"Sebby, what's she talking about?" Natasha asked, flipping her hair. The tips hit Ava's face and she glared at her. "Tell her about me, Sebby."
This woman was delusional, how could she say such a thing?
All eyes settled on Sebastian for some kind of confirmation but he remained silent.
Ava grinned at Natasha and inched closer towards her. "Well, that's all in the past now my darling. I'm his fiancée now."
Natasha opened her mouth to say something but she noticed the women around them were already whispering under their breath.
She didn't want to become the center of attraction especially if Ava would come out looking perfect.
"We will continue this conversation later."
"Bye now." Ava chirped, waving her hands with a smile irritating Natasha further.
With one final glare shot at Ava, she walked away holding her head up high even though she was boiling and seething on the inside.
"Natty! Wait for us." The women sccruied off after her and Ava shook her head.
It was just like in the soap opera she used to watch. This party was crawling with opportunists.
Well it was a good thing Sebastian had brought her along as his date.
Later on, as the party went on in full swing, Ava was socialising and mingling as if she was used to these kinds of scenes.
Sebastian frowned as yet another woman walked past him without stopping to greet him like they usually did at these kinds of events.
Meanwhile, Natasha watched Sebastian all night from a distance noticing how his eyes never strayed from Ava as she talked to different people.
Natasha couldn't understand how Sebastian could bring such a woman with him as his date.
The woman had to be blackmailing him or else why would he bring her?
She was going to get to the bottom of it.
***
The event was over and all the guests were filling out of the room. Some were already waiting outside the hotel for their drivers to bring the cars.
Sebastian helped Ava down the stairs and released her arm, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
He dialed the driver's number and waited. "Bring the car." He instructed and slipped his phone back into his pocket after the call ended.
"That was so much fun! I've never seen these kind of people before, only in the movies of course. I have never been around that much money in my life. Is this what your world is like?" She asked, staring up at him as they waited for the driver to bring the car. "I wish I can do this everyday."
Sebastian ignored her, his hands tucked inside his pocket. Ava continued talking despite his cold demeanor.
"Did I do my job well? Oh please tell me I did my job right!" She giggled and continued. "I had so much fun acting today. Imagine, I'm your fiancée!" She giggled again and Sebastian sighed in irritation.
Did she ever stop talking?
The driver parked the car in front of them and Sebastian sighed in relief, opening the back door for her. "Get in."
Ava did as she was told but didn't stop talking. Sebastian hung his head and entered into the car as well, facing the window this putting some distance between them.
"So, how did I do? Were you impressed?"
'She had done pretty well for someone who has never been to this kind of eventt before.' Sebastian thought, staring out the window.
The women at the party had stayed clear of him after the scene with Natasha and Ava.
All because she had introduced herself as his fiancée.
Perhaps Ava could do what he hadn't been able to do all these years. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to keep her around.
After all, if she could keep those women away from him, he'd pay her any amount she asked for.
"You're so deep in thought. I bet you can't believe how well I acted my part tonight." Ava shrugged and he looked at her.
"I have a proposition for you, Ms. Ava." He wound up the window separating the driver's side from the back seat and Ava looked at him. "I need you to act as my fiancée."
"I don't understand, I already did. Did I do something wrong?" She was frowning now and Sebastian shook his head.
"I will attend more events like this one in the future and all you have to do is pretend to be my fiancée. Once you agree to it, I'll give you anything you want."
Ava's expression was one of shock. She opened her mouth to reply and closed it again, repeating the action multiple times.
He sat up straight facing the window again. "You don't have to give me a reply now…."
The window separating them opened and the driver smiled. "I apologize for interrupting your conversation sir but we have arrived at the lady's house."
Sebastian nodded and the driver got down from the car going to Ava's side to open it.
He held it open and Ava thanked him, grabbing her purse. Sebastian grabbed her by the hand and forced her to look at him.
"I will give you whatever you ask for. and more, just name your price." He released her hand and she got down, thanking the driver again.
The door closed behind her and she stood there watching wordlessly.
Sebastian rolled down the window and looked at her. "I forgot to mention. You only have between now and tomorrow to decide and get back to me. I'm giving you twenty-four hours to make up your mind and then the offer is off."
He sat up straight and wound up the glass and patted the driver's seat. "Let's go."
Ava just stood there, gaping in shock as the car drove away. This was something she only saw in the movies she loved to watch.
Was her life going to be like one of those movies if she accepted his offer?
