pte

existed between her and Damon was as thick as fog. The others in the room, the senior executives and advisors, went right on as if every

er and leaned back in the chair, his arm on the back of the chair and there was a look in his eyes that made her feel naus

ing to give him t

l night on this meeting, rehearsing every detail until the numbers before her became a

chard, was explaining the measures to bring down the expenses, his voice was slow and patronizing. Ava could n

ion," she began, her voice steady despite the pressure building inside her

uckle cu

mo

wing as he met hers across the room. "Stre

ing up her neck. But she refused to back down. "It's part of a

no mistaking the tone of the challenge that was in his voice. He was not just arguing

n I've found ways to make the existing structure more effici

t sent a shiver down her spine. "You think t

me next. Ava could sense the other executives shifting their gaze between the two of them, but

s company thrives on intelligent, well-considered strateg

ing of her heart in her ears. He then looked at her and she was unable to read his emotions. T

aughing, "I guess we w

t the end of it. Damon had let her speak, but the battle wasn't won yet. She would h

ngers fumbling slightly as she shoved papers into her briefcase. She resumed the initiative with tension still high in her throat after the c

behind her, the old feeling of dread rising like static electri

d in there," Damon

t look at him. "I'm n

ose words but the way he said them,

e boardroom, there was a passion in her gaze. "I kno

ing behind them; something unreadable. "What

to argue with him but the words came out bitter and edged with annoyance. He

ught in her throat, but she refused to move. He looked at her sternly, almost as if he was trying to find something

spine but Ava sat up straight, she's not

heart beating against her chest. But she didn't look away from him. She wouldn'

his face but the glare of his

She exhaled the air in her lungs when she tried to contain the storm that seemed to bubble inside

clear; she could

in front of him as he gazed out the window at the buildings. He had heard of Damon B

ged at his

e his turn