Chapter 13: Unexpected Encounter-1
Damien’s POV
Morning came like a curse.
No dreams. No rest. Just an ever-growing heaviness behind his eyes as the city began to stir
outside the penthouse windows.
Damien didn’t bother to sleep. He couldn’t.
Sex didn’t help. Neither did the shower.
And jerking off to the fantasy of Maya-sweat-slick, trembling, whispering his name-had only
made it worse.
When he stepped out of the shower, still burning with restless energy, he went straight to the bar in his suite. Poured himself a glass of scotch, hoping to drown the unwanted desire in fire and alcohol. He dropped onto the leather couch, towel slung low on his hips, and leaned back.
But his mind betrayed him.
Her again.
Maya, invading the silence. The shape of her mouth. The way she avoided his gaze, like she knew she shouldn’t draw his attention. The way she did anyway.
And his body betrayed him, too.
He did it again.
And again.
Three times in one goddamn night. Like some depraved, hormone-fueled teenager.
By 4:30 AM, he gave up on sleep altogether.
He hated mornings like this. Head pounding. Skin hot. Even ice water and another pour of scotch did nothing to cool the fire in his blood. He yanked the towel tighter around his waist, collapsed onto the edge of the bed, and sat there, breathing like he’d just run ten miles.
His body wanted something it had no right to crave.
Her.
It was pathetic. He didn’t give a damn about interns. Certainly not about romance. He’d carved that part of his life out years ago-cut it clean. If he needed release, he found someone willing,
14
C
|||
aphs 13 Unexpected Encounter 1
fucked, and moved on. No strings. No emotion. Women were poison. Commitment, a death
sentence.
That was the rule.
Until her.
And now? She was stuck in his head like a goddamn virus.
“Pathetic,” Damien muttered, scrubbing a hand down his face.
Now he was awake, overstimulated, and violently unsatisfied. His body felt like it had been dragged through fire, and his mind? That was worse. Buzzing. Humming with a noise he couldn’t
mute.
He poured black coffee with one hand and checked his sss with the other, scanning briefs and updates he didn’t care about. Everything felt dull. Distant.
Pointless.
He should have been focused on the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for later that morning.
It was for a new tech campus-Blackwood East, a billion-dollar expansion that would house emerging Al research, luxury co-living towers, and state-of-the-art corporate suites.
Investors would be there. Photographers. Board members.
He should have cared.
He didn’t.
He downed the rest of the coffee and glanced at the time – 5:32 AM. The event started at seven.
He had thirty minutes to suit up and pretend he gave a damn.
And then, finally, he could bury himself in something else.
Something that wasn’t her.
The groundbreaking event was already underway by 7:00 AM. Good PR. Great headlines. Not
worth his time.
He stood on the platform in a tailored suit, shovel in hand, camera flashes going off like it was war. All choreographed. All for show. And all bullshit.
He smiled for the photos. Nodded at the mayor. Gave a brief speech someone else wrote.
The usual.
By 8:25, it was over. Damien slipped into the backseat of the car without a word, tugging his tie
14
23
|||
O
Г
:.
apfer 11-tarspeted Encounter 1
loose and resting his head against the leather.
“I’ll be heading to the office,” he told James, who climbed in beside him.
James didn’t press. He never did. It was why Damien kept him closer than anyone else.
He needed a distraction. Documents. Numbers. Anything but her.
They were halfway to Blackwood Enterprises when Damien heard James speak.
“Isn’t that Ms. Thompson?” he said, his voice casual, eyes fixed on something outside the window.
Damien didn’t respond. Didn’t flinch. He kept his gaze forward, willing himself to ignore it.
James went on, a shade more deliberate now. “She keeps checking her phone. Looks anxious. I’m guessing they’re headed to the hospital.”
A beat.
“That boy with her… probably her brother.”
Something in that last sentence pulled Damien’s attention. His head turned, almost involuntarily.
Comments
LUCK DRAW >
Vote
519
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.