“Now smile for the camera my sweet,” The photographer ordered and Ava gave the best smile she could muster. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much and frankly she was getting tired.When she had seen the ad for models needed by a food industry, she had been reluctant to accept it of course. But a part of her hoped that it would give her a boost into the world of modeling. But she hadn’t signed up for this! She glanced down at the bowl of cereal she was supposed to be eating from and her lips curled slightly in disgust. It looked a lot like some gray mashed concoction and it tasted just as bad as it looked. Even with the milk slobbering all over it.“Smile Ava!” The director yelled, suddenly jolting her out of her thoughts.“I’m sorry,” She muttered quickly, bowing her head in apology and gave a wide grin as if she was so damn happy to be holding a bowl of shitty food. Mahn, was this how her life would continue?Not if you accept his offer, her mind quipped.Ah yes.There was Sebastian Ba
“Connections,” Ava said simply, a serious look on her face. Her pretty blue eyes blinked surreptitiously at him, holding his leveled gaze.Connections? Sebastian wondered, inclining his head as he studied the profile of the woman before him. For a woman who looked so dainty despite her tall frame, she was quite bold. His eyes wandered down the rest of her body. At least the rest he could see as she sat across from him. She wore a pink cashmere sweater and a beige dress right underneath. He couldn’t see her lower half since she was sitting, but her torso was visible.And it was a very beautiful torso. “What do you mean?” He asked, clearing his throat awkwardly, forcing his eyes to look away from her heaving chest back into her clear ones. “I want to continue modeling.” She explained, the serious look on her face slowly replaced with excitement. Her eyes glazed dreamily and it seemed she stared at space when she continued speaking. “I want to make it big in modeling. It has been my dr
“Yo Kim!” A blonde guy yelled, running across the field to a girl sitting in the bleachers. Her caramel brown hair was tied into two buns on either side of her head, with little strands falling across her face. Her toffee brown eyes eyed the approaching guy warily, while her hands gripped the book in her hands tighter. “What’s up Ash?” She asked when he finally reached her. He panted heavily, doubling over as he wheezed. Kim chuckled. “For a guy who plays rugby, you sound pathetic. Quit pretending, fool.”Ash chuckled, straightening up. He towered over Kim’s short curvy stature, grinning widely. “You always get me,”“Oh please,” Kim rolled her eyes. “Don’t make this more than it seems. What do you want?”Ash’s gray eyes fell on the black book in her hands and shifted back to her face. “You?”The girl snorted and grabbed her bag off the bleachers, shoving the book into it just before Ash could reach for it. “You don’t fool me, you idiot! I know you want the book!” She yelled.“Come on
Chapter 8Ava's phone blared for the hundredth time that day. It had been ringing nonstop ever since the picture of her and Sebastian had dropped on the internet. The tabloids, papers, and news lines had all taken the bait, hook line, and sinker. And damn they worked fast. After they had shaken hands and signed the contract, Sebastian had a photographer on hand and a reporter. The rest was easy. Once the reporter got a record of them announcing their engagement publicly, and the photographer had taken a picture of them together, every media outlet in America had to have received it because then her phone couldn't stop screaming with calls. She winced as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, apprehension clawing at her belly. Kim had sounded pretty angry over the phone, calling her a traitor and demanding an explanation for it all.It was not surprising how agitated she was though. Kim had always been the restless one of the two sisters and the much more outspoken one as well. Un
"Hello,"Sebastian hadn't realized he had been holding his breath until he heard her voice. His chest relaxed and he took a deep breath before he could speak. Hilarious. He was acting like a green boy, one who was speaking to his crush in middle school and stuttering all over the place. "Are you home?" He asked, reclining on a couch in the living room.Damn, he couldn't remember asking anyone that question ever. He hadn't cared enough if they made it home or not. If Ava went missing just after he had announced their engagement to the world, that would be rather inconvenient. He had to make sure she was home safe and sound and ready to put his plan into action."Yes," she replied stoically. Ever since he had laid down his condition, it seemed an invisible barrier, one that hadn't been there before was erected between them. When he had told her not to fall in love with him, she had smiled brightly and told him it would not be a problem. And that had stung like hell!What did she mea
"Sweet Lord in heaven," she muttered as she stepped off the elevator.Sexy didn't seem to describe him properly. Her thighs quivered with each step she took toward him, her nipples strained to be seen, and her body ached to be touched. To be pressed up against his hard body. Her eyes took in every sinew and joint, the way his muscles rippled with the movements he made. Her mouth watered when her eyes drifted down to his backside. The sweatpants hung so low, it made her hungry to see how he looked beneath it all. Sebastian turned around when he was satisfied that the plating was perfect. He had heard the elevator ping open and had seen her step in through the corner of her eyes. And that was why he hadn't turned around immediately. He had been afraid he would say something as wimpy as 'You look like a goddess.' But she did look like one. Her sweet caramel hair fell around her shoulders in waves. He wanted to run his hand through it, feel the soft silkiness of it. And there were her
Sebastian grabbed a shirt and yanked it down his head angrily as if forcing himself to calm down. A few meters away, in his living room was the woman he had made a damned deal with, and fuck if he didn't regret it already. He hadn't paid attention. Okay, perhaps that was a lie. He had paid attention to her. Right from when they met. Ava was beautiful, he had to be blind not to see it. But he had been too pissed the first time they met to really ponder over her beauty. Hers was the type of beauty that slowly grew on you. With every look, every arch, every swipe of her hand, every sound that slipped from her mouth, he became more and more aware of how exotic her features were- and how much he liked them. "Fool," he whispered to himself as he stalked towards the door. He couldn't have her. She had grown attached to him right from when he saved her life. Women like her were like remora fishes. If he showed her just a bit of attention, she could do the utmost absurd thing of all times.
"I can't accept this," Ava stated, pushing the keys across the table. Sebastian felt like he had been smacked on the face. Hard. What on earth did she mean she couldn't accept it? "Is it too small?" He demanded. "you haven't even seen the house or car yet-" "Do not insult me!" She spat and he held his tongue immediately. She seemed really mad this time and would probably have his head. Which one? His mind quipped as his trousers grew uncomfortable. "What is the problem?" Ava took in a deep breath to calm her angry self. "I don't want your money or possessions. I believe I made that clear when I asked for connections in return." His jaw dropped at her words. She could not be serious! He had thought she had assumed that he would provide material things when she didn't ask for them. What woman could pass up on such an opportunity to make it big within a year? Heck even after their breakup, she would still be known as his ex-fiancee and retain the benefits that came with that title.