Chapter 42
DAMIEN
M
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My desk was buried under an avalanche of documents–contracts, balance sheets, and a proposal that was glaringly full of errors. The incompetence of my staff never ceased to amaze me. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to focus as I reviewed a financial projection that didn’t align with the numbers I had seen earlier. This was why I hated delegating
I leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. A deep sigh escaped me, but I couldn’t afford a moment’s rest. Every decision here had consequences, not just for me but for the empire I had built. Numbers weren’t just numbers–they were power. They were leverage.
The knock on the door was so faint I almost missed it. Before I could bark out a “no visitors,” the door opened, and in strolled Melanie. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor and she moved with the kind of confidence that seemed completely unruffled by the chaos around my desk.
I froze mid–sentence, my pen hovering above a contract. “How the hell did you get in here?”
Melanie smiled, as if my irritation amused her. “Oh, Damien. You know me–I have my ways. Besides,” she gestured dramatically, “I’m not just anyone. I’m one of your business partners. That counts for something, doesn’t it?”
I set the pen down, slowly, deliberately. “I told my secretary na visitors.”
She laughed, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered closer. “Relax. I just wanted to check in on you. You’ve been so busy lately, and I thought you might need a little… distraction.”
Distraction? I didn’t have time for her games. “What do you want, Melanie?” I asked flatly, not bothering to mask my irritation.
She perched herself on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs like she belonged there. Her perfume was overpowering, an aggressive mix of something floral and sharp.
“Oh, Damien, I’m only here as a friend,” she said, feigning innocence. Though I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re so calm considering what’s been all over the internet today.”
I frowned, sitting up straighter. “Melanie what the fuck do you want? Get to the point and leave!” I growled.
She pulled her phone from her designer bag and slid it across the desk. I glanced at the screen and instantly felt my blood pressure spike. There they were–pictures of Rosalie from the night before. The captions weren’t just unkind; they were
Venomous.
Melanie leaned forward, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. “Honestly, Damien, I don’t know how you deal with her. She’s so… unrefined. Look at her–tripping over herself, laughing like a fool. It’s no wonder people are saying you settled
for less.
My jaw tightened, and 1 gritted my teeth. “Careful, Melanie.”
She ignored the warning in my voice. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s pretty in a simplew kind of way, but she has no grace. No class. You’re Damien Hale, for God’s sake. You deserve someone who complements your status, not someone who drags you down.”
That was itL
My hands slammed onto the desk with a force that rattled everything on it. Melanie flinched, her smug expression faltering
for a fraction of a second.
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Chapter 42
“Stand up,” I ordered, my voice low and lethal.
“What?” she stammered, clearly startled.
“¡ said, stand up.”
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She hesitated but complied, sliding off the desk. I moved around it quickly, closing the distance between us in two strides. Before she could react, I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the wall.
“Damien! What are you doing?” she yelped, panic creeping into her voice.
I pressed her against the wall, my hand wrapping around her throat–not tight enough to hurt her, but enough to make my point. Her eyes widened in fear, and for the first time since she walked into my office, she looked genuinely unsettled.
“Did you post those pictures of Rosalie?” I demanded, my voice cold and controlled.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“Answer me!” I barked.
She shook her head frantically, her voice finally emerging in a shaky whisper. “N–no! I swear, I didn’t post anything. I just… saw them online, that’s all!
I narrowed my eyes, studying her face for any sign of a lie. “If I find out you’re lying to me–if I find out you had anything to
do with this–you’ll regret ever in damn life knowing me!Do you understand me?”
“Damien, please,” she choked out, her hands clawing weakly at my arm. “I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t.
“Don’t test me, Melanie.” I leaned in closer, my voice a low growl. “If you embarrassed my wife–if you tried to humiliate her in front of the world–I will deal with you. And trust me, it won’t be pretty”
Her eyes filled with tears, and I could see the fear etched into her features. Satisfied that my point had been made, I shoved her away from me. She stumbled but managed to catch herself, her hand flying to her throat as she gasped for air.
“Get out,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
“Darien-
“I said, get out!”
She didn’t need to be told again. She grabbed her bag and practically bolted for the door, her heels clicking erratically against the floor.
I stood there, my fists clenched, my chest heaving as I tried to reign in my anger. The images of Rosalie flashed in my mind, along with Melanie’s venomous words. Unrefined. No class. Dragging you
down.
I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact reverberating through my arm. How dare she? How dare anyone talk about Rosalie that way?
MELANIE
As I slid into the driver’s seat of my car, I caught a glimpse of myself in the re
Chapter 42
DAMIEN
M
43%
My desk was buried under an avalanche of documents–contracts, balance sheets, and a proposal that was glaringly full of errors. The incompetence of my staff never ceased to amaze me. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to focus as I reviewed a financial projection that didn’t align with the numbers I had seen earlier. This was why I hated delegating
I leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. A deep sigh escaped me, but I couldn’t afford a moment’s rest. Every decision here had consequences, not just for me but for the empire I had built. Numbers weren’t just numbers–they were power. They were leverage.
The knock on the door was so faint I almost missed it. Before I could bark out a “no visitors,” the door opened, and in strolled Melanie. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor and she moved with the kind of confidence that seemed completely unruffled by the chaos around my desk.
