Two days later, Avery arrived at Parker Tower with her team at exactly eight-thirty in the morning. She had spent the previous evening reviewing every detail of the executive floor plans, determined to deliver work so exceptional that even Ferdinand Parker would have nothing negative to say.
Lila carried the laser measurer and mood board samples while Marcus hauled the large sketch pads. Sophie trailed behind with the coffee tray, eyes wide as she took in the imposing marble lobby.
“This place is insane,” Sophie whispered. “I feel like I need permission just to breathe.”
“Stay professional,” Avery reminded them quietly. “We do our job and we leave. No small talk with the executives.”
They took the private elevator to the sixty-fifth floor. Claire met them at the entrance to the executive wing, offering a polite but cautious smile.
“Mr. Parker wants the redesign completed within six weeks,” Claire said as she led them down the wide corridor. “He’s very particular about timelines.”
Avery nodded. “We’ll meet the deadline.”
As they began taking measurements in the large boardroom, Avery tried to focus on the space rather than the man who owned it. The current design was sleek but soulless — all sharp angles, dark wood, and cold lighting. She could already envision warmer tones, better flow, and subtle elements that would make powerful people feel both respected and human.
She was on her knees measuring the length of a feature wall when the door opened.
Ferdinand walked in.
He wore a tailored charcoal suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and imposing height. His expression was its usual mask of ice. When his eyes landed on Avery kneeling on the floor, something flickered behind them for the briefest moment before disappearing.
Avery stood up slowly, brushing dust from her hands. “Good morning, Mr. Parker.”
Ferdinand gave no greeting. He simply scanned the room, noting the equipment and her team. “You started early.”
“We believe in efficiency,” Avery replied, keeping her voice neutral.
Marcus and Lila exchanged nervous glances. The temperature in the room had dropped noticeably.
Ferdinand walked over to the long table and leaned against it, arms crossed. His gaze settled on Avery with that same unnerving detachment.
“Show me what you’re planning for this wall,” he ordered.
Avery picked up her tablet and pulled up the preliminary sketches. She explained her concept calmly — a statement wall with textured panels and integrated lighting that would add depth without overwhelming the space. As she spoke, she was acutely aware of how close he was standing. His presence felt like a storm cloud hovering directly overhead.
Ferdinand listened without interrupting. When she finished, he remained silent for a long time, studying the images.
“Too warm,” he said finally. “I don’t want this floor to feel inviting. This is where decisions worth billions are made. It should command respect, not comfort.”
Avery met his eyes directly. “Respect doesn’t have to mean discomfort, Mr. Parker. People work better when the environment supports them rather than intimidates them.”
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “You seem to have many opinions about how I should run my company, Miss Sinclair.”
“I have opinions about design,” she corrected. “That’s what you hired me for.”
The tension between them was thick enough to cut. Lila pretended to be very interested in her measuring tape. Marcus suddenly found something fascinating on his sketch pad.
Ferdinand stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Avery could hear. “Do not mistake my decision to give you this project as tolerance for your attitude. You will deliver what I want, or I will find someone who will.”
Avery refused to look away. “And I will deliver excellent work. But I won’t turn beautiful spaces into sterile tombs just because you’re afraid of feeling anything.”
For a split second, something dangerous flashed in Ferdinand’s eyes. He straightened and addressed the entire team.
“Continue your work. I expect weekly progress reports.” He turned to leave, then paused at the door. “Miss Sinclair, a word in my office.”
Avery’s stomach tightened, but she followed him without protest.
His office was massive and intimidating, much like the man himself. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city. Ferdinand closed the door behind them and moved behind his desk, creating physical distance.
“The Sinclairs and my family have reached an agreement,” he said without preamble. “The marriage will take place in three months. It will be a formal arrangement. You will move into my penthouse after the wedding. In public, you will play the role of devoted wife. In private, we will live separate lives.”
Avery stared at him, momentarily speechless. “You’re not even going to ask me? You’re just informing me?”
Ferdinand’s expression remained cold and detached. “This is not a love match, Miss Sinclair. It is a business merger. Your father has already agreed. Fighting it will only create unnecessary problems for your family’s company.”
Anger surged through Avery’s veins. “You are unbelievable. After everything you went through with Sophia, you’re willing to trap another woman in a loveless marriage?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Ferdinand’s entire demeanor shifted. The ice became something sharper, more lethal.
“How do you know about Sophia?” His voice was dangerously low.
Avery swallowed. “People talk. And I did some research after our first meeting. I wanted to know what kind of man I was dealing with.”
Ferdinand walked slowly around the desk until he stood directly in front of her. He was so close she could smell his subtle, expensive cologne.
“You know nothing about me,” he said, each word coated in frost. “And you never will. Keep your curiosity and your opinions to yourself. This marriage will happen. You will smile for the cameras and keep your sharp tongue in check when we are in public. That is the only thing I require from you.”
Avery’s heart pounded, but she lifted her chin. “And what do I get in return, Mr. Parker? Besides being your convenient accessory?”
Ferdinand’s eyes darkened. “Protection. Wealth. Status. Everything your father wants for you. Be grateful.”
“Grateful?” Avery let out a bitter laugh. “I built my firm so I wouldn’t have to be grateful to men like you. I wanted a real life. Real love. Not this… this cold transaction.”
For a moment, Ferdinand said nothing. He simply stared at her with those empty, haunted eyes. Then he spoke, and his voice was quieter but no less cutting.
“Real love is a lie, Miss Sinclair. I learned that the hard way. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for both of us.”
He stepped back, creating distance once more.
“Return to your work. And remember — I own this building. I can make your professional life very difficult if you become a problem.”
Avery turned to leave, her hands trembling with suppressed fury. At the door, she paused and looked back at him.
“One day,” she said softly, “that ice around your heart is going to crack. And when it does, I hope I’m there to watch you feel something again.”
She walked out before he could respond.
Ferdinand stood motionless in his office long after she left. Her words had struck deeper than he wanted to admit. He moved to the window, staring at the city below.
Sophia’s face flashed in his mind again — her warm smiles, her passionate kisses, the way she had once looked at him like he was her entire world. Then the memory shifted to her cruel laughter on that rainy night.
He had loved her with everything he had. He had hidden his identity, sacrificed his comfort, and given her his heart completely. And she had destroyed it without hesitation.
Never again.
Yet Avery Sinclair’s fearless defiance was beginning to disturb the carefully constructed walls he had built. She challenged him in ways no one had dared since his return.
And that terrified him more than he would ever admit.