The world outside had no idea how a single conversation could unravel everything a person thought they knew about themselves. Ava clung to the polished silver tray in her hands, its weight an anchor amid the storm of emotions churning inside her. The words Damian Cross had spoken barely an hour earlier still circled her mind, refusing to be silenced.
You don't belong in the life you're living, Ava. And you know it.
She hadn't told anyone about their conversation. Who would she even tell? Bryan wouldn't notice her absence, let alone care about a conversation with a powerful man. And Tasha, her colleague and closest friend at the hotel, would probably warn her to stay away, to protect herself.
The hotel lobby bustled as usual, guests arriving and leaving with tailored suits, designer luggage, and the air of people whose problems could be solved with a phone call. Ava moved through them like a shadow, unseen and unnoticed.
Except for him.
Damian Cross's presence lingered in the building like an invisible force. Every passing second felt like he might appear again, though she knew how foolish that was. Men of his stature didn't chase after women like her. And yet… here she was, unable to stop scanning every corner, every elevator door.
Ava's shift dragged, minutes stretching into what felt like hours. The late afternoon sun cast long beams across the marble floor as she headed toward the staff lounge for a brief reprieve. Her fingers trembled when her phone vibrated.
A message....unknown number.
"Meet me at the rooftop lounge at seven. Don't make me wait. — D"
Her heart skipped a beat. She had no way of knowing how he'd gotten her number, but she wasn't surprised. Men like Damian Cross didn't ask for things — they took them. Information, meetings, control. He was the type to dismantle an entire system just to get what he wanted.
And for reasons she didn't dare name, part of her wanted to answer.
Seven o'clock came too quickly. Ava debated every possible excuse to avoid the rendezvous. But curiosity, or perhaps something more dangerous, overruled sense. She told herself it was only to hear what he wanted. Nothing more.
The rooftop lounge, reserved exclusively for elite guests, was a world apart from the hotel's other spaces. Golden light spilled across artfully arranged seating areas, a soft breeze rustling through manicured plants. The city stretched endlessly below, glittering in twilight.
And there, by the railing, stood Damian.
He wore a dark suit without a tie, his profile sharp against the fading sky. Ava's stomach clenched.
She approached cautiously, each step loud in her ears. Damian turned as she neared, a faint smile touching his lips.
"I wasn't sure you'd come."
"I shouldn't have," Ava replied, her voice low.
"And yet, you're here."
He gestured to the seat beside him, and she hesitated before sitting. The space between them seemed both too vast and far too intimate.
"I'm not here to cause problems for you, Ava," he said, voice softer than she expected. "But I won't pretend I'm indifferent."
She swallowed. "I don't know what you expect from me."
Damian studied her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. "Nothing you aren't willing to give."
The statement felt like a challenge, threading danger into the air between them. Ava looked away, focusing on the city lights instead.
"I'm married."
"I'm aware."
"Then this…" She struggled for the right words. "Whatever you think this is, it can't happen."
He leaned closer, voice like silk brushing against her skin. "You deserve to be wanted, Ava. You deserve to be seen."
No one had ever said those words to her. Not even Bryan in the early days when promises still felt real.
Damian straightened as his assistant appeared, murmuring something about a call from New York. He didn't look away from Ava as he responded.
"Tell them to wait."
The assistant blinked but nodded, disappearing as quickly as she came.
Ava rose from her seat. "I can't stay."
She expected him to stop her, to issue some command she couldn't refuse. But he remained where he was, watching her with a gaze that felt like it could see through every layer she hid behind.
"I'll see you soon, Ava."
It wasn't a question. Or a threat. It was a certainty.
She left without answering, her heart feeling so heavy.
The elevator doors slid closed, enclosing her in cool glass and metal. Ava gripped the railing behind her, breath shuddering.
The worst part wasn't his words, or the way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in a room full of power and wealth.
It was the terrifying part of her that wanted more.
As the elevator descended, Ava knew the ground beneath her life had begun to shift. And the fall was inevitable.
He said he'll see her soon, how soon would that be, she kept questioning herself but couldn't get a reply.