The morning sunlight filtered gently through the sheer curtains of Twilight, casting soft patterns across the pristine marble floors. Ava stretched lazily, blinking at the ceiling, her mind lingering on the events of last night—the kitchen encounter with Dominic.
What the hell was that?
She sat up abruptly, her hair falling over her face as her cheeks warmed despite herself. You're Ava Ellis, not some lovesick schoolgirl. Yet the way he'd cooked for her, the casual intimacy of him eating from her chopsticks, and that smile—it had all felt too natural.
Grumbling, she got ready for the day, her thoughts tangled in a mix of confusion .
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Downstairs, Dominic was already in his study, skimming through reports with a concentration that belied his distracted thoughts. His hand tightened slightly on the pen he held as he remembered Ava's expression—her lips parted in surprise, the way her eyes had sparkled at him across the kitchen counter.
He'd barely slept. The image of her kept intruding on his thoughts, disrupting his usual iron-clad focus.
When Ava finally made her way down for breakfast, she hesitated at the doorway to the dining room. Their gazes met across the expanse of polished wood and silver cutlery.
"Morning," she said, her voice a little softer than usual, though her posture remained guarded.
Dominic lifted an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "Good morning, Miss Ellis. Did you sleep well?"
Her lips twitched. "Better ..... thanks to your… surprisingly good cooking skills."
He chuckled, the sound low and amused. "Careful with those compliments. They might go to my head."
Ava felt a tug in her chest at his easy tone, but she pushed it aside, choosing instead to focus on the untouched breakfast in front of her.
They ate in a silence that was less strained than usual, filled with the soft clatter of cutlery and the muted hum of the morning. For a moment, Ava allowed herself to forget the reasons she was here, to simply exist in the quiet bubble they'd unconsciously formed.
---
Ava walked through the gleaming hallways of ValeTech, her steps steady despite the flurry of murmurs that followed in her wake. Though she kept her expression cool and composed, she couldn't help but feel the weight of glances shifting toward her—some wide-eyed in surprise, others narrowed in speculative amusement.
She paused near the break room, hoping to quietly grab a coffee before slipping back to her desk. But the moment she stepped in, the hum of conversation dipped just enough to make her aware of being the topic.
"I heard she's been living at Twilight. Must be nice, huh?" one secretary whispered, not even bothering to lower her voice entirely.
"Nice for now. Until Mr. Vale gets bored," another snickered, tilting her head so her glossy curls swung. "You know how he is—he's never kept anyone close for long. She'll probably be gone by next week."
Ava's grip tightened subtly on her phone, but her face remained a mask of indifference.
One woman—Luna, the quietly sharp assistant she'd shared a few conversations with before—stepped forward and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "Ignore them. They're just bitter because you've lasted longer than any of them."
Another woman nearby murmured, "Some of us are rooting for you, Miss Ellis. You're stronger than you look."
Lucy—grinned and loudly said , "Don't worry, Miss Ellis. You're doing fine. It's just… most people here haven't seen anyone get this close to Mr. Vale. You've already broken records for lasting this long."
Ava's lips twitched slightly, grateful for the subtle gestures of support, though she didn't dare let her composure slip. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice clear but reserved.
She squared her shoulders, feigning indifference, but inside, a small part of her twisted uncomfortably.
Then she heads back to her work ignoring their murmuring.
Just when she was getting up from her desk.
It was at that moment her phone buzzed with a message. She glanced down, her pulse tightening as she read:
Lunch Time Miss Ava--Mr Vale.
Her jaw clenched, but she inhaled slowly. No point delaying this.
By the time she reached the top floor, balancing the tray with Dominic's meticulously prepared lunch, she had smoothed her expression into calm neutrality. His office door stood half-open, revealing him standing by the window, his dark silhouette framed against the panoramic skyline.
She stepped inside quietly, the faint sound of her heels against the polished floor the only indication of her presence. "Your lunch, Mr. Vale," she said, placing the tray gently on his desk.
Dominic turned to face her, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Aren't you going to join me?"
Ava met his gaze head-on, her eyes steady and cool. "I don't know why you would want to eat with me, Mr. Vale, but I'd prefer it if you stopped crossing the line between a boss and his secretary."
His smirk faltered slightly, and he raised an eyebrow.
"I'm here to do my job, not to be part of some… amusement or test," she continued, her voice even but tinged with quiet steel. "While I'm here, I'd appreciate it if you respected that. I just want to work and live quietly. That's all."
For a moment, silence settled between them, thick and weighted.
Then, with a graceful nod, Ava lowered her gaze and added in a quiet, composed tone, "I hope you'll take my words seriously, Mr. Vale. If you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave."
She turned smoothly on her heel, leaving behind the scent of her presence and the faintest trace of her resolve.
Dominic remained by the window, his brow furrowing as he watched her retreating form. Her words lingered, sharp yet controlled, slicing through the usual ease with which he navigated his world.
He exhaled softly, the corner of his mouth curving up despite himself.
Even though her trying to act calm and resolute he could see the little fury in her eyes he chuckles darkly as remembering her eyes "What happened in my empire"
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