The tension in Damian's shoulders refused to ease as he strode down the hall, his mind clouded with questions about Christina Sinclair. Her odd behavior at work, the way she stiffened around him, the way she avoided his gaze—it wasn't normal.
And he wasn't the only one noticing. Ethan had his suspicions too.
Just as Damian was considering how to deal with it, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, barely glancing at the caller ID before answering.
"Damian, come to my office. Now."
His grandfather's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Damian exhaled sharply, adjusting his tie as he redirected his steps toward the top floor.
His Grandfather's Office
The moment Damian stepped into his grandfather's grand office, the old man didn't waste a second.
"How was the blind date?"
Damian clenched his jaw, already feeling a headache coming on. Of course. That's why he was called here. Not for business, not for anything urgent—just another insistence on marriage.
"I don't see why this is relevant," Damian replied coolly, sliding his hands into his pockets.
His grandfather leaned forward, his sharp gaze pinning Damian in place. "It's relevant because I chose that woman for a reason. And yet, here you are, acting as if the date didn't happen."
Damian exhaled through his nose, already losing his patience. He had played along, gone to the date, but he hadn't expected it to be so... unusual.
Flashback: The Blind Date
Damian had walked into the restaurant that evening with no expectations. He had been on countless dates like this—women perfectly selected by his grandfather, each one more predictable than the last.
But when he arrived at the private dining area, he wasn't met with the usual elegant, poised heiress.
Instead, the woman before him had an almost chaotic energy. She was beautiful, yes, but her behavior? Strange.
She barely made eye contact, shifting in her seat, and her tone was almost... overconfident? It didn't match the usual scripted interactions he had endured before.
"So, tell me," she had started, leaning forward with an unreadable smile. "How rich are you?"
Damian had raised an eyebrow at that. Direct. That was new.
As the date went on, it became increasingly clear that she wasn't like the others. She seemed to be playing a role, exaggerating everything, testing his patience.
And yet, somewhere in between the ridiculous questions and forced bravado, he caught himself being intrigued.
Something about her felt off. Like she wasn't supposed to be there.
Like she was hiding something.
Back to the Present
Damian's expression remained unreadable as he returned to reality, his grandfather's sharp gaze still on him.
"Well?" The old man prompted. "What do you think of her?"
Damian straightened. "I think… she was different."
His grandfather smirked, satisfied. "Then perhaps she's exactly what you need."
Damian didn't respond, but deep down, something nagged at him.
Something about that woman from the blind date… and Christina Evelyn.
And for the first time, he wasn't sure if it was just a coincidence