Damien awoke with a rare sense of serenity that morning, feeling like the happiest man alive.
He gazed down at the woman resting peacefully beside him. The soft rays of dawn streamed through the curtains, illuminating her delicate features.
Her dark hair cascaded over the pillow, and her rhythmic breathing brought Damien a comfort he hadn't experienced in a long time.
He leaned forward, planting a tender kiss on her forehead.
Elena stirred in his arms, slowly blinking awake. Her brown eyes met his, and a sleepy smile tugged at her lips.
"Morning," Damien whispered, his voice hushed, not wanting to shatter the quiet moment.
Before she could respond, he kissed her lips, but Elena pushed him back gently with a chuckle. "I haven't brushed yet," she said, wrinkling her nose.
Damien grinned, unfazed.
He kissed her again, this time more insistent. "I don't mind," he murmured against her lips.
But Elena laughed, playfully pushing him away once more. "Well, I do!" she declared, swinging her legs out of bed and striding toward the bathroom.
At the doorway, she turned back and raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Are you coming or not?"
Without another word, Damien was out of bed, practically leaping to follow her into the bathroom.
they stood side by side in front of the mirror, brushing their teeth in unison like one of those couples on TV.
When they finished, Elena gestured toward the bathtub with a playful gleam in her eyes. "Want to bathe with me?" she teased.
Damien didn't need to be asked twice.
In one swift motion, he tossed his pajamas aside, his eagerness making Elena laugh.
She joined him in the tub, slipping into the warm water.
For a while, they simply held each other, the gentle slosh of water and the rhythmic pounding of their hearts the only sounds in the bathroom.
It was the kind of silence that felt full, a peaceful moment shared between two people who understood each other.
But the tranquility was soon interrupted by the shrill ringing of Damien's phone from the bedroom.
Damien groaned in annoyance, but the incessant ringing couldn't be ignored. They exchanged a look before reluctantly pulling away from each other.
He sighed, standing up and stepping out of the tub, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist as he made his way back into the bedroom.
Damien retrieved his phone from the nightstand, checking the screen. It was his assistant, Maya, calling.
He answered with a clipped, "What is it?"
"Sir, you're needed at the company immediately," Maya's panicked voice came through the phone, the urgency clear.
Damien's brow furrowed, irritation quickly replacing his earlier joy.
The tone in Maya's voice was too bold for his liking. How dare a mere assistant summon him like this?
Just as he was about to respond, Elena walked over, holding her phone out to him, her expression concerned. "You should see this."
Damien's eyes flicked to the screen, where an article had been pulled up.
The headline read, "DAMIEN LAWSON IS A CHEATER!" Beneath it, a photo of Damien and Elena embracing outside a venue was displayed prominently.
His face was clear as day, but Elena's identity was hidden, with only her hair visible in the shot.
A wave of relief washed over Damien seeing that Elena's identity was not exposed, but the headline itself caused his jaw to tighten in anger.
"What are you going to do?" Elena asked, her voice laced with concern.
Damien didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped forward, pressing a reassuring kiss to her lips before turning to get dressed.
He moved with purpose, pulling on his suit, his mind already formulating a plan.
Elena approached him and fixed his tie, her movements tender but worried, like a wife preparing her husband for battle.
"Don't worry," Damien said softly, his hand cupping her cheek. "Everything will be fine."
One last kiss and he was out the door, determination etched into his every step.
As he arrived at the office, the murmurs of gossiping employees reached his ears. Whispers of the scandal followed him like shadows, but Damien kept his head high, unbothered. He'd faced worse and come out victorious.
He entered the boardroom with a confident stride, his eyes scanning the room.
Seated around the table were all the twelve board members, his wife Vivian, and her father.
The tension in the air was palpable, and the moment he stepped inside, Vivian stormed towards him.
"How could you, Damien?" she cried, her voice thick with hurt.
Without warning, she slapped him across the face, her hand trembling as she tried to hold back her tears.
Damien's face remained stoic, unbothered by the blow.
He walked past her without a word, taking his seat at the head of the table.
The coldness in his demeanor sent a shiver down the spines of everyone present.
"So, what is it?" he asked, his voice low but cutting.
His gaze swept across the board members, each of them shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
They were rethinking whatever decision they had been preparing to make, their uncertainty palpable.
Vivian's father, seated at the far end of the table, spoke up. "What is it? Is that all you have to say?" His voice boomed, demanding some sort of explanation.
Damien met his father-in-law's gaze without flinching. "What else do you want me to say?"
An older board member, a bald man with a trembling voice, stood up. "With due respect, Mr. Lawson, the company has taken a significant hit because of your... indiscretions. Our stocks have dropped five percent in the last hour. We called this meeting to find a solution."
Damien's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through the man. "And what's the solution?"
The man stumbled over his words, barely holding himself together. "F-for you to step down as CEO and President."
A cold smile crept across Damien's face.
He leaned back in his chair, nodding softly, the gesture more terrifying than any outburst could have been.
"Let me get this straight," Damien said, his voice laced with danger. "You want me to step down from the company I built with my own hands? The company I invested my sweat, blood, and tears into, all because of what? A tabloid article?"
The room fell silent, the board members shrinking under his gaze, regret evident on their faces. They hadn't expected this kind of response.
Damien turned his attention to his assistant, Maya, who had just entered the room at his call.
"Maya," Damien said, his voice steady. "I want you to release a statement acknowledging that I am, in fact, a cheater."
The room gasped, but Damien continued, unbothered. "And for that reason, my wife and I will be divorcing."
Vivian's face went pale as his words settled in. Her father stood abruptly, fury etched into every line of his face "Damien How dare you!".
But Damien didn't flinch. His mind was already made up. This was how it had to be.
Maya nodded, quickly making her way out of the room to carry out the orders. The boardroom remained eerily quiet as Damien's words sank in.
Damien rose to his feet, adjusting his suit jacket. "This meeting is over."