Chapter 4: Lines Crossed

The buzz of the office was unusually subdued as Ava walked into the sleek conference room the next morning. Her team had gathered around the large table, files spread out, laptops open, and coffee cups half-drained. They were deep in preparation for the next phase of her skyscraper project, which now had the official backing of NovaTech.

Rafael entered moments later, his presence commanding as always. His tailored navy suit was immaculate, and his sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on Ava. She could feel the tension in the air as he approached her, his movements deliberate.

“Miss Carter,” Rafael greeted smoothly. “Ready to dive into today’s challenges?”

“I’m always ready,” Ava replied, matching his confidence.

The team began the meeting, discussing progress reports and addressing logistical challenges. Rafael, as expected, had opinions on everything. His suggestions were incisive, his ideas innovative, but his tendency to dominate the conversation grated on Ava. She fought to maintain her composure, countering his points with equally sharp rebuttals.

Their dynamic was beginning to draw attention. The team exchanged wary glances, clearly sensing the friction between the two leaders.

---

By the time the meeting ended, Ava felt like she’d run a marathon. She stayed behind to organize her notes while the others filtered out. Rafael lingered as well, leaning casually against the edge of the table.

“You’re quiet when you’re angry,” Rafael remarked, his tone amused.

Ava glared at him. “I’m quiet when I’m focused.”

“You’re both,” Rafael observed. “And yet, you couldn’t hide your irritation back there.”

“Maybe because you don’t know when to back off,” Ava shot back.

Rafael smirked, unbothered by her sharp tone. “I don’t back off when I see an opportunity to improve something.”

Ava slammed her notebook shut and turned to face him. “And you think you’re the only one capable of making improvements? Newsflash, Torres, this is my project. You’re the investor, not the architect. Try staying in your lane for once.”

Rafael’s smirk faded, his expression darkening. “I don’t have lanes, Ava. I have objectives. And I achieve them.”

“Even if it means steamrolling everyone else in the process?” Ava challenged.

Their gazes locked, the intensity between them crackling like static electricity. Rafael took a step closer, his presence overwhelming.

“I don’t steamroll people I respect,” Rafael said, his voice low. “But I do push them to be better. To exceed their limits. That’s what I’m doing with you.”

Ava’s heart raced, both from anger and something she refused to name. “I don’t need you to push me.”

“Maybe not,” Rafael admitted. “But I think you like it.”

The words hung in the air, charged with implication. Ava’s breath hitched, but she refused to let him see how much his proximity affected her.

“Careful, Torres,” she said, her voice steady. “You’re starting to sound possessive.”

Rafael’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Starting?”

Ava rolled her eyes, stepping away to create distance. “I don’t have time for your games.”

“Good,” Rafael said, his gaze following her. “Because I don’t play them.”

---

Later that evening, Ava received an invitation—if it could be called that—from Rafael. A sleek black car pulled up outside her apartment, and the driver handed her a note.

**Dinner. 8 PM. You know where.**

**- R.T.**

Ava debated ignoring it, but her curiosity won out. When she arrived at the restaurant, Rafael was already waiting, seated at a private table near a glowing fireplace.

“You’re persistent,” Ava said as she took her seat.

“I’m efficient,” Rafael corrected, pouring her a glass of wine. “And I wanted to discuss something important.”

Ava arched an eyebrow. “Business or personal?”

“Both,” Rafael said cryptically. “Let’s start with business.”

They discussed project updates, investor pitches, and upcoming milestones. Rafael’s demeanor was calm, almost casual, but Ava could sense the underlying tension in his words. He was testing her, probing for weaknesses she wouldn’t reveal.

When the conversation shifted to personal topics, Ava tried to steer it away, but Rafael was relentless.

“Who is Elliot?” he asked suddenly.

Ava froze, her wineglass halfway to her lips. “Why are you asking?”

“Because he seems to be lingering around you,” Rafael said, his tone clipped. “And I don’t like distractions.”

Ava bristled. “He’s not a distraction.”

“He’s something,” Rafael countered. “What is he to you?”

“An ex,” Ava said sharply. “And that’s all you need to know.”

Rafael’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. “If he’s an ex, he has no business being in your life now.”

“Excuse me?” Ava said, her voice rising. “You don’t get to dictate who’s in my life.”

“I’m not dictating,” Rafael said, his tone dangerously calm. “I’m protecting my investment.”

Ava laughed bitterly. “Your investment? Is that all I am to you?”

Rafael leaned forward, his gaze intense. “You’re much more than that, Ava. And that’s exactly why I won’t let someone like him interfere.”

The raw honesty in his voice took her off guard. For a moment, she saw a glimpse of something deeper beneath his controlled exterior. But the intensity of his emotions also unsettled her.

“This conversation is over,” Ava said, standing abruptly. “Good night, Rafael.”

As she walked away, she felt his eyes on her, burning into her back. Her heart pounded as she stepped into the night, unsure whether she was running from him—or from herself.

---

Back in her apartment, Ava paced the floor, replaying the dinner in her mind. Rafael’s possessiveness was both infuriating and... magnetic. She hated that part of her found his intensity alluring, even comforting. It reminded her of Elliot in some ways, but with one crucial difference: Rafael didn’t hide his dominance behind charm. He wore it openly, unapologetically.

Her phone buzzed with a text.

**Rafael**: *I won’t apologize for protecting what’s mine.*

Ava stared at the message, her emotions a tangled mess. She didn’t reply. She couldn’t.

For now, all she knew was that Rafael Torres was dangerous—in ways she hadn’t yet begun to understand.

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