The unexpected Guest

Ava hadn't expected much when Damien commanded her to work at his company, but she certainly hadn't expected to be standing in his office, witnessing the arrival of someone who could rattle him.

The moment the door swung open, the energy in the room shifted.

The man who stepped inside carried himself with an effortless confidence, his sharp hazel eyes scanning the space before settling on Damien. His tall frame filled the doorway, and despite his casual stance—hands tucked into his pockets, a relaxed smirk on his lips—there was something undeniably commanding about him.

Unlike Damien, who exuded an air of cold calculation, this man had a different kind of authority. It wasn't intimidation—it was familiarity.

Ava could tell immediately.

This man knew Damien well.

Damien, however, didn't mirror his amusement. His posture, though still controlled, tightened ever so slightly. His jaw locked, his fingers flexed briefly before relaxing again. It was such a small reaction that anyone else might have missed it.

Ava didn't.

"Travis." Damien's voice was measured, but there was a sharpness beneath it.

The man—Travis—grinned, stepping further inside. "Long time no see, Damien." His eyes flicked briefly to Ava before returning to Damien with a knowing look. "You know, something felt off these past few weeks… and now I know why."

Damien remained silent, but his expression darkened.

Travis took a leisurely step forward, his gaze sweeping over the office, as if assessing the situation before finally settling his attention back on Damien.

"You got married, and I wasn't invited," he announced, feigning an exaggerated expression of hurt. He pressed a hand to his chest, shaking his head dramatically. "Your best friend, and not even a phone call? That cuts deep, man."

Ava's eyebrows lifted slightly.

Best friend?

She had assumed Damien had no close friends—his cold, detached demeanor made it hard to picture him having personal relationships outside of business.

Damien exhaled, his patience visibly thinning. "You weren't invited because it wasn't a real wedding."

Travis raised a brow. "Oh? Do tell."

Damien's eyes flickered toward Ava for the briefest moment before settling back on Travis. "It was a contract. That's all."

Travis let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a slow grin. "A contract marriage, huh? That's rich—even for you." He turned to Ava then, his gaze curious but not unkind. "And what about you? What's your take on this… arrangement?"

Ava met his gaze, keeping her expression neutral. "I did what I had to do."

Travis studied her for a moment before smirking. "I like her. She's got bite. That's rare around Damien."

Damien's fingers drummed against his desk, his patience wearing thin. "Enough."

Travis chuckled but held up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, man. I'm just making conversation." He turned his gaze back to Ava. "Still, I have to ask—where's the ring?"

Ava blinked.

She looked down at her bare finger, a strange sensation creeping over her.

A wife with no wedding ring.

The thought hadn't bothered her much before, but now, standing in front of Travis—someone who clearly understood Damien on a deeper level—she realized how glaringly obvious it was.

Damien's jaw tightened. "That's none of your concern."

Travis only grinned. "Touchy subject? Noted."

Ava exhaled slowly, feeling like she had just witnessed an entire battle of unspoken words between the two men.

Damien finally turned to her. "You have work to do. Your desk is in the outer office. Files are waiting. I expect efficiency."

The dismissal was clear.

Travis, however, seemed thoroughly entertained. "Sending your wife away already? Come on, Damien. At least pretend to be a devoted husband."

Damien shot him a glare.

Ava didn't wait to see what happened next. She turned, leaving the office with measured steps, but she could still hear the low rumble of their conversation as she walked out.

She didn't know much about Damien Cole.

But Travis Walker?

He was going to be interesting.

---

A Strange Call

The day passed in a blur of paperwork, meetings she wasn't invited to, and hushed whispers that followed her every move.

The stares from employees hadn't stopped. Some were curious. Others were skeptical.

She ignored them.

Instead, she focused on the tasks Damien had assigned her. He wasn't treating her like an accessory—he was making sure she earned her place. The files she worked through weren't busywork; they were reports, contracts, and financial documents that required actual analysis.

Damien didn't want a trophy wife.

He wanted someone competent.

The realization made her chest tighten.

At least this marriage—fake or not—wasn't going to be just about standing beside him like a doll.

Near noon, her phone vibrated on the desk.

Ava frowned.

The number was unfamiliar.

She hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

"So, Mrs. Cole…"

A voice—smooth, confident, and laced with amusement.

Ava's fingers tightened around the phone.

"How does it feel to be married to the most ruthless man in the city?"

A shiver ran down her spine.

"Who is this?" she demanded.

A chuckle. "Let's just say… I'm someone who knows Damien Cole very well. And I think we should talk."

Ava's breath hitched slightly.

Whoever this was, they knew something.

And for the first time, she realized—

She might not be the only one keeping secrets in this marriage.