Chapter 5 UNSPOKEN POWER STRUGGLE

Ava moved carefully through the mansion, the weight of Dylan Blackwood's presence pressing on her like an invisible chain. All morning, she had replayed their last conversation, his words wrapping around her thoughts, tightening like a vice.

> _"Because I want to know how long you'll last before you break."_

She wouldn't break. She couldn't.

But Dylan wasn't just a man-he was a force. Relentless. Calculating. And with every passing day, she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold her ground in this battle of wills.

The staff whispered about him when they thought no one was listening. They feared him. Obeyed without question. Yet Ava had started to notice something beneath the surface-the way his gaze lingered too long, the way his words weren't just sharp, but methodical, designed to unravel her piece by piece.

She wouldn't let him win.

That afternoon, Ava was assigned to clean the grand library. The room was cavernous, its towering shelves crammed with books so old they carried the scent of history and dust. She focused on her work, dusting and organizing, trying to drown out the unease gnawing at her chest.

Then it happened.

That unmistakable shift in the air.

She turned, and there he was-leaning against the doorway, watching her with that unreadable expression.

Dylan.

Her pulse quickened, but she kept her face neutral. "Sir."

His lips curved slightly, amusement flickering in his silver eyes. "You're always so careful with your words."

She tightened her grip on the cloth in her hands. "I choose them wisely."

He stepped inside, his presence swallowing the space between them. "Afraid you might say something you'll regret?"

Ava held his gaze, refusing to shrink beneath its weight. "I don't regret my words."

Dylan smirked, his voice dropping lower. "Brave."

Silence stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. He moved closer, his fingers trailing along the spine of a book beside her.

"You intrigue me, Ava."

She exhaled slowly. "I'm just a maid, sir."

His gaze flicked to hers, sharp and knowing. "Are you?"

The air between them crackled.

Ava's throat tightened, but she didn't look away. He was playing a game, one she didn't fully understand.

Dylan studied her a moment longer, then-without another word-turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, breathless. Shaken.

She didn't know what he wanted from her.

But one thing was certain.

Dylan Blackwood didn't lose.

And neither did she.

---

Ava had spent months perfecting the art of being invisible. In a house like this, with a man like Dylan Blackthorn looming over everything, it was the only way to survive. But no matter how much she tried to blend into the background, his gaze always seemed to find her. It was unnerving-the way he noticed her when there were so many others he could ignore instead.

She kept her head down, focused on her work, and avoided him whenever possible. But Dylan Blackwood wasn't the kind of man who tolerated being ignored.

That's how she ended up here, standing stiffly in front of his massive desk, hands clenched around the hem of her apron while he leaned back in his chair, watching her with those sharp silver eyes.

"Do you know why you're here, Ava?" His voice was slow, deliberate-like he was already enjoying the game.

She forced her grip to loosen. "No, sir."

The smirk that crossed his face told her he didn't believe her for a second. "Lying doesn't suit you."

A lump formed in her throat, but she forced it down. He had been testing her since the day she arrived, pushing boundaries she hadn't even known she had. But why? What did he want from her? There were dozens of other staff members who passed through this house every day, yet she was the one he singled out.

"I don't lie," she said finally, lifting her chin just enough to meet his gaze.

His eyes darkened, though she couldn't tell if it was amusement or something else entirely. "Good. Then answer me honestly-why do you flinch when I'm near?"

Her breath caught. "I don't-"

"Don't," he interrupted, his voice quieter now, but sharper. "I see everything, Ava."

She felt cornered, trapped under the weight of his attention. And the truth was, she *did* flinch. Not because she was afraid-at least, not in the way he probably thought-but because he unsettled her. He made her feel exposed, as if he could see the thoughts she tried to bury deep.

"I don't know," she admitted softly.

Dylan pushed his chair back and stood, moving toward her with a slow, measured step. He stopped close-too close. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of him, the quiet command in his presence.

"You should," he murmured.

For a moment, she thought he was going to touch her. His hand lifted, fingers brushing the edge of her sleeve so lightly it could have been an accident. But then he pulled away, his expression unreadable.

"You intrigue me, Ava." His voice was quieter now, almost thoughtful. "I can't decide if that's a good thing or a very dangerous one."

Her pulse pounded in her ears. "I don't want to be intriguing."

Dylan chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "Too late."

The tension between them stretched tight-so tight she thought she might snap under the weight of it. But then, just as suddenly as he had drawn her in, he stepped back, reclaiming the space between them.

"Go," he ordered, his tone returning to its usual crisp command. "Before I change my mind about letting you walk away."

Ava didn't hesitate. She turned and walked quickly from the room, her heartbeat a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

But as she hurried down the hall, she knew one thing with absolute certainty-Dylan Blackthorn wasn't finished with her.

Not even close.

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