####Chapter Five: The Power Play

The next few days felt like an emotional rollercoaster for Ava. Damien’s sudden shift in behavior was throwing her off balance, and it was as if he was trying to test the limits of her patience—again. One minute, he was offering her subtle praise for her efforts, and the next, he was back to his icy, demanding self. The unpredictability of it all kept her on edge.

She had learned by now that Damien was not a man who could be figured out easily. One minute, she was his star employee; the next, she was back at square one, trying to keep up with his impossible expectations.

It was a Friday morning when everything seemed to hit a boiling point. Ava was already deep in a mountain of reports, her eyes sore from staring at the screen for hours. She had taken on the task of organizing an upcoming project for the firm, a responsibility that Damien had thrown her way after a particularly unexpected “show of confidence” on his part.

The clock ticked past noon, and she hadn’t even stopped to eat. She was so close to finishing, but the pressure of getting everything right was making her feel like she was suffocating. She glanced up at the door to her office, half-expecting Damien to walk in and start throwing more last-minute changes her way. Just the thought of him made her tense. But there was no sign of him. She allowed herself to exhale, trying to focus.

And then, as if on cue, the door opened, and there he was. Damien Cross, dressed in one of his signature tailored suits, looking as polished and intimidating as ever. His icy blue eyes scanned the room, settling on her with that familiar intensity that made her stomach flutter in a way she’d rather not admit.

“I hope you’re not planning on taking a break anytime soon, Ava,” he said, his tone sharp and calculated. “I need the final draft of the proposal on my desk by the end of the day.”

Ava didn’t even look up from her work. “It’s already almost noon, Damien. You gave me this task yesterday, and I’m almost done. I’ll send it over when I’m finished.”

There was a slight pause, and then he spoke again, his voice colder than usual. “I don’t think you understand the urgency of the matter. This is important.”

She looked up at him, finally meeting his gaze. “I understand perfectly,” she said, her voice firm. “But I’m not going to rush through it just to meet an unrealistic deadline.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to her desk. “You think I’m being unrealistic? I don’t think you understand who’s in charge here, Ava.”

She felt a flash of frustration burn through her, and she stood up quickly, meeting him at eye level. “You think I don’t know that by now? I’ve been working for you long enough to know exactly what kind of man you are. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you walk all over me.”

His expression remained unreadable, but the air between them crackled with tension. “I’m not asking for perfection, Ava. I’m demanding results.”

Ava clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to throw her papers at him. She had had enough of his demands, his manipulation, and his inability to ever appreciate the work she put in. It was like nothing she did was ever enough for him.

“Maybe if you actually gave me a little respect, Damien, I’d be more inclined to meet your ridiculous standards,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest.

For a moment, Damien said nothing. He just stood there, studying her with that inscrutable gaze. It was as though he was trying to decide how far he could push her before she snapped. But this time, Ava wasn’t backing down.

“I’m sorry, Ava,” he said after what felt like an eternity, his voice surprisingly calm. “You’re right. I’ve been too hard on you.”

Ava stared at him, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. Was he actually admitting fault? Was the great Damien Cross, the CEO who had the entire office walking on eggshells, apologizing?

It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t like him to admit he was wrong, especially not so easily. The power dynamic between them had always been clear—he was the boss, and she was the employee, nothing more. But something had shifted in the way he was looking at her, something she couldn’t quite place.

“Don’t patronize me, Damien,” she said, her voice rising. “If you’re going to apologize, at least mean it.”

The words hung in the air between them, thick with unresolved tension. Damien took a deep breath, and for a moment, his usual aloof demeanor slipped just enough for her to catch a glimpse of something else—something softer, maybe even a little vulnerable.

“Fine. I’ll leave you to it,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost... defeated. He turned to leave, but before he did, he paused.

“One more thing, Ava,” he said without looking back. “I’ll have the car ready for you at five. We need to discuss a few things for Monday’s meeting.”

Ava watched him leave without responding. She was too stunned by the sudden shift in his tone. What had just happened? Was this some kind of trick, or was he actually trying to make amends?

It was impossible to say. Damien Cross was an enigma wrapped in mystery, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to figure him out.

---

Later that evening, when Ava arrived at the car Damien had arranged for her, she was still wrestling with the events of the day. She had gone from furious to confused in the span of a few hours, and now she found herself questioning everything. Was Damien actually starting to soften? Or was this just another one of his mind games?

When she climbed into the backseat of the sleek black car, she found Damien waiting for her. He was sitting with his arms crossed, staring out the window, his jaw tight. His usual walls were back up, and Ava couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.

“We’re heading to a dinner meeting,” he said without looking at her. “Prepare yourself. It’s important.”

Ava nodded, too tired to argue. She wasn’t sure what to expect from this dinner meeting, but one thing was certain—Damien Cross was a force to be reckoned with. She had never been in a position where she couldn’t predict what he would do next.

And as they drove through the city streets, the weight of the day hung heavily between them. For the first time, Ava wasn’t sure where she stood with him, and that uncertainty gnawed at her.

As the car pulled up to the restaurant, she realized one thing for sure: she was in deeper than she had ever been before.

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To be continued

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