The CEO's Secret Baby

CHAPTER 7

Ava strode into the office, heels sounding on the polished floor as if she owned it. A curving of the lips at the edges, in a haughty manner, Ava shot first at Emily and then at Daniel. The air was hard after her arrival; tension pulsed in the quiet.

Emily looked back into Ava's glance without flinching. Her fingers tightened on Daniel's hand, and her palm thumped in response to his pulse.

"So," Ava replied, smooth, but with a steel underline to her voice. "The happy pair united against me. How touching.

Daniel's eyes skipped. "Cut the theatrics, Ava." What are you doing here?

Ava only raised one eyebrow, as if he spoke sweetly to her. She sauntered up to the edge of his desk, running her fingers over the surface. "Why am I here? You're right.

Emily's teeth clenched as the weight of her words hung between them. Ava was teasing them, drawing it out to feast on their doubts.

Daniel lunged forward, "Ava, you have played your games long enough." "You waste your time if you came here to threaten me again."

Ava shook her head, soft laughter as though Daniel's response amused her. "Threaten you? Daniel, I only wanted to remind you of your duties. She glanced at Emily's flutter. "And to give you one last chance to make the right decision."

Emily can't take it anymore. "What would you want, Ava?"

Ava sucked on hers, her eyes glinting. "Emily, what I want is simple. I am after what belongs to me. She looked over at Daniel. "Daniel, you have ample time to get through things. You have, however, been lackadaisical."

Daniel stepped closer, precisely halfway between Emily and Ava. His tone was taut and low. You do not own me, Ava.

Ava's smile was cold and muffled. "No, but I have enough of your history to destroy your present. Remember it, too.

Emily's heart knocked on her chest as she saw Daniel's eyes start to storm, a strain in his shoulders battling so hard for control. Ava would not let go so easily; her claws dug deep into him.

"And you feel threatening him will get you what you want?" Emily asked calmly, but with every moment her tension wound tighter inside.

Ava turned her head, a smile faltering on her lips. "That is not a threat. It's a reality with which we deal. Daniel knows I am not bluffing, and what I can do. Emily, I don't want to bring him down. But if he will just push a hand.

The hand at Daniel's side fisted. "Exactly what, Ava, do you want? Spell it out.

Ava leaned on the desk, never taking her eyes from his. "I would want the transaction restored. I want my part in Sterling Corp returned. You promised, Daniel, and you are aware as well as I am that violating such vows has repercussions.

Emily's breath caught. This was about the power and control empire Daniel had built, not about them. Ava was holding Sterling Corp.'s future hostage.

"If he says no?" today Emily's tone was more exact.

Turning to her, Ava's eyes froze on her. "should he say no. I reveal all. Illegal dealings, off-the-books business, paper trails. Everything goes public.".

Emily tossed over onto her stomach. Daniel had mentioned something of his less-than-ideal past, but the seriousness of Ava's threat, said as if it were a promise, finally clicked. If she happened to mention this, Daniel and everyone he knew would be ruined.

Daniel spoke up, his voice cold as ice, saying, "Ava, you will not do that."

"Oh?!" Ava's words practically seemed to drizzle with sarcasm-laden surprise. "And why is that?

Daniel stepped closer to her, his eyes burning as he peered deeply into hers. "Because you then lose everything too. Remember; you participated in those sales. Should I fall, you fall with me.

Ava's smile slipped for the first time but didn't fall. "I have peace with it, Daniel. Are you able to say the same?

Emily felt her breath catch. If Ava didn't get her way, she would torch it all to ashes.

"Is this really what you want?" The words seemed to slice through the tension in the air from Emily's lips. "To destroy everything, Daniel's business, his family because she didn't get what she wanted?"

Ava's eyes flashed something dark and menacing. "It's not just about me getting what I want, Emily. It's about making sure Daniel remembers what he owes.

You mean control, Emily replied her voice level now. "This has nothing to do with business. This has something to do with you marking his control. And you can't stand him moving on."

Ava's face went cold. The mask slipped, for just a moment, revealing the malice underneath. "You do not speak from experience.

"Oh, I think I do," Emily pressed. "Your business deal is not going to destroy Daniel. He chose someone over you, so you're doing this. And you can't stand that either."

The room fell silent. Ava was on her knees pale with her hand twisted on the desktop. And in that moment, Emily realized the truth: the fear she held for Daniel was the origin of Ava's power, not the threats she made. Her desperation to keep him tied to her at all costs drove it all.

Daniel stepped closer to her, his voice low in his throat. "You're lost, Ava. Plain and simple, you just don't know it yet."

Ava's eyes fluttered, and then doubt oozed onto her face. Daniel, you think you're untouchable? That I won't do it?"

Daniel's face knotted. "I'm not untouchable at all. All you have to realise is that what you're dragging over me isn't as strong as you believe."

Ava's eyes clouded. "We'll see about it.

Her heels clicking hard on the floor, she pivoted on her heel and exited the office, a wave of anxiety trailing out after her. Once again, stillness dominated the room, as the door slammed with a strong thud shut behind her.

Emily exhaled shakily as her heart kept hammering in her chest. She turned to Daniel, her gaze darting over his face. " What now?"

Daniel's eyes gentled, and then he grasped his hand around hers. "We now find out how to call this quits. Once and for once."

Emily nodded in agreement, but knowing better, deep inside she knew Ava wasn't done. Not yet.