ログインDamien’s POVI hissed under my breath as the call went straight to voicemail again. I lowered the phone and stared at the screen before immediately pressing her number once more.Ring. Ring. Voicemail.“Damn it, Ofelia.”I leaned back in my office chair and looked at the clock on the wall. It was already past closing time. Everyone had gone home hours ago. Everyone except me. I was still sitting here like a fool, waiting for a woman who wasn’t answering her phone.I rubbed my forehead in frustration. I had already called the mansion. She wasn’t there. Victoria hadn’t seen her since this morning. No one knew where she had gone after leaving the office. A hundred possibilities ran through my head. Had she quit? Had she gone back to that worthless ex of hers? Had something happened to her? The city wasn’t exactly safe after dark.I clenched my jaw. Maybe I should have someone keep an eye on her. Not to invade her privacy. Just… to make sure she was safe. The thought settled heavily in m
Ofelia’s POVBy the time I left Blackwood Enterprises, my emotions were completely drained. My eyes still felt puffy from crying in the restroom, and my palm still tingled from the slap I had given Damien. I couldn’t bear the thought of going back to the mansion yet. If I went home now, there was a real chance I would run into him, and after everything that had happened today, I wasn’t ready to look him in the face.My feet carried me aimlessly down the busy street. The city noise wrapped around me—honking cars, people chatting on phones, the distant rumble of construction. It all felt distant, like I was moving through a fog. Eventually, I spotted a small café tucked between two tall office buildings. It looked warm and quiet, with soft lighting spilling out onto the sidewalk. Exactly what I needed.The rich smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me the moment I stepped inside. Soft music played through hidden speakers, and only a handful of people occupied the cozy tables. Perfect.
Damien’s POVThe conference room door slammed shut behind Ofelia.Silence settled over the room, but it wasn’t peaceful. It was suffocating.I remained exactly where I was, staring at the closed door as if she might walk back through it.She didn’t.Slowly, I lifted a hand to my cheek.It still stung.She had slapped me.A woman had just slapped Damien Voss.Any other day, any other person, they would have been fired before their hand even finished swinging.Instead…I couldn’t even be angry.I deserved it.My jaw tightened as I replayed the last few minutes in my head.Richard smiling at her.Richard complimenting her.Richard asking her to dinner.Then me…Accusing her.Telling her she enjoyed the attention.Looking at the outfit Victoria had bought for her and implying she wore it for other men.I closed my eyes.“Damn it.”What the hell had gotten into me?I had negotiated billion-dollar mergers without raising my voice.I’d sat across from ruthless competitors who wanted to destr
Ofelia’s POVThe conference room felt too big and too quiet with just the two of us in it. I stood near the door, still clutching my notebook like a shield. Damien remained standing near the head of the table, his suit jacket tossed carelessly over a chair. The silence stretched between us, heavy and dangerous. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Damien’s voice finally broke the quiet. “Why was Richard paying so much attention to you?”I was stunned. “I didn’t do anything.”He wasn’t listening. His jaw was tight as he started listing every little interaction from the meeting. The conversation in the lobby earlier. The smiles. The compliments on my outfit. The dinner invitation. His voice grew sharper with every word.I tried to fight back. “I can’t control what other people say to me, Damien. I was just doing my job—taking notes like you told me to.”But my words only seemed to frustrate him more. His eyes darkened as he took a step closer. “You’re a distraction. You’
Ofelia’s POVAfter receiving my ridiculous “first strike,” I spent the entire morning trying not to murder Damien. I handled call after call, updated his impossible schedule, answered dozens of emails, and organized mountains of paperwork. He remained cold and demanding, barking short orders without even looking at me most of the time. Every time I glanced at him across the desk, the realization from earlier kept replaying in my head. He might be jealous. The thought refused to leave me alone. Why would my mother’s husband be jealous of me talking to another man? It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense.By midday, I was exhausted from walking on eggshells. Damien suddenly looked up from his computer. “You’ll be attending an important client meeting with me. Take notes. Stay quiet unless spoken to. I expect perfection. No mistakes.”My stomach dropped. This was my first major meeting at the company. I was nervous, but I nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”The conference room was already
Ofelia’s POVWe stood frozen in the hallway like two statues. My heart was still racing from the dream, and now Damien was right here in front of me, looking unfairly handsome in his sharp black suit. Neither of us spoke. The air felt thick and heavy. I was painfully aware of the dream version of him—warm, smiling, whispering sweet things in my ear. The real Damien looked at my new outfit for a second too long before he quickly turned his gaze away and cleared his throat.“Breakfast,” he said in that cold, commanding voice, then walked away as if nothing had happened.I followed several steps behind him, annoyed at how easily he regained control. My cheeks felt warm. Why did one look from him still affect me so much? I hated it.Victoria was already seated at the dining table when we arrived, looking fresh and happy. “Good morning, you two!” she said brightly.I forced a smile and sat down. Damien just nodded and took his usual place at the head of the table. Victoria carried most of
Ofelia’s POvThe next morning, sunlight poured through the big windows of my new room like nothing was wrong. I barely slept, and when I did, dreams of Damien’s hands on my body kept waking me up. I splashed cold water on my face and told myself to get it together. He was my stepfather now. That ni
Ofelia’s POV It’s just a coincidence, I told myself as I followed Mom up the wide marble steps. Thousands of rich men own black luxury cars. They all look the same. Sleek, expensive, probably made in the same factory. My brain kept repeating it like a prayer. The car outside didn’t mean anything.
Ofelia’s POVThe plane ride felt endless. I stared out the window at the clouds below, my two suitcases stuffed in the overhead bin and my heart heavy in my chest. Mom had booked the ticket and even paid for a car to pick me up from the airport. Part of me was grateful. The other part wouldn’t stop
Ofelia’s POV Just like cinderella, I went back reality. I was standing in the center of my apartment thinking about my life when there was a knock on the door. I already knew who it was before I opened it. Mr. Ramirez, the landlord, stood there with his arms crossed, looking tired but firm. “Mis







