Tempted by Her

Chapter 4: Unexpected Turn

Ava sank onto Tessa’s couch, cheeks still flushed from last night’s chaos. She wrapped her arms around herself and recounted every detail, from the glances in the restroom to the whirlwind of passion in the suite.

Tessa listened silently, eyes wide but never judging. When Ava paused, the words catching in her throat, Tessa simply reached over and squeezed her hand.

“Wow,” she said softly. “That… sounds insane. But, hey — did you at least get his number?”

Ava shook her head. “No. I… I ran. I couldn’t think. I just left.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow. “You left him? After all that?”

Ava shrugged, biting her lip. “I had no choice. I didn’t even know who he was.”

Neither of them realized the full story: Damian West wasn’t just some stranger. He was one of the richest, most influential men in the city — a man who ran a vast empire, owned multiple companies, and held Hollywood and business alike at his fingertips.

A few weeks later, Ava was scrolling through job postings on her laptop. Bills were overdue, rent was still looming, and college fees were waiting. She needed work — and fast. When she saw a posting for a personal assistant at a prestigious company, she clicked “apply” without a second thought. She didn’t know it was Damian’s company.

The day of the interview, Ava sat nervously in the waiting area, fidgeting with her bag. Other candidates walked past, polished, confident, all clearly expecting to impress. She tried to steady her breathing, reminding herself this was her shot.

Damian wasn’t planning to be there. Normally, he avoided interviews, leaving them to HR. But for this position — a personal assistant to himself — he had to oversee it. From his office above, he watched candidates one by one, sending questions discreetly to the panel conducting the interviews.

When the receptionist called her name, Ava walked in, hoping she could impress. Damian glanced at her resume, squinting slightly at her surname. For a moment, he paused — a flicker of recognition tugged at him — but he shrugged it off.

As the interview progressed, the other panelists frowned. “You’re still in college,” one of them said, doubt in their voice. “I’m afraid you don’t have the experience we’re looking for.”

Ava’s chest tightened, hot tears pricking her eyes. This job was her only hope. The pay was high, the opportunity rare — and now it was slipping away. She wanted to run, to retreat, but she stayed, biting her lip as her dream seemed to crumble.

Suddenly, a voice rang out over the room’s microphone: “Employ her.”

Ava froze. All eyes turned toward Damian’s secretary, who looked stunned. Damian’s smirk was visible even from the control panel — a quiet satisfaction playing across his features.

“You heard him,” the secretary said, quickly regaining composure. “Miss… you’ll start on Monday at exactly 8 a.m. We’ll send an email with the rules, and what the boss likes and dislikes.”

Ava blinked, disbelief washing over her. “I… I start Monday?”

“Yes,” the secretary confirmed. “Welcome aboard.”

Outside the office, Ava practically flew into a cab, heart racing. She needed to tell Tessa immediately. After dealing with the landlord and retrieving her few belongings from her locked apartment, she burst into her best friend’s apartment.

Tessa squealed as Ava recounted every detail.

“I got the job! I start Monday! Can you believe it?!” Ava cried, twirling around the living room.

Both of them laughed, danced, and twirled in a mix of relief and excitement. For the first time in weeks, Ava felt hope — and something else, a thrilling spark of anticipation she couldn’t quite name.

From miles above, Damian leaned back in his office chair, watching the security feed with a smirk. Only he knew what he had planned next.