Chapter Five - Ava

“Pick up. Pick up,” I mumbled swerving in and out of traffic. My heart raced in my chest. What had just happened? Fletcher Hines had handed me a marriage contract like some sort of deranged fairytale. “Pick up, Jamie!” I shouted at her voicemail. I tossed my phone into my cup holder as I drove toward my apartment. Three unread text messages sat in my inbox from Charlotte. How are things going? Did you find the place? Text me back! I couldn’t text her back because I couldn’t think straight. What rabbit hole had I slipped into? My phone buzzed and I answered Jamie’s call. “You know I’m taking over your shift tonight, right?” Jamie whispered into the phone. “What’s wrong?” “I need you to come over as soon as the shift ends. I—I can’t breathe. Fletcher Hines just gave me a marriage contract.” Jamie was silent on the other end for several seconds. “You’re joking, right?” she asked. “I’m not joking,” I said. “Just come over. I’ll be waiting for you.” I ended the call. The drive home felt longer than it ever had before. I swerved into the parking space, grabbed my things, and ran toward my door. Nerves slid down my skin leaving goosebumps in their wake. I sat down on my futon and pulled the folded-up contract from my clutch. Running my palms down my face, I attempted to gather myself enough to read it. It took thirty minutes to get through it. It was simple enough in all honesty. Marry Fletcher Hines. There was no talk of a prenuptial agreement, most likely because of the illegal money they had due to their dealings with the mafia. I would never see that money, most likely. Leaning back against the futon, I stared up at the popcorn ceiling with water damage in the corners. This was a dream come true. A contract offering anything and everything to become his bride. I nibbled on the corner of my thumbnail. Becoming his bride meant many things. It meant being linked to the mafia. Potential FBI raids. The possibility of losing your spouse. Not to mention the duties of a wife. A blush traveled along my skin. I couldn’t see myself ever becoming so desperate to marry for money and not love. This was madness to consider taking this contract. This was my sister’s contract, not mine. I put the contract on my table and stared at it. I didn’t even like this man, did I? He hardly spoke to me at dinner, and was angry that I was late. Jamie knocked on my door ten minutes into my self-debate. She shoved her way inside and did a dance like something icky had touched her. “Those two guys are out there again. Lock the door.” I dead-bolted it and shut my blinds. Those guys hung around our complex regularly harassing the tenants. “Did they say anything to you?” “Yeah,” she said, putting down her purse. “Asked me for money and then called me names when I told them no.” “I’ll shoot Tony a text and tell him to call the police. Creeps,” I said. Jamie cleared her throat. “Now, I could hardly hear you on the phone. You said something about a marriage contract. Did I hear that right?” Bending down, I grabbed the contract and handed it to her. “He needs a bride for whatever reason. He asked me not to give the contract to Char.” Jamie’s dark brows lifted up her forehead. “You’re joking? This is for you? He wants you to agree to be his wife?” I nodded. Jamie’s mouth dropped open and she laughed humorlessly. “What are you waiting for, Ava?” I gave her a look. “I want to marry for love. Plus, this is Char’s dream, not mine.” She lifted her hands dramatically and let them fall against her thighs. “This will fix every one of your problems.” She pointed toward my paintings in the hallway. Then the broken dishwasher, and my apartment in general. “You could ask him for an art studio, Ava. You could pay off those student loans you have for the two years at community college. Get out of the slums. You could fix every one of your problems by agreeing to this. I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Char is beautiful, rich, and can attract any man she wants. She'll get over it." “She wants him,” I said. “I would have never met him if Char hadn’t been sick—“ “Exactly,” she said, stepping toward me. “It’s fate, Ava.” I rolled my eyes and turned away from her. Everything she said made sense. It made me want to run to the restaurant and sign it in front of him. She stepped around and put her palms on my shoulders. Her dark brown eyes looked excited but concerned. “This is a fairytale in the making. You can’t turn this down.” My phone buzzed from the table and Char’s name crossed the screen. “What about that?” I asked. “How would I tell her that I’m accepting a marriage proposal meant for her?” “You don’t until it’s done. I know Char is your sister, your twin, and you’re close, but sometimes you have to take things for yourself. This