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.”

said finally. “I don’t

passed in that same strained silence, the

floor felt longer than usual, my

contracts. My dark hair was disheveled from running my hands

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66 Chapter 66

only the essential security lighting and the glow from Lucas’s office casting long shadows across the marble floors. I could see him through the glass walls of his office, surrounded by stacks of documents and wearing the slightly frazzled expression he got when dealing with

God you’re here,” he said, looking

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

a moment, then wisely decided not to

when I heard the familiar click of high heels on marble, accompanied by a voice that made

skin crawl.

surprise to see you here

up from the contracts. “What are you still

probably meant to be seductive but just looked

board meeting.”

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

of Sera’s name, but

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

a late dinner? I know this wonderful

time,” I said firmly, signing the last contract with perhaps more force than necessary. “I need to get

a sultry whisper. “Are you taking someone home? Please

clearly not right for someone like

Damien.”

personal life is none of your

contracts and handed them back

a friend home,” I said coldly,

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

up with my longer

she would take the hint and leave me alone.

with her perfectly manicured fingers. “You’ve been different lately. Distracted. And I can’t help but worry that

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

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like gunshots on the

she called, but I didn’t slow down. I could see the car through

I wanted was to get this

felt like hours. But

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