Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

66 Chapter 66

Damien’s POV 1

The silence in the car was suffocating. Caleb sat on the opposite side of the leather bench seat, staring out the window at the passing city lights with what appeared to be studied nonchalance. But I could smell the tension radiating from him.

My driver navigated through the evening traffic with his usual professionalism, but I caught his eyes in the rearview mirror more than

once.

*This is ridiculous,* I told myself, forcing my hands to relax where they were clenched on my thighs. *You’re behaving like a teenager who caught his girlfriend talking to another boy.*

But that was exactly how I felt, and the rational part of my brain seemed to have completely abandoned ship. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Caleb standing in Sera’s kitchen, moving around with familiar ease while she smiled at him.

Lucas’s voice filled my mind through the pack link, cutting through my brooding thoughts like a knife through butter.

*Damien, I need you at the office. There are some contracts that came in after you left-time-sensitive stuff that needs your signature

tonight.*

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache building behind my temples. *How time-sensitive are we

talking?*

*If we don’t get the paperwork back to them by nine tomorrow morning, they’re walking away from the table. Twelve million dollars,

gone.*

*Fuck.* I glanced at Caleb, who was still studiously ignoring my existence. *Fine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.*

*Thanks.*

I said aloud, leaning forward slightly. “Change of plans. We need to stop by the office first.”

“Of course, sir.” Driver responded.

Caleb finally looked at me, one eyebrow raised in polite inquiry. “Business emergency?”

His voice was carefully neutral, but there was something in his expression that suggested he wasn’t entirely surprised by this

development. Maybe he was expecting me to find an excuse to cut this awkward situation short.

“Time-sensitive contracts,” I explained, attempting to match his reasonable tone. “It shouldn’t take long-maybe thirty minutes at most.

You’re welcome to wait in the car, or if you prefer, I can have driver drop you at a hotel first.”

car is fine,” he said finally. “I don’t

of the drive passed in that same strained silence, the city

usual, my reflection in the polished

to a funeral rather than signing business contracts. My dark

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I could see him through the glass walls of his office, surrounded by stacks of documents and wearing

he said, looking up

sign,” I interrupted, not in

a moment, then wisely decided

the third document when I heard the familiar click of

skin crawl.

What a lovely surprise to see you

looking up from the contracts.

exaggerated hip movement that was probably meant to be

board meeting.”

was completed this afternoon,” I said flatly, still focused on the documents

name, but she recovered quickly. “Well, I just wanted

it is to get these things right.” She moved closer, close enough

wondering if you might have time for a late dinner? I know this

time,” I said firmly, signing the last contract

a sultry whisper. “Are

clearly not right for

Damien.”

is none of your

gathered the signed contracts and handed them

home,” I said coldly, moving toward the door. “And now

wasn’t finished. She followed me out of the office and toward the elevators, her heels clicking rapidly against the marble as

keep up

with a soft ding, and I stepped inside, hoping she would take the hint and leave me alone.

reaching out to touch my arm with her perfectly manicured fingers. “You’ve been different lately. Distracted. And I can’t help but worry that someone might be taking advantage of your

a timer on a bomb. When the doors finally opened on the ground floor, I

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me like gunshots on the marble

wait,” she called, but I didn’t slow down. I could see the car through the glass doors, could see Caleb’s silhouette

wanted was to get this nightmare of an evening over

time in what felt like hours. But my relief was short- lived, because Anna burst