Damian's hands curled into fists. "What do you want, Vanessa?"
She sighed, feigning disappointment. "So impatient. No small talk? No 'how have you been'?" She smirked. "You wound me, darling."
Eve clenched her jaw. "Cut the games. What do you want?"
Vanessa's gaze flicked to her, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Oh, I like this one," she mused. "Fiery."
Damian stepped forward, his voice deadly. "Vanessa."
Vanessa exhaled dramatically and leaned against the counter. "Fine. Straight to business, then." She met his gaze, all traces of amusement gone. "I want compensation."
Eve stiffened. "For what?"
Vanessa smiled. "For keeping my mouth shut."
Damian's expression darkened. "You're bluffing."
Vanessa let out a soft laugh. "Am I?" She reached into her purse and pulled out a sleek black USB drive, twirling it between her fingers. "Because I have proof."
Eve's stomach twisted.
Damian's jaw locked. "You wouldn't dare."
Vanessa's eyes gleamed. "Oh, darling, you know I would."
The air in the room grew heavier. Eve glanced at Damian, his shoulders tense, his breathing controlled but she could see it.
The fear.
The anger.
The regret.
Vanessa tapped the USB against her palm. "You have two choices, Damian," she said sweetly. "Give me what I want, or I make sure everyone knows who you really are."
Eve's pulse pounded. She looked at Damian. "What does she have?"
Damian didn't answer.
Vanessa smirked. "Oh, sweetheart, you're in deep, aren't you?" She turned back to Damian. "Tick-tock. What's it going to be?"
Silence.
Then, Eve took a step forward, her voice firm.
"We'll figure this out."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "We?"
Eve nodded. "I don't know everything. But I know enough." Her gaze locked onto Damian's. "And I'm not going anywhere."
Damian's eyes darkened. "Eve"
"I mean it," she said, her voice unwavering. "Whatever this is, we'll deal with it together."
Something flickered in his expression something raw, almost vulnerable.
Vanessa clicked her tongue. "How romantic." Then she smirked. "But romance won't save him." She dangled the USB. "Only I can do that."
Damian exhaled slowly, his gaze cold. "What do you want, Vanessa?"
Vanessa's smirk widened. "Oh, Damian," she purred. "I think you already know."
The Cost Of Silence
Vanessa leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she watched Damian with a knowing smile.
"I'll keep this simple," she said, twirling the USB between her fingers. "I want fifty million dollars and access to your company's offshore accounts."
Eve's breath hitched. Fifty million?
Damian's expression didn't change, but his entire body was coiled tight, like a predator ready to strike.
"No," he said flatly.
Vanessa sighed, feigning disappointment. "Oh, Damian," she murmured. "Still so stubborn." She tilted her head. "Maybe you need a little reminder of what's at stake."
She pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. A moment later, she turned it toward them.
Eve's heart stopped.
A grainy video played a younger Damian, sitting in a dimly lit room, speaking into a camera.
His voice was raw, desperate. "If anyone finds this, I'm already dead. They won't stop. They'll erase me like I never existed."
The screen went black.
Eve turned to Damian, but he wouldn't look at her. His hands were clenched into fists, his jaw tight.
Vanessa slid the phone back into her pocket. "See?" she said sweetly. "This little confession of yours? It's very valuable. Imagine what would happen if certain people got their hands on it."
Damian exhaled slowly. "You have no idea what you're playing with."
Vanessa's smile widened. "Oh, but I do. And I love the game."
Eve stepped forward. "If this is about money, Damian can give it to you," she said firmly. "But stay out of his company."
Vanessa turned to her, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart. You think this is just about money?" She leaned in closer, her voice a whisper. "It's about control."
Eve's stomach twisted.
Vanessa straightened. "Fifty million. And I want a seat on the board."
Damian's head snapped up. "Over my dead body."
Vanessa sighed. "Well, then," she mused, holding up the USB. "I guess I'll just have to start sending copies of this little video to some very powerful people."
Eve grabbed Damian's arm, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Damian," she said softly. "We'll find a way out of this. But you can't let her win."
Damian's expression was unreadable, but his grip on her tightened.
Vanessa smirked. "So, what's it going to be?"
Silence stretched between them.
Then Damian spoke, his voice ice-cold.
"You'll get your money," he said. "But you'll never get my company."
Vanessa's eyes gleamed. "We'll see about that."
She turned on her heel, sauntering toward the door. Before leaving, she glanced back at Eve.
"Enjoy your time with him, sweetheart," she said with a wink. "Because once I'm done, he won't have anything left."
The door clicked shut.
Eve exhaled, turning to Damian. "What the hell was that video?"
Damian didn't answer.
Instead, he walked to the window, staring out at the city, his shoulders tense.
"Damian," she pressed.
Finally, he spoke his voice hollow.
"It's the truth," he murmured. "The truth I buried a long time ago."
Eve's heart pounded.
And for the first time, she realized whatever Damian was hiding…
It was bigger than she ever imagined.