Forbidden Night with the CEO

Chapter Twelve.

The next morning, Ava arrived at the office a little earlier than usual.

She greeted the receptionist and went straight to her desk.

Everything looked normal, but something felt different.

And then she noticed Damien standing inside his office.

He was looking at her.

Ava quickly looked away and sat down.

She tried to focus on her computer, but she could still feel his eyes on her.

After a few minutes, Damien walked out of his office.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Good morning, sir."

He stopped for a moment.

"Did you sleep well?"

Ava looked at him, surprised by the question.

"Yes. I did."

"Good."

And then he walked away.

Ava watched him until he disappeared down the hallway.

Something was wrong.

Damien had always been serious with her, but this felt different. He seemed to be watching her, as if he was trying to figure something out.

Ava turned back to her computer.

She tried to ignore the feeling and started checking her emails.

A few minutes later, she looked toward his office again.

Damien was standing behind the glass wall, staring at her.

Their eyes met.

He didn't look away this time.

Ava's heart began to beat faster.

She quickly looked back at her screen.

She had a terrible feeling that Damien was getting closer to the truth.

Ava tried to concentrate on her emails, but Damien's strange behavior kept distracting her.

She had barely finished reading one message when her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Damien Blackwood.

Her heart skipped.

She quickly answered.

"Hello, sir?"

"Miss Carter, come to my office."

The call ended before she could say anything else.

Ava stared at the phone for a moment.

And then she slowly stood up.

She walked toward his office and knocked.

"Come in."

Ava opened the door and stepped inside.

Damien was sitting behind his desk, looking at some papers.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes."

He pointed toward the chair.

"Sit."

Ava sat down, watching him carefully.

For a few seconds, Damien said nothing.

And then he looked directly at her.

"I have a question."

Ava swallowed.

"What is it?"

"Have you ever been to the charity event held at the Grand Hotel a few months ago?"

Ava's heart nearly stopped.

She quickly shook her head.

"No."

Damien kept his eyes on her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He leaned back slowly.

"Because I have a feeling you were there."

Ava forced herself to remain calm.

"I wasn't."

Damien studied her face.

"Then why do I remember someone who looks a lot like you?"

Ava's mouth went dry.

She had no answer.

And then Damien asked quietly,

"Are you sure you've never met me before?"

Ava's lips parted, but no answer came immediately.

She could hear her own heartbeat.

"Yes," she finally whispered. "I'm sure."

Damien leaned back in his chair.

He didn't look convinced.

And then he picked up the file on his desk and opened it again.

"Alright."

Ava remained seated, unsure whether she should leave.

"Is there anything else, sir?"

"Not yet."

She looked at him.

Damien's eyes stayed on the file.

"You can go."

Ava stood and walked toward the door.

Just before she reached it, Damien spoke again.

"Miss Carter."

She stopped.

"Yes?"

"If you remember anything about that night, tell me."

Ava's fingers tightened around the door handle.

"I will."

And then she walked out.

The moment the door closed behind her, she released the breath she had been holding.

She returned to her desk and sat down.

Her hands were trembling.

Damien was getting too close.

Ava looked toward his office through the glass wall.

He was still sitting behind his desk, staring at the same file.

She quickly looked away.

Her phone buzzed.

It was Karen.

Ava answered quietly.

"Hello?"

"Are you okay?"

Ava swallowed.

"No. I think Damien is starting to remember."

"He asked me if I was at the charity event."

Karen was quiet for a moment.

"The one where everything happened?"

"Yes."

Ava glanced toward Damien's office.

"And then he said he remembers someone who looks like me."

Karen sighed.

"Ava, this is getting serious."

"I know."

"You can't keep lying to him."

Ava closed her eyes.

"What am I supposed to do? Walk into his office and tell him I'm carrying his baby?"

Karen didn't answer immediately.

"Maybe you should."

Ava's eyes widened.

"No. I'm not ready."

"And then what happens when he remembers the night by himself?"

Ava looked down at her hands.

"I don't know."

Karen's voice softened.

"You've been carrying this secret alone for too long."

Ava swallowed hard.

"I'm scared, Karen."

"I know."

"I'm scared he'll think I trapped him."

"You know you didn't."

Ava sighed.

"But will he believe that?"

There was silence between them.

And then Karen said, "You need to think about what's best for you and the baby."

"I just need a little more time."

"Then use that time wisely."

Ava nodded slowly, even though Karen couldn't see her.

"I will."

She ended the call and looked toward

Damien's office again.

He was no longer at his desk.

Ava's heart skipped.

And then she heard footsteps approaching her office.

Her heart began pounding.

She quickly wiped the worry from her face and sat up straight.

A shadow appeared beneath the door.

And then there was a knock.

"Miss Carter?"

Ava recognized Damien's voice.

She swallowed.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Damien stepped inside.

He looked serious.

Ava tried to remain calm.

"Is everything okay, sir?"

Damien closed the door behind him.

"I need to ask you something."

Ava's stomach tightened.

"About what?"

He walked closer and stopped in front of her desk.

"That night at the charity event."

Ava's face went pale.

Damien watched her reaction carefully.

"You said you've never met me before that night."

Ava opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"And yet," he continued, "I keep remembering a woman who looks exactly like you."

Ava's fingers trembled.

"Mr. Blackwood..."

"And I found something tonight."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

Ava stared at him.

Damien turned the screen toward her.

It was a photograph from the charity event.

Ava's breath caught.

She knew the picture.

She remembered that night.

And then Damien looked directly into her eyes.

"Why were you there?"

Ava couldn't answer.

Her secret was finally standing in front of her.

And she knew one wrong word could reveal everything.