CHAPTER 5

Gabriel’s POV

“Move the Brighton meeting to Thursday and tell Mr. Jennings I won’t wait another week for his decision—if the terms aren’t signed by midnight tomorrow, the offer expires... I don’t care if he’s on a yacht or in a coma.”

“Yes, sir,” Linda scribbled quickly on her notepad, her lips tight in a thin line, “is that all, Mr. Sanchez?”

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms across my wide chest.

The bright morning light invaded the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind me, providing the only form of warmth in this chill office.

“Send a gift to Mr. Halstrom, a scotch probably, the good one—something nice,” I added, “he just approved our business expansion in South Africa.”

“Okay, consider it done, sir.”

“And get me the final full report for the mega deal by four o’clock.”

“Yes, Mr. Sanchez.”

I nodded once, reaching for the steaming coffee by my side, the moment I touched the cup, Linda spoke again—but hesitantly this time around.

“There’s one more thing, sir.”

I paused, hanging my hand just slightly away from the mug, “Say it.”

I raised the mug as I listened, taking it closer to my lips.

She lifted her tablet slightly to her face. "The GlobalTech contract—we lost it.”

The cup stopped just a little distance from my lips.

I blinked, then lowered it back to the saucer.

“Explain.”

She swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she spoke, “They chose Li Technologies, sir.”

My jaw clenched.

“Liam Reynolds?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Impossible!” I spat out.

Nearly getting up on my feet.

“Their pitch was weak, their numbers were inflated, and his entire portfolio is questionable—inferior if you ask me, that contract was ours.”

I slammed my fist on the table, nearly spilling the coffee.

She shifted uneasily in front of me, “but it wasn’t Liam who presented their proposal, sir."

I creased my eyebrows, wondering how that changes anything. "It was who then?" I managed to ask.

"It was... his wife.”

I massaged the soft skin on my jaw, leaning back into my chair with my right hand resting on the armrest.

"And who's she?" I asked, puzzled to know.

Linda looked down, tapping violently on her tablet before looking up again, “Ava Reynolds.”

The name didn’t ring a bell.

I stared at her, waiting for her to say more.

She looked down at her tablet again, quickly moving her fingers over it before looking up again to speak, “She was the one who led the pitch, she built the proposal, did the research and handled the negotiations."

"Must be some girl," I said in a mocking tone.

"GlobalTech said they’ve never seen a cleaner execution.”

I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the desk and locked my fingers together.

“Find her,” I said quietly.

Linda raised a brow, opening her mouth to speak before I beat her to it.

“I want a full background—where she studied, where she’s worked, her associations, personal history—everything you can dig up about her without getting arrested.”

She hesitated, “do you want her followed too?”

“Not yet,” I stood, adjusting the cuff of my shirt, “I just want to know who I’m dealing with.”

Linda nodded, “I’ll get right on it, sir."

I turned toward the window, watching the city buzz below me—tiny cars racing between each other, people roaming the sidewalks like ants.

Liam Reynolds didn’t beat me, a woman did.

I can't seem to tell which hurts more.

It was nearing 7:00 PM when she returned.

She walked in without knocking, not like she ever did.

I looked up from my desk, closing the file in front of me.

“You have something?”

“I have everything,” she walked over, holding a slim folder, her manicured nails tapped against the cover once before she handed it to me.

"Great, you should have waited till close of work before bringing it," I said sarcastically, collecting the folder from her hands.

"Sorry, sir, I had loads of work to complete before I could get to this."

"Whatever, just run me through," I said, opening the folder and flipping through the pages.

“Her name is Ava Morales, twenty-seven, a graduate of Oxford—top of her class... originally started her own consulting firm, shutting it down after marrying Liam Reynolds five years ago.”

I flipped back to the first page, staring at the picture carefully.

Her face looked familiar, though not in any personal way.

She just had certain features—ideal features, she didn't look a flashy type, just a simple lady with a soft smile.

I flipped through and saw other pictures, some taken during press conferences or meetings, her whole demeanor screamed a professional, the way she stood and the look in her eyes as she spoke—so confident, determined—the type of woman who wouldn't stop til the job is done.

"Anything else I should know?" I asked, not looking up from the folder.

"No, sir, her life went dark the moment she got married, nearly nothing was seen or heard about her after that, it all became about Liam, even her assets and business either shut down or were integrated into Liam's."

I looked up from the folder, staring back at Linda, then back at the picture, that sounds like a recipe for trouble—not the ideal way to treat your business.

"Any idea on how I can find her?"

"No, sir, the only thing I do know is that she lives with Liam in his new apartment, just a few blocks from Elite lounge."

I leaned back into my chair, rubbing my chin, repeating the name under my breath, "Ava Reynolds."

I sat up straight again, flipping back to the first page, narrowing my eyes at her personal details.

“Ava Morales.” I read it out loud.

“Yes, Ava Reynolds, formerly known as Ava Morales, the daughter of Cameron Morales.”

I dropped the folder from my hand. I knew something felt familiar with her.

I spoke up slowly, “which Cameron Morales?”

Her gaze remained unwavering, “the same one.”

The same one, it can't be.

I curled my fingers into a fist, so tight that I felt the blood drain out of my knuckles.

The curiosity I felt earlier was quickly replaced by anger as the memories came flooding back.

"The same Cameron Morales that destroyed everything?" I asked, my jaw clenched tightly.

Linda just nodded softly.

“I thought she disappeared,” I muttered, leaning back into the chair, trying my best to hold in the rage.

“She did," Linda stated before pausing.

"She moved away, went under the radar, then came back a while later, starting fresh under her married name—but she’s his daughter, there’s no mistake,” she continued.

I dropped my head into my hands.

"This changes everything," I muttered under my breath.