Chapter eight

Damien’s POV

Ava was not what I expected.

I had done my research on her long before our wedding. Background checks, social patterns, relationships, everything was laid out neatly in a file on my desk.

A month before we got married, she had been in a relationship. A serious one, according to the reports. It was obvious they were pretty into each other. But I don't know what broke them up. I had assumed she would still be emotionally attached to him, or even resentful, or at the very least distant.

I had thought she was forced into the marriage.

But, she acted like he was never in the picture.

She was the only child so, I had expected her to be the usual spoiled heiress. The predictable kind. The type who will enjoy the title and the luxury that came with marriage, who understood the rules and stayed neatly within the lines drawn for her.

Instead, Ava was nothing like that.

She laughed easily, she touched me without hesitation, and when she spoke to me, she looked me directly in the eye.

That unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

I stood by the balcony long after she had fallen asleep, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I stared out at the night sky.

The world was quiet at that hour, but my thoughts were anything but quiet.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her at the beach.

Her damp hair clinging to her back. The way the moonlight had caught on her skin, making it glow. I had seen her in lingerie before, but that bikini had been something else entirely.

I clenched my jaw at the memory.

I was furious when I saw that man touch her. she had fear in her eyes and I immediately felt protective of her.

She was my wife.

And I didn’t like the idea of someone else looking at her like that or even touching her like that.

The thought had triggered something in me.

I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly, forcing myself to regain control.

This marriage was not supposed to stress me out. Instead, It was supposed to make things easier, to strengthen the alliance between our families and solidify our old ties.

But Ava Sinclair was dismantling that order with nothing more than soft smiles, teasing words, and an infuriating confidence that made it impossible to predict her next move. She was bold. Very bold.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

Three missed calls.

Five messages.

One message stood out.

From my COO.

URGENT.

I opened it, scanning the contents, and my jaw tightened with every line. There had been a leak within the company. Confidential files have been compromised. Information that could spiral into a full-blown scandal if not handled properly.

Someone inside the company had accessed restricted data and leaked it. Whether they sold it money or for sabotage, it didn’t matter. The damage could be catastrophic.

I had to go back as fast as I can.

I turned and looked through the glass doors toward the bed, where Ava slept peacefully, completely unaware that her honeymoon was about to end abruptly.

So much for plans.

I typed a quick response to my COO, then called my assistant and instructed her to get the private jet ready first thing in the morning.

There was no room for hesitation.

The next morning went by in a blur.

The flight back to New York passed in silence. Ava slept most of the way, and I didn’t blame her. We had left early. Far earlier than expected. She didn’t complain or ask questions when I told her we needed to leave. She had simply nodded, accepting my explanation without pushing for details.

When we landed, I went straight to the company while I instructed the driver to take Ava home.

Luckily, by the time I reached the office, the immediate crisis had been gotten under control. Damage control was being done, accounts aresecured, and access restricted. But the real issue remained unresolved.

Someone on the inside had leaked the files.

I unbuttoned the first few buttons of my shirt as I stepped into my office, the familiar surroundings grounding me instantly.

I sat down behind my desk just as my COO walked in, a tablet tucked under his arm.

“Sir,” he said, handing it to me, “we traced the breach to an internal server. The one with Limited access and only senior staff had clearance.”

I scanned the names displayed on the screen.

None of the names before me surprised me.

“Pull up their financial records,” I said coolly, handing the tablet back. “And their recent communications. I want everything.”

“Yes, sir.”

As soon as he left, my phone buzzed again.

A message from Ava.

“Did you get to the office safely?”

I stared at the screen longer than necessary.

Then I finally replied.

“Yes.”

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

“Good. Don’t forget to eat something. What do you want for dinner? I’ll make it for you.”

I locked the phone and set it face down on the desk without responding.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.

Ava Sinclair was truly a surprise. I had been told she was spoiled rotten by her parents, indulged and sheltered, but this was different. This wasn’t entitlement or carelessness. She was……

She was a mystery I am not sure I know how to solve. And I don't even have time. not with my company on the line and a rat in the association.

I straightened, reopened my laptop, and forced my focus back to work.

For now, damage control came first.

But even as I buried myself in reports and numbers, I could not get rid of the uneasy feeling settling in my chest.