Ethan Theodore.
Note to readers: This chapter and the remaining chapters to be written continue the book from Chapter 2. Chapter 3 and 4 were to introduce Ethan and his arrival to New York.
The heavy gates moaned slowly as they swung open before me, as if they were they dreaded letting me in and they just had to surrender to my arrival. Perfect. That's exactly how it should feel.
I stepped out of the car, my shoes marching the marble driveway. The Moreno Estate looked like a fortress and beautiful. It was exactly what I had imagined before coming there. Marbled walls and pillars, manicured gardens, workers organized but roaming the estate, and a silence that a flying arrow's whisper could be heard.
I entered the house with my dad who was previously telling me how I should behave before the Moreno's like I was a toddler.
She was there before I could even announce myself. Standing tall, as she leaned on the pillar. Ava Moreno, there was no smile on her face, just sharp eyes sizing me up like I was an enemy. Maybe I was.
She kept her gaze on me like a lioness welcoming a prey on her turf. Her eyes flickered, exuding her defiance. Her posture screamed "Don't mess with me" . That's good because I didn't come to make friends either.
"The dinner will be ready at seven", Ava's grandma whom I fondly called Nana, announced.
The silence stretched between Ava and I once again. They did really told her I went on an exile. I scoffed silently at the thought of it.
My father entered into the house after his call ended. He smiled wildly at Ava. Ava furrowed her eyebrows, "We aren't friends, Mr Theodore. Why are you suddenly smiling at me?"
Fierce. I like it. Someone had to put Shawn Theodore in his place.
My father coughed awkwardly and continued, "I bet y'all are getting along"
"No" Ava and I replied simultaneously. We stared at each other for a brief moment then we looked away.
"Dinner is ready. Come to the dining room, every one", Nana announced yet again and we all moved to the dining.
Good. Amidst all this annoying charade, I could use some homemade food after thirteen years. I haven't had homemade food all the time I was in Italy.
Ethan how was Italy?", Nana asked out of nowhere.
"Italy was lucky to have me", I chuckled silently.
I took a brief stare at Ava and she rolled her eyes as she twisted her pasta with her fork.
"We shouldn't be talking over food, should we? We are all grown-up", Ava asked.
My dad smiled and put his fork down. "Well, aren't we all grown up now? Ava, meet Ethan Theodore, your soon-to-be husband"
Ava laughed, "Charming introduction". She paused and faced me, "So Mr Ethan, do you bark or bite?"
I held my hand in a fist. "Neither. Unless I am provoked" I winked.
"I love rottweilers", she replied, giggling.
"Ava! Play nice", Nana said with a pointed look at her.
"Now you know I'm always nice, grandma. Some people just love silence", She replied.
"Silence? That's no fun", I stared at her.
That earned a little flicker of interest from her. She studied me briefly with her eyes full of judgment,then she turned to her glass of water, swirling it gently.
My dad cleared his throat and said, "You do all know that this dinner is just a formality. We already have an agreement"
"We are not in any agreement. I'm only here because she asked me to", Ava replied, gesturing at Nana.
I leaned back. "So we're both unwillingly participants in someone else's game? Now, that's a start"
"I don't need a start. I need answers", Ava replied.
She needed answers to what exactly?
"And you'll get it, Ava. But not tonight. Let's eat and you two will definitely talk better", her grandma replied.
"We actually do have nothing to say", Ava crossed her arms and continued, "And I already lost my appetite. The pasta tastes a little bland"
She stood up and went out of the living room.
"I guess she is too shocked", Nana said, with a half smile.
"It will all get done anyway", My father replied, nodding his head.
"I guess I shouldn't eat anymore. I haven't had homemade food in years so I feel so full, Nana", I said.
"Oh should I pack it in disposable plates so you can take them home?", She asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Nana", I replied and stood up and went out.
I was ready to leave. It wasn't suffocating but I need to leave. I was tired of this whole facade. This wasn't the main reason I was here. I needed to find answers as much as Ava needed to find answers to whatever questions she had in mind. Maybe this was the time to face my grief and really find out the truth about my mother's death. It looked overwhelming to do but I knew at that point when I saw Ava that even when it would seem as though, I'd have an excuse to stay behind here till I get everything I need.
I pulled out a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. I lit it and puff a smoke out of my mouth and nostrils.
I raised up my head to see Ava leaning on the railings by the garden, speaking to someone on the phone.
"I'm sorry. I should have come to see you but my granny and Shawn are just acting all crazy right now. I'm so sorry", she said.
I studied her briefly. The fierceness asides, she looked elegant. She looked like she belonged in a painting, devastatingly beautiful. Her dress clung to her body tightly. The curve of her jaw, the way her fingers gripped the phone. Everything about her spoke of control.
Her eyes, dark and unreadable flicked up to meet mine. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Were you checking me out, Ethan?", She asked, smirking.
"Relax. I check prices also. Doesn't mean I'm buying"
"I'm not a property", She frowned.
"Well, properties don't come with an attitude", I smiled.
She moved closer to me and leaned in. She stared deep into my eyes, her pointed nose almost brushing my cheeks.
"You know I expected someone less cocky", She said.
I laughed and lifted her jaw up with my middle finger. "And I expected someone less mouthy but here we are"
She scoffed and yanked my finger off. She glared at me before walking away.
I gegged behind her, watching the way her spine held rigid, shoulders squared like an armor she was created with. Ava Moreno didn't just walk. Her walk was cold, controlled and ... beautiful.
She stopped and turned around to look at me. She took two steps closer to me and crossed her arms before staring into my eyes.
I didn't look away. It was then I realized. She held her head high and her posture proud, but her eyes looked tired. I could see it because I was used to seeing broken people pretend they were fine but Ava did it so well. She walked like she owned the world but her eyes betrayed the ruins she rebuilt.
"Oh I see you guys are getting along pretty well", Shawn said as he walked out.
"No", we replied.
"It's time to leave", I said, winked at Ava. She rolled her eyes. I smirked and walked away.
Arriving at the Airbnb I had gotten with K, I entered the bathroom and shut the door. I didn't want to stay at my father's house because it would bring so many memories I badly wanted to forget back.
I turned the shower on and got under it rubbing the scar on my face.
My mind drifted to when I was back in Italy.
It was exactly three years after I came to Italy. It was a humid night. I had just closed a deal with a Russian contact Sergei Prokofiev, and something in his smile awakened my instincts. We were supposed to meet again the next day, but my guts twisted and I changed the location the last minute.
He didn't show up. Someone had raided my apartment that night. If I had not listened to my instincts, I would have been dead.
Going out to check on my underlings, I felt a sharp sting across my face. With my hands covering my bloody face as a reflex to the pain I felt, I heard an hurried footsteps going out of the house.
A muscle in my jaw twitched as I turned off the shower. I went out of the bathroom, pacing the bedroom. I could not stop thinking about what my father said before we went to the Moreno's estate.
He had said "Don't ask too many questions. Just play your part"
Play what part exactly? I thought he meant the marriage. Marry Ava. Keep her close. Smile for the cameras. Handle the business till Leo got better. But now, I was not sure. My dad didn't get fixated on something unless it profited him.
And now, Ava seemed like a piece of a boardgame...