I froze mid–sentence, my pen hovering above a contract. “How the hell did you get in here?”
Melanie smiled, as if my irritation amused her. “Oh, Damien. You know me–I have my ways. Besides,” she gestured dramatically, “I’m not just anyone. I’m one of your business partners. That counts for something, doesn’t it?”
I set the pen down, slowly, deliberately. “I told my secretary na visitors.”
She laughed, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered closer. “Relax. I just wanted to check in on you. You’ve been so busy lately, and I thought you might need a little… distraction.”
Distraction? I didn’t have time for her games. “What do you want, Melanie?” I asked flatly, not bothering to mask my irritation.
She perched herself on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs like she belonged there. Her perfume was overpowering, an aggressive mix of something floral and sharp.
“Oh, Damien, I’m only here as a friend,” she said, feigning innocence. Though I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re so calm considering what’s been all over the internet today.”
I frowned, sitting up straighter. “Melanie what the fuck do you want? Get to the point and leave!” I growled.
She pulled her phone from her designer bag and slid it across the desk. I glanced at the screen and instantly felt my blood pressure spike. There they were–pictures of Rosalie from the night before. The captions weren’t just unkind; they were
Venomous.
Melanie leaned forward, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. “Honestly, Damien, I don’t know how you deal with her. She’s so… unrefined. Look at her–tripping over herself, laughing like a fool. It’s no wonder people are saying you settled
for less.
My jaw tightened, and 1 gritted my teeth. “Careful, Melanie.”
She ignored the warning in my voice. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s pretty in a simplew kind of way, but she has no grace. No class. You’re Damien Hale, for God’s sake. You deserve someone who complements your status, not someone who drags you down.”
That was itL
My hands slammed onto the desk with a force that rattled everything on it. Melanie flinched, her smug expression faltering
for a fraction of a second.
ex
Dreame–Read Romance…
Open
14:29 Tue, 18 Feb
Chapter 42
“Stand up,” I ordered, my voice low and lethal.
“What?” she stammered, clearly startled.
“¡ said, stand up.”
43%
She hesitated but complied, sliding off the desk. I moved around it quickly, closing the distance between us in two strides. Before she could react, I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the wall.
“Damien! What are you doing?” she yelped, panic creeping into her voice.
I pressed her against the wall, my hand wrapping around her throat–not tight enough to hurt her, but enough to make my point. Her eyes widened in fear, and for the first time since she walked into my office, she looked genuinely unsettled.
“Did you post those pictures of Rosalie?” I demanded, my voice cold and controlled.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“Answer me!” I barked.
She shook her head frantically, her voice finally emerging in a shaky whisper. “N–no! I swear, I didn’t post anything. I just… saw them online, that’s all!
I narrowed my eyes, studying her face for any sign of a lie. “If I find out you’re lying to me–if I find out you had anything to
do with this–you’ll regret ever in damn life knowing me!Do you understand me?”
“Damien, please,” she choked out, her hands clawing weakly at my arm. “I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t.
“Don’t test me, Melanie.” I leaned in closer, my voice a low growl. “If you embarrassed my wife–if you tried to humiliate her in front of the world–I will deal with you. And trust me, it won’t be pretty”
Her eyes filled with tears, and I could see the fear etched into her features. Satisfied that my point had been made, I shoved her away from me. She stumbled but managed to catch herself, her hand flying to her throat as she gasped for air.
“Get out,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
“Darien-
“I said, get out!”
She didn’t need to be told again. She grabbed her bag and practically bolted for the door, her heels clicking erratically against the floor.
I stood there, my fists clenched, my chest heaving as I tried to reign in my anger. The images of Rosalie flashed in my mind, along with Melanie’s venomous words. Unrefined. No class. Dragging you
down.
I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact reverberating through my arm. How dare she? How dare anyone talk about Rosalie that way?
MELANIE
As I slid into the driver’s seat of my car, I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror. My makeup was slightly smudged, and my hair was no longer as perfect as it had been when I walked into Damien’s office.
That bastard, I thought bitterly, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
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arview mirror. My makeup was slightly smudged, and my hair was no longer as perfect as it had been when I walked into Damien’s office.
That bastard, I thought bitterly, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
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hapter 12
He had never spoken to me like that before. Sure, Damien had always been cold, calculating, and distant, but the rage I saw in his eyes today? That was new. And it was all because of her.
Rosalie
I spat her name in my mind like a curse. She was nothing a little girl playing dress–up in a world she didn’t belong to. And yet, Damien defended her like she was some precious gem. He didn’t see it, but she was ruining him, tarnishing the reputation he’d worked so hard to build.
“I’ll make him see, I muttered under my breath, starting the car. “I’ll make him realize she’s not worth it.”
The image of his hands around my throat flashed in my mind, and I shuddered. I wouldn’t forget that moment–not for a second. But I wouldn’t let it stop me either. Damien was angry now, but anger could be redirected. And if anyone knew how to play this game, it was me.
As I drove away, a plan began to form. I will break their marriage thread by thread until there was nothing left but resentment and regret.
And when Damien finally let go of her, I would be there, waiting.
