Chapter 86: Her Tears Brought Me to My Knees-1
Damien’s POV
I’d been stuck in this room all day-signing documents, attending back-to-back meetings, handling the mountain of responsibilities two weeks away had left behind. Not the kind I could delegate.
Still, my mind hadn’t left her.
Last night had been brutal.
Ashcroft and I ended up on the balcony. The silence between us was thick with tension. He stopped me just in time, before the weight of my emotions tipped too far.
And then I said something I shouldn’t have.
“I’m starting to wonder if this is even worth it.”
I hated those words the second they left my mouth-ignorant, reckless.
It’s worth it. Of course it is.
She’s worth every damn second.
Who would’ve thought Ashcroft would make sense when it came to love?
Cliché, coming from a guy who’s never been in a serious relationship. He’s cold, calculated, ruthless. But with women? He never holds back. That’s exactly how he earned his playboy
reputation.
Maybe that’s what makes him an expert-at least in understanding women better than most.
He talked some sense into me. Pulled me back before I spiraled. Helped me see things clearer, helped me understand Maya’s reaction-what was really behind it.
All the tangled reasons I’d been too blind to see.
Just before we went back inside, Ashcroft got a call from one of our men tailing Orion. They found someone-a desperate bastard drowning in gambling debt, no loyalty to speak of. The kind of guy who’d sell out Orion’s side for protection and a fat envelope.
I should’ve been on that helicopter this morning, wringing the truth out of him myself.
But I didn’t go.
1/3
Because Maya was here. Claim Because of the way she looked at me-frightened, confused, like I’d become the very monster she’d spent years trying to avoid. And because fucking Miller was still here. I wasn’t leaving her-not when that smug piece of shit might try to slide in, like he ever belonged. Ashcroft saw it all over my face and told me to stay-he’d handle the rat, get the intel, and be back before the end of the day or tomorrow at the latest. When we got back inside, they were gone. James said Harper had taken Maya for “a walk.” I almost followed. My entire body wanted to move-just to find her, to see if she was okay. But Ashcroft stopped me. Told me to wait. Told me Harper would know what to say. That pushing Maya now would only drive her further away. So I waited. I sat in this goddamn room while the sun rose and fell again-and didn’t get a single minute of sleep. I kept thinking about her. Should I text? Call? Knock on her door and apologize for throwing my heart down like an idiot and expecting her not to flinch? But I didn’t do any of it. I didn’t eat. Didn’t move much, except to shower between meetings. Just sat there, stuck in head-thinking about her. About that nervous laugh… the way her eyes looked when she backed away from me last night. my When the last call finally ended, all I wanted to do was strip out of this suit, take a long shower, and crash. Alone. Maybe sleep would silence the noise for a while. I walked straight into the shower, let the water scald my skin until I couldn’t think anymore. Didn’t even dry my hair properly. Just grabbed a towel and threw on a shirt and joggers- anything to be out of the damn formality of today. I heard movement outside. 2/3 Chapter 86: Her Tears Brought Me to My Knees t Figured James was back with food. I opened the door, still rubbing water from the back of my neck, towel draped over my shoulders. “James, make sure to send a copy of that contract by-” I stopped. Claim The dim lighting caught something in my peripheral-a different figure, not where it should My gaze lifted. And there she was. Maya. The woman I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since last night… standing in the glow of the candles, wearing a soft white dress that fluttered around her knees like something out of a dream. Her hair fell in waves around her face, lips glossed, eyes wide-but she didn’t look away. Comments LUCK DRAW > Cedella 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.