Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT THE ENGAGEMENT BECAME A DEAL

The account was frozen before Damian could move the money.

At 1:17 a.m., Damian left a voicemail warning that Vale was using her. Ava deleted it.

Lucian called Damian’s confidence remarkable. Ava called it expensive. His sudden smile annoyed her because she noticed it.

When Ava said she was going home by subway, Lucian reminded her Damian knew exactly where she lived. That landed.

Lucian said, “Stay at one of my hotels tonight.”

“No.”

“Ava.”

“No.”

He studied her.

“You reject help quickly.”

“I’ve learned help usually sends an invoice.”

He did not argue.

Instead he said, “Then let me make the invoice clear.”

She waited.

“Pretend the engagement is real for thirty days.”

Ava laughed.

“You’re insane.”

“Possibly.”

“What do you get?”

“Damian believes you have access to me. He becomes nervous.”

“That’s your strategy?”

“Nervous people make mistakes.”

“And what do I get?”

“Legal representation. Forensic accounting. Protection while the identity-fraud case develops.”

“I’m not selling myself.”

“No. Appearances only. Nothing personal.”

“And if I say no?”

“You get the legal help anyway.”

“Then why would I say yes?”

Lucian’s expression went flat.

“Because Damian is not the only person using your name.”

He handed her another document.

Victoria Langford’s family company had paid Knox Consulting twice.

Ava stared.

“So Victoria knew?”

“We don’t know.”

“Then why was she mocking me?”

“Maybe because she thought you were harmless.”

Ava looked toward the city lights. Thirty days of fake engagement could force Damian into the open.

“Rules,” she said.

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

“I make my own schedule.”

“Agreed.”

“No touching without warning.”

“Agreed.”

“No lying to me.”

He paused half a second too long.

Ava noticed.

“No lying,” she repeated.

Lucian nodded.

“Agreed.”

She held out her hand.

“Thirty days.”

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He took it.

And somewhere in Manhattan, Damian Cross was about to learn the woman he discarded had stopped protecting him.