't chase

elegance-but she never ran after uninvited men in design

she followed the man in black into Victor Leclair's pr

nd walked straight into an event Ava had spent

e did

in ways that made everyon

sp with subtle cologne

liers. Somewhere in the distance, a jazz qu

red into the far wing of the house. "Stop him,"

she didn't like. Not quite

't, ma

blin

t?" He he

.. int

t acc

al? Bu

nyone walk around w

cried in Ava's office because the boss ghos

ll me hi

do that

t?" Because you're scared

This wasn't just a breach-it was a power play

akeshift command center hidden behind one of

out her

ew across

that face ha

ly arr

e addi

"Ka

clear-he knew exactly who she was. And he hadn't just walked in like he

ich with laughter and richer with secrets. Ava moved like smoke through the event, greeting people by name, solving problems before they formed, her headset whispering crisis after crisis in her ea

nk untouched, his posture loose but guarded-like a man always five seconds away from disappearin

tling with purpose. No clipboard now. No smile. "I don't appreciate being toyed with," she said flatly. He turned toward her, slowly. His expression

lk in," he i

s let

wh

it mat

He stud

matter." Ava's pulse fl

ame." He lifted his

asking the wro

A long pause. The kind that

did Victor Leclair in

lanner. I

gaze did

ver hires

reason." She

good at wh

u are," he s

" Ava stepped forward, tens

on any record. Not on the ro

e?" His eyes finally warmed-just

ng an inv

ze. "What kind of i

it her in

lked away, disappearing into the blur of t