Chapter Seven: Breaking Point

   Ava barely slept that night. Her mind churned with thoughts of her disastrous mistake at the dinner meeting and Damien’s cutting words. She hated how his voice lingered in her head, replaying his frustration over and over again. She was already beating herself up, but he had managed to make her feel even smaller.

By morning, her mood hadn’t improved. She dragged herself into the office, bracing for the inevitable confrontation. Damien wasn’t the type to let things go, and she knew she was in for another round of scathing remarks and impossible demands.

The moment she stepped off the elevator, she could feel the shift in the office atmosphere. Colleagues avoided her gaze, whispering in corners as she walked past. She wasn’t sure if the rumors of her outburst had already spread or if she was just imagining things, but the tension was palpable.

When she reached her desk, she found a note waiting for her. It was Damien’s handwriting, sharp and precise.

“My office. Now.”

Ava sighed, crumpling the note in her fist. Of course, he couldn’t just let her settle in before unleashing his wrath. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and marched toward his office.

Damien was standing by the window when she entered, his back to her. He didn’t turn around immediately, and the silence stretched between them, heavy and oppressive.

“You wanted to see me?” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

He finally turned, his expression unreadable. His suit was immaculate, as always, but there was a tightness in his jaw that gave away his frustration.

“Close the door,” he said.

Ava hesitated for a moment before doing as he asked. She didn’t like the idea of being alone with him in such a confined space, especially when he was in this kind of mood.

“I’m going to be very clear,” Damien began, his tone icy. “What happened last night was unacceptable.”

“I know,” Ava said quickly, hoping to diffuse the situation before it escalated. “I’ve already apologized, and I—”

“Apologies won’t fix this, Ava,” he snapped, cutting her off. “You put me in an impossible position. Hayward is one of our most important clients, and your outburst nearly cost us the deal.”

“I was just standing up for myself!” she shot back, unable to keep the frustration out of her voice. “He was being completely inappropriate, and you just sat there and let him!”

Damien’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about what’s fair or right. It’s about business. You need to learn how to pick your battles.”

Ava clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him that she wasn’t some puppet he could control. But she bit her tongue, knowing it would only make things worse.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked finally, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. “Do you want me to grovel? To beg for forgiveness?”

Damien stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he let out a bitter laugh.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t want you to grovel, Ava. I want you to think. To use that sharp mind of yours before you act. You’re better than this.”

His words caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. There was something in his tone—something almost... vulnerable.

“I’ll fix it,” she said finally, her voice quieter now. “I don’t know how, but I’ll fix it.”

Damien nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Good. Because I’m not giving up on this deal, and I expect you to do the same.”

---

For the next few days, Ava threw herself into her work, determined to prove herself. She avoided Damien as much as possible, not because she was afraid of him, but because being around him made her emotions spiral out of control. She couldn’t afford any more slip-ups.

But Damien wasn’t making it easy. He seemed to be everywhere—hovering over her desk, interrupting her meetings, and finding every possible excuse to critique her work. It was as if he was deliberately testing her, pushing her to see how much she could take.

The tension between them reached a breaking point one afternoon when he called her into his office to review a report she had spent hours perfecting.

“This is sloppy,” he said, tossing the papers onto his desk. “I expect better from you.”

Ava stared at him in disbelief. She had double-checked every detail, triple-checked every calculation. She knew the report was flawless.

“What exactly is sloppy about it?” she asked, her voice tight.

Damien raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being challenged. “The formatting is inconsistent. The analysis lacks depth. Do I need to go on?”

“You’re nitpicking,” she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “The report is fine, and you know it.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “Are you questioning my judgment?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Because right now, it feels like you’re just looking for reasons to make my life miserable.”

For a moment, Damien said nothing. Then, to her surprise, he smirked.

“Maybe I am,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “But if you can’t handle a little pressure, you’re in the wrong line of work.”

Ava felt a surge of anger rise within her, but she forced herself to stay calm. She wasn’t going to let him get under her skin.

“I can handle the pressure,” she said firmly. “What I can’t handle is working for someone who doesn’t appreciate the effort I put in.”

Damien’s smirk faded, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, maybe, or guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“Get back to work,” he said finally, his tone curt.

Ava turned on her heel and left the office, slamming the door behind her. She was done trying to please Damien Cross.

---

But fate had other plans.

That evening, as Ava was finishing up for the day, she received an email from Damien with the subject line: URGENT: Dinner with Hayward.

Her stomach sank as she read the message. Damien wanted her to accompany him to another meeting with Hayward, this time to present a revised proposal. It was her chance to redeem herself, but the thought of facing Hayward again made her feel sick.

She considered declining, but she knew Damien wouldn’t take no for an answer. So she took a deep breath, changed into a more formal outfit, and prepared herself for another tense evening.

When she arrived at the restaurant, Damien was already waiting for her. He didn’t say much as they walked inside, but she could feel the tension radiating off him.

The dinner started off on a tense note, with Hayward making passive-aggressive comments about the previous meeting. Ava bit her tongue, forcing herself to stay calm.

But as the evening wore on, she found herself growing more and more frustrated. Hayward’s behavior hadn’t improved, and Damien’s silence was driving her crazy.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up, her hands trembling.

“This meeting is over,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “I won’t sit here and let you disrespect me.”

Damien looked up at her, his eyes wide with shock.

“Ava—” he started, but she cut him off.

“No,” she said firmly. “I’ve had enough.”

And with that, she walked out of the restaurant, leaving Damien and Hayward behind.

As she stepped out into the cool night air, she felt a mix of relief and dread. She had stood up for herself, but at what cost?

She didn’t have time to dwell on it, though, because moments later, Damien appeared beside her.

“You’re unbelievable,” he said, his voice filled with both anger and admiration.

“Maybe,” she said, her chin held high. “But at least I have my dignity.”

Damien stared at her for a long moment, and then, to her surprise, he laughed.

“You’re going to be the death of me, Ava,” he said, shaking his head.

And for the first time, she saw something in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before: respect.

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