Damien Laurent hated interruptions.
Especially before 9 a.m.
His assistant knew this.
His employees knew this.
The entire company knew this.
Which was why the sound of a woman arguing outside his office immediately annoyed him.
"Miss, you cannot just walk in."
"I can, and I will."
Damien looked up from his desk.
Interesting.
Nobody spoke to his assistant like that.
The door opened.
And she walked in.
Not elegantly.
Not carefully.
Like someone who had already decided she had nothing to lose.
She was wearing a simple blazer, holding a folder against her chest, and looking directly at him.
Most people lowered their eyes when they entered his office.
She didn't.
"Are you Damien Laurent?"
His expression remained cold.
"Depends who's asking."
She placed the folder on his desk.
"My name is Ava Bennett."
"And?"
She took a breath.
"I’m here because your company ruined my father's life."
The room became silent.
Damien leaned back.
Most people came to him asking for money.
Connections.
Opportunities.
She came accusing him.
Interesting.
"You have five minutes."
Ava opened the folder.
"My father worked for Laurent Industries for fifteen years."
Damien glanced at the papers.
"Worked?"
Her jaw tightened.
"Until your company blamed him for a mistake he didn't make."
For the first time...
Damien looked interested.
"Careful."
His voice lowered.
"Accusing me without proof is dangerous."
Ava stepped closer.
"Good."
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"Because I'm tired of people being afraid of you."
Something about that sentence bothered him.
Not because it was rude.
Because it was true.
Everyone was afraid of him.
Except her.
"Why do you care so much?" he asked.
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
Because behind the anger...
It was painful.
"Because someone should."
The answer stayed with him.
Long after she left.
And for the first time in years...
Damien Laurent found himself thinking about someone who wasn't thinking about him.
That annoyed him.
More than it should have.