I kept my head down for most of the morning.
Emails. Reports. Anything that required focus—anything that kept me from thinking too much.
It was working.
Barely.
Until it wasn’t.
“Ava.”
My name.
Low. Controlled.
Too familiar.
My fingers paused over my keyboard before I slowly looked up.
Ethan stood a few steps away from my desk.
Composed as ever.
Untouched by whatever chaos he’d left behind in my apartment the night before.
Or at least… he looked that way.
“Mr. Blackwood,” I said calmly, straightening slightly.
Professional.
Distant.
Safe.
His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than necessary, like he was assessing something.
Or maybe confirming something.
“I need you in my office,” he said.
Simple.
Direct.
No emotion.
“Of course.”
I stood immediately, grabbing
