Scentless

After the Incident

Ava POV

I woke up feeling off, a hazy blur clouding my thoughts. Memories of a late-night call flickered in my mind—Damon’s voice, low and intense, came back to me in fragments. Did I really call him? The details were elusive, but a knot of embarrassment tightened in my stomach.

I checked my phone, half-hoping I’d find a message from him, some kind of confirmation. Nothing. No traces left from the night before, just my foggy recollection. I forced myself to shake it off and get ready. Maybe, with luck, I’d misremembered it all, and Damon would never even bring it up.

Then my inbox pinged with a new email from him. I froze.

He was inviting me to join him for an important client meeting this afternoon. The email was brief and formal, but something about it felt… off. Damon usually didn’t involve me in these things, and the timing was just too coincidental.

“Is this about last night? Is he going to use this as some kind of test?” I wondered, both nervous and intrigued.

Walking into the office, I tried to shake off my nerves, but my stomach churned at the thought of facing Damon. What if he remembered the call? What if I’d said something too personal?

As I made my way to my desk, Liam intercepted me, his face lighting up in that easy way of his.

“Hey, you look like you’ve got something weighing on you,” he said, scanning my face with concern.

“Just… didn’t sleep well. Long night,” I replied, forcing a smile.

He arched a brow, a hint of mischief in his expression. “With him?” he asked, nodding ever so subtly toward Damon’s office.

I forced a laugh, brushing it off. “Not exactly. Let’s just say I may have done something… regrettable.”

Liam shot me a curious glance but didn’t press further. He left me with a smile, although I could tell he was still curious. Taking a deep breath, I glanced over toward Damon’s office and caught him watching me through the glass. I held his gaze for a moment, feeling a strange mix of apprehension and something else, a pull I couldn’t explain.

By the time we got to the boardroom, I felt a bit more in control, though the crowded room of board members and high-profile clients didn’t help. I did my best to blend into the background, listening carefully to Damon’s opening remarks, but I nearly jumped when he turned his attention to me.

“Ava, why don’t you expand on our projected impact analysis? Your perspective might offer fresh insight,” he said, his voice firm but with an edge that felt like a challenge.

I stared for a split second, caught off guard. He knew I wasn’t prepared for this, but he was putting me in the spotlight anyway. Taking a steadying breath, I stood up.

“Certainly. I believe our approach, focusing on incremental gains and sustainability, aligns well with our client’s long-term goals,” I said, finding my footing as I continued.

By the time I finished, I was surprised at how well it had gone. Damon’s eyes hadn’t left me for a second, his focus intense, almost like he was testing me. But there was something else, too a hint of satisfaction that confused me.

Why did he choose this moment to test me? I wondered as I met his gaze. It was like he’d put me on trial, and while I’d succeeded, I wasn’t sure I’d passed his standards entirely.

After the meeting, I expected Damon to dismiss me, but he surprised me by suggesting lunch. I stared at him, trying to read his expression. Damon never invited me out like this.

What’s his angle? I wondered, trying to keep my cool. We ended up at a nearby restaurant, and though we started by discussing work, the air between us felt charged with something else, something unspoken.

“You handled yourself well today. I didn’t think you’d rise to the occasion quite so smoothly, given the short notice,” he said, his tone almost mocking.

“Improvisation comes with the job, I suppose. Though, some warning might’ve been nice.”

He leaned in slightly, a slight smirk playing at his lips. “I’ve found people show their true capabilities under pressure. You didn’t disappoint.”

I was about to ask what he meant when a voice behind me made me turn.

“Hey, Ava! Fancy seeing you here.” It was Liam, grinning as he walked over to us. Relief washed over me; his timing was perfect. For some reason, Damon’s intense focus had me feeling both thrilled and tense, and Liam’s familiar face was a comfort.

“Hi, Liam!” I smiled as he came over, hugging me briefly and planting a light kiss on my forehead.

I didn’t think much of it until I glanced back at Damon. His expression was icy, his jaw tight, his eyes dark. I could practically feel the shift in his mood.

“Mr. Collins,” Damon said coolly. “I assume you’re enjoying the day off?”

Liam, catching the tension, just nodded and excused himself quickly. I watched him go, my cheeks heating as I felt Damon’s eyes on me.

“Was there something wrong with him stopping by?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

“I’d advise you to be more discerning with your associations,” Damon replied, his voice calm but with an unmistakable edge.

“Discerning?” I echoed, frowning. “Liam’s a friend, Damon. Nothing more.”

“Friends,” he said quietly, his gaze piercing, like he was challenging me to contradict him.

My frustration simmered, but I held my tongue. This possessive streak of his wasn’t something I’d expected, and it left me confused—and, if I was honest, a little intrigued.

The tension lingered as we returned to the office. I couldn’t stop replaying Damon’s reactions in my head, wondering if there was something deeper behind his sudden animosity toward Liam. Was it really a professional concern, or was there something else?

Every conversation, every glance from him felt like it held layers I couldn’t quite unravel.

I caught Damon watching me as I settled back at my desk, his eyes hard, like he was working on something. He looked away quickly, but the moment stayed with me, leaving an odd warmth in my chest.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted from overthinking every glance, every word between us. I was about to leave when my phone buzzed, lighting up with a message.

Damon’s Message: “Tomorrow. My office, 8 AM. We have things to discuss.”

My heart pounded as I read it. It was formal, almost impersonal, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Damon had to say wasn’t just about work. Something about his lingering gaze, his controlled jealousy, his cryptic message—it all left me with more questions than answers.

“What’s going on with him?” I wondered, biting my lip as I headed home. “And why do I care so much?”



The questions gnawed at me as I walked away, feeling Damon’s unspoken intentions pressing down on me like a shadow I couldn’t escape.