Chapter Seven
1522 Words
Ava knew her first days would be rough.
She just didn’t expect it to be this bad.
The moment she stepped into Vale Industries, her first day, it was clear no one wanted her there.
The air was thick with unspoken judgment, the kind that wrapped around her like invisible vines, waiting to trip her up.
The women—sleek, elegant, dressed in clothes that probably cost more than her rent eyed her like she was a nasty stain on a designer bag. The men, buttoned up in tailored suits, barely glanced at her.
And when they did, it was with a look that said very loudly, "She won’t last a week."
Ava smirked.
Watch me.
She strode through the halls like she owned the place.
Her outfit—a plain black blazer, white top, and fitted jeans—might have as well been a crime in the place.
The whispers started almost immediately.
"Who is she?"
"Did Mr. Vale actually hire… her?"
"She looks so… unpolished."
"She looks like a hooker, is what I can say", the voices chimed on.
Ava stopped walking and turned around sharply.
The two women whispering near the glass office partition froze.
Ava smiled sweetly.
"You know, if you’re gonna gossip, at least be creative. Call me a ‘charity case’ or say I ‘slept my way in’—that’s classic. The weak insults are embarrassing."
The women go pale.
One stammered, turning bright red, "I—I wasn’t—"
"Don’t waste your breath, sweetheart," Ava said, turning away. "You need it to suck up to your boss."
She didn’t check to see their reactions.
She'd won already.
Ava finally reached Richard’s office, only to find the door slightly opened.
And inside—
A man standing by the window.
Tall. Broad shoulders. A suit that fit so perfectly it had to be custom-made.
His hair—raven black, sleek but slightly tousled, like he he had run his hand hrough it.
He was turned away, hands in his pockets, but she could already tell—he was expensive.
Ava cleared her throat.
"Richard isn’t here?"
The man stiffened.
Slowly, he turned.
And Ava’s breath catches.
She knew this man too well.
She’d seen him furious, wine-stained, glaring at her like he had wanted to set her on fire.
Callum. Freaking. Vale.
His piercing gray-blue eyes landed on her. His expression shifted quickly, from bored indifference to sharp, dangerous recognition.
A slow, deliberate smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, hell no."
Ava glared at him.
"Yeah, I’m not thrilled to see you either, prince."
Callum folded his arms, leaning against the desk.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much, prince. I just like wandering into corporate offices for fun."
Callum let out a sharp laugh, low and mocking.
"This is a joke. How did you even get in?"
Ava plopped into the chair opposite Richard’s desk, much to Callum's chagrin.
"If it is, your dad’s got a really twisted sense of humor."
Callum’s expression darkened at the mention of his father.
Ava caught it and filed it away.
"You don’t belong here.", he said firmly.
Ava smiled, all teeth.
"Aw, you worried about me?"
"No. I just don’t enjoy watching trainwrecks in slow motion."
"Then don’t watch. Problem solved."
Callum's expression darkened yet again.
"What’s wrong, prince? Not used to people talking back to you?", Ava taunted, leaning forward, resting an elbow on the desk.
Before Callum could snap back, Richard walked in.
He paused, looking from Callum to Ava.
"Ah. You two have met."
Callum scoffed.
"Ava, this is my son, Callum", Richard said.
"Oh I know him too well, Mr Richard.", she grinned.
Richard gave them a surprised look as he sat.
"Is that so?"
Ava leaned back.
"I spilled wine on his very expensive shirt."
"What is she doing here dad?", Callum asked, annoyed.
Richard looked amused by the scene before him and he shook his head before he announced:
"Callum, this is my new secretary, Ava"
"What?", Callum's eyes flashed.
Ava only grinned in triumph, waving at him mockingly.
"You must be kidding me, dad, Her? This...woman? Honestly, I'm sorely disappointed. You've could've gone for someone actually suited for the job."
"Why do you think that, son"
Callum ignored his question and lunged at Ava instead.
"You’re a damn disaster waiting to happen. Do you even know what this job entails? Or did my father just take pity on you?"
Ava’s jaw clenched. Callum noticed and was visibly pleased.
