ONE YEAR WITH HIM

CHAPTER THREE

Ava tried as hard as she could to hold back her tears. Her hands trembled slightly as she worked, devastated and humiliated, yet forcing herself to stay composed. She wiped her face subtly, rearranged her hair, and straightened her posture, determined not to let anyone see her vulnerability.

From her office, she could see some of the activity in the hallway and around Sebastian’s office; the sleek, open layout of the secretary and CEO suite allowed her glimpses of the world outside her desk; but she couldn’t see inside his office. Still, she knew he could probably see everything going on in hers. That thought made her stomach tighten further.

Just as she was adjusting herself, a voice broke through her flustered thoughts.

“I’m here to see Mr. Knight.”

Ava looked up, and her breath caught. The man standing before her was striking—f*****g hot, she told herself, quickly chastising the thought as she tried to regain composure.

He’s in with someone at the moment… I… I could just inform him you’re here, though,” Ava said.

She picked up the landline. “Sir… someone—” she signaled toward the man letting him know she needed a name. “Yes… Mr. Damon is here to see you.”

“Be there in five,” he replied.

“Nice to meet you, Ava,” Damon said, reading her name from the tag on her desk.

“Nice to meet you too,” she replied warmly, giving him a reassuring smile.

Ava gestured toward a chair at the corner of her office. “You can sit over there while you wait for him, sir."

“I’ll sit here instead,” Damon said casually, taking the seat opposite her.

Damon tilted his head, curious. “Care to share what makes a beautiful lady like yourself sad on a bright Monday morning?” he asked, his voice light, almost teasing.

Ava hesitated for a moment, studying the man before her. Who was he? She didn’t recognize him, and yet there was something in his calm, easy presence that made her pause. A stranger, yes, but… not threatening. Somehow, she felt a surprising sense of comfort, a warmth and tenderness that made it easy for her to speak, to be herself, even for a few minutes. But before Ava could open her mouth to speak, Sebastian stepped out of his office, and Isabella swept in with her usual air of poise. Ava’s explanation died on her lips.

Sebastian’s eyes were cold, his expression unreadable.

“What brings you to New York, brother?” Sebastian asked Damon, his tone clipped, formal, devoid of warmth. There was no bond here, Ava realized; Sebastian clearly wanted distance.

“Good morning to you too, big bro,” Damon said, smiling, his warmth a stark contrast to Sebastian’s icy demeanor.

Sebastian’s eyes flicked toward Ava for a brief moment before returning to Damon. “Come on, brother. Let’s continue this inside my office,” he said, his tone sharp but controlled.

Isabella St. Clair stepped forward, graceful and poised as ever. She leaned in and kissed Sebastian lightly on the cheek, then turned to Damon, giving him a warm hug. “Goodbye, Damon"Ava could feel the tension radiating from Sebastian toward Damon; the contrast was almost tangible. Isabella’s presence softened the moment for Damon, but Sebastian remained rigid, unyielding.

Damon returned the hug politely, his expression calm and collected. “Thanks, Isabella. You too.”

Sebastian gestured toward his office. “Inside. Now.”

Damon walked in without hesitation, shoulders relaxed, face composed. He was not intimidated in the slightest. Ava, from her office, watched the exchange, heart pounding. She could see the stiffness in Sebastian’s posture and the effortless calm in Damon’s, and she felt a prickle of curiosity.

What was going on in there?

The office door clicked shut behind them. Sebastian’s eyes bore into Damon. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “I’m serious. Don’t play games with me, Damon.”

Damon leaned back, expression neutral, calm, almost serene. “I’m on a business trip,” he said. “I have a scheduled meeting with one of our clients. Nothing more.” He paused, letting the words settle. “This company might be yours… but it’s mine as much as it’s yours. Even if I handle the Florida division, I still have every right to be here.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened, but his tone didn’t soften. “You have one week to see your client and get the hell out of my city.”

Damon smiled faintly, keeping his composure. “Understood,” he said smoothly, as if the command had no power over him.

Ava’s mind whirled. She tried to focus on her work, but she couldn’t. She kept wondering what was happening inside Sebastian’s office. Her hands hovered over her keyboard, yet her thoughts were consumed with the conversation she could only glimpse from afar.

Sebastian’s gaze shifted briefly toward Damon, darkening. “I’ve seen the way you look at her,” he said, voice low, sharp. “Don’t.”

Damon’s eyebrows lifted, a hint of amusement crossing his face. “Why? She’s not yours. You have a girlfriend.”

Sebastian waved him off dismissively. “I’ve told you… she’s my secretary. That’s all that matters.”

In no time, Damon walked out of Sebastian's office.

He approached her desk, a warm smile lighting up his face. “It was nice to meet you, Ava. I guess… some other time,” he said, his voice was casual yet kind.

He started to turn away, but then stopped, looking back at her. “Well… you know what? I’ll be in New York for a week. How about we go out to dinner sometime?”

Ava raised her brows, caught off guard. What did he mean by that?

Damon chuckled softly, seeing her confusion. “Don’t worry, it’s not a date. Just a kind gesture from me to you… to ease the bad day you didn’t get the chance to tell me about earlier

He paused, then asked gently, “What time do you get off work, so I can pick you up?”

Ava glanced toward Sebastian’s office, then back at Damon. Well… I guess she needed it, she thought. After a small pause, she told him, “I finish at six.”

“All right,” Damon said, still smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

Ava felt a small laugh escape her lips. “Okay… all right,” she murmured, shaking her head slightly at the unusual turn her day had taken.

From his office, Sebastian watched them. His eyes followed the exchange, dark and unreadable. Something about the interaction unsettled him, though he didn’t make a move. Ava noticed nothing, but Sebastian was already thinking, trying to figure out what was going on between Damon and his secretary.

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