Chapter 3 - THE IMPERIAL UPGRADE
By 8:00 AM the next morning, Ava’s life as a struggling event assistant was officially dead.
She woke up in a sprawling penthouse suite on the top floor of the Vance Tower overlooking Central Park. The bed linens were five-hundred-thread-count Egyptian cotton, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline glowing in the morning sun.
A soft knock sounded at the bedroom door. A woman in a dark grey suit entered, followed by three assistants wheeling rolling racks of haute couture clothing.
"Good morning, Miss Knox," the woman said with a crisp bow. "I am Beatrice, Mr. Vance's personal executive stylist. Mr. Vance requested that we prepare you for your 11:00 AM press conference."
"Press conference?" Ava asked, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes.
"To officially announce the engagement," Beatrice replied with a warm smile. "Now, let us begin. We have a great deal of work to do."
For the next three hours, Ava was transformed. Her hair was washed, conditioned, and styled into soft, elegant waves that fell gracefully over her shoulders. Her skin was hydrated and made up with flawless, subtle elegance.
Then came the dress.
Beatrice pulled a gown of deep royal blue silk from a velvet garment bag. It had long sleeves, a clean square neckline, and a subtle train that flowed behind her like water. When Ava stepped into a pair of silver heels and looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. She didn't look like a girl who ate half-eaten muffins behind loading docks.
She looked like royalty.
At 10:45 AM, Julian entered the suite’s private lounge. He wore a navy three-piece suit, a crisp white shirt, and a dark silver tie.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw Ava.
For three seconds, the cold, unshakeable CEO of Vance Logistics looked genuinely stunned. His gaze traveled slowly from the tip of her silver heels up to her dark eyes.
"Is it... too much?" Ava asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
Julian walked over to her, stepping close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet ring box.
"It is perfect," Julian said, his voice dropping an octave.
He opened the box, revealing a magnificent ten-carat oval-cut canary diamond set in platinum, flanked by two rare trapezoid diamonds. It caught the morning light, blazing with blinding brilliance.
He took her left hand. His fingers were large, warm, and steady as he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
"This belonged to my grandmother," Julian murmured, holding her hand a second longer than necessary. "She was a woman who didn't tolerate fools either. She would have liked you."
May you like
Ava looked down at the glittering diamond, then up into his grey eyes. "Thank you, Julian."
"Don't thank me yet, Ava," Julian warned softly, offering his arm. "The sharks are waiting downstairs."
