CHAPTER TWO

AVA

The buzz of office life was already in full swing when Ava stepped into the open-floor workspace of Wright AutoTech’s marketing department. She greeted a few colleagues with polite nods, balancing her tablet and water bottle in one hand while brushing a stray braid from her face.

She was used to the fast pace. Used to being overlooked. She didn’t mind it, not really. It gave her room to observe, to plan.

Her desk sat near the far end, close enough to the glass window wall to see the city skyline, but far enough from the senior managers to avoid unnecessary small talk. Ava preferred it that way. It gave her space to think, to breathe, to work.

She had just settled in when Luke strolled in, commanding the room with every step. His movements were smooth and deliberate, exuding a quiet confidence. About six-two, lean but defined, he moved like someone who always got what he wanted.

His jawline was sharp, stubbled just enough to give him a rugged look, and his eyes—cool and unreadable—held a hint of mischief. He was the kind of handsome that made people second-guess themselves, and he knew it. The half-smirk, crisp shirts, and effortless charm only reinforced it..

He made everything look easy.

Ava didn’t hate Luke. Not really. But she didn’t like him either. Not after that awkward first encounter.

She had gone out of her way to be nice. Walked up to him on his first day, smiled, even offered him a bottle of water. He’d looked at her like he wasn’t expecting the gesture—not stunned, not impressed, just… thrown off. He didn’t take the water. Didn’t even shake her hand. Just nodded vaguely and moved on like the moment—and she—didn’t exist.

It wasn’t the end of the world, but she never forgot it. What made it worse was a few days later, in the restroom, she overheard two girls chatting.

“Luke is actually really sweet,” one of them giggled. “He helped me carry some files yesterday and even asked about my weekend.”

Ava had paused, wiping her hands slowly as she listened.

“He’s just so polite,” the other added. “I thought he’d be a typical hot guy, but he’s super chill.”

Ava didn’t step out until they left. Not because she was upset—no, not exactly. But there was a quiet sting. So he could be warm. Friendly. Kind. Just… not with her.

And the worst part? He probably didn’t even remember that day. But she did. Vividly. Still, she had to admit—he was good at what he did. Clients loved him. Bosses noticed him. Even when he barely tried.

Ava clicked her pen and started reviewing her slides for the upcoming review with Mr. Ken. The pressure had been mounting since Clifford Motors announced their new line, which suspiciously resembled the company’s sleek BMW i7 model. Rumors of lawsuits, retaliation marketing campaigns, and internal restructuring were flying around, and the entire department was on edge.

But Ava wasn’t concerned with gossip. She just wanted to win. To be respected.

***********************************************************

LUKE

Across the office, Luke leaned back in his chair, watching the screen flicker to life as he sipped his coffee. He glanced up at Ava at her desk, brows furrowed, tapping away as if the future of the company rested on her shoulders.

He noticed it again today. The way she stiffened when he walked in. How her eyes barely flicked up before returning to her screen, as though he was just part of the furniture—necessary, but not worth noticing.

It wasn’t always like this.

When he first got here, she used to smile at him. Not wide or flirty like the others, but a quiet, polite curve of her lips that felt... genuine. Once, she even brought him a bottle of water. He remembered thinking she had a calm presence, the kind that didn’t beg for attention but held it anyway. There was an elegance to Ava that didn’t scream for attention—it whispered. Her beauty was poised and far from flashy.

But then she stopped. No more smiles. No small talk. Nothing.

At first, he thought it was his imagination—maybe she was shy, or just focused. But over time, it felt intentional. Like the moment he walked into a room, she shut herself off. So, he adjusted. Matched her energy. Stayed polite, professional. And distant.

Whatever he’d done, he figured she had her reasons. He wasn’t about to go begging for approval. Especially not from someone who barely looked his way.

Moreover, he wasn’t here to make friends. He was here to prove something. His grandfather had given him a final chance to earn his place. No special privileges. No last name. Just results. And he was determined to prove himself.

Just before noon, Luke’s focus shattered with a sharp ping. An email alert blinked at the corner of his screen. It was a company broadcast message.

“Emergency Department Meeting – Conference Room – 12:30PM sharp.”

Sent by Mr. Ken’s assistant.

Luke arched a brow. Emergency? That was never a good sign. And Ken didn’t throw that word around loosely.

The room around him stirred. Chairs squeaked. Low murmurs spread like a ripple. People were already whispering. He leaned back in his chair, rolling a pen between his fingers. Whatever this was about, it would shake things up—and that wasn’t always a bad thing.

