’s insane. Did you call the police?”
“I can’t,” Ava said quickly. “You know how these things work. If I go to the police, they’ll make things worse. They want their money, and they’re not going to wait.”
“How much is it?” Layla asked hesitantly.
Ava hesitated, then told her the number.
Layla let out a low whistle. “Ava, that’s... that’s a lot. I don’t even think my parents could cover something like that without squeezing their foreheads in sweat”
“I know,” Ava said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve tried everything. I’ve been calling in favors, asking everyone I know for help, but it’s no use. I’m out of options and the interests keep piling up.”
There was a pause at the other end of the line. “What about... what about him?”
“Who?” she responded mindlessly, clueless of what she was talking about, until her brain suddenly clicked.
Ava’s stomach twisted. “Damien Cross?”
“Yes,” Layla said carefully. “I mean, you said he offered to pay you any amount in exchange for the contract marriage. It’s insane, but it’s not like you’re committed to him forever, right?”
Ava stood and began pacing the room. “Layla, I can’t just, he’s manipulative, cold, and—”
“And he’s your only option,” Layla interrupted gently. “I know you hate the idea, Ava, but your parents are in danger. You’d be protecting them by partnering with him.”
The words hit Ava like a punch to the gut. Layla was right, as much as she hated to admit it. Damien was her only way out. But the thought of tying herself to him, even temporarily, made her feel trapped.
“Think about it,” Layla said softly. “I’ll support you no matter what, but you don’t have much time.”
“I’ll think about it,” Ava murmured, though she already knew what she had to do.
***
Ava spent the next few hours making calls, visiting banks, and trying every avenue she could think of. She even went to the office of a wealthy former client, begging for a loan, but she was turned away at every turn. The debt was simply too large for anyone to jump in.
By the time she returned home, her body ached from exhaustion, and her heart felt heavier than ever. Her father was sitting in his armchair, staring blankly at the television, while her mother quietly folded laundry at the dining table.
“How was your day, sweetheart?” her mother asked, forcing a smile.
“It was... fine,” Ava lied, unable to meet her mother’s eyes.
“Don’t lie to me, Ava,” her father said quietly. “I know you’re trying to fix this, but it’s not your responsibility.”
“Yes, it is,” Ava said firmly, her voice breaking. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I won’t.”
Her father opened his mouth to argue, but Ava shook her head. “I have to go out for a bit,” she said, grabbing her coat.
“Where are you going?” her mother asked, worry etched on her face.
“I’m just... taking care of something,” Ava replied, forcing herself to sound calm. “I’ll be back soon.”
***
Damien Cross’s office was in the heart of the city, a sleek, modern building that screamed wealth and power. Ava had been here once before, for an unrelated work meeting, but she had never expected to return under these circumstances.
She took the elevator to the top floor, her nerves mounting with each passing second. When the doors opened, she was greeted by a stylish receptionist who eyed her curiously.
“Do you have an appointment?” the woman asked.
“No, but I need to speak with Mr. Cross,” Ava said, her voice steadier than she felt.
The receptionist raised an eyebrow but made a quick call. After a brief exchange, she nodded. “Mr. Cross will see you now.”
Ava walked down the hall, her heart pounding in her chest. When she reached the double doors to Damien’s office, she hesitated for a moment before pushing them open.
Damien was seated at his massive desk, his dark eyes fixed on her as she entered. He looked as polished as ever, his tailored suit impeccable, his expression unreadable.
“Miss Hart,” he said smoothly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Ava clenched her fists at her sides, refusing to let him intimidate her. “I’ve thought about your offer,” she said, her voice firm. “And I’m willing to agree to it.”
Damien’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “I see. And what changed your mind?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Ava said sharply. “I’ll do it. But I have conditions.”
Damien leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “By all means, let’s hear them.”
Ava took a deep breath. “This stays strictly professional. No emotional games, no manipulation. You clear my father’s debt, and I fulfill whatever... role you need me to play. After the contract ends, we part ways.”
Damien regarded her for a long moment, his eyes flickering with something she couldn’t read. “Agreed,” he said finally. “But you’ll find, Miss Hart, that my world doesn’t operate on simple rules. Be prepared for complications.”
“I can handle it,” Ava said, though she wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him or herself.
Damien stood, extending his hand. “Then we have a deal.”
Ava hesitated before shaking his hand, her stomach churning. As his fingers closed around hers, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just made a deal with the devil.
