Chapter 6

Ava’s pov.

Liam stood by the window in his study room, one hand tucked into his pocket. He was barefoot, in dark trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms. He looked casual.

He glanced over at me.

“You’re up. When I got back, Mrs. Hart said you were taking a nap.” he said.

“Yes I am. I have been waiting for you to get back and when I heard you were, I decided to come meet you here.”

“We’re going out tonight.” He said suddenly.

“Out?” I repeated.

“Charity gala,” he said. “Technically a corporate dinner with a cause so people feel better about the price of the wine.” He waved a hand like it wasn’t worth his breath. “You’ll come with me.”

My mouth went dry. I took a step closer. “Okay.”

“I’ve already told PR you’ll be at my side.” He said it like he was talking about a shipment arriving on time. “You’ll need something to wear. Something… fitting.”

“Meaning?” I asked. It came out lighter than I felt.

He let his gaze move over me. “Meaning you’re my wife,” he said, voice smooth and flat. “So you should look the part.”

I nodded once. “I can manage that.”

“Good.” He moved behind the desk and lifted a slim black box like it was part of a ritual. “There’ll be cameras at the entrance, at the step-and-repeat, and probably even inside. People will try to catch us off guard. Smile when you want to scream. Laugh when someone says something awful. Don’t answer questions; that’s my job. If anyone corners you, mention the foundation and hand them to me.”

His voice went even lower on the last part. “And stay close.”

He pushed the box across the desk. I reached for it, Inside lay a diamond neck piece. Simple and expensive. It looked so beautiful that it kept me staring.

“It was my mother’s,” he said. “Wear it tonight.”

I looked up. “Are you sure?”

“It’s what she wore when she had to pretend,” he said.

“Pretend what?” I panicked. Did he know??

“That she liked those rooms full of men who believed they owned the city.” He paused, his eyes finding mine. “You’ll do fine.”

Relief washed over me at his response. I closed the box. “What time?”

“Car at seven. We’ll arrive at seven-thirty. We stay an hour, maybe two. We leave before anyone gets drunk enough to be honest.” He leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. “I’ll have a stylist send up some options. Unless you already have something.”

“Nothing that belongs in your world,” I said before I could help it.

His gaze flicked over me again, slower this time. “You belong,” he said. “That’s the point of tonight. You are my wife and it’s time the world knows that.”

I felt my heart warm at his words. If only he meant what he said. No, it was the test. The first one. If I slipped, if I said the wrong name, the wrong story… it could all end in a snap.

“Did you see the headlines today?”

“Yes.” He answered curtly. “That’s why I demanded you be at my side this night. It won’t be a rumor anymore but a fact.”

“Oh.” I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea. I rather remained out of the public eyes till I achieved what I came for. I am yet to know who sent me the envelope earlier now this. “Before the accident you wanted our marriage private. Why this?” I asked trying to convince him. I really needed not to be seen.

He looked at me with so much softness. “I am still yet to understand how I would have a beautiful wife and decide to hide her from the world.”

I felt my cheeks get warm at the compliment. Did Liam Vance just call me beautiful?. Where is the man I know?

“What of if someone asks how we met?” I asked.

“We keep it simple,” he said. “Tell them what needs to be known. Be careful of whatever you say.”

I nodded. “And if someone asks something you don’t remember aside from that?”

“Then you answer for us,” he said softly. “Because you remember.”

“Of course.”

He straightened. “Good. Mrs. Hart will arrange the fittings. If anyone from PR calls you, ignore them and send them to me. And, Ava?”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t I give you a ring when we got married?”

Shit. How could I forget something this important.

I immediately switched into sad expression like someone trying to remember something. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“I lost it.” I said with my face down. After a long pause I glanced up to see Liam staring up at me with a skeptical look.

“I will get you another.” He finally said. Wow, that easy?

“I’m really sorry.” I repeated. “I didn’t mean to loose it.”

He nodded once, and I left before my legs could show his effect on me.

In the hall, I exhaled. I pressed my palm to my belly and felt the tension there. For a moment in there I thought I had been caught.

Mrs. Hart was waiting in the dressing room when I reached it with two garment bags and a smile.

“I had these sent over,” she said. “We’ll see what works best.”

I let her unzip the first bag. Black silk spilled out like night. The second was a deep green that made my skin look warmer, my eyes darker. I touched both and tried to imagine standing on a red carpet with flashes bursting in my face, Liam’s hand firm at my back. Liam, who believed me.

“You’ll be lovely,” Mrs. Hart said, a hand on my shoulder. “Hold your head up. Let them see you.”

If they saw me. if they truly saw me, would they recognize a liar?

I swallowed. “Will you help me with hair and makeup?” I asked.

“Of course,” she said. She squeezed my shoulder. “It’s just a room and just a night. You can survive a room.”

“Can I survive a hundred cameras?” I tried to joke.

“You can survive anything for an hour,” she said. “And if you can’t, you leave.”

I thought of his voice. “Stay close.” He said. The neck piece waited in its box on hand. I placed it down to admire the dresses once more.

The green dress called to me. I think is what going to be perfect for me. I reached for it.

This was my first test in his world. I would not panic. I would not trip. I would learn the script and hold my lines. I would be the wife everyone expected to see.

I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to see what they would see.

Mrs. Vance. That’s what they will all call me. I needed to play my role right, I needed to focus. I knew what I signed up for when I hatched this plan and I wasn’t planning on quitting or failing that easily. I won’t let Liam or anyone get to me.

Don’t slip, I told my reflection. Don’t slip.