Bound by Power: 15. Cracks in the Armour

Dominic never showed weakness.

That was the myth, the persona, the carefully curated storm he wore like a tailored suit. But tonight, in the quiet of his office, Ava saw the slightest falter. A hesitation in his step, a flicker of tension in his jaw that didn’t vanish.

The phone had rung twice before he finally answered, his voice clipped, practiced. “Hale Industries.”

She hovered near the doorframe, watching him, noting how even his posture seemed to scream control—but how it trembled imperceptibly as he listened.

A rival, no doubt. Or worse—a board member emboldened by yesterday’s scandal.

By the time Dominic hung up, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins stood stark against his skin. His chest rose and fell in a rhythm Ava hadn’t seen before—impatient, furious, but not entirely composed.

“What happened?” she asked softly.

He didn’t answer at once. He only ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands with a tension that made