Chapter 13: Unexpected Encounter-2
25 Powers
There they were – Maya and the kid -standing at a quiet bus stop off the main road. Maya had her hand on the boy’s shoulder, brows drawn, lips pressed thin. Her phone was in her hand, the screen lighting up every few seconds.
Worry. It was written all over her.
The driver, old but sharp, spoke up from the front. “Poor timing to be waiting on this route. Weekend buses here are always late. Damn transit cuts.”
A pulse of irritation slid through Damien’s jaw. He clenched it. Ignored it.
James turned slightly. “Should we offer them a ride? They look like they’re running late.”
Damien glanced again, and saw it. The way Maya’s shoulders were tensed. The way she kept checking the time. The boy looked pale under the morning sun.
Damien closed his eyes for half a beat.
“You know what to do,” he said gruffly.
James nodded, the faintest glint of satisfaction in his expression.
“Pull over,” he instructed the driver smoothly.
The sleek black Bentley slowed to the curb, the engine purring as it came to a stop.
At first, Maya didn’t notice. Or maybe she just didn’t care.
Until James rolled down the window.
“Good morning, Ms. Thompson!”
Maya blinked, her head jerking toward the voice. “Mr. Horton?! I… what… I mean… I’m sorry-good morning, sir!”
The boy beside her narrowed his eyes slightly, not rudely, but with a guarded sharpness. He didn’t speak, just observed.
James smiled. “How are you feeling today? Feeling better?”
That got the boy’s attention.
“Feeling better? Why?” His eyes shot to Maya. “What happened? May… are you sick?”
Maya flushed, cheeks turning bright pink. “Ah, no, I’m fine,” she said quickly. Then to James, “I’m fine, sir. Thank you.”
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Chapter 13 Unexpected Encounter 2
James gave a patient nod, then looked to the boy. “You must be Jamie?”
+25 Points
Maya nodded, but Jamie stepped forward with a small bow. “Good morning, sir. I’m Jamie, Maya’s brother. And you are…?”
“Jamie!” Maya elbowed him gently, embarrassed.
But James just chuckled. “Nice to meet you Jaime. I’m James Horton. Mr. Blackwood’s personal
assistant.”
Jamie beamed slightly. “Nice to meet you, sir!”
James tilted his head. “Where are you two headed?”
Maya hesitated. “Uh, hospital.”
“Then perfect timing,” James said. “This route’s notoriously late on weekends. We’ll drop you off.”
Maya’s lips parted. “Ah, no need, sir. We’ll be fine. Really.”
But Jamie glanced at her and frowned. “May… it’s hot. And we might be late. Let’s take the offer,
okay?”
James grinned. “He’s right. We’re already headed that way. Please, don’t worry. Make yourselves comfortable. Mr. Blackwood is in the back.”
Damien kept his gaze forward-stone still, unreadable.
Maya looked like she wanted to bolt. But she looked at Jamie – already sweating slightly in the morning heat- and finally relented.
Jamie, ever the gentleman, opened the door.
“Ladies first.”
She hesitated… then stepped in.
Damien’s eyes flicked up briefly. And just like that-she was there.
So close.
No makeup. Worn jeans and a faded T-shirt. Scuffed sneakers. Her hair tied loosely back. No heavy perfume-just something soft. Subtle.
Lavender. And underneath it-vanilla. Soft. Clean. Maddening.
His jaw tightened.
His mind, the traitorous bastard, conjured up the image again-her in a shower, water trailing down
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Chapter 13 Unexpected Encounter 2
smooth skin. Damien adjusted slightly in his seat.
He could feel it.
Not again.
Fuck.
She cleared her throat. “Good… good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”
He nodded once, curt. His voice came out lower than intended. “Morning.”
+25 Points
Jamie climbed in behind her and gently closed the door. He leaned forward slightly, his voice
respectful but warm.
“Good morning, sir. I’m Maya’s brother-Jamie. Thank you for the ride. It’s nice to meet you.”
Damien glanced at him and gave a small nod. “You’re welcome.”
He expected awkward silence. But Jamie surprised him.
“Your car’s really nice. It smells expensive.”
Damien smirked despite himself. “That’s because it is.”
Jamie chuckled. “Is that real leather?”
“It is.”
“Cool.”
Damien cleared his throat. “You like cars?”
Jamie lit up. “Yeah! I read about them sometimes. I used to have a toy Bugatti when I was little.”
He glanced at Maya, then added with quiet pride, “Maya says’ I’ll have a real one someday if I study hard. But… I have to get better first. So I can go back to school.”
Jamie brightened at the approval. “I read a lot, too! May brings me books from her school library so I won’t fall too far behind.”
Then, with a spark of pride in his voice, he added, “I really like programming. I’m into codes and numbers. They just… make sense.”
Damien’s eyes flicked toward the boy again, this time lingering.
Programming.
Most kids his age were obsessed with games or influencers or whatever the hell was trending. But this one? He liked logic. Systems. Codes.
THU
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Chapter 13 Unexpected Encounter 2
Damien could respect that.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter now-measured. “What kind of programming interests
you? Web, software, robotics?”
Jamie perked up at the question, clearly not expecting it. “Uhm, I’m still learning… but I like anything with logic puzzles. I watched a documentary on artificial intelligence last month. It was
cool. I want to try Python next.”
Damien raised a brow.
Not bad.
Then Jamie added, “Actually… I read this article a few weeks ago about Blackwood Enterprises. It was about that Al system you guys built to help detect early-stage equipment failure in renewable energy grids? That was awesome. I didn’t understand everything, but the part about predictive learning and data modeling… that stuck with me.
Damien’s attention sharpened.
Most adults in his boardroom couldn’t even articulate that properly.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Maya.
He caught the change in her-the way her lashes dipped, the subtle curve tugging at the corner of hér lips. A fleeting smile, quiet and unguarded, as if she forgot-just for a second-that he was
there.
She tried to hide it, but it was too late.
He’d seen it.
It did something to him.
Something irrational. Dangerous.
He hated it.
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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.