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Ava sat at the vanity table of her hotel suite, staring at her own reflection. The soft lighting failed to disguise the exhaustion in her eyes. Her features, usually so composed, looked strained, and dark circles were beginning to shadow beneath her lashes. Despite the luxury and comfort of the Orion Hotel's room, sleep continued to evade her.
She let out a soft sigh, lifting her hand to rub the back of her neck. An ache had settled into her bones—one that no amount of stretching or repositioning could shake off. It wasn't just physical tiredness. It was something deeper, something she couldn't name. A discomfort crawling under her skin, whispering that something was off. It had followed her since the business dinner.
Unable to rest, she had walked over to the balcony in the early hours of the morning, drawn to the serenity of the view.
Outside, the Orion Hotel's garden lay bathed in silver moonlight. The moon was full, casting a soft glow over the line of manicured trees that stood in perfect symmetry. The fountains murmured quietly in the background, and the faint scent of night-blooming flowers lingered in the breeze. It wasn't too cold, but the air carried a crispness that bit gently at her skin. She had wrapped herself in a thick, warm throw and curled up in one of the balcony chairs, silently watching the world.
Hours passed.
The distant hum of city lights blurred into the sound of rustling leaves, and the occasional wind sweeping across the terrace. She didn't remember when she had dozed off.
By the time dawn cracked across the horizon and sunlight began to slip into her suite, Ava stirred from her half-sleep. The throw that had once protected her had slipped to the marble floor, and a shiver ran through her body. Her skin felt like ice.
She stood slowly, limbs stiff from sitting too long in the same position, and moved inside. Her feet padded across the plush carpet as she made her way to the bathroom.
A warm shower. That was what she needed now—to chase away the chill seeping into her bones and the unease curled deep in her chest.
---
Across the hallway, in his own suite, Dominic Vale wasn't faring much better.
He sat alone in his study nook, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, tie discarded, fingers clasped under his chin. His sharp gaze was locked onto the screen of his tablet. The documents he had been reading were no longer about their current project—they were background files, deeper investigations, confidential profiles.
Raiden Myung.
On the surface, Raiden seemed flawless. Clean investments. Highly respected business acumen. His record was a textbook example of what a successful entrepreneur should look like. But Dominic hadn't built an empire by trusting pretty facades.
And when he had looked into Raiden's eyes at that dinner, seen the way they lingered on Ava—calculated, unreadable—he'd felt his instincts flare.
So he dug deeper.
Connections to shell companies. Quiet settlements in countries with looser laws. Whispers of involvement in sectors no man of clean reputation should have proximity to. Nothing proven, nothing concrete, but enough for Dominic to feel the pull in his gut.
He hated that gaze. That smug little smile Raiden wore when speaking to Ava, as if she were something to be measured and claimed.
Dominic clenched his jaw, the memory igniting a fresh wave of fury.
At that dinner table, he had wanted to flip the entire thing over.
Not because of the business.
But because of the way Ava had subtly shifted in her seat, trying to ignore the attention, pretending she didn't feel the weight of Raiden's eyes on her.
She had been calm. Poised. But Dominic knew her well enough now to notice the slight stiffness in her spine. The way her smile didn't reach her eyes.
He wanted to erase that moment. Pull her from that table and away from that man.
And that bothered him.
He wasn't supposed to feel this much.
He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes briefly.
Everything about this collaboration suddenly felt wrong.
He reached for his phone and typed out a message to James:
> Start a confidential inquiry into Raiden Myung. Keep it off official records.
His thumb hovered before he added:
> And keep an eye on his interactions. Especially with Ava.
He hit send and stared at the ceiling.
The silence in his suite was thick. He felt the weight of it as he leaned forward again, elbows resting on his knees.
Something had shifted—and Dominic Vale didn't like shifts he couldn't control.
---
Back in her suite, Ava stepped out of the steamy bathroom wrapped in a robe, steam curling behind her. Her skin was flushed from the hot water, and she finally felt the numbness in her limbs beginning to ease.
She sat once more at the vanity, towel-drying her hair slowly.
Her mind wasn't quiet.
That meeting… something about it had left her uneasy. She had chalked it up to the jet lag, the long day, or maybe even the pressure of representing Vale Conglomerate at such a high-stakes negotiation.
But that wasn't it.
She remembered the way Raiden had looked at her—not with professional respect, but something… off. As if she were part of the deal. As if she weren't just the secretary.
And she had seen Dominic's expression shift too, even if only for a second.
Was that… concern?
She shook her head and reached for her lotion, trying to push the thoughts away.
But the silence spoke louder now.
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