is a chance at freedom.” “I don’t love him, Jamie. I don’t even know him.” She shrugged. “You know I don’t believe in love at first sight. Maybe you grow to love him. Maybe you bite the bullet and take the meat that’s dangling in front of you for a change.” Laughter ensued from close to my front door and I cringed. “Get away from the creeps and this apartment complex.” There were so many reasons to say yes, but the ultimate reason to say no sat in her apartment waiting for me to call her. “I have to tell him by tomorrow morning. He seemed rushed.” Jamie touched my cheek. “Sleep on it. Maybe you will feel different in the morning. Do you care if I crash here? Frankly, I’m afraid to go out there with those guys.” “Sure, you take the bed. I’m going to look over this contract again. I’ll be up most of the night.” Jamie grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and walked toward the hallway. She looked down at my paintings. “These are amazing and you deserve a try at selling them.” She left me with the contract in my hands and a heart full of confusion. This was the hardest situation I’d ever been in. I sat down on my futon and stared at the print until my eyes crossed. Laying back on the couch, I stared up at the ceiling until I fell asleep. Jamie woke me the next morning while making us a pot of coffee. She looked ready for work, and I didn’t have to go in until ten. “Those guys got arrested last night for loitering,” she said, handing me a mug. “One spit at your door while I was peeking out the window.” I groaned and palmed my neck from the awkward sleeping angle. Jamie watched me sip my coffee from over the rim of hers. “What?” I asked. “You have twenty missed calls from your sister, and it’s tomorrow morning. Are you going to take the deal or not?” “I don’t think so,” I whispered to myself. Jamie scoffed, grabbed her things, and walked toward the door. “It’s your life, Ava. I just don’t want you to live here in this apartment with your hopes and dreams lining the hallway floor forever. I’ll see you tonight.” She closed the door and heartache fell onto my chest. Sipping my coffee, I walked over to my fridge to add more creamer when someone knocked on the door. Maybe Jamie forgot something. I walked to the peephole and looked out of it. Shock slithered down my body. It was him. Fletcher Hines stood awkwardly outside of my door. What was he doing here? How had he found me? I couldn’t breathe as he knocked loudly again. “I know you’re in there. Your friend told me on her way out. Open the door, Ava. I don’t have long.” His voice soaked into my skin and warmed my blood. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I opened the door and stepped back to look at him. He looked like someone plucked out of a GQ magazine. His button-down was tightly fitted to his biceps, and his slacks were crisp and ironed. Those dark eyes glanced around at my apartment and embarrassment climbed my spine. “Can I help you?” He pushed his way inside. Looking around at my rundown place, I cracked the door behind me and turned to face him. “Why are you here? I was supposed to contact you if I am interested.” “It’s nearly 9 AM and I haven’t heard a word from you,” he said. “I have a meeting at 10. I need to know you’ll sign the contract.” I groaned. It was too early for this. “I can’t do that to my sister.” He glowered at me. Was he mad? He looked mad. His gaze skated around the apartment and to the paintings lining my hallway. “I’ll buy you a gallery. Is that what you like to do? I'll get you out of this place. I'll add anything you want to the contract." I blinked at him. Buy me a gallery? “You like to paint, right? Didn’t you mention that last night?” He grabbed the contract from my coffee table, searched for a pen on my counter, and wrote, buy her a gallery into the contract. “Now, get dressed. I’ll have our lawyer add this and we can sign.” “Wait a freaking second. I didn’t agree to this.” Fletcher stepped toward me, the smell of his cologne pooling liquid heat between my legs. “You’re going to marry me, Cupcake. I know you want out of this apartment. You want a new life. I can see it behind those pretty, green eyes. Get dressed and get into the car. I won’t ask again.” He pulled out his cell phone when it began to ring and answered the call. I stood silently in my kitchen staring at the cracked floor and the thought of the loiterers returning. And a gallery. I could sell my art. I could paint for a living. I nibbled on my bottom lip and a rush of adrenaline swarmed me. Swallowing my nerves, I walked down the hallway to get dressed. I was going to sign this contract and start a life where I put myself first. I could think of what to tell Charlotte at a different time. Now, I was going to marry Fletcher Hines.