Chapter 5: The Edge of Control

The next morning, Ava threw herself into work, hoping the relentless pace of deadlines and meetings would drown out the lingering effects of her encounter with Rafael. But it was no use. His words, *“I won’t apologize for protecting what’s mine,”* played on a loop in her mind, a taunt she couldn’t shake.

By noon, Maria walked into Ava’s office with a stack of folders and a concerned expression.

“You look like you’re either plotting a murder or a major career move,” Maria said, setting the files on Ava’s desk.

“Why not both?” Ava muttered, rubbing her temples.

Maria raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. Torres?”

Ava groaned. “How is it possible for one man to be so infuriating and—”

“—attractive?” Maria finished with a knowing smirk.

Ava shot her a glare. “I was going to say ‘domineering.’”

“Sure you were.” Maria leaned against the desk, crossing her arms. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but if he’s messing with your head, you need to shut it down.”

“It’s complicated,” Ava admitted. “He’s not just my partner in this project. He’s... hard to ignore.”

Maria studied her for a moment before nodding. “Just don’t let him control you. You’ve worked too hard to let anyone take that away.”

Ava nodded, her resolve hardening. Whatever Rafael Torres thought he was doing, she wouldn’t let him derail her.

---

The day’s meetings passed in a blur, and by evening, Ava was more than ready to leave the office. But as she stepped into the lobby, she found Rafael waiting for her. He stood by the glass doors, his phone in hand, looking every bit the picture of calm authority.

“What are you doing here?” Ava asked, stopping short.

“Driving you home,” Rafael said, slipping his phone into his pocket.

“I can drive myself,” she said, her tone defensive.

“I’m not asking,” he replied, his voice firm but calm.

Ava clenched her jaw, debating whether to argue. But she knew him well enough to realize it would be a waste of energy. Reluctantly, she followed him to his car—a sleek black vehicle that screamed power.

The drive was quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the silence. Ava stared out the window, determined not to engage. But Rafael had other plans.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said, his eyes on the road.

“I’m setting boundaries,” Ava corrected.

Rafael’s lips twitched in a faint smile. “And yet, here you are.”

Ava turned to face him, her frustration bubbling over. “You can’t keep showing up uninvited, Rafael. It’s controlling, and I won’t tolerate it.”

He pulled the car to a stop at a red light and turned to look at her, his gaze intense. “I don’t see it as control. I see it as... protecting what’s important.”

“Stop saying that,” Ava snapped. “I’m not yours to protect.”

Rafael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he resumed driving, his silence unnerving.

---

When they arrived at her building, Ava stepped out of the car without a word. But before she could walk away, Rafael followed her.

“What are you doing now?” she asked, exasperated.

“Making sure you get inside safely,” he said simply.

“I don’t need your help,” she said, turning toward the entrance.

Rafael caught her wrist, his touch firm but not painful. “Ava,” he said, his voice low. “You can push me away all you want, but I’m not going anywhere.”

She pulled her hand free, her heart pounding. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

For a moment, Rafael’s mask slipped. The raw emotion in his eyes was startling, almost vulnerable. “Because I see something in you. Something I can’t walk away from.”

Ava’s breath hitched, and for a fleeting moment, she considered letting her walls down. But then she remembered Elliot, the promises he’d made and broken, and the devastation he’d left behind. She couldn’t go through that again—not with someone as dangerous as Rafael Torres.

“You don’t know me,” she said quietly, stepping back.

“I know enough,” Rafael replied. “And I’m willing to learn the rest.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked back to his car, leaving Ava standing in the doorway, her emotions a tangled mess.

---

The next day, Ava arrived at the construction site to find chaos. Workers were arguing, schedules were delayed, and the foreman looked ready to quit.

“What’s going on?” Ava demanded, stepping into the fray.

One of the engineers gestured toward a stack of materials. “The delivery was short. We don’t have enough to continue pouring the foundation.”

Ava cursed under her breath. This was exactly the kind of setback she didn’t need.

As she tried to sort out the issue, Rafael arrived, his presence immediately commanding attention. He listened to the foreman’s explanation, his expression grim.

“This isn’t acceptable,” Rafael said, his voice cold. “We’ll get the materials by tomorrow, even if I have to pull them from another site myself.”

Ava bristled. “I can handle this, Rafael.”

“I know you can,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t step in when it’s necessary.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension between them dissolved. But the moment didn’t last. The foreman approached with more questions, and the day descended into damage control.

---

By the time Ava got home that night, she was exhausted. She poured herself a glass of wine and sank onto her couch, her mind racing. Rafael’s possessiveness was starting to cross lines, but his actions at the construction site showed a different side of him—someone willing to take responsibility, even when it wasn’t his problem.

Her phone buzzed with a message.

**Rafael**: *The materials will be on-site by 6 AM. Get some rest.*

Ava stared at the screen, torn between frustration and gratitude. Rafael Torres was a paradox—infuriating, relentless, but also undeniably committed. She just wasn’t sure if that commitment would build her up or break her down.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***