CHAPTER 2

AVA

The dim glow of the hotel bar’s chandeliers reflected off the polished counter as I wiped a glass absentmindedly. The scent of expensive cologne, whiskey, and cigars filled the air, mingling with the low hum of conversation and soft jazz drifting from the speakers. But my mind was far from the bustling atmosphere around me.

I couldn’t stop thinking about them.

The men who had shown up at my door. The deal they had placed in front of me. The absurd amount of money they had promised in exchange for one job. A job they had detailed with chilling clarity.

Drag Mr. Colton, my boss, into an absurd scandal.

Their instructions were simple yet sinister. Get him drunk, lure him into a compromising situation, and make sure he believed I wanted it. And once he crossed that line—whether willingly or under the illusion that he had consent—everything would be recorded. His reputation, his career, his entire legacy—obliterated overnight.

The thought made my stomach turn.

I wasn’t naive. I knew men like Mr. Colton had power, influence, and enemies. But I also knew he had never been anything but professional toward his employees. He wasn’t the type to cross boundaries, which was exactly why they needed me to push him over the edge.

But at what cost?

“Ava!”

The sharp voice snapped me back. My grip faltered, and the glass slipped, but I caught it just before it could shatter. Heart pounding, I looked up to find Elena staring at me, one brow raised in exasperation.

“You alright?” she asked, hands on her hips. “Because table five has been waiting for their drinks, and you’ve been standing there like a statue.”

I forced a smile, pushing my thoughts aside. “Yeah, sorry. Just... distracted.”

She scoffed. “No kidding. You’ve been on another planet since you walked in. If this is about that waste of space ex, don’t bother. He’s not worth the mental energy.”

If only it were just about Nathan. But this was bigger. The men in suits, their unreadable expressions, and the man who had spoken for them. His smooth yet commanding tone still echoed in my mind.

I have a job for you. And if you accept, I can get rid of that problem ruining your life—and your brother’s.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned back to the counter, desperate to focus on something else. “I’m fine, really.”

Elena studied me for a moment before sighing. “Alright. But if you drop another glass, I’m cutting you off.”

A small chuckle escaped me, grateful for her bluntness. It was a momentary distraction from the weight pressing down on me. Grabbing the tray, I filled it with the orders and carried it to the waiting guests, slipping into the routine I knew so well.

Yet, no matter how much I tried to ignore it, my thoughts kept circling back.

Was I actually considering it?

Could I even afford to say no?

The rest of my shift passed in a blur of clinking glasses, murmured conversations and the occasional burst of laughter from riches enjoying their expensive drinks. I moved mechanically, taking orders, mixing cocktails, and avoiding the temptation to check my phone for any new messages from them.

I tried to focus on anything but the offer loomed over me like a shadow. The bartender’s rhythm was familiar, and grounding, but my mind was fractured. Even as I smiled at guests and nodded at their jokes, I felt the weight of an invisible clock ticking down, pushing me toward a decision I wasn’t ready to make.

“Ava, you’re zoning out again.”

Elena nudged my side as we both reached for the same bottle of gin. I blinked, shaking myself out of it for the hundredth time tonight.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, stepping aside. “Just tired.”

She shot me a look. “You’re always tired, but this is different. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, the truth burning at the back of my throat. But what could I even say? That I was considering setting up our boss for a fall? That I could ruin a man’s life for the promise of freedom?

Instead, I forced a smirk and waved it off. “Nothing. Just thinking about how much I hate these rich assholes who never tip.”

Elena snorted, pouring the gin into a shaker. “Preach.”

I let the moment pass, throwing myself back into work. Customers came and went. The hours stretched on, and by the time the bar started emptying, my feet ached, and my nerves were frayed.

As I wiped down the counter for the last time that night, I felt the weight of my phone in my pocket. The decision was still there, waiting for me.

I sighed, glancing up at the mirrored wall behind the bar. My reflection stared back, tired and uncertain.

“Ava!”

I turned just in time to see Mark balancing a tray full of empty glasses. His expression was impatient as he nodded toward the back. “Help me take Louis XIII to Mr. Colton’s office.”

My heart thudded at my boss’s name, a wave of guilt washing over me even though I hadn’t made a choice yet.

I hesitated. “Wait, what?”

Mark was already grabbing a bottle of Château Pétrus and a glass, setting them on the tray beside the Louis XIII.

I swallowed hard, opening my mouth to ask if Elena could take it instead, but Mark cut me off before I could even get a word out.

“Please, be quick. Mr. Colton doesn’t want to wait too long.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

I had spent all night trying to silence my thoughts about him.

And now, like fate itself was forcing my hand, I was about to walk right into his office.

Mark grabbed what he had on his tray and shot me a look. "Let me hope you know your way to Mr. Colton’s office."

I nodded.

"Great," he said before turning away, balancing his own tray with practiced ease.

With a heavy exhale, I lifted the tray and carried the drinks up to the executive floor where Mr. Colton’s office was. The hallway was silent, the plush carpet muffling my footsteps as I approached the heavy wooden door. My heart pounded as I raised a fist and knocked.

“Come in.” His deep voice carried through the door, firm and unreadable.

I stepped inside, immediately struck by how good his office smelled—rich leather, faint whiskey, and a hint of something clean and expensive. Keeping my gaze lowered, even though I could tell he wasn’t interested in looking at me, I steadied myself. “Mark told me to bring this, Mr. Colton.”

He said nothing.

I walked to his massive desk, setting the tray down carefully before placing the bottle and glass onto the polished surface. The silence in the room felt heavier than it should have. Without another word, I slowly backed away, heading for the door.

But as my fingers grazed the doorknob, I hesitated.

A war waged inside me. I could warn him. I could tell him exactly what those men were planning—how they wanted to use me to ruin him. But then the money flashed in my mind. More money than I had ever seen. Enough to start fresh, to leave the country, to escape Nathan for good.

I tightened my grip on the knob, ready to walk out. But another thought crept in.

I was already being paid well. The salary at the hotel covered our needs—barely—but it did. It all went toward keeping a roof over our heads, paying off our debts, and making sure David had a future. Could I really betray someone for money when I had worked so hard to keep my integrity?

“Aren’t you leaving?” Mr. Colton’s voice startled me, cutting through my thoughts.

I swallowed hard and turned back toward him. My legs felt heavy as I walked back toward the desk, my hands clammy.

“I think I have something to tell you, Mr. Colton.”

He finally looked up, his sharp gaze settling on me. “Go on.”

I opened my mouth, but the words got stuck in my throat. How could I explain this without revealing too much? Would he even believe me? My pulse quickened as I shifted on my feet.

“I—” I hesitated, searching his face for any sign of patience. “It’s about something I heard. Something I think you should know.”

His expression remained unreadable as he leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “And what exactly did you hear?”

I glanced at the door, my nerves fraying. This was my last chance to back out. To take the money and run. But then I thought of David. Of the way he looked at me with trust.

Taking a deep breath, I met Mr. Colton’s gaze. “There are people who want to ruin you,” I said carefully. “And they’re willing to use me to do it.”

His brow lifted slightly, but he didn’t seem surprised. If anything, he looked… amused. “Is that so?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of my confession settle between us. “They offered me a lot of money. More than I could ever dream of.”

Mr. Colton was silent for a long moment, then finally exhaled and leaned forward. “Tell me everything.”