Chapter 2 Broken Heart

The next morning, Ava arrived at the office before sunrise.

The executive floor was still and empty, bathed in the soft glow of city lights filtering through the glass. She moved through the space like she belonged there-not like someone who'd clawed her way back, but like someone who never should've left.

She settled in, booted her computer, and began sending out schedules, reworking Dominic's calendar with thorough precision. Meetings were reshuffled, conflicts erased, priorities highlighted. Her inbox was filled with confirmations, then compliments.

By the time the floor buzzed to life, Ava had already rewritten the flow of Dominic Hale's day.

And at 7:58 a.m., he walked in a tailored suit, expression unreadable, coffee in hand.

He paused at her desk. "You've been here a while."

"Productivity doesn't start at nine," she said without looking up.

A faint flicker of something crossed his face. "I see that."

She handed him his updated schedule. "You've got a 9:30 with legal, rescheduled the investor call to tomorrow, and the restructuring proposal is waiting for your review. I also flagged an issue with our subsidiary in Berlin-wrong numbers were pushed through on their quarterlies."

He flipped through the folder, brows lifting slightly. "Efficient."

A small, sharp smile tugged at her lips. "That's what you hired me for, isn't it?"

He didn't answer right away. He just stared at her, like he was trying to figure something out.

Then, without a word, he walked into his office.

By noon, everyone knew her name.

Some of it came with admiration. Most with suspicion. A few with outright whispers.

That's the one who used to date Hale, right?

She left. Walked away from it all.

Now she's back like nothing happened.

But Ava didn't engage. She let the rumors swirl, let the gossip feed itself.

What mattered was that the entire upper floor now moved just a little faster when she walked past.

At exactly 2:03 p.m., Dominic called her in again.

She stepped inside, tablet in hand. "You asked for me?"

He stood beside his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled, tension riding his shoulders like armor. The proposal folder sat open, red-marked with his scrawl.

"You flagged the Berlin issue," he said. "Good catch."

"I do my job."

His eyes flicked up. "You do more than that."

He walked closer, stopping just in front of her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then he said it. Low. Measured.

"Do you regret leaving?"

The question wasn't professional. And he knew it.

She kept her voice steady. "Is that relevant to the proposal?"

"No. But I want to know."

Her heart beat louder than it should have. But her answer was instant.

"I don't regret leaving," she said. "I regret coming back."

It was a lie, and they both knew it. But it was the kind of lie that closed doors. The kind that protected.

His jaw clenched. "Then why did you?"

She stepped back, fingers tightening around the tablet.

"Because some things are worth facing again. Even the mistakes."

She turned and walked out, pulse racing.

Behind her, the silence felt heavier than any words.

By Friday, the office had shifted.

Ava had become a storm wrapped in heels and quiet authority-moving through the halls with lists no one dared to question and answers no one else had time to find. Meetings flowed smoother, emails came faster, and Dominic Hale, for all his brooding perfectionism, hadn't once corrected her in front of anyone since Tuesday.

But that didn't mean he was easy.

That morning, he sent her a message with three words: "My office. Now."

No subject line. No reason.

She inhaled once, exhaled slowly, and walked in.

Dominic was standing by the window again, staring down at the skyline like it had done something personal to him. His sleeves were rolled up, hair slightly tousled from his fingers, not time.

"You need something?" she asked, stopping just short of his desk.

He turned slowly. "You're pushing too hard."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You're overextending yourself. I can see it."

"I thought that was what you wanted. Immediate results. Maximum efficiency."

"Not if you burn out after week one."

Something in his tone had shifted-sharper, yes, but edged with concern.

"You think I'm weak?" she said flatly.

"No," he said, stepping closer. "I think you're hiding something." You were always a master at pretending nothing could touch you."

The breath caught in her throat. She hated how easily he still read her.

"I'm not pretending now."

"No?" he murmured. Then tell me why you haven't touched your lunches. Why did you stay until 11 p.m. twice this week? Why do your eyes look like they haven't slept since Monday?

She swallowed.

"I came here to work. Not to explain myself to you."

"But you do owe me something," he said quietly. "Don't you?"

Ava's pulse jumped. She took a step back. "If you called me here to play emotional chess, I'm not interested."

It's not a game.

"You made it one the moment you rehired me."

A long pause followed. The silence wasn't empty-it was heavy with everything they weren't saying.

Finally, he looked away. "There's a gala tomorrow night. You're attending."

She crossed her arms. "As your assistant?"

"As my date."

