Ava arrived at Hunter Enterprises a day after her first encounter, the memory of Hunter’s gaze still lingering like a phantom weight across her shoulders. She had prepared meticulously for this meeting, reviewing every line of the proposal, recalculating projections, rehearsing answers to potential questions. Yet, as she stepped into the lobby, polished and grand as ever, she felt an unshakable tension twist through her chest.
He was waiting. Not in the lobby, but just beyond the sliding glass doors of the executive conference room, hands folded casually behind his back, posture relaxed yet utterly commanding. The air seemed to bend around him, a subtle pull that Ava had yet to fully comprehend.
“You are early,” he said, voice smooth and unhurried, but carrying a quiet weight that made h
