Ava Bennett hated admitting when she was wrong.
Especially about Damien Laurent.
Because for years, she had imagined him as the villain.
The untouchable billionaire sitting at the top of a company built on other people’s pain.
But the man sitting across from her in that quiet restaurant didn't look like a villain.
He looked exhausted.
Like a man fighting a battle nobody else could see.
And that annoyed her.
Because hating him was supposed to be easy.
Trusting him?
That was dangerous.
"So," Ava said, folding her arms, "you want me to work with you."
Damien nodded.
"For now."
She raised an eyebrow.
"For now?"
"Until we find who leaked the documents."
"And then?"
"Then you decide what happens next."
That answer surprised her.
Most powerful people didn't give away control.
They took it.
Damien Laurent seemed to be doing the opposite.
"Why me?"
His eyes met hers.
"Because you don't care about my money."
Ava almost smiled.
"That's your reason?"
"It's a good one."
"It's not."
A pause.
Then Damien leaned back.
"You looked me in the eye and accused me of destroying your family."
"Because I believed you did."
"And you still walked away."
He studied her.
"Most people who hate me want something from me."
Ava looked down at the table.
"And I don't?"
"No."
His voice softened.
"You want the truth."
For some reason...
That sentence felt different.

The next morning, Ava stepped into Laurent Industries.
And immediately regretted it.
The building was everything she expected.
Huge.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Everyone moved with purpose.
Everyone looked expensive.
And everyone looked like they knew exactly who Damien Laurent was.
She walked toward the elevator.
A woman stopped her.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Damien."
The woman's expression changed.
Everyone reacted the same way when they heard his name.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Before Ava could answer—
"She's with me."
Damien's voice came from behind her.
She turned.
And there he was.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
The same intimidating man everyone feared.
Except now she knew there was more underneath.
The receptionist immediately stepped aside.
Damien walked toward the elevator.
Ava followed.
"You enjoy doing that?"
He looked at her.
"Doing what?"
"Walking around like everyone owns you an apology."
A small smile appeared.
"You noticed?"
"Hard not to."
The elevator doors closed.
And suddenly they were alone.
The silence felt strange.
Too quiet.
Ava looked at the numbers rising.
"So what's the plan?"
"Find the leak."
"How?"
"Someone inside the company betrayed me."
"And you don't know who?"
"No."
She looked at him.
"That's strange."
"What is?"
"You run a billion-dollar company."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And?"
"And you don't trust anyone?"
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Damien stepped out.
Then paused.
"Trust is expensive, Ava."
She followed.
"And you can't afford it?"
He looked back at her.
"No."
A beat.
"I can't afford being wrong."
The answer stayed in her mind.
Because suddenly she understood something.
Damien Laurent wasn't emotionless.
He was careful.
There was a difference.
Hours passed.
Documents.
Emails.
Meetings.
Names.
Ava started noticing something.
Damien wasn't careless.
He wasn't cruel.
Every decision had a reason.
Every move was calculated.
And the more she saw...
The harder it became to hate him.
Which was a problem.
A big problem.
Because near the end of the day, they found something.
A hidden payment.
A secret account.
Someone inside the company had been receiving money.
Ava stared at the screen.
"Who is it?"
Damien's face went still.
Too still.
She noticed.
"You know that name."
He didn't answer.
"Damien."
Finally, he spoke.
Quietly.
"My brother."
Ava froze.
"You have a brother?"
"Had."
The room went silent.
"What happened?"
Damien looked away.
"That's not the story everyone knows."
Before Ava could ask more...
The lights suddenly went out.
The entire building went dark.
Ava stood immediately.
"What happened?"
No answer.
Then...
The sound of a door opening.
Someone was inside the office.
Damien moved in front of her without thinking.
Protecting her.
And in the darkness, a voice whispered:
"You should have left the past alone, Damien."
Ava's heart raced.
Because whoever was there...
Wasn't afraid of the billionaire.
They were warning him.
And they knew Ava was there.