Chapter 3 - THE FAKE FIANCÉE

Ava stared at Lucian.

“Your what?”

“My fiancée.”

“You have the wrong woman.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t.”

Damian stepped forward.

“Vale, whatever game this is—”

Lucian looked at him.

Damian stopped talking.

Victoria called it absurd. Lucian replied, “You’re welcome to call me a liar publicly.” Nobody volunteered.

Ava whispered, “Private. Now.”

He guided her toward a side corridor.

Once the doors closed, Ava stepped away. “What are you doing?”

“Stopping a situation.”

“By inventing an engagement?”

“It worked.”

She stared.

“Why me?”

Lucian’s expression changed.

“I’ve been trying to speak with you for three weeks.”

Ava went still.

“What?”

“You never answered my office.”

“I’ve never received anything from your office.”

He studied her.

“Interesting.”

“Why would you contact me?”

“Because of Damian.”

Her stomach tightened.

“I’m not with Damian.”

“I know.”

“Then what?”

Lucian reached into his jacket and handed her a business card.

On the back was a handwritten number.

“Call this tonight.”

“No.”

“Ava.”

The use of her first name felt too familiar.

He lowered his voice.

“Damian Cross submitted financial records to Sterling North six months ago as part of a promotion review.”

“So?”

“Some of those records include transfers from an account in your name.”

Ava stopped breathing. “How large?”

“Three hundred and twelve thousand dollars.”

She laughed once.

Not because it was funny.

Because she had never possessed three hundred thousand dollars in her life.

Lucian watched her.

“You didn’t know.”

“No.”

“That’s what I needed to confirm.”

The ballroom door opened.

Damian stood there.

His face was pale.

“Ava,” he said. “Don’t listen to him.”

Lucian looked at Damian.

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And Ava realized the fear she had seen earlier had nothing to do with romance.

Damian was afraid she might learn where the money came from.