Chapter 2

Ava hung up, a strange mix of disgust and relief washing over her.

Ethan. Chloe. Her family.

The Ashworths had always dangled the agency in front of her, the succession.

Conditional on her good behavior. On marrying Ethan.

This gala, this client, was supposed to be her final hurdle.

Now, it was just a stage for her humiliation if she wasn' t careful.

Liam called back within minutes.

"So, this performance," he began, his voice playful, "is it a limited engagement, or are you thinking of a longer run?"

Ava frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Just wondering if this 'devoted boyfriend' role has an option for renewal. I find I' m already intrigued by the director."

His charm was irritating, yet... disarming.

"It' s for tonight," Ava said firmly. "One night."

She needed to be practical.

This was damage control.

"One night?" Liam' s voice was laced with mock disappointment.

"A shame. I was thinking more along the lines of... a lifetime."

He was definitely teasing her.

Ava felt a flush creep up her neck.

"This isn' t a joke."

"Oh, I' m perfectly serious, Ava. A lifetime of devotion. Think about it."

His tone was light, but there was an undercurrent she couldn' t quite place.

Seductive, almost.

Suddenly, she heard voices from the hallway of the Ashworth mansion.

Chloe' s saccharine tones.

"Ethan, darling, are you sure Ava won' t mind you using the guesthouse so much? I just love our little trysts there."

Ava' s blood ran cold.

Ethan' s voice, placating. "She' s always working, she' ll never know. Besides, once we' re married, and you' re a partner at the agency, we' ll have all the time in the world."

Partner at the agency?

Ava felt sick. They were planning to use her, then discard her.

The engagement party. David, her assistant, had warned her.

Chloe, the sweet, innocent foundling.

A viper.

Chloe giggled. "And her mother' s necklace looks so much better on me, don' t you think?"

Ava clenched her fists.

The door to her study, where she' d taken refuge, creaked open.

Chloe stood there, eyes wide with feigned surprise.

"Ava! Oh my god, I didn' t know you were in here."