Damien.
The name alone carried weight, but tonight it dragged something darker behind it. He was someone who never let go of things no matter how little they are , except they don't connect with him.
He met Blake in a dim parking garage, deliberately off-grid. No suits, no guards. Just him, the low hum of fluorescent lights, and the man who dared humiliate Ava.
Blake looked around, smug until his eyes locked on Damien's. The air changed instantly.
"You called me here to negotiate?" Marcus asked, arms crossed.
Damien walked forward slowly, coat swinging like a blade.
"No. I called you here to remind you who you're dealing with."
Blake scoffed. "Look, I didn't touch her. Just gave the press a story. It's what they wanted."
Damien stopped inches from him.
"Here's how this works," he said quietly. "You breathe her name again, anywhere, in any form, and I will dismantle whatever pathetic life you've managed to piece together or rather... the life she helped you piece together"
Blake opened his mouth to respond.
Damien raised a finger.
"You're not a scandal. You're not even a threat. You're noise. And I remove noise."
He leaned in, voice like smoke. "She was kind enough not to destroy you. I'm not."
Blake's bravado cracked. "This... is illegal."
Damien smiled coldly. "So sue me."
He turned on his heel and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Blake with nothing but his own fear and a silent realization: Damien Wolfe wasn't bluffing.
***
Elsewhere, The Wolfe Estate.
A glass of brandy swirled slowly in a crystal tumbler.
Eleanor sat on the velvet chaise, legs crossed, staring into the fire with feline stillness. Across from her, Arthur Wolfe, Damien's father, flipped a page in his newspaper.
"She's sharper than I thought," Eleanor said eventually.
Arthur chuckled. "So you do like her."
Eleanor raised a brow. "Don't be foolish. I tolerate potential."
"She stood up to you."
"She didn't flinch," Eleanor corrected. "Not once. That kind of fire is rare."
Arthur set down the paper. "You're planning something."
Eleanor sipped her drink. "A little pressure reveals shape. Torture, if applied elegantly, breeds steel."
"You'll break her," he warned.
Eleanor's smile was slow, precise. "If she breaks, she was never good enough for him."
"And if she doesn't?"
Eleanor's eyes gleamed. "Then she becomes family."
"Just be careful, you wouldn't wanna upset Damien, and you know it" Arthur warned.
"Ohh, common. I birthed him , I can take care of him." Eleanor said grinning widely.
***Ava's POV
The evening air outside the penthouse felt different ,heavier. Ava couldn't put her finger on it, but something in the city's pulse had shifted. Maybe it was the way the traffic hummed below or how the lights flickered on and off as though the world was holding its breath.
She leaned on the railing of the balcony, the wind playing with her hair as she stared out at the skyline. The city had become her constant companion, but tonight, it felt more like a stranger than ever.
Behind her, the soft sound of footsteps approached.
Damien stood in the doorway, his hands casually in his pockets. His gaze swept over her, as if assessing, as if searching for something beneath the calm facade she had carefully built.
"Ava," he said, voice low. "You alright?"
She glanced over her shoulder, meeting his eyes. "Yup, Just... thinking."
He nodded, walking closer until he stood beside her. The familiar scent of his cologne mingled with the night air. A mix of forest mint and strawberry.
"I don't like this," she said softly, staring into the distance. "I don't like feeling like I'm constantly being watched."
Damien's jaw tightened, and he glanced away for a moment. "I know. I hate it, too. But it's part of the world I live in. And now, unfortunately, it's part of yours."
She let out a breath, her fingers tightening around the railing. "I don't belong in that world."
His eyes softened, and he took a step closer, his presence solid and warm. "You do. More than you realize."
Ava turned to face him, eyes searching his face for sincerity. "No, Damien. I'm just... a distraction. A curiosity to your family. A scandal waiting to happen."
His expression darkened, and his voice dropped to a low whisper. "You're more than that. I'll make sure they see that."
Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him.
But something in her gut told her that the game they were playing had only just begun.
***
Meanwhile - The Wolfe Estate
Eleanor Wolfe sat at her vanity, her fingers slowly brushing over the array of luxurious jewelry laid before her. She was dressed for the evening, her reflection gazing back at her with a calm, calculated expression. The world beyond the mirrors was chaotic, but here in her domain, she was the one pulling the strings.
The sound of the door opening broke her reverie. Arthur entered the room, his face more serious than usual.
"Have you heard from Damien?" he asked, his voice low.
Eleanor's fingers paused over a diamond necklace. "Not yet. But he'll reach out when the time is right."
Arthur crossed the room and leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms. "I don't like how this is playing out. You're pushing him into a corner."
She smirked, an almost imperceptible glint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm not pushing him anywhere. I'm simply... giving him room to make his own decisions. The boy has always been stubborn."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "And what about her? Ava? You're not playing fair."
Eleanor's gaze sharpened, and she slowly turned to face him. "What do you mean?"
"You're testing her," Arthur said, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm not sure that's the right way to handle things. Damien cares about her."
Eleanor's lips twisted into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Damien cares about anyone who challenges him. And Ava? She's a challenge. A distraction. I know how to play this game."
Arthur's expression darkened. "Don't underestimate her."
Eleanor's smile widened as she stood, draping the necklace over her neck. "I don't intend to. I'm simply... refining her. Like one refines steel." She paused, her fingers brushing the cool metal. "Damien will see the value in her eventually. Or he won't."
Arthur didn't respond, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he left the room. Eleanor's eyes followed him as he went, the weight of her thoughts heavier than the jewels around her neck.
She turned back to the mirror, adjusting her hair, as a chilling thought crossed her mind: If Damien truly loves her, he'll let her prove herself. And if not? She let out a quiet breath, her smile never faltering. Then she'll be discarded.
***
Ava's POV - The Next Day
The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, but Ava barely noticed it. She had barely slept, her mind racing with thoughts of Damien, of his family, and the pressures mounting on both sides. She knew something wasn't right , she knew she was being pulled into a world she didn't fully understand.
Her phone buzzed with a new message: Damien wants to see you. 6 PM. The penthouse.
She stared at the text, a sense of dread settling in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that the calm, quiet moments with him would soon be shattered. And when they were, there would be no turning back. She just couldn't wait for the deal to come to an end.
***
Later - The Penthouse
Ava arrived at Damien's penthouse just as the evening darkened, the lights of the city flashing like distant stars. She found him standing by the window, his broad shoulders tense as he looked out over the cityscape. His back was to her, but she could feel the weight of his presence.
"Damien?" she called softly.
He turned slowly, his face unreadable. "Ava."
She stepped closer, her heart pounding. "What's going on? You've been distant."
He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that. I just... there's more at play than I can explain right now."
Ava's gaze narrowed. "I don't need you to protect me, Damien. I need the truth."
His eyes flickered with something like regret, but before he could speak, the doorbell rang.
Ava looked at him, confusion on her face. "Who is that?"
Damien's jaw tightened, and he walked to the door. As he opened it, Ava caught a glimpse of someone standing in the hallway, Blake. His face was smirking, and the weight of the tension in the room suddenly felt suffocating.
Blake stepped forward, his voice cutting through the air. "We need to talk, Wolfe."
Ava's stomach sank. She knew the storm was coming. But she didn't expect it to come so soon.