On the day of the NexGuard Product Launch Event,
When Aveline woke up, her stomach churned at the sight of Damien's handsome yet peaceful sleeping face. Resisting her urge to slap the peace off his face, she quietly got off the bed, wondering when he might have returned home.
After completing her morning yoga, Aveline drank a glass of juice without noticing the guilty eyes of the housekeeper beside her and Damien leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window in their bedroom, watching her.
In the dining hall, Damien was comfortably having breakfast, but the frowns were imprinted on Aveline's dainty face. Hiding his smirk, Damien asked, "What's wrong, Nina?"
Pressing her hand on her chest, Aveline responded, "My heart… is racing." She hadn't done anything strenuous, yet it beat oddly fast.
'Symptoms!?' The housekeeper subtly lowered his head in the corner of the dining hall.
Damien looked concerned in a blink, yet his composure was unbelievably unshakeable. His hand slipped into her hair and cupped her face, and Aveline had to restrain herself from flinching or pulling away from his touch.
Then his fingers grazed down to her slender neck, slow and deliberate. His fingers shifted, subtle yet enough to send a cold shiver down her spine. It felt like he could strangle her the very next second.
Aveline's heartbeat kicked up further, thudding against her chest. Negative thoughts rose. What if he knew? What if he had sensed her actions against him?
Before she could sink deeper in dread, his voice broke through.
"Shall I call for the doctor?" He asked. His tone was laced with a strange gentleness.
'The doctor!?' Aveline snapped out of her thoughts.
The image of Elias's vicious expression flashed in her mind, and her throat went dry.
"No…" She blurted out. She quickly composed herself when his eyes narrowed.
She gently pulled his hand away from her throat. "I'm not unwell, Damien." She feigned a reassuring smile. "Maybe I'm just a bit tense." She lied. "I don't know what my mom might have told Dad."
She was surprised she hadn't been summoned to her parents' place yet, and her brother was oddly silent in her DMs, without updating anything to her.
Damien had received a call from her mother, Margaret. She had subtly warned him to stop Aveline when necessary. But to appear as a devoted husband, he had to show support for Aveline's decision.
So he nodded in response to Aveline and added, "Keep me on speed dial, Nina. Call me if you feel unwell." He didn't want any of her symptoms to go unnoticed.
If she didn't know him, she might have truly believed he was worried about her. Keeping him on speed dial? She would rather trust a stranger than Damien.
Nevertheless, she played along with his game of deceit. She cupped her face and teased, "Maybe my heart is racing for you." Her eyes brushed over his vest coat, "You look dashing."
Damien was caught off guard by her smooth flirting. He had expected her to blush at his words and smile shyly. She was a step ahead. Giving her credit through his moment of surprise, he smirked, "That was smooth, my dear wife."
Aveline giggled and quickly finished her breakfast. She was about to leave when Damien spoke, "Nina, I will need my car tonight for an event." He did need his favorite car, but it was also a way to stop Aveline from using any of his things.
Well, Aveline didn't let him know she caught the reason behind his actions. She changed the topic. She pouted and her shoulders slacked, looking displeased, "Again, I'm alone for dinner." With a sad glance, she turned around and left, perfectly aware of the event he mentioned.
She didn't bother mentioning to him that she would be attending the same event too.
After all, taking his control away is more entertaining than giving him a chance to stop her.
Damien smirked at his effortless move and sipped his coffee at ease. A random thought wandered across his mind.
The peace of having an understanding, supportive, undemanding, and noble wife. He found Aveline a much better choice to live with than Vivienne.
The moment he realized that thought, his grip on the coffee cup tightened. He quickly shifted his focus to his business project, dismissing all thoughts of Aveline.
…..
At Laurent Industries,
Busy with work, Aveline barely had time to notice her racing heart.
In the evening, she headed down to the fully equipped Laurent design studio to prepare for the event. She was taking a final look in the mirror when a knock sounded at the door.
She smiled at the sight of her father in a tailored suit from the recent collection of Laurent. "Look, who is still 30 and handsome?" She complimented him..
Henry Laurent chuckled before holding her hands. Mike had reported to him about Margaret's visit to Aveline. And he was sure she was waiting for their call all this time.
He had visited her earlier during office hours, but she had been too busy to even notice him at the door. "I have spoken to my wife. You focus on work." He assured her.
Aveline's chest filled with warmth hearing her father. Never in history, Henry gone against her mother. She could guess how difficult it must have been for both of them. She silently promised to never make them regret their difficult choices.
"Dad, I'm so…"
Henry cut her off, "Don't ruin it with an apology, Lina." He was stern, "Prove me right and your mother will come around." His tone was firm and confident with her daughter.
Aveline nodded, flashing her bright smile.
If only she was brave enough to take a stand for her dreams and passion, instead of burying herself in dos and don'ts, tiptoeing around trouble, and avoiding arguments.
Henry's gaze ran from her head to her toes. "Impeccable." He nodded in approval, "Mike told me that you are attending the Nexguard event."
Aveline glanced at her assistant, Mike Wilson, who was standing behind her father when she had dismissed him a long time back.
Pulling the invite card out of his packet, Henry continued, "Meet Chairman Lancaster and wish CEO Lancaster for me, as a manager at Laurent Industries."
Aveline understood the weight her father was putting on her shoulders. Attending as the face of Laurent Industries meant she had to represent not only herself but the company and family. Upon that, she would be stepping into the spotlight of the business world.
"Then I will see how interesting these business events are." She accepted the task.
Thus, Mike Wilson followed her to the event as her plus one.
–––––
At NexGuard,
Under the night sky, the four-storey building stood like a futuristic sculpture with bold curves wrapped in soft, golden lights. The glass shimmered quietly, reflecting the moon like a mirror, while the glow from inside hinted at quiet life and silent ambition. The building hovered, like it belonged to tomorrow.
When the car came to a stop at the entrance of the building, Aveline was surprised to find no crowd, no cameras, and no chaos. The confidentiality of the event is clearly above publicity.
Other than a few guards in black suits, the entrance looked empty, as though there was no event.
Aveline stepped out when a guard opened the door, guiding her inside in silence. Mike followed one step behind, letting her lead, and only to assist her when needed.
Just as they were about to enter the building, a car came to a stop. Mike leaned in and whispered, "CEO Lancaster has arrived."
Aveline paused mid-step. Although she had her own reason for attending the event, she would complete her father's task first. So she turned around to greet the host of the evening, the man who was unknowingly helping her with her plans by arranging a perfect event, her belief.
Her breath caught in her throat when she met the piercing green eyes. The color intensified by the building's soft lights, and shimmered like polished emeralds.
Alaric Lancaster!!
He walked with regal poise, donning a tailored suit that highlighted his tall, athletic frame. His dark hair was neatly styled, drawing attention to his devilishly charming face.
She had never met him. But she had heard enough to know this man wasn't someone you looked at twice.
You looked once. And remembered.
Whereas he saw her and forgot how to look away.