Chapter Twenty Four: Robin Architectures

The bell above the door of "Robin Architectures" chimed, announcing a visitor. Damon, hunched over blueprints, barely registered it. He was wrestling with a design flaw, one of many plaguing his latest project, a low-income housing complex that was bleeding him dry. He was dangerously close to defaulting on several loans, and the pressure was a crushing weight.

"Can I help you?" His secretary's voice, laced with an unusual formality, cut through his concentration.

"I'm here to see Mr. Robin," a deep voice responded. "Inform him that Prince Kaelen is here."

Damon's head snapped up. Prince Kaelen? Here? He straightened, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. He hadn't expected a visit, especially not from Prince Kaelen himself. He smoothed down his rumpled shirt, a desperate attempt to appear presentable.

"Show him in, immediately," he instructed, his voice tighter than he intended.

Kaelen entered the office, his presence filling the small space. How does he appear more imposing everytime? His broad shoulders strained against the fabric of his impeccably tailored suit. He moved with a grace that belied his powerful build, his gaze sharp and assessing as he took in the modestly furnished office.

"Damon," Prince Kaelen said, his voice smooth and controlled. "I'm here to discuss the progress of the architectural plans for the project."

Damon swallowed, forcing a smile. "Your Highness, what a pleasant surprise. Please, have a seat." He gestured towards the leather chair opposite his desk.

Kaelen settled into the chair, his piercing blue eyes never leaving Damon's face. "The plans are progressing as expected, Your Highness," Damon replied, forcing a calm tone. "We're on schedule." The lie tasted like ash in his mouth.

Prince Kaelen smiled, but there was a coldness in his eyes that sent a shiver down Damon's spine. "Are you? Because I have a different impression. I'm concerned about the lack of detail in the designs, and the absence of innovative ideas."

Damon felt a surge of anger. Who was this royal brat to criticize his work? "The designs are preliminary. We haven't reached the final stages yet."

"Perhaps." Kaelen's voice was deceptively mild. "But I'm also concerned about your company's financial stability. Rumors have reached the Palace about your mounting debts, your struggling projects."

Damon's heart pounded in his chest. How did they know? He had been so careful, so meticulously crafting the illusion of success.

"Those are just rumors, Your Highness," he stammered, trying to regain control. "My company is perfectly sound."

Kaelen leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'm a generous man, Mr. Robin. I want to see you succeed. But I also need to be certain that the project is in capable hands. I'm willing to provide additional resources, financial assistance, if necessary... To be more clear, Elara expressed your concern about the budget to me. I reviewed and figured out the budget is fair and quite alright but if you want more finance to be able to work well, I will provide you with that."

Damon's mind raced. Elara? She had spoken to the Prince about his finances? A wave of resentment washed over him. One thing she almost did right but just had to ruin because she's Elara. He told her to convince the prince to add to the existing budget, not discuss or say a thing about his company's financial state.

"Elara is... very supportive," he said carefully, choosing his words with precision. "She worries about me, about the company. The truth is, Your Highness, the budget is tighter than I anticipated. With additional funding, I could truly elevate the designs, incorporate cutting-edge technology, and ensure the training facility is the best in the kingdom." He laid it on thick, hoping to play on Kaelen's apparent willingness to help.

Kaelen regarded him with a knowing look. "And how much... additional funding are we talking about, Mr. Robin?"

Damon hesitated, then took a calculated risk. "An additional eighty to a hundred thousand would make a significant difference, Your Highness." He watched Kaelen's face, gauging his reaction.

Kaelen steepled his fingers, his gaze fixed on Damon. "A hundred thousand... an interesting figure." He paused, a smile playing on his lips. "Tell you what, Mr. Robin. I'm feeling particularly generous today. I'm not just adding a hundred thousand to the budget. I'm doubling the budget. From my personal funds. Just a kind gesture from me, not the royal household."

Damon stared at him, speechless. Doubling the budget? That was... unbelievable. It was a lifeline, a chance to pull his company back from the brink.

"Your Highness, I... I don't know what to say," he stammered, genuinely surprised. "That's incredibly generous."

"Don't thank me yet, Mr. Robin," Kaelen said, his voice hardening slightly. "I expect results. I expect to see those innovative designs, that cutting-edge technology. I expect this training facility to be a testament to your talent and my generosity. And most importantly, I expect you to keep Elara happy. She deserves nothing less."

The last sentence hung in the air, a veiled threat that sent a chill down Damon's spine. He knew what Kaelen was implying. He knew that Kaelen didn't buy his cheap lies about why he raised a knife at Elara that day. 

"Of course, Your Highness," he said quickly, forcing a smile. "Elara is my wife. Her happiness is my priority."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "See that it stays that way, Mr. Robin." He stood up, his towering figure casting a shadow over Damon's desk. "I'll be monitoring the progress of the project closely. Don't disappoint me."

With a final, penetrating look, Kaelen turned and left the office, leaving Damon alone in the sudden silence. He sank back into his chair, his mind reeling. He had secured the funding, a monumental victory that could save his company. But at what cost? He knew, deep down, that he was playing a dangerous game, caught in a web of royal intrigue and his greed to fund his "very successful architecture firm" story. The initial budget was more than enough to finance the project but of course, he can't miss the opportunity to get extra bunch of free money that can possibly pull his firm on its feet.

He picked up the blueprints, his gaze drawn to the incomplete designs. He had a lot of work to do. Not just to satisfy Prince Kaelen, but to keep him from looking too closely at the truth - that Damon Robin was a fraud, a failure, and a man desperately trying to hold onto the illusion of control. And the only thing currently keeping him afloat was his wife and her mysterious connection to the Prince?