246

Damien

As I sat behind the wheel of my car, the phone call from Natalia sent a shiver down my spine, a chill that lingered despite the warmth of the afternoon sun filtering through the windshield. I hesitated for a moment, my thumb hovering over the accept button, torn between the desire to confront her and the instinct to ignore her call altogether.

Against my better judgment, I finally answered, the familiar sound of her voice sending a wave of apprehension washing over me. "What do you want, Natalia?" I asked, my tone laced with a mixture of irritation and resignation.

"I need to see you, Damien," she replied, her voice smooth and persuasive, like honey dripping from her lips. "There are things we need to discuss, things that can't wait any longer."

I scoffed, the bitterness of our past encounters still fresh in my mind. "I have nothing to say to you, Natalia," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration. "You made your choice when you decided to betray Isabella and me. There's n