Chapter 5 A Deal

Damien's grip on Ava's waist felt like a cage as they entered the beautiful ballroom. The event was a high-profile business gathering for investors, CEOs, and power brokers from across the city. The air was filled with quiet arrogance, expensive perfumes, and shiny crystal glasses.

Ava could feel every eye on her, scanning her like she was a misplaced pawn among kings and queens.

Damien's face was calm, perfectly polite as he shook hands and exchanged smiles, but his fingers digging into her waist were a warning to stay quiet and stay in line.

Ava forced a practiced smile. Her heart, however, was not cooperating. It was pounding against her ribs, not just from nerves but from the memory of Mr. Gray's chilling word earlier: Run.

"Damien, darling!" A tall, sleek woman with perfectly styled blonde hair approached them. Her lips curled into a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. "And this must be... your wife."

Ava felt the woman's gaze sweep over her like a scalpel.

"Yes," Damien said flatly. "Ava."

The woman extended her hand with a mocking smile. "Clarisse Hale. I'm sure Damien told you about me?"

Ava shook her hand lightly. "No, he hasn't."

Clarisse's grin sharpened. "Oh? We were engaged, once upon a time. I guess you were the... surprise twist."

Ava's stomach dropped. She glanced at Damien, but his expression didn't change. He didn't even correct Clarisse.

Clarisse's hand lingered on Damien's sleeve as she added with a sly tone, "It's sweet, though, that Damien is still helping... charity cases."

Ava's cheeks burned. "Excuse me?"

Damien leaned down, whispering in Ava's ear so low only she could hear. "Smile. Don't you dare cause a scene."

The humiliation stung like acid. Ava's smile wavered but stayed. She swallowed the lump in her throat, telling herself over and over - For Levi. For Levi.

After Clarisse walked away, Damien guided Ava toward a group of older men near the bar. One of them was tall, with sharp eyes named Mr. O'Connell, a major investor.

"Ava," Damien said smoothly, "Mr. O'Connell has been thinking of pulling his funding. Why don't you show him why that would be a mistake?"

Ava blinked. "Me?"

Damien's hand tightened on hers. "Yes. Charm him. Convince him not to pull his funding."

Ava hesitated, her nerves prickling. She wasn't trained for this. She was a secretary, not a corporate hostess, but Damien's expression told her she didn't have a choice.

She took a deep breath and turned to Mr. O'Connell. "So, Mr. O'Connell," she began softly, "I heard you have been investing in green technologies lately. It is quite rare to see someone who's thinking about the future, not just profit."

The older man chuckled, clearly pleased. "Well, someone has to care, right? At least someone noticed."

Ava smiled, though inside her stomach was knotted. She spent the next few minutes asking him questions, drawing him into conversation. She spoke about charity projects, about how Thorne Enterprises could lead new innovations. She didn't know if it was enough but when Mr. O'Connell's stern expression softened, she caught Damien's approving glance from the corner of her eye.

"You've got a clever one here, Damien," Mr. O'Connell said with a grin. "Maybe I'll reconsider my withdrawal."

Ava exhaled silently, her shoulders dropping with relief,but Damien didn't thank her. He just gave her a cold, assessing look like she was a tool that had done its job.

"Good," he said to O'Connell. "I'll have my assistant set up a meeting." Then to Ava, with a forced smile for the room: "Go get us a drink, darling."

The tone in his voice made the word darling sound like an insult.

At the bar, Ava's hands shook as she ordered water for herself and wine for Damien. She could feel someone watching her.

When she turned, Mr. Gray was leaning casually against the bar, his gaze locked on her.

"You did well," he said smoothly, his voice low.

Ava stiffened. "Why are you here? What do you want from me?"

"Nothing... yet. But I can see the cracks forming." He studied her face, his eyes softening. "You're not built for his world, Ava. Damien is the kind of man who burns everything he touches."

"Why do you care?" she whispered.

"Because I know what it's like to stand where you are," he replied. "And I know what happens when people stay too long. Think about it - when he's done with you, what's left?"

Ava's chest tightened. She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that Damien wasn't as cruel as he seemed. But deep down, she wasn't sure she believed it herself.

Before she could respond, Damien appeared behind her, his hand firm on her shoulder.

"Gray," Damien said, his voice like a blade. "Find someone else to harass or toy with."

Mr. Gray smiled faintly. "Always so protective, Damien. Or is it possessive?"

Damien's jaw clenched. "Stay out of my marriage."

"Marriage?" Gray's chuckled. "Is that what this is? Or is she just another one-year contract?"

Ava froze.

Damien's hand tightened on her arm. "Walk away, Now."

The tension was unbearable. Ava said nothing as Damien pulled her back toward the table, his grip bruising. She could feel his anger radiating off him like fire.When they reached a quieter corner, he turned on her, his voice low but vicious.

"Stay away from him, Ava. Do you understand?"

"I didn't-"

"Do you understand?"

Her throat tightened. "Yes."

"Good. Because if you even breathe near him again, I'll make sure Levi's hospital turns him away."

Her breath caught. "You wouldn't."

His cold smile said otherwise.

The night ended with Ava in silent tears on the drive back, staring out the window while Damien scrolled through his phone, completely unaffected by her state. He didn't notice her trembling hands or maybe he didn't care.

When they returned to the penthouse, Damien stopped at the doorway of her room. His eyes were unreadable.

"You're learning," he said softly. "Don't disappoint me again."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts and a heart that felt like it was breaking.

Ava sat on the bed, clutching her phone. There was another message waiting from Mr. Gray.

"If you want answers about Damien, meet me alone tomorrow at noon. Ritz Café."

Her breath caught. Her thumb hovered over the screen, debating.

If Damien found out, he would destroy her, but if she didn't go, she'd never know the truth.

As Ava stared at the message, the door to her room suddenly opened without warning. Damien stood there, his gaze was dark and dangerous.

"Who are you texting?" he asked in a low and lethal tone.