Damien Sterling

Chapter 16: The Game Begins

(Damien's POV )

Having Ava as my assistant was supposed to be a joke.

A way to remind her that, no matter what, she was stuck with me.

But instead?

It was becoming my new favorite pastime.

---

She was trying so hard to be professional.

Sitting across from me, pretending to take notes, acting like she wasn't thinking about that kiss.

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "You're staring, Sinclair."

She blinked, snapping her gaze away. "I wasn't."

I tilted my head. "You sure? Looked like you were admiring your fiancé."

She scoffed. "I was imagining what this office would look like without you in it."

I chuckled. She was getting better at this.

"Careful," I murmured. "You keep looking at me like that, and I might think you actually like this job."

Ava clenched her jaw. "I like having money. That's it."

I smirked, watching as she turned back to her computer, fingers moving over the keyboard a little too forcefully.

The fitted blazer. The tucked-in blouse. The way her hair was tied up, a few strands falling loose, teasing the side of her neck.

I clenched my jaw.

Focus.

This was business.

Nothing else.

But damn if she didn't make it hard to remember that.

---

I spent the entire day finding ways to get under her skin.

— "Ava, fix my tie."

— "Ava, I need a report I never actually asked you to do."

— "Ava, you look tense. Want a massage?"

By 2 p.m., she was ready to murder me.

"Damien," she snapped, slamming a folder onto my desk. "I am not your maid."

I smirked, leaning forward. "Sweetheart, you're my assistant. That means doing whatever I need."

She clenched her jaw. "You don't need half the things you ask for. You're just enjoying watching me suffer."

I chuckled. "You catch on quick."

Ava exhaled sharply, turning on her heel.

I watched her walk away, smirking.

This was going to be so much fun.

---

The End of the Day –

By the time the workday ended, I was ready to leave.

But then—

I saw her.

Talking to someone else.

Some corporate guy—tall, clean-cut, looking at her a little too closely.

My jaw ticked.

Ava was laughing.

Laughing.

I clenched my fists, exhaling slowly, forcing myself to stay where I was.

I wasn't jealous.

I was just… annoyed.

Yeah. Annoyed.

And yet, when she finally turned and saw me standing there—

She froze.

And in that moment, she knew.

I wasn't happy.

And she was about to pay for it.

---

I walked past them, not sparing the guy a glance. "You sure seem comfortable making friends, Sinclair."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

I leaned against my desk, crossing my arms. "You work one day and already need male attention to keep you entertained?"

Her jaw tightened. "That's not what this is."

I smirked. "Of course not. What could a guy like him possibly want from you? It's not like you have much to offer."

Ava's eyes burned. "You are such a—"

"What? A realist?" I cut her off smoothly. "You're just another employee here. Just another pretty face trying to play in a world you don't belong to."

I watched as her fists clenched, her breathing uneven. Oh, she was mad.

"Careful, sweetheart," I murmured, stepping closer. "Getting angry at your boss might get you fired."

Ava exhaled sharply, voice tight with rage. "I hate you."

I smirked. "That's not news."

Then I turned and walked away, because if I didn't, I was going to do something stupid.

Like kiss her again.

---