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.”

is fine,” he said finally.

that same strained silence,

elevator ride to the executive floor felt longer than usual, my reflection in the polished steel doors showing a man who looked

rather than signing business contracts. My dark hair was disheveled from running my hands

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66 Chapter 66

shadows across the marble floors. I could see him through the glass walls of his office, surrounded by stacks

said,

show me what I need to sign,” I interrupted, not in the mood

for a moment, then wisely

was halfway through the third document when I heard the familiar click of high heels

skin crawl.

to see

I said curtly, not looking up from the

with the kind of exaggerated hip movement that was probably meant to be seductive but just looked ridiculous. “Always so dedicated to my work. I wanted to make sure everything

board meeting.”

afternoon,” I said flatly, still focused

name, but she

how important it is to get these things right.” She moved closer, close enough that her cloying perfume made

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

signing the last contract with

what she probably thought was a sultry whisper. “Are you taking someone home? Please

not

Damien.”

personal life is none of

contracts and handed them back

home,” I said coldly, moving toward the door.

the office and toward the

up with my longer

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

the numbers on the display counting down like a timer on a bomb. When the doors finally opened on the ground floor, I strode out with relief, heading

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66 Chapter 66

behind me like gunshots on

see the

all I wanted was to get this nightmare of an

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

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