Gentleman dominic

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The morning air around Vale's private hangar carried the scent of jet fuel and crisp wind, as if the day itself had been carved out for power moves and silent declarations.

Dominic Vale arrived at his private airport clad in a tailored black suit, the lines sharp and commanding. The aura he carried turned heads effortlessly, yet it was the woman beside him who made every gaze linger longer than usual.

Ava Ellis walked beside him in a formal secretary outfit—a sleek navy pencil skirt, ivory silk blouse tucked neatly beneath a tailored blazer, and low heels that clicked with quiet confidence. Her hair was pulled back into a graceful twist, accentuating her elegant profile. Her entire presence radiated a magnetic kind of sovereignty—a word that lingered in the mind of everyone who laid eyes on her.

The two of them walking side by side was a vision. Not just boss and assistant, but something more powerful, something unspoken. They looked ethereal—like a couple that ruled the world rather than merely worked in it.

The flight crew stood aligned in two neat rows, their eyes subtly shifting between the familiar figure of their boss and the cold yet graceful woman at his side. Normally, it was only James who accompanied Dominic on business trips. This was the first time anyone had seen a woman beside him—and certainly not one who carried herself like she belonged in his world.

The captain, a dignified older man with a posture of discipline softened by years of loyalty, waited at the center. As Dominic and Ava approached, the staff bowed in practiced synchronicity.

"Welcome, Mr. Vale," they greeted in unison.

Captain Oliver stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. "Young Master Dominic."

Dominic reached out and patted his shoulder with casual warmth. "Uncle Oliver, how many times do I have to tell you not to bow?"

Uncle Oliver chuckled. "And how many times must I remind you I'm still your Captain?"

Dominic's lips twitched in amusement. "Did you forget with age that you're older than me?"

The old man laughed heartily and patted Dominic's shoulder in return. "No matter how tall you've grown, you'll always be the little boy who used to sneak chocolates into the cockpit."

Then his gaze shifted to the woman beside Dominic.

"And who is this young lady?"

Dominic looked at Ava for a moment longer than necessary, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

Before he could respond, Ava stepped forward with poise and bowed slightly. "I am the personal secretary of Mr. Vale—Ava Ellis. Nice to meet you, sir. I will be in your care."

Uncle Oliver studied her for a moment and found her confidence refreshing. The way she held herself with grace yet spoke with precision—it was clear she wasn't just a pretty face.

He smiled. "You can call me Uncle Oliver, like Dominic does."

Ava blinked. "Mr. Oliver would do."

He let out a belly laugh. "That won't do at all. You'll have to call me Uncle Oliver, or I might just get angry with you."

Ava blinked again, momentarily lost for words. She had always held a deep respect for elders, having lost her grandparents early on. Watching the affectionate exchange between Dominic and the older man stirred something nostalgic within her.

Looking up at Uncle Oliver, who now looked at her with mock sternness but soft eyes, she couldn't help the smile that curved her lips.

"Alright then, Uncle Oliver it is," she said gently.

He beamed and patted her head like a proud grandfather. "Very good, child."

As they approached the jet stairs, Dominic took a step forward—then stopped. Ava, walking just behind him, paused as well.

He turned slightly and gestured with one hand. "After you."

She frowned. "Is there a problem?"

He smiled calmly. "None at all. After you."

She narrowed her eyes. "Mr. Vale, did you forget I'm the secretary here? Not the other way around."

He chuckled. "Which is exactly why I can't let my personal secretary trip and fall. I'd be blamed for overworking you."

A laughing sound came from Uncle Oliver at the base of the stairs.

Feeling the gaze of every staff member on her, Ava flushed slightly. Instead of feeling flattered, she felt embarrassed.

With a sharp glare toward Dominic, she huffed and marched up the steps. Dominic watched her retreating back with a low laugh.

---

Inside the Jet – Midair

The interior of the jet was luxurious—white leather seats, ambient lighting, and a calm hum as the engines began pre-flight procedures.

Ava, the moment she stepped in, walked straight to the farthest window seat from Dominic and sat with an air of aloofness. She folded her arms and stared out the window.

Dominic paused as he noticed.

A soft chuckle escaped him. Something about her reactions always got to him. They weren't scripted, or calculated like others around him. They were raw. Honest. Adorable.

Every time he was around her, the monotony of his carefully controlled world cracked just a little. It felt… new.

He couldn't remember the last time he wanted to be near someone just for the sake of it.

He tilted his head, voice casual. "Miss Ellis, aren't you my secretary?"

Ava didn't turn. "So?"

"Then why are you sitting all the way there? That's hardly proper. Shouldn't a secretary sit near her boss?"

She threw a sharp glance over her shoulder.

That earned a smirk.

He murmered "Fiesty"

He walked casually across the aisle, plopped into the seat beside her with no warning, and leaned back, relaxed.

Ava immediately shifted an inch away.

"Do you mind?....sh" she asked.

"Not at all. This is my plane , after all," he replied with an innocent look cutting her words.

She huffed. "You really are impossible."

"Yet here you are, stuck with me on a business trip," he said smoothly. "Maybe it's fate."

She rolled her eyes. "Or bad luck."

"I thought you didn't believe in luck."

"I don't."

"Then you're admitting you chose to be here."

Ava turned her head to glare at him—but he was already smirking, looking ahead.

Uncle Oliver's voice came over the intercom. "Ready for takeoff, young master."

Dominic pressed the button. "Take us up, Uncle."

Ava muttered under her breath, "He's so full of himself."

He leaned closer, pretending to not hear. "Did you say something, Miss Ellis?"

She faced forward. "Just praying for a peaceful flight."

"Too late," he whispered with a grin.

And as the jet ascended into the sky, the storm between them only grew stronger.