BEDDING THE DON

ter

's

t ambition. As a little girl, I would twirl around the living room, pretending the worn-out carpet was a runway. By the time I

r of time, or so I thought. Three years later, I found myself staring at Gerald Masters

e steady, "I've done everything you asked. I've worked every gig,

as the kind of man who exudes power but lacked any trace of decenc

churned.

g. "The one where you stop pretending

me like a punch to the gut. "You'r

shocked. You wouldn't be the first, and let

hat my chair toppled ov

ulating look. "You're making a mistake, Ava.

ithin hours, my name was blacklisted. No calls, no jobs, no explanati

trayal that awaited me made Gerald's sl

ned the door, my voice echo

I froze, my heart sinking. Slowly, I stepped int

three years, and Lila, my younger sister, t

vanished beneath me. "What

his face pale. "Ava, listen,

blanket to her chest. She

voice was qui

va

anded, my fists cl

, her voice barely

. They'd been betraying me for an entire year, lying to my fac

" I whispered before t

st enough to fit into a small tr

plan, exactly. It was more like a desperate escape, a way to put as muc

he tiny drink cart wheels. By the time I checked into a dingy hotel

top racing. Memories of Gerald's leering face, Jayden's pa

nstairs. The hotel bar wasn't much, soft lighting, sticky counters, and a bar

heapest drink on the menu, and tri

gh n

with a hint of amusement. I turned to

n they seemed to glow in the soft light. He wasn't smiling,

that," I repl

in hand. "Let me guess. Y

that ob

have the look of someo

t look i

pera

prising even me. "I coul

intrigued. "You thin

ne, striking up conversations with stra

low and warm. "Touché

va

out my failed career, the betrayal that had driven me here, and the weight of starting over. He listened wi

ue. Something about business, family expectations, a

ing away isn't enough?"

ay," I a

d closer, his emerald eyes locked on

e wh

mar

hadn't heard him r

tugging at his lips. "You and me. One nigh

omething about the way he looked at me, like he saw

d slipping out before I

t, my life took a

laughter and cheap vodka. Nico was steady beside me,

ronounced us husband and wife. We signed the certificate,

led sheets, and the kind of reckless passion that

to find Nico's arm draped over me,

t with thi

things. Nico stirred but didn't wake as I scr

dventure, but thi

the door, leaving my a