Especially not for someone like him.

Thirty minutes later, he walked into the glass conference room, cool and composed, while the rest of the team carried tension like bricks on their shoulders. Ava was already seated near the window, her face flushed and anxious. Of course she was early. She always was.

He didn’t let his gaze linger.

Ken stood at the front of the room like a man ready to declare war.

“I’m sure you’re all aware of the recent news,” he began, without preamble. “Clifford Motors has launched a car model that looks suspiciously like our BMW i7.”

A few heads tilted. Luke stayed still.

“This means one thing: we step up. We dominate the market, or we die trying.”

That was dramatic, even for Ken. But Luke understood the pressure. The car industry was a battlefield—sleek, polished, and brutal beneath the surface.

Ken’s voice sharpened.

“To do that, we need results. That’s why, starting immediately, I’m turning this into a competition. Whoever brings in the most sales and investment leads will become Team Leader. You can work alone or in pairs. I don’t care. Just bring me clients.”

His eyes swept across the room. “Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” the team echoed.

Luke didn’t say anything, but his jaw tensed slightly. So that was the plan—turn coworkers into competitors and see who survived the scramble. This wasn’t just about Clifford Motors or a sales competition. This was about covering Ken’s back. The higher-ups had likely been breathing down his neck—too many quiet months, too few investors. And now that it looked like a rival company had beat them to market, the heat had doubled.

So what did Ken do? He passed the pressure down. Shifted the weight onto the rest of them and dressed it up like a golden opportunity. Luke knew the type.

Ken was the kind of manager who always landed on his feet. He rarely got his hands dirty. Instead, he let his team grind themselves into the ground while he collected the praise. And if things ever went south? Well, he had a gift for finding scapegoats.

But this time, he’d dangled something shiny—Team Leader—and Luke could already see the glint in a few people’s eyes. The hunger.

Smart move. A little chaos always got results.

Still, Luke couldn’t help but feel the undercurrent of manipulation. He wasn’t naive.

This wasn’t about giving someone a real chance to lead. This was about pushing them hard enough to land Ken the next win. And if someone got burnt out or thrown under the bus along the way? Collateral damage.

Luke wasn’t interested in being anyone’s pawn. But he also wasn’t about to let anyone else take that spot without a fight. Becoming team leader wasn’t just about a title. Not for him.

It was the perfect setup. The ideal opportunity to prove to his grandfather that he wasn’t just floating around the company on a lucky last name. That he could earn his place. That he was ready to handle more—everything.

Luke observed the faces of his colleagues and saw the determination to win. The position of the Team Leader came with some perks - lesser work loads and a higher pay. His gaze shifted to the quiet lady at the corner.

Ava wasn’t talking to anyone. No partner, no whispering strategy sessions like some of the others. She moved through the space with a quiet kind of focus—like the calm before a storm. She didn’t look timid. Not now. She looked ready.

And that surprised him.

There was always something deliberate about the way Ava worked. Even when she kept her head down, people noticed. Not because she spoke the loudest, but because she delivered—every single time. Luke had seen it for over a year. Her reports were clean. Her campaigns always precise. Her decks? Razor-sharp.

She wasn’t just smart—she was meticulous.

It wasn’t long before her eyes lifted, scanning the room without purpose. Her gaze flickered briefly, landing on Luke for a split second. It wasn’t intentional, not a look that meant anything. Just a brief glance, the kind of moment that could easily be missed.

Except Luke didn’t miss it. And neither did Ava.

For the first time in a long while, their gazes locked. Neither of them turned away immediately. It was strange. Not the quick glances they’d exchanged in passing. No, this time they actually looked at each other. For a moment, the air between them felt a little thicker, a little heavier.

Ava blinked, and then, almost instinctively, her gaze shifted away. But not before Luke saw it—a faint blush creeping up her neck, soft but unmistakable. It wasn’t the kind of blush that meant attraction. He knew that much. It was something else, something he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Luke’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, studying her face, searching for any sign of what she was thinking. And then, when she looked up again, her eyes met his once more.

There was something different in her gaze now. It wasn’t shy, not like before. It was steady. More purposeful. As if she had suddenly realized that, just like her, he was in this to win it. He knew that look, she was determined to win.

Luke raised an eyebrow, amused. And then, just as quickly, Ava looked away flushed. It was clear Luke's attention on her made her uncomfortable. A low smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. This just became interesting for him.

It was clear that Ava was going to give it everything. Good.

So was he.

May the best person win.