Damien Sterling

Chapter 23: A Shift We Can't Ignore

(Damien's POV )

I should have left it alone.

Should have let her storm off and pretended I didn't care.

But I didn't.

Because for some reason—

I couldn't stand the thought of her walking away from me.

And that?

That was a problem.

---

Ava was still standing there, staring at me like I had grown a second head.

Like she couldn't believe I had just defended her.

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Are you going to say something, or just keep looking at me like that?"

She blinked, snapping out of it. "You—" She let out a disbelieving laugh. "You defended me."

I rolled my shoulders. "Yeah. And?"

She took a slow step forward, her gaze searching mine. "Why?"

I clenched my jaw. "Because you weren't wrong."

Her brows furrowed. "That's not an answer."

I exhaled sharply. "You wanted to see your family. I let you. End of discussion."

She scoffed. "No, it's not."

I turned toward my office. "It is for me."

She followed.

---

The second we were inside, I closed the door behind her.

Ava folded her arms, tilting her head. "So, let me get this straight. You suddenly care about my freedom now?"

I sighed. "Don't push it, Sinclair."

She raised a brow. "Oh? Because it kinda seems like you do."

I clenched my jaw. "You were going to see them one way or another. I just made it easier."

She took another step forward. "Bullshit. If you didn't care, you wouldn't have defended me just now."

I met her gaze. "And?"

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wasn't expecting me to say that.

I exhaled, shaking my head. "This is still a contract. This doesn't change anything."

She studied me for a long moment. "You say that. But something has changed, hasn't it?"

My fingers twitched.

Because she was right.

But I refused to admit it.

---

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't get you, Damien."

I smirked. "I'm not meant to be understood."

She rolled her eyes. "You treat me like a prisoner one minute and then let me go the next. You humiliate me, then defend me. What is your deal?"

I didn't respond.

Because I didn't have a damn clue.

Ava exhaled sharply. "You know what? It doesn't matter."

I tilted my head. "No? Because it seems like you're trying really hard to figure me out."

She scoffed. "Not everything is about you, Sterling."

I smirked. "You keep saying that, and yet, here you are—standing in my office, asking me questions about myself."

She clenched her jaw. "You are insufferable."

"And yet, you're obsessed with understanding me."

Her nostrils flared. "I am not obsessed with you."

I chuckled, stepping closer. "You sure?"

She inhaled sharply, her body tensing.

And for the first time, I realized how close we were.

I could see the way her breathing changed, the way she squared her shoulders, like she was bracing herself.

I smirked. "You're looking at me like you're waiting for something, Sinclair."

Her eyes flickered. "I'm waiting for you to get the hell out of my way."

I took another step forward. "That's a lie."

Her breath hitched.

And for a moment—

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

The tension was thick, dangerous, electric.

And I should have pulled away.

Should have reminded myself that this was a contract.

But instead, I let the silence stretch, because I wanted to see something.

I wanted to know if she was feeling it too.

And judging by the way her pulse was racing—

She was.

__

She suddenly stepped back, exhaling sharply. "I'm done with this conversation."

I smirked. "Because you don't like where it's going?"

She glared. "Because it's pointless."

I leaned against my desk, watching her. "Right. Totally pointless."

She turned sharply. "Go to hell, Damien."

I chuckled. "Already there, sweetheart."

And then—

She walked out, slamming the door behind her.

Leaving me alone.

And for the first time—

I hated that she left.

---