Ava’s decision to host breakfast for the staff had been a spontaneous one, born out of her desperation to connect with the people around her. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but the outcome was more than she could have hoped for.The staff, once distant and overly formal, began warming up to her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Smiles that were once reserved became genuine, conversations became more personal, and the previously cold atmosphere in the mansion started to thaw.****In the days that followed, Ava began spending more time with the staff, learning from them as they went about their tasks.One of the housekeepers, Maria, taught her how to fold fitted sheets perfectly, turning a mundane task into an art form. In the gardens, the groundskeeper, George, showed her how to care for the delicate roses that lined the pathways. Even in the kitchen, where Ava had once felt completely out of her depth, the chefs were patient and encouraging.“You’re a quick learner,” Gabrielle said on
Ava stood in the hallway outside Damien’s in-office, her arms crossed as she glared at the closed door. Moments earlier, his voice had thundered through the estate, demanding her presence. Whatever it was, Ava knew it would be unpleasant.When she finally stepped inside, Damien didn’t look up right away. He stood near the window, his back to her, tension radiating off him like heat.“You called for me?” Ava asked, her tone sharper than usual.Damien turned, his expression was filled with frustration. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on between you and Vanessa?”Ava stiffened. “I didn’t do anything to her. She’s the one constantly trying to humiliate me.”“And you let her,” Damien shot back, in a harsh voice. “You sit there and take it, and then sulk for days as if that’ll fix anything.”Ava blinked, caught off guard by his tone. “What do you expect me to do, Damien? She’s practically made it her life’s mission to destroy me and you are not doing anything about it!”Damien stepped
Damien's car roared through the quiet streets of the city. His grip was tight on the steering wheel as he sped past the street with his focus on getting home.Fury consumed his mind as he replayed the humiliating trap Vanessa had set for Ava. The sight of Ava’s tear-streaked face as she struggled to hold herself together at the party haunted him. Connor had briefed me on everything that happened, down to the emotional details.Vanessa had crossed a line, and he would definitely put her in the right place.She was lounging in her living room when Damien barged in without knocking. She barely had time to look up before he was upon her. His hand shot out, grabbing her by the collar of her silk robe and hauling her to her feet.“Damien!” she gasped, her hands clawing at his wrists. “What are you—?”“Enough!” Damien snarled, his voice was low and dangerous. His eyes blazed with fury as he tightened his grip just enough to make her squirm but not enough to harm her. “What the hell were you
Vanessa sat at the head of her grand dining table, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping rhythmically against her wine glass. The urge of a mischievous smile danced on her lips as she finalized the details of her latest scheme.“I just can’t rid of that pest. She makes me boil anytime I see her” she muttered as she stared into space“It’s all Damien’s fault. How could he tell me that I wasn’t worth it? I will make sure to drag him through the mud” her resolved hardening with every moment.She had decided to throw a “ladies’ soiree” at her estate and, of course, included Ava on the guest list. The plan wasn’t to welcome her but to humiliate her in front of an audience.Vanessa’s carefully curated guest list included her closest friends, each fluent in a different language. Their instructions were clear, they were to engage Ava in conversation to test her linguistic abilities.“If she’s going to pretend to be a globe-trotting heiress,” Vanessa had said with a sly grin, “let’s see her
Damien sat in his office, the city skyline sprawling behind him as he stared at his laptop, unfocused. He had been replaying Ava’s words in his head since their argument the previous evening."You treat me like I’m nothing more than a pawn in your game. Well, guess what? I’m human, and I’m allowed to feel hurt."She had snapped at him with a fire he hadn’t expected, and instead of dismissing her as he usually would, Damien found himself... conflicted. Her outburst had shaken something in him. She had every reason to feel hurt, yet he hadn’t known how to address her feelings without exposing his own.The truth was, he had been concerned when she had the allergic reaction at the gala. Seeing her discomfort and the way she had struggled to compose herself had stirred an unfamiliar emotion, one he had quickly masked with his usual cold demeanor. After all, showing vulnerability wasn’t part of the plan.“Dammit, I can’t seems to get her off my head,” Damien muttered, running a hand through
The sunlight streaming through the curtains did little to stir Ava from her bed. She had been awake for hours, staring blankly at the ceiling, her body was too heavy with exhaustion and her mind too clouded with doubt to move. The events of the previous night replayed in her head on an endless loop. From her embarrassing allergic reaction, Damien’s cold humiliation, to the silent judgment of the gala attendees.Nothing made sense anymore. This life she was living, this charade she was part of, had drained her of everything. It wasn’t just the physical toll of keeping up with Damien’s world; it was the emotional isolation that gnawed at her day after day.For the first time since she had arrived at Damien’s estate, Ava refused to leave her room. The breakfast tray left outside her door went untouched, and the knocks from the household staff were met with silence. Even Pierre, whose persistence often bordered on infuriating, was unable to coax her out.By midday, whispers began circulat