Chapter 6
Damian carried Tanin back to his office, his jaw tight with tension. As he set her down gently on the couch, his sharp movements betrayed his frustration. Without a word, he retrieved the first aid kit from a cabinet, his back turned to her as he worked to prepare the supplies.
Tanin watched him carefully, her heart beating fast. His silence was unnerving, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. The usual warmth in his eyes was absent, replaced by a cold detachment that made her chest ache.
He returned to her side, sitting down and taking her injured hand into his own. His movements were precise but lacked any tenderness. He cleaned the bruise, his fingers surprisingly gentle despite his visible irritation. When she winced at the sting, he paused to blow softly on the wound, but his gaze remained distant.
The room was suffocatingly quiet, and Tanin couldn't take it anymore. "Damian, why won't you talk to me?" she asked, her voice trembling. "At least say something. I can't bear this silence."
He glanced at her, his golden eyes colder than she had ever seen them. "Do you always let others bully you like that?"
His question stunned her. It wasn't just the words—it was the way he said them, as if he couldn't understand her at all.
Tanin's heart sank. She searched his face for any sign of what he was feeling, but he was unreadable. His expression was a mask, hiding whatever thoughts he had about what had just happened.
"I… I didn't let her—" Tanin began, but Damian interrupted her.
"I know you're weak, Tanin," he said flatly, his voice cutting like a blade. "But I didn't realize it was to this extent."
Her throat tightened at his words. She wanted to argue, to tell him he didn't understand, but the look in his eyes silenced her. He stood abruptly, walking toward the door without another glance at her.
"I have things to handle," he said curtly before leaving the room.
The door clicked shut, and Tanin released a shaky sigh. The pain in her hand was nothing compared to the sting of his words. But even as she sat there, a part of her felt relief. The first step of her plan had worked. Damian was beginning to see Kitana in a different light.
She pulled out her phone, the screen lighting up with a call from none other than Kitana. Tanin stared at the name for a moment, her lips curling into a small, calculating smile. She answered, quickly faking a tearful voice.
"Kitana," she sniffled, making her voice sound pitiful. "Why… why did you push me like that?"
Kitana's voice came through immediately, defensive and full of frustration. "Tanin, I didn't push you! You fell on your own!"
Tanin's smile deepened, though her tone remained shaky. "But everyone saw it… Damian saw it too… I don't know what to do. He's so upset with me now."
Kitana groaned on the other end of the line, clearly flustered. "Tanin, listen. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand. You know how people can misunderstand these things."
Tanin nodded, though Kitana couldn't see her. "I know… I know you didn't mean to, but…" She let her voice break slightly, adding to the effect. "But Damian is so angry, and I don't know how to fix this."
There was a pause, and then Kitana's tone shifted, becoming more calculating. "Tanin, you can help me with something, right? Maybe if I work for Damian, I can prove myself to him. You can talk to him for me, can't you?"
Tanin almost laughed at the audacity but kept her voice meek. "You want me to talk to Damian… after what happened?"
"Yes!" Kitana said quickly, desperation seeping into her voice. "I just need a chance, Tanin. Please, you're the only one who can help me."
Tanin pretended to hesitate, biting her lip as if conflicted. "I'll… I'll try," she finally said, her tone reluctant. "But I can't promise anything. Damian is really upset right now."
Kitana's relief was palpable. "Thank you, Tanin. I owe you one."
Tanin ended the call, her expression shifting from feigned innocence to cold determination. She placed her phone down on the table and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"Fool," she murmured under her breath.
This was exactly what she wanted. Let Kitana believe she was gaining her favor, let her dig her own grave. Damian would never hire her now, not after the incident in the lobby. And if by some miracle he considered it, Tanin would make sure to turn him against Kitana completely.
Her wolf, Emily, stirred in her mind, letting out a low growl of approval. "You're learning to play the game, finally. About time."
Tanin smirked. "I told you, Emily. This time, we're doing things my way."
She stood, walking over to the large window in Damian's office. The view of the bustling city below reminded her of the life she had once dreamed of—the life Kitana had stolen from her.
Not this time.
This time, she would take back everything that was hers. Kitana and anyone else who stood in her way would learn what it meant to cross her.
•••••••
Tanin didn't see Damian again until nightfall. The hours had stretched long, filled with nothing but her own thoughts to keep her company. She had tried to distract herself—slept for a while, eaten the light meal someone had brought in, and even attempted to read a magazine she found on his desk. But now, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, gazing at the glittering city skyline, she felt an overwhelming emptiness.
Her thoughts churned like the clouds that occasionally passed over the moon. Everything about this day felt wrong. Damian's coldness had stung more than she'd anticipated, but she reminded herself it was part of her plan. She had to remain strong, even if the silent treatment gnawed at her.
The sound of the office door opening broke her reverie. She didn't need to turn to know it was Damian. His presence filled the room like a storm cloud, heavy and tense. She heard his footsteps approach, but she kept her gaze on the city lights, her body rigid.
"Let's go," he said simply, his deep voice cutting through the quiet.
Tanin didn't respond immediately. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady the racing of her heart. Turning away from the window, she walked to the small table where her bag rested. She picked it up without a word, slinging it over her shoulder.
She had just started toward the door when Damian stepped in front of her, his expression unreadable. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone low but insistent.
Tanin's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She glanced up at him briefly before looking away, her voice cool and distant. "Nothing."
His golden eyes narrowed, studying her carefully. "How's your hand?"
"It's fine," she said curtly.
Damian frowned. "Tanin—"
"I'm tired," she interrupted, her voice sharp enough to make him pause. "Let's just leave."
Her clipped tone seemed to surprise him, but he didn't move immediately. His gaze bore into her, as if trying to peel back the layers of her indifference to see what lay beneath. When she refused to meet his eyes, he finally stepped aside, gesturing toward the door.
"Fine," he said, his voice colder than before.
Tanin walked past him, her head held high, but inside, her emotions churned like a tempest. She wasn't sure if she was more upset with Damian or herself. The distance between them felt like a gaping chasm, and she hated it.