Devouring

Damien POV

Sitting in my private lounge, legs crossed and a glass of aged whiskey resting on the arm of the leather chair. The city lights flickered through the floor-to-ceiling windows like distant stars I could crush if I wanted. Smoke curled from the cigarette between my fingers.

The door opened without a knock. Victor stepped in, his massive frame casting a long shadow.

“Boss,” he said, voice booming with that usual cheerful energy. “Got something you might want to hear.”

I didn’t look up. “If it’s another waste of my time, Victor, I’ll feed you your own tongue.”

Victor grinned, unfazed, and dropped a sleek black invitation card on the table in front of me. Gold lettering glinted under the lamp.

“The Carter Group is throwing a big celebration tonight. They’re launching the first phase of their new high-standard residential complex. The project contains villas, luxury apartments and the works. They sent an Invitation to you, won't you go?”

I flicked ash into the tray, barely glancing at the card. “Not interested. Carter’s empire is small-time. Let them play their little games.”

Victor didn’t leave. He planted his feet wider. “Come on, Boss. This isn’t just any launch. Word is they poured a fortune into rushing it. Fred Carter— the legitimate son is taking all the credit. But there’s more to it.”

I raised an eyebrow, still bored. “Get to the point before I lose interest completely.”

Victor leaned in slightly. “That guy you’ve been looking for? The one from the hotel that night? The pretty boy whose paper you kept? He might be there tonight.”

I paused mid-drag, smoke hanging in the air. My eyes narrowed dangerously. “Watch your mouth, Victor. CCTV footage went dark exactly at the wrong time. Don’t feed me bullshit just to drag me to some mediocre party.”

Victor raised both hands. “Not bullshit, Boss. That paper the boy dropped? It had Carter Group letterhead all over it. Official stamps, project notes, everything. He’s either working there or deep in business with them. If he’s connected to the family, this event is the perfect place to spot him.”

I stared at the invitation for a long moment, the memory of that tight, trembling body beneath me flashing through my mind. The sweet sounds he made. The way he broke so beautifully.

I crushed the cigarette out.

“Fine,” I said coldly. “I’ll go. But if this turns out to be a waste of my evening, Victor, you’ll be the one regretting it.”

Victor’s grin widened. “Understood, Boss. You won’t regret it.”

Two hours later, my black Maybach rolled to a stop outside the grand hotel. I stepped out wearing a perfectly tailored black suit and a simple yet beautifully carved black mask that covered the upper half of my face. No one would recognize me unless I wanted them to.

I entered the ballroom just as the lights dimmed for the main ceremony. A large stage had been set up with a ceremonial ribbon stretched across a scale model of the luxury complex. Fred Carter stood at the center, chest puffed out, wearing a flashy red-and-black mask.

I moved through the crowd casually and somehow ended up on the side where Carter Group employees were clustered.

This was perfect and hidden in plain sight.

Two staff members nearby whispered loudly enough for me to hear.

“Can you believe it?” one woman muttered behind her mask. “Elias worked on this project for months. He found the land to be useful and even negotiated every permit. I also heard he stayed up all night in the office running numbers. And now Fred gets to cut the ribbon like he built the damn thing himself.”

Her colleague snorted. “Fred only knows how to chase skirts and blow money on hotel rooms. Last month he nearly drained the project budget with extra workers just to speed it up. Mr. Carter still handed everything to him. Poor Elias… he just smiled and handed over the files like it was nothing.”

Another employee joined in, voice low. “Elias is the real brain behind most big deals lately. But because he’s the illegitimate son… Fred gets the glory. It’s disgusting.”

I turned my head slowly, eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on a slender figure in a simple black mask standing near the stage. Something about his body tugged at my memory.

He felt familiar.

I shook the thought away, probably a coincidence. Many men looked similar from a distance.

The MC’s voice boomed through the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Fred Carter, the visionary behind this groundbreaking project!”

Fred stepped forward with a theatrical flourish, scissors in hand. “Thank you all for coming tonight. This is only the beginning. My vision for Carter Residences will redefine luxury living in this city. I couldn’t have done it without… the support of my team.”

He glanced toward Elias with a mocking little tilt of his head.

The ribbon fell under the scissors. Applause erupted. Cameras flashed. Fred waved like a king receiving his crown.

I watched it all with cold detachment, arms folded.

Interesting.

My mind began turning. Perhaps I should get closer to this Elias and use him. It will be best to work with him or through him to crack open the Carter empire from the inside. Their finances were already strained from Fred’s reckless spending. A few well-placed moves and the whole thing could crumble into my hands.

I scanned the room again. Elias was moving through the crowd now, greeting guests with practiced ease. He spoke to a group of older businessmen, then to a pair of elegant heiresses. His posture was perfect, his words measured. Yet he constantly stepped back whenever Fred approached, letting his brother take center stage.

A waiter passed by and called Elias over for something. Elias excused himself politely and followed.

I smirked beneath my mask.

Yes… you’ll do nicely, pretty boy.

I was never a man satisfied with small victories. If I was going to play this game, I would take everything. It was time to go hunting but first I had to search for him.

"Mr Damien...may I know thy humble self." A soothing voice sounded at my back.