A World Of Strangers

The tension in the air lingered long after Damien had left. Kiara could still feel the weight of his cold, scrutinizing stare pressing against her skin, as though he had left an invisible mark behind. She forced herself to breathe, to push down the unsettled feeling curling in her gut.

Ava sighed beside her, rubbing her arms as if shaking off the chill Damien had left in his wake. "I'm really sorry about that," she murmured, her voice softer now, laced with something that sounded like guilt. "He's… not the easiest person to deal with."

Kiara swallowed, setting her teacup down with careful precision. "Yeah. No kidding."

Ava offered a tight smile, but Kiara could see the flicker of something behind her friend's eyes—something close to exhaustion. It wasn't just embarrassment over Damien's behavior. It was deeper than that.

Kiara leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Ava," she started, hesitating before lowering her voice, "are you okay here?"

Ava's gaze darted away for the briefest second before she let out a small laugh, forced and hollow. "Of course I am." She waved a hand at the extravagant room around them. "I mean, look at this place. It's… incredible."

"Incredible doesn't mean happy," Kiara pointed out.

Ava opened her mouth as if to respond, but the sound of footsteps echoing through the hallway cut her off. A moment later, a middle-aged woman dressed in a pristine black uniform stepped into the room, her expression perfectly composed.

"Miss Cole," she addressed Ava with the kind of measured politeness that spoke of years of service. "Dinner will be served shortly. Would you and your guest like to be escorted to the dining room?"

Ava hesitated before nodding. "Yes, thank you, Marianne. We'll be there in a moment."

The woman—Marianne—offered a small nod before turning on her heel and disappearing as swiftly as she had come.

Kiara let out a slow breath. "You have house staff now?"

Ava shrugged. "It's a big house. Damien insists."

Of course he does.

Kiara wanted to press further, to ask more questions about the life Ava was now living, but something told her she wouldn't get the answers she was looking for. At least, not yet.

So instead, she stood, smoothing down the creases in her jeans. "Alright, let's eat. But I swear, if your fancy chef serves me something I can't pronounce, I'm making you take me out for burgers later."

Ava's lips curled into a genuine smile. "Deal."

Dinner at the Cole Estate

The dining room was even more extravagant than Kiara had expected. A grand chandelier hung above the impossibly long table, its golden light reflecting off the polished mahogany surface. The table was already set with fine china and gleaming silverware, every place meticulously arranged.

Seated at the head of the table was Damien.

His presence was inescapable, like a shadow stretching across the room. He sat with effortless authority, one hand resting against the crystal wine glass before him, his expression unreadable.

Kiara suddenly wished she had stayed in the living room.

"Sit," Damien said, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument.

Ava moved first, taking a seat a few chairs down from Damien. Kiara followed, settling into the chair beside her. The moment she did, a silent group of staff emerged, placing delicate plates of food before them with practiced efficiency.

The meal was beautifully arranged—seared salmon, roasted vegetables, and a side of something that looked far too fancy to be mashed potatoes. Kiara picked up her fork hesitantly.

"So, Kiara," Damien's voice broke through the quiet, drawing her attention to him. "How long are you planning to stay?"

Straight to the point, then.

Kiara lifted her gaze, meeting his stare head-on. "Not long," she replied evenly. "Just visiting Ava for a bit."

Damien tilted his head slightly, as if considering her answer. "Good."

Ava tensed beside her.

Kiara narrowed her eyes. "You don't seem too fond of guests."

"I don't like unnecessary distractions," Damien corrected smoothly, taking a slow sip of his wine. "Ava has responsibilities now. Her focus should remain on them."

Kiara's grip on her fork tightened. "Ava's still allowed to have a life. Friends. People who care about her."

Damien set his glass down with a quiet clink. "And you think you understand what's best for her?"

Kiara met his gaze without wavering. "I know who she is. Who she's always been. Can you say the same?"

Silence settled over the table like a thick fog.

Ava cleared her throat, forcing a smile as she reached for her water glass. "Let's not do this," she said quickly. "Kiara's my best friend, Damien. She's not a distraction."

Damien's jaw tightened, but he said nothing more.

Dinner continued in heavy silence.

A Warning

After the meal, Kiara excused herself to step outside for some air. The weight of the Cole estate felt suffocating, and she needed a moment to clear her head.

She barely made it a few steps down the stone pathway when she heard footsteps behind her.

"I don't trust you."

Kiara turned sharply to find Damien standing a few feet away, hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable.

She folded her arms, tilting her chin up defiantly. "That makes two of us."

His lips curled into a smirk, though there was no humor in it. "Ava is adjusting to a new life. She doesn't need reminders of the past holding her back."

Kiara's eyes darkened. "Is that what you think I am? A reminder?"

Damien took a step closer, the space between them shrinking. "I think you're a loose end," he murmured. "And loose ends tend to be problematic."

Kiara's pulse pounded, but she refused to look away. "Ava isn't a possession, Damien. You don't get to decide who she keeps in her life."

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "We'll see about that."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kiara standing in the cool night air, her heart hammering in her chest.

One thing was clear—Damien Cole was dangerous.

And if he thought she would just walk away from Ava without a fight, he was sorely mistaken.