Share

Chapter 2: The Presenter

last update Huling Na-update: 2025-03-31 22:00:28

Ava

~~~

I’ll pay you $100,000. Each.

The words ring in my head as I make my way through the crowd, feeling weightless. I still can’t believe they were said for my work. I’ve never sold a single painting over a few hundred dollars, and even then, most of that money goes to my rent, the rest I spend on TV dinners that barely help me through the month. This was meant to be my big break, but I never thought it’d be this incredible.

After the presenter collects his finder’s f*e of 10% for each artwork, I’ll still be left with a whopping $270,000.

I nearly drop my phone, staring at the calculator app like it’s going to save my life, and technically it is.

That kind of money will change the trajectory of my life. Not only is it enough to get me out of that terrible apartment with a leaking roof and a horrible landlord who forces us to refer to her as The Madame, but I can finally afford to escape America entirely, and start my life somewhere the man from ”the incident” will never find me.

As I move past other artists and buyers, I can't help but feel like all eyes are on me. The fact I’m wearing one of my only good dresses; a green sweater dress I thrifted for 4 dollars because it matches my eyes, doesn’t seem to help. It feels like everyone here is trying to get a piece of me.

And it's all because of that man.

He’s standing alone, talking on his phone in words I can’t decipher. As I get closer, I realize it's because he’s speaking Spanish. Of course he’s the sort of man fluent in something that isn’t English.

What do I say to him? Thanks for saving my life? Are you sure you can part with all that money? As I step closer, I see the phone he’s clutching is an Axion Tech device, and all my anxiety about his money flies out the window. That’s the most expensive phone in the entire world.

As I scan through my mental catalogue of different ways to say ‘thank you.” I feel someone rest a hand on my shoulder and spin me around.

It’s the presenter, looking more pleased with me than he ever has.

“Ms Allard?” He says, his eyes fixed on my chest, ‘Please, may we have a word?”

Uncomfortable, I try and look back at the buyer, but the presenter is already ushering me out of view, taking me to a room away from everyone else.

The room is poorly lit, and this seems like something that’s done purposefully. The moment I’m in, I already feel the need to escape.

“Mr Presenter,” I say, barely masking my caution, "Can’t this wait until after the event? I'm sure the man who bought my paintings is waiting for me.”

“Call me Mr Riggs.” He says, eyeing my chest once again and ushering me into the only chair in the room. Reluctantly, I sit.

The dark room and the strange man with a predatory look in his eyes all feel too familiar, like “the incident” is happening all over again. I breathe out, not letting my anxiety take over. I'm a lot braver than I was 4 years ago, and no overweight presenter will move me to panic.

“Have I done something wrong?” I ask.

His smile stretches, “The opposite, Miss Allard. Your works have brought us more profit than any other artist all year! You should be proud.”

I try and feel proud, but my instincts about him only cause me to reach slyly for the knife I always keep in my pocket. I curse myself when I find my pocket empty, remembering security made me submit it.

“So why am I here if I’ve made you $30,000 in one day?” I say, naming his finder’s f*e.

“Because you haven’t made me only $30,000 in a day. You’ve made me $300,000.”

The blood drains from my face as I realize what he’s saying, “You want to take all my money? You asshole.”

The insult just happens to slip out, but Mr Riggs doesn't take it lightly. The smile on his face drops completely, and he rushes over to me. Before I can blink, his thick fingers are wrapped around my neck.

My vision clouds with stars as I lose breath, my heart threatening to beat too fast, but since "the incident," I’ve learnt to control my panicked breaths when attacked, instead saving my energy to find a way out. I messsed on stage today, but I wouldn't fuck up again.

“My money.” He spits at me, “You only made that kind of sum because I took a chance on a poor, desperate artist like you. I would rather die than let you run away with my earnings.”

A voice cuts fiercely through the room, “I can arrange your death if that is what you want.”.

Mr Riggs goes ghostly white, and I feel the pressure of his fingers release from my neck as I gasp for air, falling on my hands and knees as I try and still my traitorous heart.

There, with Mr Riggs and me, stands Mr Sinclair, his face furious.

Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   A pause

    Hi guys ❣️ These Reckless Vows is taking a pause… again. I’ll be making some revision over the next week to make the book bigger and better for all of you, but I promise the main plot stays the same. Love you, see you soon ❤️

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   Chapter 88: The Propostion

