BEDDING THE DON

Chapter One:

Ava's Pov.

Growing up, I always believed I was destined for something extraordinary. My mother called it wishful thinking, but I called it ambition. As a little girl, I would twirl around the living room, pretending the worn-out carpet was a runway. By the time I turned sixteen, I was walking real ones-small-time fashion shows in my hometown, nothing grand, but enough to fuel the dream.

That dream carried me to New York City when I was twenty. My big break was just a matter of time, or so I thought. Three years later, I found myself staring at Gerald Masters, the CEO of the agency I had worked tirelessly for, as he threw my career in the trash.

"Gerald," I began, gripping the edge of the chair to keep my voice steady, "I've done everything you asked. I've worked every gig, followed every rule. Why am I not on the roster for next season?"

Gerald leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at his lips. He was the kind of man who exudes power but lacked any trace of decency. "Ava, you're a beautiful girl, but you're not playing the game."

My stomach churned. "What game?"

He tilted his head, his smile widening. "The one where you stop pretending you're above a little give-and-take."

The weight of his implication hit me like a punch to the gut. "You're saying I should sleep with you?"

"Come on," he said, shrugging. "Don't act so shocked. You wouldn't be the first, and let's face it, your career could use the boost."

I stood up so quickly that my chair toppled over. "You're disgusting."

His smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "You're making a mistake, Ava. No one crosses me and comes out unscathed."

By the time I stormed out of the office, I knew he wasn't bluffing. Within hours, my name was blacklisted. No calls, no jobs, no explanations. My career, the one thing I'd sacrificed everything for was over.

When I got back to my apartment, the betrayal that awaited me made Gerald's sleaziness feel like a minor inconvenience.

"Jayden?" I called as I opened the door, my voice echoing through the small space.

The sound of laughter floated from the bedroom. I froze, my heart sinking. Slowly, I stepped into the hallway, the door to our room slightly ajar.

And there they were. Jayden, my boyfriend of three years, and Lila, my younger sister, tangled in the sheets of the bed we'd shared.

It felt like the ground had vanished beneath me. "What... What the hell is this?"

Jayden scrambled out of bed, his face pale. "Ava, listen, it's not what it looks like."

Lila sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest. She wouldn't even meet my eyes.

"How long?" My voice was quiet, trembling.

"Ava-"

"How. Long?" I demanded, my fists clenched at my sides.

Lila finally spoke, her voice barely audible. "A year."

I stared at them, my vision blurring with unshed tears. A year. They'd been betraying me for an entire year, lying to my face while I clung to a relationship that had been dead for months.

"You're both pathetic," I whispered before turning and walking out.

I didn't bother packing much, just enough to fit into a small traveling bag. I couldn't stay here.

Las Vegas. The city of lights, excess, and second chances. It wasn't a plan, exactly. It was more like a desperate escape, a way to put as much distance as possible between myself and the life I was leaving behind.

The plane ride felt a little slow, my thoughts spinning as fast as the tiny drink cart wheels. By the time I checked into a dingy hotel on the outskirts of the Strip, exhaustion had settled into my bones.

That first night, I tried to sleep, but my mind wouldn't stop racing. Memories of Gerald's leering face, Jayden's panicked excuses, and Lila's guilty silence played on a loop.

When the walls of my room felt like they were closing in, I decided to go downstairs. The hotel bar wasn't much, soft lighting, sticky counters, and a bartender who looked like he'd seen it all. But it was open, and that was enough.

I slid onto a stool, ordered the cheapest drink on the menu, and tried to disappear into the background.

"Rough night?"