Damien stood on the balcony of a high-rise in Switzerland, overlooking the snowy streets below. The air was crisp and sharp, matching the mood he had carried with him since stepping off the plane. His mind had been consumed with business deals and negotiations, but despite his best efforts to focus, he couldn't shake the thought of her—his little one.
The deal had gone smoothly, better than expected even, but now, with everything wrapped up, it was time to check on things back home. He dialed Greg's number, leaning on the cold stone railing. The phone rang twice before Greg answered.
"Boss," Greg's voice crackled over the line, "everything's good here. The business is running smoothly, no issues. We're on track."
"Good," Damien replied. "And what about Lily? How is she?"
Greg hesitated for a moment, the slight pause enough for Damien to sense something was amiss. "Well, she's fine. Busy, as usual. But, uh, there's this guy... a coworker, I think, trying to get closer to her. He's been hanging around, trying to get her attention."
Damien's grip on the phone tightened. His expression remained unreadable, but inside, something dark stirred. "Keep an eye on her. I'll be back soon."
There was no need to explain further. Greg understood. "You got it, boss. I'll watch her."
Damien ended the call, stepping away from the railing. His mind was already back home, back on Lily. There was something about her that tugged at him—something he couldn't quite place. He wasn't sure if it was the control he craved or something deeper. Whatever it was, he needed to get back. Soon.
---
The day had been long for Lily, the hours dragging as she buried herself in work. But as the evening approached, she felt a strange unease settle in. It wasn't the usual tiredness she felt after a busy day; this was different. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
After work, she decided to head out for a quick errand. The streets were quiet, a cool breeze cutting through the city. She walked briskly, her footsteps echoing in the empty street. The air seemed colder than usual, and she shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her.
Lily had always been cautious, but tonight, her instincts screamed at her that she wasn't alone. Every time she glanced over her shoulder, she swore she saw a shadow moving behind her, just out of her peripheral vision.
She quickened her pace, trying not to let the growing anxiety take hold. It was silly, she told herself. She was just being paranoid. But as she turned the corner toward her street, the sensation didn't fade. The chill in the air seemed to cling to her skin, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She reached her doorstep, her breath quickening, but just as she reached for the handle, she felt it—a hand brushing against hers.
Her heart stopped.
Before she could scream, a strong hand covered her mouth. "Easy, little one," a voice murmured into her ear.
Lily froze, her pulse racing. She couldn't believe it. She stepped back, trying to push the figure away. "What the hell—"
"Relax," he said softly. "It's me."
She blinked, the shock wearing off, and finally looked up into Damien's familiar face. He smirked, his usual playful expression back in place.
"You scared the hell out of me," Lily said, her voice shaky but with an edge of frustration.
Damien didn't react to her words. Instead, he stepped closer, brushing his thumb across her hand where it had been held so firmly. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to frighten you."
Lily tried to maintain her composure, though the pounding of her heart betrayed her. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "Where have you been all this time?"
Damien cocked his head, his eyes dark with amusement. "Why? Did you miss me?"
Lily gave him a look, her lips curling into a smile. "In your dreams."
He chuckled, stepping even closer, his breath warm against her face. "I missed you."
Lily's heart skipped a beat, the words catching her off guard. She saw something in his eyes—a sincerity that had been absent the last time they met. For a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by an unspoken connection.
Damien leaned in, and before Lily could process what was happening, his lips were on hers. The kiss was slow, deliberate, and full of a yearning that made her head spin. For a moment, nothing else mattered. She forgot about the last time they'd been together, about the distance between them, and the questions she'd been holding onto.
But then, the images flashed back into her mind—the erotic pictures she'd found, the ones that haunted her thoughts. She pulled away abruptly, her breath uneven.
"Did you send them?" she asked, her voice tight with a mix of confusion and anger. "Are those from your past?"
Damien didn't answer immediately. He studied her for a moment, his eyes cold, but there was a flicker of something behind them. "It doesn't matter," he said finally. "What matters is you."
Lily's gaze hardened. "Why doesn't it matter?"
"Because you matter," he replied, his tone low and earnest. "Only you."
For a brief moment, silence fell between them. Damien reached up to gently cup her cheek, and she felt her resistance start to melt away. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, but there was still a part of her that couldn't trust him fully.
Before she could say anything more, Damien closed the distance again, capturing her lips in another kiss—this time deeper, more urgent.
When they finally pulled away, they were both breathless. "I'll leave now," Damien said softly. "But I'll see you soon."
Lily watched him walk away, her heart still racing, the weight of everything that had happened hanging heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to tell him she'd signed the contract, but he waved it off. "Tell me later," he said with a smirk.
As he disappeared into the night, Lily stood there, the cool air settling around her. She walked back inside, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Damien than she understood.
She glanced down at the small bag he'd left her with—gifts, she realized. And for a brief moment, she wondered if she'd been wrong about him. Maybe there was a side to him she'd overlooked, a part of him that wasn't as cold and calculating as she had assumed.
But even as she pondered this, her mind kept returning to the contract, the decision she had made. She stared at it, her hands shaking slightly.
Did she make the right choice?
She had no answers, only more questions.