Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ava stood at the entrance to the ballroom, taking in the opulence of the scene before her. The walls were draped in luxurious velvet curtains, and the room was filled with elegantly dressed guests sipping champagne and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres. It was clear that she was out of place here, but she had promised Max that she would come to the fundraiser with him, and she wasn't about to let him down.

As she scanned the crowd, Ava saw Max making his way towards her, dressed in a tailored tuxedo and looking every bit the part of the billionaire businessman that he was. He greeted her with a warm smile and took her hand, leading her toward the center of the room.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said, his eyes roving over her form-fitting dress.

"Thanks," Ava replied, feeling self-conscious in the sea of designer gowns and sparkling jewelry.

As they made their way through the crowd, Ava noticed a group of men watching them with interest. She felt a shiver run down her spine, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Max's arm.

"Who are they?" she asked, nodding toward the group.

"Just some business associates," Max replied dismissively.

Ava wasn't convinced. She had always been wary of Max's business dealings, and she knew that he had a reputation for being ruthless and cutthroat. She had tried to ignore it, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized that his world was not one she was entirely comfortable in.

As they reached the center of the room, Max was approached by a woman in a floor-length gown, dripping in diamonds. Ava recognized her as one of Max's clients, and she watched as they engaged in polite conversation.

"Excuse me for a moment," Max said, turning to Ava. "I'll be right back."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of relief as Max walked away. She turned to survey the room again and was surprised to see the group of men from before approaching her.

"Well, well, well," the leader of the group said, his voice slick with arrogance. "What do we have here? Max's latest conquest?"

Ava bristled at the implication, but she tried to keep her voice calm. "I'm not a conquest," she said firmly. "I'm Max's girlfriend."

The men laughed, and Ava felt a wave of anger wash over her. She was tired of feeling like an outsider in Max's world, and she was tired of men like these thinking that they could treat her however they pleased.

"Listen, I don't have time for this," she said, turning to walk away.

But the leader of the group grabbed her arm, pulling her back towards him. "Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?" he said, his grip tightening.

Ava struggled to break free, but the man was too strong. She felt a surge of fear as she realized that she was in trouble.

Just then, Max appeared at her side, his eyes flashing with anger. "Let her go," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

The man released Ava's arm, looking slightly nervous under Max's gaze. "We were just having a little fun," he said, trying to play it off.

"It wasn't funny," Max replied, his voice cold. "Now leave, before I call security."

The men backed away, muttering under their breath, and Max turned to Ava, his expression softening. "Are you okay?" he asked, his hand resting on her arm.

Ava nodded, feeling shaken but grateful for Max's intervention. "Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks

Max led Ava away from the group, his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I should have been paying more attention."

"It's not your fault," Ava replied, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was relieved to be safe, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong in Max's world. "I just don't think I'm cut out for all of this," she said, gesturing to the ballroom.

Max frowned, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean all of this," Ava said, waving her hand around again. "The parties, the business deals, the people... I don't fit in here. I don't know how to act, what to say, how to dress. I feel like an imposter."

Max looked at her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. "You're not an imposter," he said finally. "You're my girlfriend, and you belong here just as much as anyone else."

Ava wasn't convinced. "But I'm not like these people," she said, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I didn't grow up with money or connections. I don't know how to be a part of this world."

Max took her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "You don't have to be like anyone else," he said. "You just have to be yourself. And if anyone can handle this world, it's you."

Ava looked up at him, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her chest. Max had always been her rock, her anchor in the storm of his world. But she knew that she couldn't rely on him to protect her all the time. She needed to learn how to navigate this world on her own.

"Okay," she said, taking a deep breath. "Okay. I can do this."

Max smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's my girl," he said.

As they walked back toward the center of the ballroom, Ava felt a renewed sense of determination. She wasn't going to let anyone make her feel small or unworthy. She was going to show them that she belonged here and that she was just as strong and capable as anyone else.

But deep down, she knew that the struggle between her desire to fit in and her inherent sense of otherness was only going to grow stronger as she delved deeper into Max's world. And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up the facade.

Just as Max and Ava reached the center of the ballroom, Ava felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a tall, handsome man standing behind her, a glint in his eye.

"Excuse me," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with charm. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. My name is Alexander, and you are?"

Ava felt a flush of discomfort rises in her cheeks. She knew that she was out of her element, but she hadn't expected to be approached so brazenly by a stranger.

Max stepped forward, his hand tightening around Ava's. "She's taken," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Alexander raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Is that so?" he said. "Well, I'm sure she can speak for herself."

Ava felt her heart rate increase as she struggled to find the words to respond. She didn't want to be rude, but she also didn't want to encourage this man's advances.

Before she could say anything, Max stepped between her and Alexander, his body language indicating that the conversation was over.

"Thank you for your interest," he said curtly, "but my girlfriend and I have other plans for the evening.