Chapter 5

  

Lewis' secretary stared at the tall beautiful Jones mansion and shivered with anticipation. So this was what it felt like to have money, she thought. To live in a mansion such as this and drive these luxurious cars. If only she was as privileged and was given the same opportunity to live this life.

But girls like her didn't get the same opportunities as girls like Ava Jones. She'd had to work hard for what she earned and nothing was offered to her on a platter of gold. Soon she felt herself grow bitter at the life she was forced to live. Shaking her head at the direction of her thoughts, she walked forward and climbed the front stairs to a handsome pair of doors, where a servant was waiting to receive her.

"Good afternoon," She said, nervously pushing her glasses up "I'm here to see Miss Jones. That's Miss Ava Jones."

"Okay. Do you have an appointment with her?" The servant asked with folded hands.

"Um... no, actually. I'm here to discuss the terms of a possible contract with her. It's confidential. Tell her I'm from Mr Lewis Martinez." She replied.

The servant nodded and went inside, leaving her to admire the intricate wooden designs on the doors. A couple of seconds later, the servant returned and ushered her into the house "Miss Jones will see you now. You can wait in the living room."

The inside of the house was as handsome as the outside. The first things the secretary noticed were the twin staircases that curved from the ground floor to meet at the top. The living room was decked with floor-to-ceiling windows, and before one of the windows was a beautiful black grand piano. The colour of the piano matched the coffee table by the couch. Everything else was white – ceiling, floors, and walls, except, on the wall by the door, where a mosaic of small paintings hung, twelve of them arranged in a rectangle. They were portraits of the members of the Jones family, and they were absolutely breathtaking.

The secretary stared in awe at the room, completely oblivious to the person walking down the stairs. Ava walked down, watching the other woman with a bemused smile and stopped, waiting for her by the piano. When Ava cleared her throat, the secretary walked forward, embarrassed, and nodded her head courteously.

"Miss Ava Jones." She said. "I'm sorry, I was quite taken by your house."

"It's a handsome one, isn't it? Sad that I will be losing everything soon." Ava replied bitterly and the secretary wondered what she meant by that. She waited for Ava to offer her a seat, then sat on the plush white couch.

"Good afternoon, Miss Ava. Trust you're having a good day?"

"Yes, I believe I am. That's a surprise though, despite all that has happened in the past fee days." Ava replied.

"Yes, I believe so, and that is exactly why I am here." The secretary said and shifted forward on her seat, the contract papers in her hands.

"I have a proposition for you from Mr Martinez." The secretary began. Quickly she noticed the effect that his name had on Ava. She had closed her eyes and bitten her lip like she was trying not to cry out.

"What does he want?" Ava asked, eyes still closed.

"In light of the recent... happenings and scandalous news on the media about you and Mr Martinez, he has come forward with a proposition, a contract that'll favour both parties."

Ava shifted in her seat and opened her eyes. "Go on." 

"This is a marriage contract." The secretary held up the sheaf of papers "From Mr Martinez. In order to salvage the situation resulting from the nasty scandal flying around about your one-night stand, we have come to a conclusion that the both of you be married by contract. You will take all responsibility for the effects of the one-night stand. The contract marriage shall be free of the unwanted responsibilities of a real marriage. You shall be wife to me in writing only, as he will be the same to you. In addition, you shall have this planned like you'd always been betrothed to each other."

"So if I get this right, Lewis Martinez wants to get married to me?" Ava asked in awe.

"Under the terms of this contract, yes."

"But what if I don't want to? What are the repercussions?" She asked, sitting forward.

"There will be no more repercussions than what you already suffer from the scandal. But entering into this contract marriage will ensure that we are able to allay the scandal and recover all that we have lost.

"I... I don't understand."

"Think about it, Miss Jones. When the both of you get married, then every rumor will be put to rest. Everyone will believe that the both of you were soon-to-be married when the pictures were leaked."

Ava looked at the secretary and thought of Lewis' offer. It truly was the best way to put an end to the gossips, and she wouldn't be tied to him in any way except as stipulated by the contract. It was truly the only way to remedy their situation. 

After much thought about the matter she looked at the secretary and nodded in resolution "Okay. I agree." She responded.

The secretary smiled and silently patted herself on the shoulder as Ava Jones accepted the the sheaf of papers containing the contract from her. She felt it was a job very well done from her.

Ava sauntered over to the window again and peered through the curtains. Where the hell is he? She thought, frowning in frustration. She smoothened the creases in her black knee-length navy blue skirt and walked back to the couch in her living room, collapsing on it.

It had been three days since she had signed the contract papers that Lewis' secretary had brought to her, and today was supposed to be the day he would come and fetch her from her house. Throughout that period, Lewis hadn't communicated directly to her. He'd only sent messages through his secretary, and several times Ava had tried to remind herself that it was a contract marriage and nothing more. He wasn't obligated to acknowledge her in any way except through what had been stipulated in the contract.

He wasn't obligated to love or show love to her in any way, and she likewise. The marriage was only a fake setup to convince the public that they were truly betrothed and in love with each other.

She laid her head on the headrest of the couch and sighed, looking around at the house that had been her home for as long as she could remember. She was going to lose it all: her claims to this house, her share of the Jones' vast estate, everything that came with the prestigious name, as her step mom Jessica had made abundantly clear. She would have to give everything up. She felt a pang of pain in her chest but quickly brushed it aside and stood up from the couch in renewed frustration. Where the hell was Lewis?!

A honk from outside answered her question. She ran forward towards the front door, barely slipping on her heels, and opened the door, peering outside expectantly. A strange black Benz car was parked on front of the stairs. The driver's door opened, and out came Lewis Martinez.

Ava gasped in shock and delight as desire coursed through her body. Lewis was dressed in a white button-down shirt with two buttons open from the neck down. His dress trousers were fitted and clung to the lean muscles of his legs. Ava felt her eyes travel down his pants and stopped herself before she could go any further. Hot desire was already pooling somewhere in her panties.

His dark hair caught the sunlight as he closed the door of his car and climbed the stairs, coming to face her. Within two feet of her, the scent of his cologne wafted into her nose and she sniffed appreciatively. Wow, he smelled so good!

"Ava." He nodded in greeting.

"Mr Martinez." She replied with the same energy.

"Good morning. How are you today?"

"I'm very good, thanks. And I don't need to ask the same. I see you're doing alright." Ava said, her eyes roaming his face.

Lewis shrugged in modesty "I'm doing as best as I can. So, are you ready to be whisked away?"

"Let's just get this over with, Mr Martinez." She snapped and rolled her eyes.

"No." Lewis responded, a hint of amusement in his eyes "That would be Lewis to you. Remember we're supposed to be happy and in love? What would the public say if you were caught referring to me like one of my staff?"

Ava couldn't help the girly giggle that escaped her lips. Pull yourself together! She told herself.

Lewis' mouth lifted in a smile as she giggled. He extended the crook of his elbow to her "Come on, bride. Let's go home." He said.

Ava smiled up at him "Let's do this." She said and took his elbow. Together they walked down the stairs and towards his car, into a new life.