Walking away from her was the only way to stay in control.
And control was the one thing I didn’t negotiate with.
Not in business.
Not in life.
And definitely not when it came to something that had the potential to become a problem.
Ava Morgan was a problem.
Not because she tried to be.
Not because she crossed any lines.
But because she didn’t.
Because she held her ground.
Because she said no.
Because she looked at me like she meant it—and then stood by it like she didn’t care what it cost.
That kind of certainty was rare.
And dangerous.
Especially to someone like me.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen in front of me without actually seeing it.
The office was quiet now.
Most people had left.
But I hadn’t.
Not because I had work left to do.
Because I needed
