CHAPTER FIVE: TOO CLOSE TO IGNORE
775 Words
…………………
Ava was starting to realize something dangerous
Working for Dmitri Volkov meant one thing:
There was no space.
No distance.
No escape.
“Cancel your afternoon plans.”
Ava didn’t even look up from her desk.
“I don’t have any.”
“Good.”
Her pen stopped.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Dmitri stood at the entrance of his office, already dressed to leave.
Sharp.
Composed.
Intimidating as always.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Meeting.”
“That’s very specific.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you give too few answers.”
A pause.
Then,
“Five minutes,” he said, turning away.
Ava stared at his back for a second.
Annoying.
Controlling.
Unpredictable.
“…Fine.”
Five minutes later
She stepped into the private elevator.
And of course
He was already there.
Waiting.
The doors closed.
Silence filled the space instantly.
Small.
Too small.
Ava leaned slightly against the wall, arms folded.
Dmitri stood opposite her.
Watching.
Not speaking.
Just watching.
…………………
“You’re staring,” she said.
“I’m thinking.”
“About?”
“You.”
Ava blinked once.
Then recovered quickly.
“That sounds like a problem.”
“It is.”
Silence again.
But this time
He didn’t look away.
The elevator stopped.
Doors opened.
They stepped out together.
Outside
A sleek black car waited.
Driver already in position.
Of course.
…………
Dmitri opened the back door.
“Get in.”
Ava hesitated for half a second
Then got in.
Because arguing here?
Pointless.
He followed in right after her.
And the door shut.
Now it was worse.
Much worse.
The space was tight.
The air felt different.
Heavy.
Ava shifted slightly, trying to create distance.
But
There wasn’t much.
“Relax,” Dmitri said.
“I am relaxed.”
“You’re tense.”
“You’re observant.”
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
The car started moving.
Minutes passed in silence.
But it wasn’t peaceful.
It was loud.
With tension.
With awareness.
With everything neither of them was saying.
“Why did you hire me?”
Ava finally asked.
The question had been sitting there.
Waiting.
Dmitri didn’t answer immediately.
He looked out the window first.
Then back at her.
“You’re not like the others.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It is for me.”
Ava frowned slightly.
“That’s not enough.”
Dmitri leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on her.
“It was.”
Silence.
Ava studied him now.
Really studied him.
“You don’t trust easily,” she said.
“That’s not your concern.”
“But you still hired me.”
A pause.
“Why?”
Dmitri’s eyes darkened slightly.
“You ask questions like you’re not afraid of the answers.”
“I’m not.”
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then
“You interest me.”
The words were simple.
But they landed heavy.
Ava’s breath slowed slightly.
“That’s dangerous.”
“For who?”
“For me,” she replied.
For a moment
Something shifted in his expression.
Something unreadable.
“Good,” he said quietly.
The car suddenly slowed.
Then stopped.
Ava looked outside.
A high-end restaurant.
Private.
Exclusive.
“This is a meeting?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“With who?”
Dmitri opened the door.
“You’ll see.”
Inside
Everything was elegant.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Just like him.
They were led to a private table.
Only two seats.
Ava stopped walking.
“This isn’t a business meeting.”
Dmitri looked at her.
“No.”
Silence.
“Then what is it?”
He held her gaze.
Calm.
Certain.
Dangerous.
“A test.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“For what?”
Dmitri pulled out a chair.
Gesturing for her to sit.
“For how long you can handle being in my world…”
A pause.
His gaze deepened slightly.
“…without losing control.”
Ava slowly sat down.
Not because she was told
But because she chose to.
She leaned back slightly, meeting his eyes.
Unshaken.
“Then you should be worried,” she said softly.
Dmitri sat across from her.
A slow smirk forming.
…………
“I never worry.”
Ava’s lips curved slightly.
“Then maybe it’s time you start.”
And just like that
The game changed.
Because this wasn’t just work anymore.
And it definitely wasn’t just tension.
It was something else.
Something growing.
Something neither of them was ready to admit.
…………
And sitting across from each other like this
Too close.
Too aware
It became clear.
This was only the beginning.
……………
- Writer