Her heart tripped. "Is that professional?"

"Not remotely."

"Then why?"

"Because the board will be there. And your presence will send a message."

"To whom?"

"To everyone who thinks you're here because of a mistake, not merit."

She stared at him, lips parted. "You care what they think?"

"I care about what you represent," he said. "You want to rewrite your reputation? Start there."

He tossed a black envelope onto the desk. Inside was the event invite. Bold, high-profile, glittering.

She picked it up slowly.

"Be ready by seven," he said, turning back to the window.

She hesitated. Then, quietly: "This won't end well, Dominic."

He didn't look at her, but his voice was soft and sure.

"It never did the first time either."

By the time Ava stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet at the gala, a wave of familiarity hit her. The glittering building stretched up before her, its sleek, cold exterior reflecting the night sky. She hadn't missed this world-not even a little-but now that she was here again, it felt like stepping into a life she barely recognized.

The old part of her wanted to shrink back, wanted to say," No, this isn't where you belong anymore. But she wasn't that person anymore. She was here for a reason, and that reason was standing just ahead of her.

Dominic was waiting at the entrance, tall and confident, his sharp suit making him look like he owned the place. Maybe he did. He certainly had a way of looking like he was untouchable, like the entire world was beneath him.

Ava squared her shoulders, her heart pounding for reasons she wouldn't admit, and walked toward him.

"Ready?" His voice was low, confident, with that same edge of command she remembered.

"I'm here, aren't I?" she replied, trying to keep the unease out of her voice.

He gave her a small smile, the kind that almost made her forget all the years between them. "Let's get this over with then."

Inside, the gala was just as luxurious as she remembered-opulent decor, expensive drinks, laughter that felt more like a performance than genuine joy. It was a world that hummed with power and ambition, and the people in it weren't shy about letting you know that. They eyed her the way they'd eye anyone who didn't quite fit-like they were trying to figure out what part she played in the game.

Dominic moved through the crowd like a pro, greeting people, shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries as if everything was normal. But every time his gaze flickered towards her, a jolt of electricity ran through her.

They didn't speak much at first, the room was too busy with its own rhythm. But Ava felt it, the shift in the air, like the tension between them, was visible to everyone in the room, even if they didn't know its source.

At some point, Dominic appeared at her side, stepping closer than was strictly professional. "I don't like the way they're looking at you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't flinch, but she couldn't ignore the weight of his words. "I'm just doing my job."

"No," he said, his voice deepening. You're doing more than that. They don't see you as an assistant. They see you as something else. Something they want.

Ava felt a cold shiver run down her spine, but she didn't let it show. "And what does that have to do with you?"

He didn't answer immediately, just watched her, as if weighing her words. "You don't belong here, Ava," he said quietly, eyes darkening slightly. "Not as their curiosity piece."

Before she could respond, the sound of a familiar voice broke through the tension.

"Ava, darling, it's been too long!"

Ava turned to see Lena Duval, the senior VP of marketing, approaching with her usual air of elegance and power. The two of them had never gotten along-there had always been rumors about her and Dominic, and Ava didn't need any confirmation. The way Lena's eyes lingered on him made Ava's skin crawl.

Dominic's smile tightened. "Ava, this is Lena. Lena, Ava."

Lena glanced at Ava, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "You're his assistant, then?" she asked, her voice dripping with just a hint of mockery. "I thought you'd be... higher up by now."

Ava didn't flinch, didn't let the words affect her. "I'm exactly where I need to be," she replied, her voice steady.

Lena's laugh was soft, but it cut through the air. "Well, enjoy the view from the bottom, I guess." She shot a look at Dominic, her smile widening. "I'm sure you're keeping her busy."

Dominic's jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure. "If you'll excuse us, Lena."

Without waiting for a response, he turned back to Ava, pulling her away from the conversation. Ava couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. She wasn't sure if it was the look Lena had given her or the tension that still hung between her and Dominic, but something was starting to shift. She wasn't just here to work anymore. She was here to prove something-to herself, and to him.

As they walked away, Dominic's gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary.

Ava felt the stirrings of something-something she wasn't ready to acknowledge. It wasn't just the past creeping in, or the pressure of this night. It was the pull between them, that unspoken tension that refused to be ignored.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Dominic beat her to it.

"You're more than just my assistant, Ava," he said quietly, his voice laced with something unreadable. "But don't forget why you're here."

Ava didn't know how to respond. She didn't know if she was here for him, for the job, or for something else entirely.

But for now, she just needed to survive that night.