His Cold Eyes, Her Shaking Heart

Ethan's gaze pierced through her like winter.

Ava stood frozen outside his office, heart hammering against her ribs. She hadn't expected him to call her in this early—hadn't expected to feel like a trembling intern under those unreadable eyes.

"Come in," he said, voice clipped.

She stepped in, heels soft against the marble floor, every step echoing louder than it should.

Ethan didn't motion for her to sit. He stood by the window, hands in his pockets, the skyline casting shadows across his sharp features.

"I want to clarify a few things," he began. "Personal visits during work hours—especially from family—should be kept minimal."

Ava's jaw tightened. "Drew stopped by for five minutes."

"Five minutes too long. This is a corporate floor, not a family reunion."

Her fingers curled at her sides. "Noted, Mr. Cole."

He turned then, eyes colder than glass. "You're not here to test limits, Ava."

"And you're not my keeper," she replied, her voice more steel than she felt. "I'm here to work. Nothing more."

The silence that followed nearly choked her.

Then his voice dropped, lower, rougher.

"Tell me, do you always lie this well? Or did you get better with time?"

Her breath caught.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Ethan stepped closer. "You tell me. You vanished five years ago. No goodbye. No explanation. And now you walk back into my company—into my life—acting like a stranger."

She swallowed hard, the hurt bubbling up before she could stop it.

"Because that's what you wanted. You made it clear that I didn't belong in your world."

"I made a lot of mistakes," he admitted, voice quieter. "But you didn't even give me a chance."

"You had your chance, Ethan. And you chose ambition."

He stared at her, a flicker of something breaking through the cold. Regret? Pain? It vanished just as fast.

"This conversation is over," he said sharply. "You're dismissed."

She turned without another word, but her hands trembled as she left the room.

---

Downstairs, Drew leaned against the breakroom counter, sipping bad coffee with a smirk.

"Rough morning?" he asked when Ava entered.

She shot him a glare. "Not now, Drew."

But he was already walking beside her.

"He still got that brooding billionaire thing going on?"

"Drew—"

"Okay, okay. I'll behave."

Ava sighed. "I just need to get through this day without a breakdown."

He nudged her playfully. "Then you might want to avoid floor 12. There's a rumor going around that Victoria Hale has a bone to pick."

Ava stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

Drew shrugged. "Just heard her asking around about you. Thought you two were cool?"

"We're not."

And she had a sinking feeling she was about to find out exactly why.

---

Across the city, Victoria Hale reviewed the documents in her leather-bound folder. Liam's photo stared up at her.

No listed father.

No public ties to Ethan.

But the resemblance… she couldn't shake it.

She closed the file with a snap.

If Ava thought she could waltz back into Ethan's life with a secret this big, she was about to learn how the real game was played.

---

Later that afternoon, Ava was called into an unexpected meeting. She stepped into the small conference room and stopped short.

Victoria sat at the table, perfectly poised, lips painted in crimson.

"Ava," she greeted, voice syrupy. "So good to see you. Sit."

Ava remained standing. "What is this?"

"Just a chat between old colleagues." Victoria smiled. "And women who care about Ethan."

"I don't owe you any explanations."

"Maybe not." Victoria leaned forward. "But he deserves the truth. About Liam."

Ava's blood ran cold.

"You've been snooping?"

"I've been curious. And if I can find this out in two days, what do you think Ethan will learn in a week?"

Ava's voice shook. "He's not your concern."

"But he is yours, isn't he?"

Victoria stood and walked slowly toward her.

"Secrets don't stay buried forever, Ava. Especially not ones with curly hair and a Cole stare."

Ava flinched.

"If you care about Ethan," Victoria said, voice dropping, "you'll tell him before someone else does."

And with that, she swept out of the room, leaving Ava trembling.

---

That night, Ethan stared at the old photo on his desk—one of him and Ava, back when they were young and foolish.

Before the money.

Before the silence.

Before the walls.

He didn't know what hurt more: her absence back then… or the way she looked at him now.

Like he was a stranger.

A stranger with history.

And God help him—he still wanted her.

But he knew Ava.

And he knew when she was hiding something.

Whatever it was, it was big.

And he was going to find out.