I sat on the edge of the plush couch, trying to ignore the feeling that this whole thing was a nightmare in the making. Damian had just stepped into the room after a phone call, his face hard as he ran a hand through his already messy hair. It was the first sign of stress I'd seen from him since we'd met, and, for some reason, it made him seem... more human.
"Everything alright?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know the answer.
He glanced at me, his expression guarded. "It's fine. Just business. Nothing you need to worry about."
That answer didn't sit well with me. Business was what had led to this ridiculous arrangement in the first place. Business was the reason his name appeared in gossip rags every other week. And somehow, I'd gotten tangled in it. I didn't belong here. I wasn't like the women who fluttered around him, chasing status, fame, attention and money.
"Do you always keep secrets?" I asked before I could stop myself, my voice sharper than I intended. "Or is that just for people like me?"
Damian didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked over to the wet bar, pouring a glass of whiskey with deliberate care. "I don't keep secrets. I keep things private."
It was clear he wasn't going to say more, and part of me wondered if I was pushing him too far. But then, he turned, his eyes locking with mine in a way that made my pulse race. There was something underneath the cool façade, something raw that I couldn't quite place. And, whether I liked it or not, it pulled me in.
"You're right, though," he said, his voice low. "You have no idea what you've stepped into. This whole arrangement... it's temporary. Don't forget that."
I swallowed hard. "I won't forget."
His gaze held mine for a beat longer, and I could have sworn I saw a hover of something — regret, maybe? It was gone too quickly for me to be sure.
Just then, the doorbell rang, shattering the moment. Damian's expression shifted instantly — like a mask falling into place. Without a word, he walked to the door and opened it.
A woman in a sharp, tailored dress stood on the threshold. Her eyes were icy, her smile too practiced. She stepped into the room like she owned it.
"Damian, darling," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I knew I'd find you here."
I immediately felt the tension in the air, like the room had suddenly turned cold. This wasn't just any woman — it was someone important. Someone who had a claim on him, or at least, I assumed she did. Her presence seemed to fill the entire room, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was about to witness something that would change everything.
Damian's eyes turned to me briefly before he gestured toward the woman. "Ava, this is my... colleague, Charlotte. Charlotte, this is Ava."
Charlotte's gaze never left mine as she gave me a cool, calculated smile. "Nice to meet you, Ava. I didn't realize Damian had such an... interesting taste in women."
Her words were a direct jab, but I wasn't sure if she was testing me or if she genuinely thought I was no threat. I kept my expression neutral, but inside, the spark of insecurity ignited. How long could I pretend to be his girlfriend before someone like Charlotte figured out the truth?
I forced a smile. "The pleasure is mine."
Damian didn't seem to notice the tension. He turned back to Charlotte, pulling out a chair for her. "What brings you by?"
She leaned in, her voice lowering as she spoke to him in a hushed tone. I couldn't hear the words, but the change in Damian's posture was noticeable — stiff, alert, as if whatever she said had just added a layer of pressure to the situation.
I couldn't help it. My curiosity got the better of me.
"I'll just..." I started, heading toward the hallway, but Charlotte's voice stopped me.
"Actually," she called out sweetly, "maybe we should all talk. I'm sure Ava's wondering why the great Damian Knight is suddenly keeping such interesting company."
The way she said it made my blood run cold. There was something more to this, something I wasn't seeing. And if there was one thing I'd learned about Damian, it was that he had a lot of layers.
"That won't be necessary, I have something else to do", I said giving excuse to avoid being trapped in between their conversation.
"Nah… you can do that after the conversation", Charlotte said with smile
I turned back, trying to keep my composure. "Sure. Why not?"
But as I walked back into the living room, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn't even need to look at the screen to know it was bad news.
The message was simple, but the implications were enough to make my stomach drop.
"I know what you're doing. Stay away from him. Or else."