Chapter 24. Bitter Emotions

Ava’s POV

“Shall we proceed?”

I spoke to the room in flat monotone, my gaze over their heads on the huge screen behind me and not on men and women seated across the conference table from me. I wanted to avoid his eyes.

Max Anderson.

His presence has created a hole in my wall that I had put up to protect myself, but I was not to be swayed by emotion. Not here. Not with everyone watching.

Whatever happened between us was in the past. It was strictly business now.

I stood up and dove headfirst into my speech, speaking smoothly from the slides. I talked of C&A Fashion House’s success, what we needed from this partnership and what we would be offering too, and the benefits that both parties can gain from this partnership. Then I moved on to the strategy to push the product in the market and generate massive sales.

The entire time, Max’s eyes were fixed on me, burning holes in my skin. I tried so hard not to let it affect me but my hear