Chapter Eleven: Rules of Engagement

AVA

I stood there for what felt like hours, staring at my husband and his lover, waiting for someone to explain what I'd just walked into. The coffee cup in my hands had gone cold, but I couldn't seem to move or speak or even breathe properly.

Victoria slid off the desk with feline grace, smoothing down her skirt like nothing had happened. "Well, this is awkward," she said with a laugh that made my skin crawl.

"Not really," Liam said, straightening his shirt. "Ava understands the nature of our arrangement."

"Do I?" The words came out smaller than I'd intended.

Victoria gathered her purse and jacket from a nearby chair. "I should let you two discuss things privately. Liam, call me later. We have so much more to catch up on."

She paused beside me on her way out, leaning close enough that I could smell her expensive perfume. "Welcome to the family, darling. I do hope you can adapt to how things work around here."

The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone with my husband in a room that still carried traces of her presence.

"Sit down," Liam said, moving behind his desk like this was a business meeting.

"I'd rather stand."

"Suit yourself." He pulled out a file from his desk drawer. "We need to discuss expectations."

"Expectations?" I set the coffee cup down before I dropped it. "You mean like expecting my husband not to sleep with other women in our home?"

"This isn't our home, Ava. It's my home. You're a guest here."

"I'm your wife!"

"You're the mother of my child who agreed to a business arrangement in exchange for access to him. Nothing more."

The cold finality in his voice was like a physical blow. "The marriage license says otherwise."

"The marriage license is a legal document that protects my interests and ensures Eli's legitimacy. It doesn't create a romantic relationship between us."

"Then why have the charade? Why make me dress up and attend galas and pretend to be your loving wife?"

"Because appearances matter in my world. Having a wife makes me look stable, responsible. It's good for business."

"And Victoria? How does she fit into your business image?"

Liam's jaw tightened. "Victoria and I have an understanding that predates your arrival here. That understanding hasn't changed."

"What kind of understanding?"

"The kind that's none of your business."

I moved closer to his desk, anger finally overriding my shock. "It becomes my business when you're flaunting your affair in front of me and our son."

"Affair?" His laugh was bitter. "You can't have an affair when there's no actual marriage to betray."

"We took vows."

"We signed contracts."

"In front of a judge!"

"A judge who was paid very well to expedite the process and ask no questions."

I stared at him, seeing him clearly for the first time since this nightmare began. "You really don't care about anything but control, do you?"

"I care about results. And the result I want is a stable environment for my son."

"With his father's mistress playing house whenever she feels like it?"

"Careful, Ava." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "You're walking into territory you don't want to explore."

"Am I? Or am I finally standing up for myself and my child?"

"Your child is my child. And in case you've forgotten, I hold all the legal cards here."

"The prenup gives us both parental rights."

"Read it again. Specifically section fifteen."

My blood chilled. "What's in section fifteen?"

"A morality clause. Any behavior I deem detrimental to Eli's wellbeing can result in immediate termination of this arrangement and a return to the original custody agreement."

"What constitutes detrimental behavior?"

"Whatever I decide it constitutes." He leaned back in his chair, completely in control. "Jealousy, for instance. Making scenes. Questioning my judgment or my relationships."

"So I'm supposed to smile and wave while you parade your girlfriend around our son?"

"You're supposed to remember your place."

"And what place is that?"

"Grateful. Quiet. Compliant." He stood up and walked around the desk until he was close enough that I could see the gold flecks in his gray eyes. "You get to see Eli every day, Ava. You get to live in luxury, wear beautiful clothes, eat expensive food. All I ask in return is that you don't cause problems."

"Problems like having feelings? Like wanting to actually be a mother to my son?"

"Problems like forgetting that everything you have now exists because I allow it."

"You're threatening me."

"I'm clarifying the terms of our agreement."

I took a step back, needing distance from his overwhelming presence. "What if I refuse to follow your rules?"

"Then you go back to supervised visits twice a week in a CPS office while some social worker watches every interaction you have with your son."

"You wouldn't."

"I would. And I could make sure those visits become once a week. Then once a month. Then not at all."

"No court would allow that."

"Wouldn't they? When I present evidence of your erratic behavior, your inability to provide a stable home, your history of keeping Eli from his father?" His smile was cold. "I could paint a very convincing picture of an unfit mother, Ava."

"That's not what I am."

"That's what I'll make you appear to be if you force my hand."

I felt trapped, like the walls were closing in around me. "So I'm supposed to just accept that Victoria is part of our lives?"

"You're supposed to accept reality. Victoria has been in my life for five years. You've been here for five days. She understands me, understands my needs, understands my world."

"And I don't?"

"You're learning. But Victoria doesn't need to learn. She already knows."

"What does she know that I don't?"

"How to exist in my life without causing complications."

The word 'complications' hit me like a slap. That's what I was to him. Not a wife, not a partner, not even a person. Just a complication he was managing.

"I see," I said quietly.

"Good. Then we understand each other."

"We do. You want a decorative wife who asks no questions and makes no demands while you continue your real life with Victoria."

"Essentially, yes."

The brutal honesty was almost refreshing. "And if I can't do that?"

"Then you'll discover just how ruthless I can be when protecting what's mine."

"Eli is mine too."

"Eli belongs to whoever can best provide for him. Right now, that's me." He moved back to his desk, dismissing me. "I have work to do. Mrs. Henderson has your schedule for the afternoon."

I turned to leave, then stopped. "Does Victoria know about our arrangement? The real terms?"

"Victoria knows everything she needs to know."

"Which is?"

"That you're temporary."

That evening, I tried to put Eli to bed myself, but Elena insisted on supervising. "His routine is very specific, Mrs. Blackwood. Any deviation could disrupt his sleep patterns."

I watched helplessly as Elena efficiently changed his diaper, put on his pajamas, and settled him in his crib. When I tried to sing him a lullaby, she gently interrupted.

"He's used to classical music at bedtime. It's more soothing."

Eli fell asleep to Mozart instead of my voice.

Later that night, I couldn't sleep. The penthouse felt foreign and cold around me. I wandered to the kitchen for some water and heard Liam's voice coming from his study. The door was cracked open, and I could see him pacing while talking on the phone.

"The timeline needs to be accelerated," he was saying.

I moved closer, careful to stay hidden in the shadows.

"I understand the risks, but keeping this arrangement longer than necessary isn't practical."

There was a pause while he listened to whoever was on the other end.

"Victoria's right. The longer this drags out, the more complicated it becomes. Once I have full custody established, I won't need her anymore."

My blood turned to ice. He was talking about me.

"Six months should be sufficient to demonstrate stability to the courts. After that, we can file for modification based on changed circumstances."

Another pause.

"What circumstances? I'll think of something. Incompatibility, maybe. Or evidence that she's not adapting well to her new role." His voice got quieter, more calculating. "The point is, this arrangement was always meant to be temporary. I just need to make sure the custody situation is ironclad before I end it."

I backed away from the door, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. Everything made sense now. The marriage, the rules, the way everyone treated me like I was temporary. Because I was.

Liam had never intended for this arrangement to last. He was using me to establish himself as a stable family man for the courts, and once that was accomplished, he'd dispose of me and keep Eli.

I was nothing more than a pawn in a game I didn't even know I was playing..