Chapter 2: The Introduction That Changed Everything
For several seconds, Ava couldn't hear the band.
The music continued. Glasses clinked. Someone laughed near the bar.
But all she could hear was Daniel's voice repeating the words inside her head.
He's my boss.
Marcus owns the company.
She looked at Marcus again, searching for something that would make the moment less humiliating. A nervous smile. An embarrassed explanation. Some indication that Daniel had exaggerated.
Marcus gave her none.
He simply stood there, holding the gift in his left hand, his expression composed.
Daniel, meanwhile, was still smiling.
“Marcus, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to call you personally about the wedding,” he said.
“Everything's been a little crazy these past few days.””
“No apology necessary,” Marcus replied.
“I was happy to come.””
“You have no idea how much it means to me that you're here.””
Ava's fingers tightened around the stem of her champagne flute.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Sweetheart, you remember when I told you about the company restructuring last quarter?””
She nodded mechanically.
“Well, Marcus has been leading the expansion. We've doubled our regional operations in less than a year.””
Marcus gave a modest shrug.
“The team deserves most of the credit.””
Daniel laughed.
“That's exactly what I mean. He could walk into a room and take all the credit, but he never does.””
Ava forced a smile.
“That's wonderful.””
The words came out thin.
Daniel didn't notice.
He was too excited to see the man whose approval had shaped the last three years of his career.
“Wait,” Daniel said, glancing at the gift.
“Is that for us?””
Marcus lifted the small box.
“Just something modest. I hope you both enjoy it.””
“Marcus, you didn't have to do that.””
“I wanted to.””
Daniel reached for the gift, but Marcus held it out carefully so Daniel could take it without knocking Ava's glass.
“Thank you,” Daniel said.
“Seriously.””
Ava watched the exchange.
The gift she had mocked moments earlier now rested in her husband's hands like an object she desperately wished she hadn't dismissed.
She remembered calling it a little present.
She remembered telling Marcus to leave before someone asked why he was standing around with something nobody wanted.
And she remembered how calmly he had listened.
That was what frightened her most.
If Marcus had shouted at her, she could have called him bitter. If he had argued, she could have accused him of jealousy.
But he had done neither.
He had simply allowed her to reveal herself.
“Daniel,” she said, trying to sound casual, “you never mentioned that you and Marcus were close.””
Daniel looked surprised.
“Why would I mention every person I know from work?””
“Because he's your boss.””
“That's fair, I suppose.”” Daniel chuckled.
“But I talk about him all the time. Remember the charity event I told you about last spring? Marcus funded the whole initiative.””
Ava's stomach tightened.
She remembered that event.
Daniel had spent an entire evening explaining how impressed he was with his company's leadership. He had even shown her photographs of the executive team.
She hadn't paid much attention.
At the time, she had been busy comparing Daniel's career prospects with those of another man she had briefly considered dating before their relationship became serious.
Marcus had never been part of that calculation.
In her mind, he belonged to the years before her life improved.
“Of course I remember,” she said.
Daniel tilted his head.
“Do you?””
“Daniel.””
“What?””
“I'm just saying you never told me he was the owner.””
“I thought I had.””
He looked toward Marcus.
“Have I ever told you Ava is interviewing for a position with our company?””
Marcus's eyebrows lifted slightly.
“No, you haven't.””
Ava's heart began to pound.
She had applied for a senior communications position six weeks earlier. It was a significant step up from her current job at a boutique public relations agency, with a higher salary, better benefits, and the kind of professional title that could open doors throughout Atlanta.
She had already completed two interviews.
The final interview was scheduled for Monday morning.
She had spent weeks preparing for it.
She had revised her résumé, rehearsed her answers, and asked Daniel to explain the company's leadership structure so she could make the best impression possible.
And now the owner of the company was standing in front of her.
The same man she had just told had no money, no status, and nothing.
Daniel continued enthusiastically.
“She'd be fantastic in that role. She's brilliant with clients, and she's got an incredible eye for presentation.””
Ava stared at him.
“Daniel, please.””
“What?”” he asked.
“I'm complimenting you.””
“Not here.””
He laughed softly.
“Why not? Marcus is exactly the person who should hear it.””
Marcus glanced at Ava.
She looked away first.
