Corporate Love

va arrived at the o

ltering through the glass. She moved through the space like she belonged there-not

inic's calendar with thorough precision. Meetings were reshuffled, conflicts erased

life, Ava had already rewritte

in a tailored suit, expressi

desk. "You've b

start at nine," she sa

omething crossed his

call to tomorrow, and the restructuring proposal is waiting for your review. I also flagged a

folder, brows lifting

at her lips. "That's what

just stared at her, like he wa

word, he walked

veryone kn

tion. Most with suspicion.

who used to d

alked away

ck like noth

e let the rumors swirl, l

e upper floor now moved just a l

p.m., Dominic ca

, tablet in hand.

ed, tension riding his shoulders like armor. The p

erlin issue," he s

o my

d up. "You do m

, stopping just

, neither of

id it. Low

regret l

n't professional

teady. "Is that rele

I want

han it should have. But

ving," she said. "I

. But it was the kind of lie that c

ched. "Then

fingers tightening

are worth facing agai

d walked out,

ilence felt heavi

the office

d to question and answers no one else had time to find. Meetings flowed smoother, emails came faster, and D

dn't mean h

er a message with three

t line. N

, exhaled slowly

kyline like it had done something personal to him. His sleeves

she asked, stopping

ly. "You're pu

ked. "Ex

ending yourself

you wanted. Immediate res

burn out aft

ad shifted-sharper, yes

'm weak?" sh

u're hiding something." You were always a m

throat. She hated how e

pretend

r lunches. Why did you stay until 11 p.m. twice this week?

swal

ork. Not to expla

omething," he said q

back. "If you called me here to play

not a

ne the moment

ce wasn't empty-it was heavy wit

"There's a gala tomorrow

r arms. "As yo

my d

ped. "Is that

remot

en

be there. And your prese

wh

you're here because of

lips parted. "You c

t," he said. "You want to rewri

e desk. Inside was the event invit

ed it up

" he said, turning

quietly: "This won'

her, but his voice

d the first

ttering building stretched up before her, its sleek, cold exterior reflecting the night sky. She hadn't missed thi

n't where you belong anymore. But she wasn't that person anymore. She

king him look like he owned the place. Maybe he did. He certainly had a wa

art pounding for reasons she woul

confident, with that same ed

replied, trying to keep th

almost made her forget all the years betw

e 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 tha

nds, exchanging pleasantries as if everything was normal. But every tim

m. But Ava felt it, the shift in the air, like the tension between them,

than was strictly professional. "I don't like the way they'

ldn't ignore the weight of his

re than that. They don't see you as an assistant. T

pine, but she didn't let it show. "An

ing her words. "You don't belong here, Ava," he said quietl

he sound of a familiar voic

ng, it's be

e and power. The two of them had never gotten along-there had always been rumors about her and Domi

htened. "Ava, this

u're his assistant, then?" she asked, her voice dripping with j

s affect her. "I'm exactly where I nee

oy the view from the bottom, I guess." She shot a look at Dom

he maintained his composure

ght 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,

c's gaze lingered on her a

ge. It wasn't just the past creeping in, or the pressure of this night. It

h to speak, but Dom

said quietly, his voice laced with something u

n't know if she was here for him, for t

just needed to su