Chapter 6 - The Cracks in the Armor
The fall out from the charity brunch was instant and ruthless.
By the time Ava and Alexander returned to the penthouse, Sterling North Capital had publicly fired Damian Cross for gross misconduct and risking major corporate accounts. News outlets reported that Victoria Langford’s father had forced her to break off her engagement with Damian to protect the family’s real-estate empire from being ruined by association.
In less than twenty-four hours, Damian Cross went from rising Wall Street star to complete social and financial pariah.
Ava sat on the plush sofa in Alexander’s living room, watching the news ticker scroll across the TV screen.
STERLING NORTH FIRES ASSOCIATE DAMIAN CROSS AFTER PUBLIC SCANDAL.
She expected to feel a surge of pure triumph, but instead, a quiet sadness washed over her. Not for Damian—he deserved everything he got—but for the four years of her life she had wasted believing he cared about her.
A warm glass of tea was set down on the coffee table in front of her.
Ava looked up. Alexander was standing there, his tie loosened, looking remarkably gentle compared to the ruthless billionaire who had crushed Damian’s career two hours ago.
"You look deep in thought," Alexander said softly, sitting down across from her.
"I just... I can't believe it's over," Ava said softly. "Six months of pain, and it ended in a single afternoon."
"It's not over," Alexander reminded her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Our agreement lasts for six months, remember?"
Ava looked down at the massive pink diamond on her hand. "Right. The fake engagement."
Alexander remained silent for a long moment. He leaned back against the sofa, studying her face. "Does it bother you? Pretending to be mine?"
Ava’s heart did a strange little flip. "No. It doesn't bother me. It's just... you don't have to keep doing this, Alexander. You've already given me more than enough payback. You don't have to spend the next six months dragging me around to high-society events."
"Who said I was dragging you?" Alexander asked softly.
He stood up, walked over to her side of the sofa, and sat down beside her. The distance between them shrank instantly. Ava felt the heat radiating from his body, and her pulse quickened.
"Ava," Alexander said, his voice dropping low. "Do you really think I did all of this just to get back at a petty Wall Street associate?"
Ava frowned, confused. "You said you hated men like him. You said you needed a fiancée for your board of directors..."
"I lied," Alexander admitted smoothly.
Ava’s breath hitched. "What?"
"My board of directors doesn't care about my love life," Alexander murmured, reaching out to gently curl a strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her cheek, sending a electric shock through her spine. "I didn't track you down six months ago because I felt sorry for you. I tracked you down because I couldn't stop thinking about the woman who saved my life in a dirty diner and walked away without asking for a single thing in return."
Ava stared at him, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. "Alexander..."
"I spent six months watching you heal, waiting for the right moment to step into your life," Alexander said, his eyes filled with a raw, intense sincerity that took her breath away. "The fake engagement was just an excuse to get you close to me. To give you the world you deserve."
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Before Ava could reply, the intercom near the penthouse entrance buzzed loudly.
Marcus’s voice came through the speaker, sounding unusually urgent. "Mr. Vance, I apologize for the interruption, but there is a situation downstairs. Security has stopped Mr. Damian Cross in the lobby. He is intoxicated, demanding to see Ms. Knox, and he claims to have evidence that will destroy Vance Global."
