Damien
I already knew I wouldn’t be the one making the visit to our little sugar mama. That was someone else’s job. Someone who had already slithered into her life without her even realizing it. Gerald hesitated on the line. “Want me to send her address to you, or—?” “No,” I smirked. “Send it to Liam.” I ended the call, already feeling the gears of my next move clicking into place. Mrs. Osmond—Carlos’ wife—was his Achilles’ heel. Not because he adored her, but because half of his company was tied to her name. She was a woman who loved the finer things in life—jewels, luxury trips, designer pieces that no one else could afford. But more than that, she craved adventure. Carlos was the laid-back type, more invested in stock reports than spontaneity. Meanwhile, Claire was all about the thrill—fast cars, risky bets, midnight escapades in foreign countries. And when her darling husband couldn’t keep up, she looked elsewhere for that rush. For her, money was never the issue. It was finding someone willing to break the rules, to dive into the deep end with her, to make her forget the man waiting at home. Lucky for her, Liam was more than ready to play the part—especially when it meant Carlos’ empire would crumble from within. Liam was her perfect outlet. He offered her the wild rides, the danger, the spark that her old, predictable husband couldn’t provide. And she was willing to spend lavishly for every ounce of pleasure she got in return. The lifestyle? It came with a price. And lucky for me, she had no problem paying for it. Liam is a man of many talents, but his specialty? Getting close. Sliding into people’s lives, earning their trust, making them believe in him—before yanking the rug from beneath them. It’s what made him dangerous. And right now, Mrs. Osmond had no idea she was playing house with a wolf I trained. If there was anyone who could give us leverage, it was her. All it would take was the right mood, the right words, and a long, long night. Now, time to set my backup plan into motion. —— The moment the address flashed across Liam’s screen, he knew it was showtime. He exhaled, tossing the last of his whiskey back before grabbing his jacket and stepping out of the suite. The night air was crisp, but it didn’t bother him. He had work to do. Mrs. Osmond had been especially needy lately. Always calling, always craving attention. He played his role well—gave her just enough to make her feel special, important. But tonight? Tonight, she was about to give him something in return. The drive to her villa was smooth, the city lights fading behind him as he entered the more private, elite part of town. Her estate was a fortress of wealth—iron gates, manicured hedges, a driveway longer than most runways. When he arrived, the front door was unlocked. As expected. “Claire?” Liam called out, his voice a low, knowing drawl. A pause. Then, the unmistakable click of heels echoed down the grand marble staircase. And there she was. Draped in a silk robe that barely clung to her, her hair tousled in that effortless way that screamed both money and seduction. A slow smile curled on her lips as she locked eyes with him. “You always have perfect timing,” she purred, descending the steps with practiced grace. As she moved, the robe parted just enough to reveal a sliver of smooth thigh. Liam smirked, stepping forward, his movements deliberate. “Or maybe you just think about me too much.” Her laugh was soft, teasing. “Maybe.” Before she could say anything else, he closed the distance, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, he could feel the way her pulse quickened beneath his touch. “I missed you,” he murmured, lips ghosting along her jawline. She melted into him, fingers gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. “More than you know.” He knew exactly how to play this. Every move was calculated—every kiss, every touch, every whispered word designed to lower her guard. And just like that, she led him upstairs. --- Silk sheets. Tangled limbs. The scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Liam lay back against the pillows, watching as Claire curled up beside him, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. This was the moment. The sweet spot between euphoria and exhaustion, when words flowed without thought, when secrets slipped free like whispers on the wind. “Claire,” he murmured, fingers threading through her hair. “I heard something today… something about tomorrow’s board meeting. Do you think Carlos is up to something?” Her body stiffened for a fraction of a second. Bingo. She hesitated before exhaling, resting her cheek against his chest. “Why do you ask?” Liam sighed, letting his voice drop into something soft, something believable. “Because I care about you. Unlike your husband, who’s too busy securing his empire to even notice you’re here.” A bitter chuckle left her lips. “You have no idea.” He remained silent, letting the weight of her frustration settle. Then, just as expected, she spilled. “He’s been making moves behind my back,” she admitted. “I overheard him on the phone with his lawyer—something about acquiring a new company. And Damien’s name came up.” Liam’s heart pounded in his chest, but his expression remained calm. “Damien’s company?” he prompted, stroking her back, keeping her grounded in the moment. “What about it?” She sighed. “Carlos has documents ready. He’s planning to present them at tomorrow’s board meeting. If the votes go his way, he’ll take over Damien’s subsidiary.” Liam’s fingers stilled. This was it. This was the information Damien needed. “Are the documents legit?” he asked, already knowing the answer. She scoffed. “Hell no. They’re fake.” Jackpot. Liam pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Thank you for trusting me, Claire,” he whispered, his tone smooth, comforting. And just like that, she drifted into sleep. But Liam? He had work to do. Silently, he slipped out of bed, reached for his phone, and moved into the hallway. The weight of Mrs. Osmond’s confession was heavy in his mind as he dialed Damien’s number. The line rang once. Twice. Then— “It’s done,” Liam murmured when Damien picked up. “Got what you need.” “Good,” Damien replied, his voice calm but laced with anticipation. “What did she spill?” Liam relayed every detail, every crack in Carlos’ scheme. Just as he was about to end the call— A