For the first time since he'd arrived, her posture changed. Her shoulders drew inward. Her chin lowered a fraction.
The confident bride who had presented the ballroom as proof of her superior life was suddenly searching for a way to escape the conversation.
Marcus felt no satisfaction at seeing it.
Only a quiet disappointment.
He had known Ava could be ambitious. Ambition had never bothered him.
What hurt was discovering how easily she could turn another person's circumstances into a reason to treat them as less than human.
Daniel adjusted his cuff.
“Actually, this is perfect timing.””
Ava's eyes widened.
“Daniel, don't.””
He frowned.
“Don't what?””
She looked at Marcus, then at her husband.
“Nothing. I just don't think we should discuss work at our wedding.””
Daniel considered that for a moment.
“Fair enough. We can talk Monday.””
Marcus nodded.
“Monday works.””
Ava's mouth went dry.
Daniel glanced between them.
“Wait. You two have met before, right?””
The question landed with the force of a dropped plate.
Ava gripped her champagne flute so tightly that the stem pressed into her fingers.
Marcus looked at her.
He could have answered immediately.
He could have told Daniel that he and Ava had once shared an apartment, plans, and a future. He could have explained how she had left when his company was failing and how she had later sent a brief message saying she hoped he would understand.
But he didn't want to turn Daniel's wedding into a courtroom.
“Yes,” Marcus said.
“A long time ago.””
Daniel smiled, apparently relieved.
“Well, that makes this even better. Small world, right?””
Ava managed a nod.
“Very small.””
Daniel turned toward a group of guests waving him over from the head table.
“I need to check on my father. He's been trying to get me to make another speech for the last twenty minutes.””
He looked at Marcus.
“Please stay. We'll catch up properly before you leave.””
“I'd like that.””
Daniel kissed Ava on the cheek.
“Don't disappear. I want a picture with both of you later.””
Then he walked away, carrying the gift with him.
The moment he was out of earshot, Ava turned toward Marcus.
Her smile vanished.
“What are you doing?””
Marcus looked at her steadily.
“Standing at a wedding.””
“Don't play games with me.””
“I'm not.””
“You knew Daniel worked for you.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew I was marrying him?””
“I knew you were getting married. I didn't know Daniel was the groom until tonight.””
Ava stared at him, trying to determine whether he was telling the truth.
“You could have warned me.””
Marcus's expression changed slightly.
“Warned you about what?””
“That you were coming.””
“Why would I need to warn you?””
She opened her mouth.
No answer came.
The question exposed something she hadn't wanted to examine: she believed she deserved advance notice before encountering a person she had decided was beneath her.
Marcus placed his free hand on the edge of the cocktail table.
“Ava, I came here to congratulate you. That's all.””
“Then why didn't you tell me about your company?””
“You never asked.””
Her cheeks flushed.
“You could have said something.””
“Would it have changed how you spoke to me?””
She looked away.
A waiter passed behind them, carrying a tray of empty glasses. Somewhere nearby, a woman laughed at a joke.
Ava lowered her voice.
“You're making this unnecessarily uncomfortable.””
Marcus studied her for a moment.
“No, Ava. I'm just not pretending it didn't happen.””
Her eyes flashed.
“So now you're going to punish me?””
“Punish you?””
“You know what I mean. You're going to use your position to embarrass me.””
Marcus's expression hardened, though his voice remained quiet.
“I haven't said a word about your interview.””
“But you could.””
“I could do many things. That doesn't mean I should.””
She stared at him.
For the first time, she seemed to recognize that the man in front of her was not waiting for an opportunity to retaliate.
He was waiting to see what she would do next.
Before she could answer, Daniel's voice rang out from across the ballroom.
“Ava! Marcus! Come over here for a second!””
He waved them toward the head table.
Ava turned reluctantly.
Daniel was standing beside the wedding photographer, smiling broadly and holding up his phone.
“I just had an idea,” he called.
“We should take a picture together. The three of us.””
Ava's heart sank.
Marcus looked toward Daniel, then back at her.
May you like
And Daniel, still unaware of the conversation that had preceded his arrival, called out the words that made Ava feel as though the entire ballroom was closing in around her.
“Come on, sweetheart! I want everyone to meet the man who gave me my career!””
