Damien's POVThe night air hits my face the moment I stepped out onto the balcony. It’s cooler out here, quieter too, away from all the unspoken tension hanging in the living room. I spotted Kyle almost immediately, leaning against the railing like he owns the stars themselves.He glanced back when he heard the door, then turned away again, sipping his wine.“You’re not bad at slipping out,” he said without looking at me. “I was wondering how long it’d take before you followed.”I stayed silent for a beat, just observing him. His shoulders were relaxed, but there’s something in his stance, tight, calculated.“I needed air,” I said finally, stepping beside him. “Too many dynamics in one room.”“Mm,” he hummed. “Interesting dynamics. For instance... is this your new thing? Reuniting divorcees hours after sealing their divorce papers?”I let out a short breath. “Alexander needed a lift. And after what he did in court, I figured it was the least I could do.”He turned to face me now, bro
Damien's POVThe door closed behind Alexander with a soft thud, but the echo he left behind filled the room like a heavy fog. He looked tense throughout the short meeting with Serena.But more surprisingly, was the way Serena handled the situation. I had expected her to be dramatic, refuse to see him or play the usual, ‘I don't have time for this’ stunts she plays on me whenever I bring up the subject of love with her.Instead she acted calm, almost as though she had forgiven him, or gradually forgiving him. Makes me question if she has moved on from him. Maybe she's still in love with him.I stood there for a second, hand still on the doorknob, unsure why I felt so tense. Maybe it was the look Serena gave me when she realized I'd brought him. Or maybe it was the part of me that hated how much that man still got to stand in front of her, even if only for a minute.I turned to face the room. Serena was sitting on the edge of the sofa, eyes trained on the floor like her thoughts were s
Serena's POVHe looked sheepish, hands stuffed into his pockets, avoiding my gaze like a schoolboy caught skipping class.“Hey,” he said softly.Damien stood calmly beside him, unreadable as always, but I noticed the way his eyes flicked from me to Kyle in the background.“Can we come in?” Damien asked.I stepped aside slowly, still stunned. “Sure…”They walked in, and I felt the entire energy in the room shift.Kyle stood up when he saw Alexander, eyes narrowing slightly.“Well, this is a surprise,” he said smoothly, walking over with the poise of a man who never got rattled. “Didn’t expect a Calloway tonight.”Alexander offered a polite nod. “I wasn’t planning to be here either. But I asked Damien for a favor.”Kyle’s gaze flicked to Damien. “You’re in a generous mood.”Damien didn’t answer. He turned to me instead. “He just wanted a few minutes. I thought it was worth letting you decide.”I looked at Alexander again. He looked different. Humbled. Less sharp around the edges.Sophia
Serena's POVWe were just wiping the last crumbs of the twelve-thousand-dollar Louis XIII pizza off our lips when Kyle returned. This time, he had a wine bottle in his hand, sleek, dark, regal-looking, and a grin that spelled dangerously expensive indulgence.“Ladies,” he said, setting it down gently on the table like it was some ancient relic. “A toast to Serena, courtroom conqueror and mystery woman of the hour. And to Sophia, the best best-friend hype woman I’ve seen in a long time.”Sophia laughed as I raised an eyebrow.He popped the cork and poured the golden liquid into the long-stemmed glasses one of the staff had left behind. The aroma hit me first, soft, smooth, and somehow screaming money.I tilted my head and asked, “How much is this wine, exactly?”Kyle chuckled. “This is Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac. Just a little over two million dollars a bottle.”Sophia choked on air. “Two what?”I blinked at him. “You’re kidding, right?”He lifted his glass. “I don’t kid when it
Alexander's POVThe tires scrunched on the pavement as my vehicle came to a stop before Damien's office complex.I clenched my hands around the steering wheel tighter than necessary, palms damp with sweat. It had been many years since I went into a lawyer's office without feeling a sense of power or control, but here I was not the man in control, I was the man seeking mercy.The driver took her around and opened the door. I stepped out, smoothed my jacket, and entered the lobby.The secretary looked up from her desk and immediately stood. “Mr. Calloway, you’re expected. This way, please.” She ushered me toward Damien’s door and gave a light knock before pushing it open. “You can go in.”Damien sat behind his desk, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, studying me like I was a page from a confidential report. "Thanks for seeing me," I stated, stepping in.He did not answer, only motioned to the seat."I know you're not precisely thrilled to have me here," I began, clearing my throat.
Serena's POVSophia lay sprawled on the couch, staring at the ceiling like it held all of life’s answers. I was just about to ask what was on her mind when she turned to me with a heavy sigh.“I think I’m job hunting,” she said.I blinked, not expecting that. “You’re what?”“Yeah,” she sat up and crossed her legs. “After everything that happened, with the kidnapping and all, I don’t think I want to go back to that place. It’s too much. If you could put in a word with Damien or Kyle for me…”I burst into laughter before she even finished. “Wait, are you being sarcastic right now?”She gave me a look. “No, I’m being serious.”I laughed harder. “Sophia, you don’t need any job. I’m going to be your sugar daddy now. You’re retired, baby.”Sophia narrowed her eyes, grinning. “Sugar daddies usually ask their sugar babies to do things for them.”“Oh, of course,” I smirked. “All I need you to do is twerk for me and we’re even.”She stood dramatically and gave me a little spin before breaking i