Clashing Hearts: The CEO's Fiery Assistant

her thoughts, playing over and over like an irritating song that refused to leave her head. She knew Damien was tough, but she had never felt the sting of his d

ken to her, the casual dismissal of her hard work-it was like he thought she was incapable, like she didn't measure up to whatever imp

ought bitterly, trying to ignore the resentme

s something different in the way he carried himself today. His jaw was tight, his eyes unreadable, but his usual air of c

ack to her screen, as though the sight of her work could

st too polite. It made Ava stiffen. She wasn't used to this. There was no biting sarcasm, no

meeting," Damien continued, not waiting for her respo

n behavior caught her off guard. The tension between them had been so palpable in the past few days, it

even though her stomach twisted in knots. "Let me

re for a beat too long, as if assessing the quality of her work once again. Hi

he said, turning to leave

. She quickly finished the report she had been working on, praying that it was good enough to meet his impossible standards. The cloc

His back was turned, as usual, and he didn't acknowledge her presence right away. Ins

o keep her voice even, despite

t hum of the air conditioning and the soft sound of papers being shuffled. He wasn't looking at her, wasn't acknowledging her prese

he was sizing her up. She tried not to flinch under his gaze, but it was difficult. Every time he look

rves that rattled through her. She wasn't sure if this was just another one of hi

moment longer, then sighed

had expected him to come in hot, to throw another ve

epeated, disbelieving.

studied her with a carefully neutral expression. "I kn

? It felt surreal. The man who never apologized was standing here, admitting fault. A part of her wanted to seize the moment and ask him all th

ss?" she asked, testing him. "Or for throwi

e didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yes, I'm

after everything. But for some reason, she wanted to believe him. Maybe it was the vulnerabili

he asked, not able to stop

don't expect you to understand why I push you so hard, but I've realized I may be goin

Ava feeling slightly unbalanced. Was this the same man who'd torn her

n she intended. "You're saying yo

ront of him on his desk. He met her eyes, and for a bri

l demeanor creeping back into his tone. "I'll still expect results,

She hadn't expected this. Not from him. Not from Damien Cros

nt of confidence return to her voice. "But

erceptible smile. "Fair enou

Maybe Damien wasn't as insufferable as she had once believed. Or maybe this was just a

yet. And she had a feeling that, w

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conti

ike and c