    Leonel ~~~ There are not many things that piss me off as deeply as the sound of Genevieve Garrish’s name. The woman who was right at the heart of my divorce, pushing every single one of Madison’s lies worldwide. I’ve been waiting for her to pounce on this new story, to use my father’s downfall as the chance to bring me low a second time, but for two weeks, she hasn’t said a word, even as other media outlets picked up the story. Maybe the reason for her delay is the same reason for her visit. “Your home is lovely.” She says, her award-winning smile plastered on her face. But I’m in no mood for pleasantries, not now, and especially not with her. “Is there a reason you’re in my home, Garrish?” I snarl, refusing to lean back in my seat. If I rest for even a second I might not be sharp enough to find Ava when we finally get a lead. The smile leaves her lying face, and in its place is the cold-hearted stare of a business woman. “I heard about your father’s arrest.” she sa

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   Chapter 87: The Search

    Leonel ~~~ There are 50 states in America, and I can’t find Ava in a single one. “Check it again!” I bark at Ryan as he shakily informs me that the search in Washington DC yielded nothing. She’s not been found in Washington. She wasn’t found in NYC. Not Pennsylvania or California or Utah or Minnesota or Florida or any other fucking city I’ve had my men sweep through. It’s like she vanished into thin air. One second finally telling me she loved me, and the next out of sight forever. I yank at my hair, not even wincing from the pain radiating off my scalp. It has become more sensitive over the past 2 weeks from my constant pulling, but I’ve grown to like the pain. When I feel like spiraling, it centers me. “Mr Sinclair.” Ryan says carefully, “It’s not like we aren’t all desperate to find Ms Allard, we just worry what all these national searches are doing for your reputation, especially since your father’s trial has begun.” I know what Ryan means. Having my men sweep th

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   Chapter 86: The Aftermath

    Oliver - 2 Weeks Later - ~~~ Let’s do a little recap, shall we? Two weeks ago, my boss threw the party to end all parties. An event loved by many, and envied by many more. The father fucking Sinclair Soirée. Well, Leonel’s father isn’t the only thing The Soirée fucked over. It led to the asshole’s arrest, Jaxon’s imprisonment, James dead, Leonel’s reputation still on the verge of collapse, but in a new way, and Ava… gone. That last one is the thing we’re all struggling to cope with the most. When the lights came on and Ava was no where to be found, Leonel nearly lost his damn mind. He ordered his men into the room, demanding they tell him where Ava and that psycho Riley went. “We didn’t see them.” Alaric insisted, and I swear the man nearly had tears in his eyes, “we didn’t see anything. The room was pitch black, it didn’t make any sense.” “So how the fuck did my fiancée escape with her psychotic half-sister in the dark when no one else could see?” Leonel roared,

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   PART 1 IS OVER 🎉

    GUESS WHO’S BACK?! Me. And guess what’s over???? The Sinclair Soirée. I cannot believe it spanned 24 chapters, and I cannot believe you survived all of them? Whats more, I can’t believe you sat through 84 chapters of Leonel and Ava. Thoughts? You guys know I’m obsessed with reading your comments. Anyway. I’m happy to announce that the First Part of These Reckless Vows has officially come to an end, and I’d be lying if I told you I haven’t shed a tear or 500. Thank you for making my first writing experience one to remember. Completing this first part could only be made possible because of all of you ❤️ Don’t worry, I’m not going to make a whole separate book. PART 2 will be continuing after this author’s note. What do you guys want to see in it? Do you think Ava made the right choice? What about Leonel? Let me know in the comments, and as always, whatever you guys want to see, ask me, and it might be given to you. Love y’all to the moon and back, and without further delay, I

  • These Reckless Vows: The Billionaire's Bride   Chapter 85: The Sinclair Soirée - Part 14

    Ava ~~~I always planned how I’d aim my first gun.It would have been pointed at Jaxon, and he’d have his hands up as he apologized over and over for ruining my life, for making me stay on the run more years than were necessary.I wouldn’t shoot him, but I would make him beg for his life, his happiness, the same way he has made me beg for mine over the years.What I never thought would happen when I aimed my first gun was that it would be at my billionaire fiancé, looking at me like I already shot him.“Do it,” I hear Riley say, desperation thick in her voice. She hasn’t said the true reason why she hates him, nor has she told us exactly how Leonel took her sister from her, but I’ve heard and seen enough of Leonel to know there’s no more justifying any of him behavior.“Ava,” he says, his grey eyes still fixed on me the way he looked at me when he told me he loved me. I hate him. I hate him for giving me that look even now.My hand shakes where it’s aimed at his chest, and the prickl

Higit pang Kabanata
Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status