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Chapter Forty-Three
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2026-07-09 22:33:04
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Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Seven
He was still at his desk when his phone buzzed.He picked it up without thinking.Adrian.He almost put it back down. Then he read it.You think you own her?Then the screenshots started coming through.One after another. Conversations between him and Miriam — her laughing at something he said, voice notes she had sent, the kind of easy back and forth that happened between people who were genuinely comfortable with each other. Nothing inappropriate. Nothing that crossed the line.But intimate in a way that had nothing to do with lines.These are just a few times I made her laugh with just my words.Damien slowly set the phone down on the desk.He sat there for a moment.Then he stood up.He started pacing — not the controlled, deliberate movement he used when he was thinking through something. This was different. Shorter steps, tighter turns, something building in him that didn’t have a clean outlet.He stopped.Formed a fist.And drove it into the wall.The sound brought his assistan
Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Six
His morning had been clean until his assistant knocked.“Sir, you have a meeting at noon.” She checked her tablet. “Nexus Capital. They’ve been trying to secure a deal with Rhodes International for the last quarter.”Damien looked up from his desk.“Who’s the lead on their end?”“A Mr Adrian Cole, sir. Senior acquisitions director.”The room was quiet for exactly two seconds.“Fine,” he said. “Set it up in the main boardroom.”She nodded and slipped out.He leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling.Adrian Cole.He almost smiled. Almost.The boardroom was full by five to twelve — two men from Nexus Capital’s legal team, a financial analyst, and Adrian.Adrian walked in looking like he had dressed for a meeting with Malcolm Rhodes, expecting to walk out with exactly what he came for. Suit sharp, folder tucked under his arm, the particular confidence of someone who had done their homework and believed it would be enough.He set his folder on the table and looked toward the doo
Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Five
They were in the middle of the party when Damien appeared beside her like he had been watching.“You okay?”“It’s getting a little crowded,” she said. “I need a minute.”He nodded and placed his hand at the small of her back, guiding her through the room toward the corridor that led to the main sitting room.The noise dropped the moment they stepped in.She exhaled.Then she saw Thomas.He was sitting on the sofa near the far window, alone, drink in hand, looking out at the garden like he was somewhere else entirely.She looked at Damien.“Give me a minute with him,” she said quietly.He nodded and slipped back toward the party.Thomas looked up when he heard her settle onto the sofa beside him.Something moved across his face — not surprise exactly, but a kind of recalibration.“You should be out there with everyone,” she said.“I needed a break.” He looked at his glass. “Too much noise.”She leaned back slightly and followed his gaze out the window.He had been sitting here thinking
Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Four
They had been in Paris for three days.It had been good. Genuinely good — the kind of good that snuck up on you when you weren’t bracing for anything. Long mornings, good food, walking streets that didn’t know their names or their problems, Damien’s hand in hers at the kind of hours they were usually arguing at home.She was reading a book.Then his phone rang.He looked at the screen, sat up slightly, and answered.She watched his face.“Dad.” A pause. “When is it?” Another pause. Something shifted. “I forgot.” He pressed his hand to his forehead briefly. “Yes. We’ll be there. I’ll have the jet ready tonight.”He hung up.She raised an eyebrow.“My father’s sixtieth birthday,” he said. “I forgot.”“Damien.”“I know.”She looked out the window at the Paris skyline, soft and grey in the afternoon light.“It’s just been three days,” she said.“I know.” He was already reaching for his phone again. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”She turned back to the room.“You owe me the rest of
Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Three
Damien came around to her side and fell into step beside her, hand finding the small of her back as they walked through the doors — not controlling. But the way he had been since last night, like he was being careful about where he put his hands.Emily saw them from the upstairs window.She was at her desk when they pulled in, had slowly stood up, watched them walk in together, then set her coffee down and moved to her office.She pushed Miriam’s office door open without knocking.“What is going on here?”Miriam looked up from dropping her bag. “He dropped me off. Good morning, Emily.”“I can see that.” Emily’s eyes moved briefly to Damien, then away, like he wasn’t worth the full turn of her head. “But what is going on?”Damien stood near the door, hands in his pockets, face even. He had noticed the greeting that hadn’t come. He said nothing about it.“I’m heading out,” he said, turning to Miriam. “Let me know when you’re ready to go home and I’ll come get you.”She nodded.He crosse
Bound Unwilling Chapter Forty-Two
She looked down at him for a long moment.“You can’t keep doing this, Damien.” Her voice was tired. “I’m exhausted. I cannot bring a child into this. I can’t.”He stayed on his knees, watching her.“You say sorry and things are good for a while and then something sets you off and we’re back to the same place. Over and over.” She shook her head slowly. “I don’t think I want this marriage anymore.”He flinched. Like the words had physically landed somewhere.“And before you say anything—” she held up a hand “—I don’t care about the contract with my father. I don’t care what it means for the business. My child’s mental health matters more than any contract ever will.”He was on his feet before she finished the sentence.“No.” He moved toward her, shaking his head. “No, baby. How can you say that?” His voice had cracked somewhere in the middle of the word. “You know I can’t live without you. You know that.”“Damien—”“I’m not—” He reached her and pulled her toward him, her words dissolv
Bound Unwilling Chapter Five
“Miri?” It was her father’s voice. “Can you come downstairs? I need to speak with you in my study.” When the knock came at her door, she expected Susan with tea or maybe Lucas with another pointless apology. Something in his tone made Miriam’s stomach drop. “What’s this about?” “Just come dow
Bound Unwilling Chapter Four
Friday evening came and Miriam couldn’t focus on anything. She sat in her room with her laptop open, pretending to work, but the numbers on the screen meant nothing. Ever since the board meeting, there had been this hollow feeling in her chest that wouldn’t go away. Her phone buzzed on the nigh
Bound Unwilling Chapter Three
Lucas was in a meeting when his assistant interrupted: “Mr. Wellington, Mr. Rhodes is here. He says it’s urgent.” Lucas excused himself, irritation and worry warring in his chest. “Damien, you can’t keep showing up here” “I have a proposal for you,” Damien said, closing the office door behind
Bound Unwilling Chapter Two
The next morning at Wellington Enterprises, Lucas was trying to make sense of the mountain of responsibilities that came with his new position when his assistant buzzed him. “Mr. Wellington? You have a visitor. Mr. Damien Rhodes?” Lucas frowned. “Send him in.” Damien strode into the office
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