She hated that word. Pity.
She stood, planting her hands on the desk and leaning in.
"You think I need pity?" she asked, voice low but sharp as a blade. "That’s cute. But let me make something clear—your father didn’t hire me because he felt bad for me. He hired me because he knows I’m good. Maybe not rich-boy-good, but actual, real-world good."
Callum scoffed.
"Right. And what exactly are you good at? Screwing up orders and spilling the wine?"
Ava grinned.
"Still mad about that? Damn. Maybe I should’ve doused you in the whole bottle."
His eyes darkened.
"You’re insufferable."
"And you’re obsessed with me. It’s kinda creepy. Did you get me fired so you could have me closer to you huh, tell me prince", Ava said, smiling still.
Callum’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a fist on the desk.
"Let’s get something straight, sweetheart," he said, voice low and sharp. "You might have tricked my father into giving you this job, but you won’t last. This place will eat you alive. And I'll make sure of it."
Ava leaned in closer, eyes locked onto his.
"And you know what, Callum? I hope you watch. I hope you stand there, miserable and fuming, as I prove you wrong. Because trust me—" her voice dropped to a whisper, dangerous and daring, "—you’re gonna choke on those words."
"That's enough!", Richard said, looking between them. His expression was neutral, but there was something in his eyes—calculating.
After a minute of silence, he spoke.
"Ava, you need a proper wardrobe for this job."
Ava blinked.
"What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?"
Callum snorted.
"How much time do you have?"
Ava threw him a glare.
Richard ignored him.
"I’ll have someone take you shopping. Get whatever you need. Charge it to the company."
Ava’s mouth nearly dropped open.
"You’re giving me a free corporate shopping spree?"
"I’m making sure my secretary doesn’t look like a lost college student."
Ava raised a brow.
"This is because of him, isn’t it?" She jerked her thumb at Callum.
Richard smirked slightly.
"You do realise how much you stand out, don't you? Think of it as an... investment."
Callum scoffed, pushing off the desk.
"Don’t waste your money, Dad. She won’t last a month."
Ava grinned.
"Oh, you poor thing. You’re gonna be so disappointed when I outlast you."
Callum paused.
For a split second, something flickered in his gaze.
Amusement? Challenge?
Then, it was gone.
"We’ll see, princess."
He turned, walking out with the same arrogant confidence he always carried.
Ava watched him go, then looked at Richard.
"Can I get heels high enough to kick him in the face?"
Richard chuckled.
"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that."
Ava was escorted to a high-end boutique by one of Richard’s assistants, a woman named Danielle.
Danielle, tight-lipped and stiff, treated Ava like she was an embarrassing secret Richard was trying to cover up.
The boutique staff? Even worse.
They whispered, they giggled, they judged. Sympathised with Danielle for having to carry this stain around.
One of them, a tall, icy blonde named Melanie, held up a dress.
"This might help you look… presentable."
Snickers.
Ava grinned.
"This might help you mind your damn business."
Melanie’s smile dropped.
Ava snatched a few items off the racks, then threw in a designer coat just for fun.
If they’re gonna hate me, I might as well make them watch me walk out with something expensive.
When the total rings up, Ava doesn’t even flinch.
Richard said charge it to the company.
And charge it, she does.
When Ava returned to the office, she walked in like she owned the damn place, even more confident than before.
Her new black heels clicked against the floor. The fitted blazer hugged her waist perfectly.
For the first time, she didn’t look like an outsider.
She looked like a threat. Though she wished she felt same.
The same women who whispered about her earlier were silent.
Ava smirked.
Yeah. That’s what I thought.
Then, she hears it.
A familiar voice.
"Guess the investment paid off."
She turned. Callum stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes scanning her.
Ava tilted her head cockily.
"Aw, do you like it? I do too"
"I like knowing you had to rely on my father’s money."
Ava grinned.
"And yet, somehow, you’re still the biggest spoiled brat in the room."
Callum’s jaw tensed.
Ava winked.
"See you around, prince."
She walked past him, head high.
She didn’t have to look back to know this war had officially begun.
- Writer
