Chapter 5: No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 5: 

[AVA’S POV]

I stared at him in complete disbelief as my body went stiff with shock, as his words sank in. Damon had to be out of his damn mind to say such a thing to me!

Mess around? Did he really just say that?

The air in the room felt suddenly suffocating. My skin prickled, my stomach twisting into tight knots. I had expected Damon to say something heavy when he started speaking, but not this. Not something so... disgusting.

I forced out a laugh, "You’re joking."

Damon exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck like this was just some difficult conversation—not the outrageous proposal it was. "I need you, Ava. Just for a few months. No strings, no pressure. You’d be doing me a favor."

"A favor?" My laugh was bitter. "You want me to sleep with you while you're married to my sister? You think I would do that?"

"I’m serious," he said, his voice low. "It's not even much of a big deal, Ava."

My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists. "You want me," I repeated my words slowly, trying to wrap my head around it, "to sleep with you while you’re married to my sister?"

He tilted his head slightly, watching me carefully. "It wouldn’t be like that."

"Like what?" I snapped, my voice rising.

His jaw flexed, but he remained composed. "Ava, Adrianna and I haven’t been... a real couple for a long time. You’ve seen it. You know it."

Stop," I cut him off, my stomach twisting. "You’re actually justifying this? You're one crazy ass man. You need to get your damn head checked."

He sighed, shaking his head as if I was being unreasonable. "Look, Ava, I know this sounds bad, but think about it. You’re not just my wife’s sister. There’s something between us. I know you feel it too. You and I—we have a connection."

I let out a bitter laugh. "A connection?" My voice dripped with disbelief. "I see the way you’ve been toying with me since I moved in. Playing these little mind games and making me question to myself." I shook my head. "That’s not a connection, Damon. That’s manipulation."

He exhaled again. "I’m not manipulating you."

"That’s exactly what you’re doing."

There was a long pause. Damon studied me in silence. Then, his next words made my blood run cold.

"What if I make it worth your while?" He asked, smirking.

I froze. "What?"

He leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching me like he was negotiating a business deal. "I know you’re trying to figure out your next move. You need a fresh start. I can help you."

I could only stare at him, my throat tightening.

"I can give you money," he continued. "Enough to make sure you don’t have to struggle. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything. It would be mutually beneficial."

For a second, I was speechless. Not just because of the offer but because of how easily he said it, like I was some transaction to be made.

I took a step back, my hands shaking. "I can't believe you," I whispered. "You’re actually trying to buy me."

Damon’s lips pressed into a thin line. "That’s not—"

"That’s exactly what it is!" My voice cracked, my emotions were beginning to go out of control. "You think I’m some kind of... escort you can pay off? My sister’s husband?!"

He didn’t even flinch. "I think you need stability. And I can provide that."

My body went hot with fury.

I took a step back, shaking my head. "You’re disgusting, Damon. Absolutely disgusting."

His expression didn’t change. If anything, there was something almost... expectant about the way he looked at me. Like he knew I’d react like this. Like he thought I’d change my mind.

The realization only made me angrier.

I turned on my heel, ready to walk away.

But then, Damon moved. Before I could react, he was in front of me, his hand brushing my arm.

I barely had time to register the movement before his lips were suddenly inches from mine. Panic shot through me.

I shoved him—hard. Damon stumbled back a step, surprised by the force.

"Don’t you dare touch me," I spat as my chest heaved.

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes growing darker. But I didn’t wait for whatever smug remark he was about to make.

I turned and bolted.

My feet carried me down the hallway as my vision blurred. I needed space. I had to get away from him. 

I darted inside and slammed the door, locking it before he could follow. My breath came out ragged. My hands shook as I pressed my back against the door.

My mind was racing. Damon was sick—terminally sick. But that didn’t justify this. It didn’t make what he said okay.

How long had he been thinking about this? How long had he planned to corner me, to dangle his money in front of me like some disgusting trade-off?

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wasn’t going to cry and I wasn’t going to give him that.

~~~~~~

The next morning, I woke up with one goal in mind—distance.  

Damon hadn’t tried to talk to me again after last night, but I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t. I needed to focus on something else. Something that didn’t make me feel like the ground was constantly shifting beneath my feet.  

Adrianna.  

She was still on that mysterious "business trip." And after what I’d overheard, I couldn’t ignore my gut feeling anymore.  

She was cheating.  I had no proof yet, but I knew it. I could feel it in my bones.  

I spent the morning doing what I did best—observing, thinking, piecing things together.  

Adrianna had left in a hurry. She had sounded... different. Nervous. And that call? She had spoken to someone who clearly wasn’t just a friend.  

Now, I needed proof.  I spent the morning in my room, scrolling through my phone, searching for anything that might give me a clue.  

Nothing.  

Adrianna had left little trace of where she had gone. No social media posts, no texts.  

I frowned, chewing my bottom lip.  If she was cheating, she was being careful.  

I stood up, pacing. How was I going to confront her? Should I be direct? Or should I wait, gather more proof?  

As I debated, my phone rang. The call was from an unknown number. I hesitated before answering. "Hello?"  

"Hi, is this Ava Smith?"  

"Yes," I said cautiously.  

"This is Jessica from Hamilton & Co. We reviewed your application, and we’d love to invite you for an interview."  

My breath caught. A job interview? Oh, Damn!  

"Oh," I exhaled, my voice breathless. "Wow. Yes! Absolutely!"  

Jessica chuckled. "We’ll send you the details via email. Looking forward to meeting you."  

I barely managed to thank her before the call ended. Minutes later, I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone. Then, slowly, a smile crept onto my lips.  

If I ended up getting this job, this would give me a fresh start, and a chance to leave this house; a chance to go as far away from my sister and her crazy husband.  

For the first time in weeks, I felt something close to hope.