Ava’s POV

As if on cue, Chloe’s lips curved in a smug smile as she sauntered forward, her heels clicking on the marble floor with calculated grace. She slipped her arms around Orion’s shoulders, her gaze never leaving mine as she leaned in, pressing her mouth to his in a long, languid kiss. My stomach twisted, a sick feeling crawling up my throat as their bodies melded in front of me, shameless and bold.

The whole scene felt like a slap as if they knew exactly what they were doing and wanted me to watch.

Orion’s gaze, however, didn’t leave my face, not for a single second. His eyes held mine, taunting, as he deepened the kiss, pulling Chloe closer. The blatant challenge in his stare made my skin prickle with fury. It was as if he was daring me to react, daring me to feel something.

The air thickened, almost vibrating with an electric tension, and I gripped the edge of the table, forcing myself to stay rooted, unwilling to let him see any weakness.

I could barely keep the disgust out of my voice as I spoke, my tone cold and clipped. “If you two wanted to carry on your mindless pleasure, you should have stayed at home. This is my office, not a club or a motel.” The words tumbled out before I could stop myself, laced with a venom I didn’t bother hiding.

Chloe detached herself from Orion, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction, her smirk widening as she looked at me. But Orion—he didn’t blink, didn’t react, just stood there with that maddening calm, his gaze still locked onto mine.

Chloe tilted her head, playing with a strand of her hair. “Is there a problem, Ava?” she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Ignoring her, I turned my glare on Orion. “And as for you,” I said, my voice icy, “don’t you ever bring your mistress or your… shameful business here again. This is a professional environment, and I’m not interested in being the topic of anyone’s lunchtime gossip.”

I spun on my heel, prepared to storm out and leave them both in the tension-laden air of my office.

But his voice stopped me. “Ava.” There was an edge to his tone, a command that made me grit my teeth.

“What?” I bit out, refusing to turn around, unwilling to let him see the anger simmering in my eyes.

“You can’t just walk out. Mother wants us both to drop by today. There’s an important family meeting.”

The words made me freeze, my heart stuttering as a jolt of dread washed over me. Mrs. Miller. The thought of that woman’s cold, calculating gaze sent a shiver down my spine, and the memory of our last encounter flashed in my mind. Her rage, her unforgiving hands in my hair, yanking me forward, tearing at my clothes in the lawyer’s office when the will was read. The humiliation, the fury—it was all still too fresh, a wound that hadn’t healed.

I turned, forcing myself to hold his gaze, steeling myself. “Go ahead with Chloe. I have more important things to handle.”

Orion’s brow arched, a dark amusement flickering in his eyes. “You’re avoiding this, Ava. Running away from a meeting won’t change anything.”

I didn’t have time for this. I was done with his taunts, done with playing his games. I walked out of the boardroom, ignoring the whispers of passing employees, ignoring the smirk Chloe threw my way as I headed for the sanctuary of my own office. The moment I was inside, I slammed the door, leaning against it to catch my breath, my mind a chaotic whirl of anger and frustration.

Just as I tried to regain my composure, my phone buzzed on the desk. I glanced down, a strange sense of foreboding settling in as I saw the caller ID: the hospital.

The world seemed to slow as I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Hello?”

The nurse’s voice on the other end was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency that made my pulse quicken. “Mrs. Miller, it’s about your sister. We need you to come to the hospital right away.”

Panic flared in my chest, tightening around my heart. “Is she—”

“Please, just come as soon as possible.”

I hung up, a cold dread washing over me. My sister. The one person who had always been there for me, the only family I had left, the one who understood the depths of my pain and struggles. I couldn’t lose her too.

I grabbed my bag, my hands shaking as I called out to my assistant. “Cancel all my appointments. I’m going to the hospital.”

I didn’t wait for a reply, barely aware of my own footsteps as I made my way to the elevator, my thoughts racing. Just as the doors slid shut, I caught a glimpse of Orion and Chloe in the hallway, their gazes fixed on me. Orion’s expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and intense, but I didn’t care. I had more pressing matters than his manipulative games.

As the elevator descended, I clutched my phone tightly, my mind swirling with fear, desperation, and an overwhelming sense of dread. The image of my sister, fragile and vulnerable in that hospital bed, filled my mind. I needed to get to her, to see her, to make sure she was okay.

But as the doors opened onto the lobby and I stepped outside into the chilly air, another realization hit me, one that sent a new wave of panic crashing over me: I was being watched. The faint prickling on the back of my neck, the subtle glances from people around me. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there—a shadow trailing my every move.

I quickened my pace, my heart racing as I moved toward my car, glancing over my shoulder. Just as I got close to my car, a flash of movement caught my eye—a figure in a dark coat, watching me from across the street. Our eyes met for a brief, charged moment, and in that split second, I knew.

Someone was following me.