Chapter Fourteen
1507 Words
Damien turned his attention to the city skyline outside his office window. Whatever curiosity Vivian Sinclair had sparked in him, it wouldn’t interfere with his goals. He had bigger matters to deal with—his pack, the pressure to take a Luna, and, most of all, the presence of his true mate, Ava Sinclair.
The mate he hadn’t acknowledged.
His grip on the armrest tightened slightly.
Vivian was competent. But Ava… Ava was something else entirely.
And that was what truly unsettled him.
Damien remained seated, his mind drifting away from the business discussion. His thoughts circled back to the name that had been haunting him for weeks—Ava Sinclair.
He finally turned to Marcus, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. “Why isn’t Ava working at the Sinclair Corporation?”
Marcus, who had been scrolling through his tablet, glanced up. “You mean why is she at that bookstore café instead of joining the family business?”
Damien gave a slow nod. It didn’t make sense. The Sinclairs were an influential family, and their business empire was vast. Vivian was already a key player, but Ava… Ava was wasting her time behind a counter, serving coffee and arranging books.
Marcus sighed, setting his tablet down. “From what I’ve gathered, Ava never wanted to be involved in the company. She’s different from Vivian. While Vivian was groomed for business, Ava was never interested in it. She’s more—” he paused, searching for the right word, “—reserved.”
Damien frowned slightly. Reserved wasn’t the right word. He had seen her, watched her. She wasn’t just reserved—she was careful, as if she was hiding something.
“She’s a Sinclair,” Damien said. “She could have any position she wanted, yet she chose to work in some insignificant bookstore café.” His voice carried a hint of disdain.
Marcus smirked. “Maybe she just likes books.”
Damien’s jaw tightened. “That’s a weak excuse.”
Marcus leaned forward slightly. “Not everyone is obsessed with power and control like you, Damien. Some people just want a simple life.”
Damien didn’t respond immediately. A simple life? That was a fantasy—especially for someone like Ava. He had seen it in her eyes the last time they met. She wasn’t as simple as she pretended to be.
There was something more to her choice, something that didn’t add up.
And Damien Blackwood didn’t like unanswered questions.
“Look into it,” he ordered.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You want me to investigate why a woman prefers books over boardrooms?”
Damien shot him a cold look. “Find out if it’s really just that.”
Marcus sighed, shaking his head. “Fine. But don’t tell me you’re not interested in her.”
Damien didn’t answer.
Because denying it would be a lie.
Ava leaned against the counter of the bookstore café, absently flipping through a novel she had read countless times before. The words blurred before her eyes, her mind drifting elsewhere.
She couldn’t shake the strange feeling that had settled in her chest since the gathering at home. Something had changed, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Maybe it was Selene’s sudden appearance, acting all friendly. Or maybe it was Damien Blackwood watching the whole interaction with that unreadable expression.
The man unsettled her.
Not just because of who he was, but because of the way he made her feel. As if her world—her carefully built, peaceful life—was standing on the edge of a storm.
“Ava?”
She snapped out of her thoughts to see Ryan standing in front of her, holding two cups of coffee.
“Thought you could use one,” he said with a smile, handing her a cup.
Ava hesitated before taking it. “Thanks, Ryan.”
Ryan was always thoughtful. He had been trying to get closer to her for months now, but she still wasn’t sure how she felt about him. He was a great guy—kind, attentive, and easy to talk to. But there was no spark, no pull toward him.
Not like the overwhelming presence of a certain billionaire CEO.
She mentally shook herself. Why am I even thinking about him?
“So… have you given any thought to what I asked last time?” Ryan asked hesitantly.
Ava sighed, knowing exactly what he meant. He had asked her out before, and she had avoided giving him a direct answer.
“Ryan…” She bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. “I really like having you as a friend.”
Ryan’s hopeful expression faltered, but he quickly masked it with a small smile. “I get it. No pressure.”
Ava felt a twinge of guilt, but she knew leading him on would be worse.
Before she could say anything else, the doorbell chimed, signaling a new customer. She turned toward the entrance—and felt her breath hitch.
Damien Blackwood had just walked in.
Her fingers clenched around the coffee cup.
What is he doing here?
Damien Blackwood strode into the café like he owned the place. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere, making the small space feel even smaller. The quiet murmur of customers died down as people instinctively glanced his way.
Ava swallowed, her pulse quickening.
Ryan noticed her sudden shift in demeanor and followed her gaze. His expression darkened slightly when he saw Damien. “That guy again…” he muttered under his breath.
Damien’s piercing blue eyes swept across the café before landing directly on Ava. The intensity in his gaze made her grip tighten around the coffee cup.
Why was he looking at her like that?
Ignoring the growing tension, Damien walked toward the counter, stopping right in front of her. He was close—too close. The scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the faint aroma of coffee, creating an intoxicating mix that made Ava’s breath hitch.
She straightened, gripping the edge of the counter for support as she met his piercing blue eyes. “Can I help you?” she asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.
Damien’s gaze flickered to her name tag before returning to her face. “You work here.” It wasn’t a question—it was a statement laced with something she couldn’t quite place.
Ava blinked at the bluntness of his statement. Was he expecting her to confirm it? She hesitated before nodding. “Yes. I do.”
Damien studied her for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, in a tone that was more curious than judgmental, he asked, “Why?”
Ava frowned slightly. “What do you mean why?”
Ryan, who had been standing close by, stepped in. “Is there a problem with Ava working here?” His voice carried a hint of challenge, though he was clearly aware of the power difference between them.
Damien barely spared him a glance before returning his attention to Ava. “You’re a Sinclair.”
Ava felt a wave of unease wash over her. He knew her last name. Of course, he did. Blackwood Enterprises and Sinclair Corporation were both prominent names in the business world. But why did it matter to him?
“I like working here,” she replied evenly. “Not everything is about status or money.”
Damien’s lips twitched slightly, almost as if he found her answer amusing. “That’s an interesting perspective,” he murmured.
The tension in the air was thick, and Ryan’s patience seemed to wear thin. “Look, man. If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, stop acting like you’re trying to analyze her.”
Damien finally turned his attention to Ryan fully, his gaze cool. “And you are?”
Ryan lifted his chin. “Ryan. Ava’s friend.”
Damien hummed as if that explained everything. “I see.” Then, with an air of finality, he nodded toward Ava. “Enjoy your work, Miss Sinclair.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the cafe, leaving a heavy silence behind him.
Ryan exhaled sharply. “What the hell was that?”
Ava, still trying to process the strange interaction, shook her head. “I don’t know.”
But deep down, something told her—this wasn’t the last time Damien Blackwood would appear in her life.
The mall was buzzing with activity—luxurious brands, high-end boutiques, and well-dressed shoppers moving from store to store. Tasha beamed with excitement as she dragged Ava into another designer store, her arms already full of shopping bags.
"Come on, Ava! It’s my birthday, and I need the perfect dress for tonight!" Tasha grinned, pulling her toward the display of elegant gowns.
Ava chuckled, shaking her head. "You already bought three dresses. How many do you need?"
Tasha huffed. "Options, babe. A girl needs options."
Just as they stepped inside, two imposing figures walked into the same store.
Lillian Blackwood and Selene.
- Writer
