Vivian Montgomery had patience when the reward was worth it, and in this case, it was. Over the past few weeks, she had gone from being an outsider to a familiar presence. Apollo no longer bared his teeth at her, nor did he growl when she came close. That was progress, but it wasn't enough. She needed to be more than tolerated—she needed to be trusted.
Tonight, she had a new plan.
She arrived at the Lancaster estate under the guise of discussing a potential collaboration between her family's business and Damian's empire. It wasn't a lie; their companies did have overlapping interests, but she wasn't here for business.
She was here for him.
As she stepped into the grand foyer, she was greeted by the soft glow of chandeliers casting golden light over the sleek marble floors. A butler escorted her to Damian's study, where he sat behind a mahogany desk, Apollo sprawled lazily at his feet.
Damian looked up from his papers and smirked. "Vivian. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Vivian smiled, allowing just the right amount of warmth to seep into her expression. "Business, of course. And maybe a little pleasure."
Damian arched a brow, intrigued but unreadable. "Is that so?"
Vivian took a seat, crossing her legs elegantly. "I won't bore you with the details. My assistant can handle the logistics, but I wanted to personally deliver the proposal. Face-to-face meetings are so much more…" she paused, searching for the right word, "…intimate."
Damian leaned back in his chair, assessing her. "You're persistent."
She let out a soft laugh. "And you're observant."
Before he could respond, Apollo suddenly lifted his head, his ears perking up. Vivian held her breath. This was a test—one she had prepared for meticulously. Without hesitation, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small, bone-shaped biscuit. It was a brand she knew Apollo liked, and more importantly, she had infused it with her own scent days ago to help him associate her with something positive.
"May I?" she asked Damian, tilting the treat in Apollo's direction.
Damian studied her for a moment before nodding. "Go ahead."
She extended her hand slowly, ensuring there was no sudden movement. Apollo hesitated. His deep brown eyes flickered between the biscuit and her face, as if weighing the decision.
Then, finally, he took it.
The moment his teeth closed over the treat, a surge of satisfaction coursed through Vivian. It wasn't just a minor victory; it was a breakthrough. She had crossed a boundary no other woman had, and she knew Damian had noticed.
"Well, that's a first," Damian remarked, his tone laced with curiosity. "Apollo doesn't usually take food from strangers."
Vivian met his gaze with a soft smile. "Maybe I'm not a stranger anymore."
A slow smirk formed on Damian's lips. "Maybe not."
As the evening stretched on, Damian and Vivian continued their conversation, but something in the air had shifted. There was an unspoken acknowledgment—a recognition that the game between them was no longer just about business or casual flirtation. It was a power play, an intricate dance where trust and attraction intertwined.
By the time Vivian left, Apollo didn't just tolerate her presence. He watched her leave, his tail giving the faintest wag.
Vivian smirked to herself. The battle for trust wasn't over, but the tides were turning.
And soon, Damian Lancaster would belong to her entirely.