noise. A faint creak. A breath. Shit. His grip on the phone tightened. Slowly, he turned his head. And there, standing in the dim hallway, wrapped in only that silk robe, was Claire. Her eyes locked on his phone. Her expression unreadable. Her lips parted slightly, as if forming a question she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to. “Liam?” A single word. Barely a whisper. But Liam knew. Knew that moment was dangerous. Knew she had heard something. And just like that, the game shifted.Damien’s POV I didn’t speak for a full ten seconds. Not because I didn’t have anything to say. But because everything I wanted to say would’ve sounded like a fucking war drum. “You’re not staying at my house and that's final.” Cleo shrugged one delicate shoulder, completely unfazed. “Take it up with your HR department. Or Davidson. Or fate. I’m just following orders.” “Bullshit.” Her grin widened. “You always hated coincidences. But this one? It’s delicious.” I stalked toward her. “You think this is a game?” “No,” she said softly. “I think this is karma.” We stood inches apart now. The air between us was tight, electric. Dangerous. “You better get out of my sight.” She didn’t blink. “Or what?” I stared at her, barely containing the sheer fury that was building in my chest. My jaw locked. My nostrils flared. She was taunting me. Again. I stormed out of the room, not bothering with a goodbye, not even pretending to be civil. She didn’t follow—not yet—bu
Damien’s POV I didn’t breathe. I didn’t blink. Because the woman standing in front of me… was her. Cleo fucking Richmond. My ex-fiancée. The girl who once carved her name into my chest with love—and damn near carved out my heart with betrayal. She should’ve been halfway across the globe, sulking in someone else’s penthouse, licking her wounds with some rich rebound. She shouldn’t be here, in my boardroom, dressed like she’d stepped out of a fantasy I didn’t ask for. Her bubble-blonde curls tumbled around her shoulders, glossy and wild, as if she hadn’t aged a day—but her eyes… They were different. Sharper. Hungrier. What the hell is she doing here? Mr. Davidson cleared his throat. “Mr Voss, this is the specialist I was telling you about. Ms. Richmond. Cybersecurity and legal counterintelligence. She’s—” “Qualified,” Cleo interrupted, sauntering forward like she owned the damn place. “Top of my class at Cambridge. Ran ops with Interpol. Consulted for two F
Damien's POV I sat at the head of the conference table, surrounded by voices that blurred into background noise. The room buzzed with tension…executives shifting papers, scrolling through slides, pitching ideas—but none of it held my attention. Not when the only thing on my mind was her. She was locked up in my house right now. Isabella. The girl who had once given me a night that changed everything…and now looked at me like a monster. If only she remembered. If only she knew what that night in Colorado had meant to me. The way her body responded to mine without hesitation. The way she let me take her…claim her…over and over until we collapsed into each other, breathless and raw. The things I did to her that night. Fuck. I had never known that kind of satisfaction before. Never. Not even with my history with women. Every woman before her had felt… lacking. I always held back—restrained the darkest parts of myself. Until Isabella. She let me unravel her completely. Let
Isabella’s POV "Let go of me!" I snarled, twisting in his grip. My voice cracked with rage and panic, but he didn’t move. His hands gripped my arms firmly—not violently, but with a maddening certainty that made my skin crawl. I screamed as I tried to pull away from him but he held me tightly in place as he parted my legs open even more. “Shh," he blew against my folds and a shiver went down my spine. "You're already wet for me yet you're trying to fight me,” he said as he chuckled darkly. That sound did more things to my body than I cared to admit and that made me sick. “You really are a sick bastard," I spat, my voice shaking with rage. "Kidnapping me—then shoving your face between my legs like I’m just another whore? What the hell is wrong with you? Is this your routine? Snatch up women and pretend you know them?! You're a freak!" But instead of answering, his mouth moved lower, and the sudden flick of his tongue against my core made my breath hitch. I bit down hard
Isabella’s POV Pain. That was the first thing I felt. A deep, dull ache in her wrists, the lingering tightness of the rope pressing into my skin even though it had loosened slightly overnight. I stirred, wincing as the sting flared again. Where am I? A shiver ran down my spine. The air was cold, the room dimly lit by the faint morning light slipping through a window I couldn’t quite see. I shifted, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, but then— I froze. A presence. Heavy. Intense. Watching. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I turned my head, my breath catching in my throat. He was there. Sitting across the room, unmoving, his dark eyes pinned to me as if I might vanish if he blinked. His broad shoulders were tense, his chiseled face unreadable. He looked… haunted. Possessive. Like a man staring at something that could slip off his hand any second. Did he stay here watching me sleep all night? A shudder of unease crawled dow
Isabella’s POV This evening was supposed to be simple. I remember the chill in the air as I stood on the sidewalk, hailing a taxi, the city lights blurring around me. I’d spent the morning with a few friends before boarding the flight, laughing, forgetting for a moment how heavy the past had felt. For once, I thought I could breathe again. Then everything changed. As my hand reached for the taxi door, I felt it—a presence behind me. Before I could turn, something sharp pricked my neck. My vision blurred, my legs gave way, and strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into the shadows. I tried to scream, but a gloved hand clamped over my mouth, cutting off the sound. “Don’t fight, and this will be easier for you,” a harsh voice whispered, chilling me to the bone. I fought anyway. I kicked, twisted, tried to break free, but it was like struggling against a brick wall. Every move felt futile, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t let them win. Everything after that was fragment