Ava sat in her apartment, the weight of the night pressing into her chest. She didn't know what to make of it ,of him. Of how the flashes, the questions, the intensity of Damien's world hadn't scared her. She had expected to feel more out of control, more desperate to escape.
But it was the quiet that unsettled her now. The silence in her own space, the space that had once felt like a sanctuary, now felt foreign.
Her fingers hovered over her phone. The notifications were endless, messages, comments, and articles all trying to dissect the new, mysterious fiancee of Damien Wolfe. Her Instagram page flooded with too many questions, some bashing her, calling her names . While few , kind of, maybe were happy for her .She'd never had so much attention, and the weight of it felt suffocating.
Yet, something in her felt... different.
She stood, walking over to the window. The view of the city had always been a comfort, a reminder that there was more beyond her small corner of the world. But tonight, it was a reminder of how far out of her depth she truly was.
She didn't know if she should be angry, confused, or excited. Maybe a mixture of all three. But she felt nothing.
***
Meanwhile, at Damien's office, the world was a constant hum of noise. He was used to it. The constant pressure. The deals that needed to be closed, the endless stream of responsibilities that came with being at the top.
Today, though, was different. Today, the press had sent over a written interview, a questionnaire for him to approve. As if he didn't have enough on his plate.
He stared at the screen, reading over the questions with a sense of growing irritation.
****
Press Interview Questions for Damien Wolfe:
1. Mr. Wolfe, the world is buzzing with the news of your engagement to Ava Morgan. Can you tell us how this came about?
2. Ava Morgan is known for her creative, independent career. What attracted you to her?
3. How do you feel about the scrutiny this relationship is already receiving from the public and the media?
4. Is this engagement truly about love, or is there a business motive behind it?
5. There have been rumors about your past, especially surrounding your breakups with various high-profile women. How does Ava fit into your life differently from them?
6. Your company, Wolfe Enterprises, has seen tremendous success. Do you believe Ava will play a role in the future of the brand?
7. Finally, what's next for you two? Will we be seeing wedding plans soon?
***
Damien leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing.
Business motive? Wedding plans?
His jaw clenched. It was all so predictable. The questions. The assumptions. The way they tried to turn every part of his life into a commodity.
He'd half a mind to throw the damn interview in the trash. He didn't need to explain himself to anyone.
But then, he remembered her. Ava. The way she had stood there in front of the press, her nerves masked by that fierce smile. She hadn't faltered. She hadn't let them break her.
A small breath escaped him as he typed his response to the first question.
***
Damien's Response to the Press Interview:
1. "The engagement is real. It's a private matter. I'm not in the habit of explaining my personal life to the public. But Ava is someone who challenges me. She's different from anyone I've met. And that's what matters."
***
He hesitated over the rest of the questions but then clicked send. It was enough. For now.
Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the screen, but his mind wandered to Ava. The way her eyes had locked onto his at the restaurant, like she was trying to read him. Like she saw him.
He didn't like feeling seen. Or rather he was used to not being seen.
Back in her apartment, Ava was still lost in thought when her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Damien. "The interview's been sent to press. You should see it soon. And just so you know, I didn't play the game. Neither should you."
She stared at his message, her chest tightening.
She didn't know what that meant yet. But something in her told her that the way Damien Wolfe played the game was about to collide with the life she'd built.
And she didn't know if she was ready for that.