Chapter 1

Ava Chen stared at the phone in her hand.

Ethan' s phone.

It vibrated again, a text from Chloe.

"Heard you' re taking Ava to the gala tonight. Don' t forget our little after-party, just us. ;)"

Just below it, an older message, a video file.

Chloe' s giggling face filled the screen, then the camera panned. Ethan.

They were in the guesthouse. Ava' s guesthouse, on the Ashworth estate.

The place she used as a quiet office.

Chloe wore Ava' s mother' s diamond necklace.

The only thing Ava had left of her real parents.

A gift from Ethan, the text below the video said.

Ava' s stomach twisted.

The gala. Tonight. She was supposed to announce the biggest client signing of her career for Ashworth Creatives.

Her career. The one she built.

She couldn' t show up alone. She couldn' t look weak.

She remembered a name, a discreet service a cynical producer once mentioned.

For "companions."

Ava' s fingers flew across her own phone.

A voice answered, smooth, professional.

"How can I help you?"

"I need an escort," Ava said, her voice flat. "Tonight. For the industry gala."

A pause.

"For a performance. You need to act like my devoted boyfriend."

The man on the other end, Liam, chuckled softly.

A rich, low sound.

"A devoted boyfriend? That' s a specific role. Are you sure that' s all?"

Ava' s grip tightened on her phone.

"It' s a business arrangement. You play the part, you get paid. Handsomely."

She hated the desperation in her own voice.

"I need someone believable. Someone who can handle himself."

She' d never done anything like this. Hired someone.

The thought was repulsive, but less repulsive than facing them all alone.

Less repulsive than their pity, or worse, their knowing smirks.

"I assure you, ma' am, I' m quite capable of handling myself," Liam said, a hint of amusement still there.

"And you? Can you afford my level of devotion?"

His voice was calm, almost teasing.

Ava gritted her teeth.

"Name your price for the evening. And discretion is paramount."

"Discretion is my middle name," he said. "And my price... let' s just say for a leading lady like yourself, I can be surprisingly affordable for a single night' s performance."