chapter 2 : The man who shouldn't be here

Elena wished Damon Vale would leave.

The problem was, he looked like he had absolutely no intention of doing that.

Across the ballroom, he stood near the bar again, surrounded by a group of businessmen who were clearly competing for his attention.

It was ridiculous.

This was her family's gala.

Yet somehow Damon had managed to become the most talked-about person in the room within twenty minutes of arriving.

One of the investors leaned closer to him, speaking quickly. Another man waited impatiently beside him for his turn. Two women stood nearby pretending to be interested in the conversation while openly admiring him.

Damon remained calm through it all.

He listened more than he spoke.

Occasionally he nodded.

Sometimes he answered briefly.

Yet every person around him looked as if they had just received something important.

Elena folded her arms.

“Unbelievable.”

Matteo was no longer amused.

His jaw had tightened as he watched the same scene unfold.

“Why is everyone suddenly interested in him?” he muttered.

“Elena replied dryly, “Because that’s Damon Vale.”

Matteo didn’t respond immediately.

Instead he continued watching Damon, his expression slowly darkening.

Across the room, a young businesswoman approached Damon and touched his arm lightly while speaking to him.

Damon barely reacted.

But she was smiling like she had just won something.

Matteo scoffed under his breath.

“He enjoys this.”

Elena sighed.

“Trust me. He pretends he doesn’t.”

Another investor approached Damon eagerly.

“Elena,” Matteo said quietly.

“Yes?”

“Why exactly does he hate your family?”

She glanced at him.

“Our companies have been competing for decades. His father and mine almost destroyed each other in negotiations once.”

Matteo frowned.

“And now the son walks into your family’s celebration.”

“Exactly.”

“And you’re acting like it’s normal.”

“It’s not normal,” she said sharply.

Before Matteo could respond, Damon suddenly turned.

His gaze moved across the ballroom again.

And landed directly on Elena.

Matteo noticed immediately.

His expression hardened.

“He keeps looking at you.”

Elena exhaled slowly.

“Yes. I know.”

Damon said something to the group around him before stepping away.

The investors looked disappointed as he left.

Within seconds, he was walking across the ballroom again.

Straight toward them.

Matteo’s posture stiffened.

“Is he serious?”

“Yes.”

Matteo muttered under his breath.

“I already don’t like him.”

Damon stopped in front of them.

This time the tension was immediate.

“Elena,” Damon said calmly.

“Damon.”

His eyes briefly moved to Matteo.

The air felt colder.

Matteo didn’t offer his hand this time.

Damon noticed.

But he didn’t comment.

Instead he looked back at Elena.

“Your party is getting interesting.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Interesting?”

“Yes.”

“Because you’re here ruining it?”

Damon smirked slightly.

“I didn’t realize my presence affected you this much.”

Matteo stepped forward slightly.

“It doesn’t.”

Damon’s gaze shifted to him again.

Something unspoken passed between the two men.

Matteo’s voice was calm, but his tone was clearly defensive.

“You seem very comfortable here for someone who belongs to the Vale family.”

Damon took a slow sip of his drink.

“I go wherever I’m invited.”

Matteo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And who invited you?”

“One of the investors.”

Elena sighed.

“Of course they did.”

Matteo crossed his arms.

“Well, enjoy the free drinks.”

Damon’s expression didn’t change.

“I rarely drink for free.”

The tension between them was thick enough to make several nearby guests quietly move away.

Elena pinched the bridge of her nose.

This was exactly the kind of scene she had hoped to avoid tonight.

“Can both of you relax?” she said quietly.

Neither man moved.

Damon was watching Matteo with calm interest.

Matteo was watching Damon like he was a problem that needed solving.

Finally Damon looked back at Elena.

“You seem stressed.”

“I wasn’t until you arrived.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Across the room, two more executives were already watching Damon expectantly.

One of them even started walking toward them.

Matteo noticed.

“They’re waiting for you.”

Damon glanced over his shoulder briefly.

“Yes.”

“Then maybe you should go.”

Damon returned his gaze to Elena instead.

“Maybe.”

Matteo’s patience was clearly thinning.

“Elena has a lot to do tonight.”

Damon didn’t respond to him.

His eyes stayed on her.

“You still hate losing, don’t you?”

She frowned.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything.”

Before she could reply, one of the investors finally reached them.

“Mr. Vale,” the man said eagerly. “I was hoping we could continue our conversation.”

Damon looked at him calmly.

“Later.”

The man looked disappointed but nodded.

Matteo watched the interaction with clear irritation.

“People seem desperate to talk to you.”

Damon shrugged.

“They have business interests.”

Matteo’s voice turned colder.

“And you're happy to take them from the Romano family?”

Damon’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“I take opportunities.”

Elena stepped between them slightly.

“That’s enough.”

Both men looked at her.

The tension didn’t disappear.

But it paused.

Across the ballroom, whispers had already begun spreading again.

Everyone had noticed the interaction between the Romano heiress, her fiancé, and the infamous Damon Vale.

Damon glanced around the room once more before looking back at Elena.

“You throw memorable parties.”

She crossed her arms.

“Leave before it becomes unforgettable.”

For a moment, Damon looked like he might say something else.

Instead he simply gave a small smile.

Then he turned and walked away again.

Within seconds, the crowd swallowed him up once more.

Matteo watched him go.

His jaw was tight.

“I really don’t like that man.”

Elena sighed.

“Join the club.”

But even as she said it, her eyes drifted back to Damon again.

And the worst part was—

He looked completely at home in the chaos he had created.