I watched Damon disappear into his office, my heart still hammering in my chest. His scent lingered in the air—rich, intoxicating, and far too familiar. The way his eyes had pinned me down earlier left a lingering heat under my skin, and I hated myself for it.
Get a grip, Ava.
I forced my eyes back to the documents on my desk, flipping through pages I’d already read three times. My mind refused to focus. All I could see was the sharp edge of his smirk and the way his voice had wrapped around my name like a velvet threat.
He was back.
And I wasn’t ready.
The memories of our last encounter still clung to me—the heat, the tension, the way he had almost unraveled me. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. I couldn't let him affect me like this. I had a mission. A purpose. And i
