Chapter 3 CHAPTER THREE
Ava adjusted her sunglasses and stepped out of the sleek black car, her hand slipping into Noah’s as the cameras exploded in a frenzy of clicks. The sun was barely setting, casting golden hues over the red carpet that stretched before the arena’s charity gala. She could feel the weight of every stare, every lens, every whisper. Noah stood beside Ava, shoulders tense beneath his tailored navy suit. He had always been more of a shadows kind of guy, someone who coded quietly in dark cafés, not someone whose face was now being photographed by at least a dozen reporters at once. He squeezed her hand unconsciously. Ava glanced at him and whispered, "Are you alright?"
He nodded stiffly. His jaws was clenched, eyes forward like he was trying to calculate a formula to escape this madness.
"Don't worry, you've got this", she muttered under her breath.
Noah looked at her, in contrast to his fraying nerves, Ava, on the other hand, looked like she was born for this. Her lips curved into a practiced smile, elegant in her floor length crimson gown that shimmered with each step. Her hand brushed lightly against Noah’s arm not quite holding it, but close enough for speculation. The charity gala was their first official public appearance since the scandal had broken out. And although Ava hadn’t technically confirmed anything about their relationship, the internet was already ablaze.
"Miss Monroe! Is this your new man?", one reporter shouted as they ascended the red carpet. Ava paused, lifting her chin.
"I’d say he’s a very important part of my life", she replied smoothly, turning slightly so the cameras could capture the angles.
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Noah swallowed hard, resisting the urge to loosen his tie. An important part of her life. He tried not to read into it, he was here for Ava, for her image, to help clean up the mess her ex had left behind. That’s what he had agreed to but when her hand finally slid into the crook of his arm, fingers grazing his bicep, Noah didn’t move away. Instead, he let his body ease toward hers, letting the warmth of her skin bleed through his suit jacket. Inside the ballroom, they were escorted to a table near the front, prime real estate for photos and attention. More cameras, more whispers, more eyes, the space pulsed with energy, the kind Noah had never experienced.
He leaned toward Ava and muttered, "I feel like I’m being dissected."
She glanced at him, amused.
"Welcome to my world", she whispered back then added, "You’re doing fine, just look vaguely mysterious and a little bit in love."
His heart skipped.
"That part’s easy", he whispered.
She blinked, caught off guard but before she could respond, a waiter arrived with champagne and a well known sports commentator came by to greet them. Everything was playing out perfectly. The story being fed to the media was subtle: Ava Monroe had moved on. She wasn’t heartbroken, she wasn’t broken, she was thriving. And the man beside her? Mysterious, well dressed and apparently fiercely protective. Later in the evening, that latter part of the image would be cemented.
They were near the dessert table when it happened. A camera crew from a gossip channel cornered them, mic outstretched.
"Ava, how are you holding up after the recent… revelations?", the reporter asked.
Ava stiffened, her fingers tightening around her champagne flute. The reporter’s tone dripped with smugness, clearly fishing for a reaction. Before Ava could speak, Noah stepped forward.
"Excuse me", he said, voice calm but firm.
"She’s here to support a charity tonight. If you’ve got questions about the cause, I’m sure she’d be happy to answer. Otherwise, maybe don’t ambush people with a camera and a mic for clicks."
Ava blinked in surprise, then looked at him with something softer in her eyes. The reporter floundered, muttered something about doing their job and backed off. What neither of them knew at the time was that someone had caught the entire moment on video. Within the hour, the clip hit social media, Noah shielding Ava, his jaw clenched, eyes protective, voice sharp but composed. The internet lapped it up,
"Ava’s new man doesn’t play games."
"Where can I get a Noah?"
"We don’t know who he is but we LOVE him."
Within hours, #MonroeNewMan trended worldwide.
---
Back at Ava’s penthouse later that night, she kicked off her heels and collapsed on the couch.
"I think we just sold it", she said as she did so.
Noah stood awkwardly near the window, scrolling through his phone.
"I’m… everywhere", he muttered, eyes wide.
"This guy on TikTok edited my clip to dramatic music and called me a ‘modern knight in shining armour'."
Ava laughed, full and genuine.
"Welcome to the madness."
He looked up, pale.
"How do you do this every day? I had a migraine halfway through dinner", he told her.
She walked to the kitchen, grabbing two bottles of water.
"You get used to it eventually, the noise becomes background. You learn to smile through it, walk past the gossip, pose like nothing touches you."
She handed him a bottle, their fingers brushed.
"Thanks", he said quietly.
"But just so we’re clear… I meant what I said to that reporter. If anyone tries to hurt you, I won’t stand back."
She studied him. There was no performance in his eyes, no calculation, no script, just sincerity. A part of her softened but she shoved it down quickly. She couldn’t afford softness, not right now. She’d made this deal. It was just that, a deal.
"You played your role well", she said, her voice lighter.
"Seriously, you crushed it", she smiled at him but Noah’s smile dimmed just a little.
"Glad to help", he nodded.
In the silence that followed, Ava checked her phone. A new headline flashed on her feed:
"Ava Monroe's Secret? Mystery Man Shuts Down Press in Viral Clip."
She exhaled, that was good. That was exactly what her PR team needed. Still, as she looked at Noah, standing barefoot in her living room, hair tousled from running his hand through it too many times, clearly overwhelmed by everything, she wondered if she’d dragged him into something too big.
"You okay?", she asked.
He gave a weak smile.
"Still adjusting. I’m not used to being… looked at, judged, praised, it’s a lot."
"You’ll get used to it", she said again, but softer this time.
He met her gaze and asked, "Will I?"
She hesitated.
"If it gets too much, just say so. I won’t force you to stay in this", she told him.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I’m not here because I was forced, Ava", he told her.
Another pause, tension curled in the air between them, unspoken, thick but she broke it, turning away.
"Anyway, you should get some sleep. There’s a brunch thing tomorrow. Press will be there."
"Great", he muttered, already dreading it.
She chuckled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"Welcome to your new life, fiancé", she said as she winked at Noah before breaking into a full blown giggle and as she disappeared down the hallway, Noah stood alone in the living room, fame clawing at the edges of his quiet world, and Ava was so close but still just out of reach, spinning faster than he could follow. All of this and the performance had only just begun.
