Chapter 5 FIVE

Chapter 5:

The sound of high heels clicking on the floor reverberated through the shiny black marble floor of Blackwood Enterprises. Ava moved with intent and confidence, but in her head, she was in a state of frantic. Every conversation with Damon left her feeling as though she had walked through fire. He tended to challenge her, to prod her in a way that no one else in her life ever had. She despised that he could provoke her so much, but there was also attraction; a chemistry that was impossible to deny.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the bustling reception area. Ava hesitated for just a moment before stepping inside. A tiny voice at the back of her head told her that she had no idea what she was getting herself into in this game Damon was setting up, but she ignored it. She had her own plans. She wouldn't let him dictate the rules.

As the doors shut and she found herself tightly encased in a noiseless shell her thoughts set back to the boardroom. The manner in which Damon had provoked her, how his eyes had met her, holding her for a moment longer than was proper. She despised how much room he occupied in her mind but every time she met him it was like a fight; a fight she did not want to lose.

The sound of the elevator bell broke her from her reverie and she stepped out into Damon's private floor. She straightened her posture, pushing aside the simmering frustration. Today wasn't about him. She had come to make sure the new acquisition deal went smoothly. Nevertheless, the idea of seeing him again caused her a certain heat which she could not quite conceal.

The office was still, the only noise coming from the steady whirring of equipment and low voices from far off. Ava slowly walked down the corridor, her pulse rate increasing gradually with every passing moment. The door to Damon's office loomed ahead. She only took her time to knock, just once, before she pushed the door open.

Inside, Damon sat behind his massive desk, leaning back in his chair with his fingers steepled, as if he'd been waiting for her. He looked at her the moment she entered and there was a brief spark of recognition before his face was a mask once again.

"You are early," he said, in a non-confrontational and slow tone.

Ava ignored the small twist in her chest. "I wanted to go over a few details before the call with the investors." Her tone was professional and cool, but she could feel the familiar tension settling between them, thick and heavy.

Damon gestured toward the chair in front of him, but Ava remained standing. His gaze followed her movements, sharp and calculated as if he was trying to read every thought in her mind. She hated that he had this effect on her, that even when he said nothing, his presence demanded her attention.

"I've already reviewed the reports," Damon said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Everything is in order. Unless you've found something I missed?"

His words were still echoing and Ava did not take him up on it. However, she placed the files on his desk with a gentle click and then opened them up. "I noticed that there is a difference in the forecast for the next quarter." The figures don't account for the expansion costs."

Damon leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I accounted for that in the last review."

"No," Ava countered, "you didn't account for the full scope. If we proceed without adjusting, we'll be over budget by millions."

They looked at each other for a long time, with a tension that was not expressed in words. Damon glared at her, but she did not look away from his eyes. It was not about making herself win; it was about making the right decision for the company.

Finally, Damon spoke, his tone low. "You're confident in these numbers?"

"Yes." She did not sound hesitant at all. She had devoted a lot of time analyzing the data and making sure that all the figures were accurate.

Damon looked at her for a long time, his face giving nothing away. And then, without a word, he reached for the files, his eyes reading through the pages on the paper. The only thing that could be heard in the room was the rustle of paper as he examined the numbers. Ava glanced at him; her pulse quickened despite her attempts to remain calm.

Finally, he raised his eyes and his face was less hostile, but his eyes were still piercing. "You're right."

This admission left her speechless, and for a brief moment, she did not know what to say. Damon Blackwood never admitted to being wrong. Ever. She could not tell whether to be relieved or scared.

"Good," she replied, trying to hide her surprise behind the corporate demeanor. "Then we'll make the adjustments before the call."

Damon didn't respond right away, his eyes lingering on her a second longer than necessary. But there was more to his look than the business, there was something else. Ava could feel it, but she wasn't ready to admit it. Not yet.

But as she was about to walk away, Damon called her back. "Ava."

She stopped, her fingers gripping the door frame, but she did not look back. "What?"

"Be careful," he said, his voice gentle now, almost... worried. "There are more at stake here than you know."

She felt a flutter in her chest, but she didn't allow it to stop her from moving forward. No matter what game Damon was playing, she could not allow herself to be enmeshed in it. She had her dreams, her own wars to wage. She would not let him distract her from what she thought was relevant.

In another part of the city, Lucas Hawthorne breathed with his arms crossed and leaned against the rail of the penthouse balcony with his dark blond hair flying in the cool night. The lights of the city were shining below but he was not happy with the view; of New York at night.

His phone rang in his hand and he looked at the display. A message from one of his sources. The pieces were finally falling into place. Damon Blackwood's empire was slowly starting to fall and Lucas had no chance to miss the moment.

The game of power play was about to shift in the center, and that change was going to be his next decision.

He put his phone away and looked back at the city, smiling slowly and deliberately before walking away. Let Damon and Ava play their little games. Soon, they'd both learn what it meant to lose.