Mysterious man

The day unfolded with mechanical rhythm—meetings, data reviews, design feedback. Ava moved with the precision expected of someone under Dominic Vale's roof. Every step, every breath, timed and calculated.

But she couldn't shake it.

The… last night dream.

She'd caught her reflection again in the mirror on the thirty-fifth floor—just for a heartbeat—and something had shifted. Her eyes had dark circles . And behind her eyes, a storm had stirred.

She tried to dismiss it. Blamed caffeine. Blamed sleep deprivation.

Blamed him.

Because every time she was near Dominic, something came unglued inside her. Logic slipped. Control wavered. Her instincts screamed familiar, but her memory stayed silent.

Before kidnapping or race moments had she seen him somewhere else that was the question that keep bothering her.

Later that afternoon – ValeTech's Private Lounge

Ava entered the restricted lounge with a tray of documents, intent on catching Dominic before his board call. The room was dim, sunlight bleeding through half-closed blinds. He stood near the far window, phone at his ear, sharp and commanding in a slate-gray suit.

She paused—not just because of him, but because her skin suddenly prickled.

Like she has just entered where she shouldn't have.

Before she could go near him her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number:

> Don't trust him.

You don't remember yet, but you will.

Stop looking—if you want to live.

Ava froze in place. The hallway noise blurred. Her grip tightened around the phone.

What the hell?

'Who am i not supposed to trust and what I don't remember what's nonsense is this'

She looked around, subtly scanning for cameras or unfamiliar faces. But it was useless since she was in restricted zone of company CEO there's no way there would be any surveillance here.

Still, the message had found her—and that meant someone was watching.

He ended the call with a curt nod, then without turning .

Dominic, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, didn't immediately turn. But his eyes flicked toward her reflection in the glass.

Ava entered with the files he'd requested, placing them carefully on the desk without a word.

"You're quieter than usual."

"I didn't realize my tone mattered as long as the work is delivered."

Dominic slowly turned, eyes scanning her face. "It does, when it comes from you."

Ava's eyes narrowed just slightly.

"Rough night?" he added.

"Not particularly," she replied coolly.

"You're shaking."

"I'm not."

"You are."

She took a silent breath and reminded him of his coffee .

His fingers brushed hers as he took it.

Another flicker—in his his gaze. She frowned slightly.

"You keep looking at me like that."

He raised a brow. "Like what?"

"Like you know something I don't."

A pause.

Then, his lips quirked. "Maybe I do."

She stepped back, uncomfortable. "If this is some power play, I'm not interested."

He didn't stop her when she turned away. But before she reached the door, his voice stopped her cold.

"Do you dream often, Ava?"

Her breath caught.

She frowned. "What kind of question is that?"

"Well practically speaking, we could say it a nightmare, do you have that often"

She touched her eyebags murmuring and says "why are you asking ".

"Just wondering," he said smoothly. "Some people's dreams are closer to memories than they realize."

Ava couldn't utter a word—her grip on the phone tightening.

Because last night's dream hadn't felt like fantasy.

It had felt like truth.

---

Unknown In a darkened room, the only light came from a large screen displaying rotating images of Ava Ellis—candid shots, stills from security footage of the various places she had visited, even moments of her past activities. The glow illuminated the sharp features of a man lounging on a leather sofa.

He chuckled lowly, fingers drumming on the armrest.

"Soon," he murmured to no one, "the game is going to get interesting."

His gaze lingered on the screen, eyes narrowing with anticipation. "Let's see how long your memories stay buried, little Ava."