Another Secret

Naomi stood in front of the full-length mirror in Damon’s office, smoothing down the front of her dress for the third time even though it didn’t need it.

She wore a black suit, nothing ceremonial, nothing casual either. It's been years since she stepped foot in her father's company, Allure. Hell, he'd named it after her middle name. Why did she think he would hand it over to someone else that wasn't her?

Damon's office was right next to her father's former office. He'd asked her if she wanted to go in. He made sure the place was always clean, nothing touched but she shook her head.

She wasn't ready yet.

Damon watched her from behind, adjusting his cufflinks. He hadn’t said much since they left the villa. He didn’t need to. She could feel his concern in the way his eyes followed her movements, the way his jaw tightened slightly every time she exhaled a little too sharply.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said finally.

Naomi met his eyes in the mirror.

“I do,” she replied without hesitation.

He stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him at her back. His hands settled on her waist, like he was anchoring her in place.

“This board isn’t kind,” he said quietly. “They will smile and applaud. And some of them will still look for ways to undermine you.”

“I know.”

“They’ll test you.”

“I know that too.”

He leaned down slightly, his mouth close to her ear. “And if this becomes too much..”

She turned in his arms then, facing him fully. She reached up, smoothing the crease between his brows with her thumb.

“Damon,” she said softly, almost amused. “I survived losing my father. I survived the craziness from my father's siblings. I survived thinking I had no one on my side.”

His eyes softened.

“I’m not fragile,” she continued. “And I don’t need saving today.”

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded once. “I know.”

He kissed her forehead, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “I’ll be right beside you.”

She smiled at that. “ And that is more than enough for me.”

Damon exhaled but she could still see how tensed his shoulders were and the uncertainty in his eyes.

She placed a kiss on his lips, smiling at him. “I'll be fine.”

“I don't doubt that.” He said, “I'm worried about what I'll do if anyone says anything funny.”

Naomi chuckled, “What will you do?”

Damon pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. “Don't worry about it.”

Minutes later, they were on their way to the boardroom, walking down the hallway side by side.

Patrick kept his distance for some reason. There was something about the way the duo looked straight ahead that made him feel uneasy.

Patrick swallowed, “Having Mr Damon is hard enough but two versions of him?” He mumbled under his breath, almost close to whimpering.

The double doors burst open and the duo stepped in. The room fell silent almost immediately.

Naomi felt it; the shift, the collective inhale of people who had not expected to see her there. The long glass table gleamed under the overhead lights, surrounded by men and women who had made decisions about her family’s company long before they believed she would ever sit among them.

Whispers started almost instantly. Damon pulled out a chair for her without ceremony and Naomi took her seat, he settled in the space right next to hers.

A few heads turned. One man’s pen froze mid-note, another leaned back slowly, eyes narrowing in curiosity rather than dismissal.

Damon leaned closer to his mic and cleared his throat before speaking. “Good day everyone. Ms Naomi will be joining us today to discuss the ownership of Allure, a subsidiary of the organisation.”

The chairman cleared his throat. “Mrs. Sinclair,” he said carefully. “We weren’t informed you’d be attending.”

Naomi folded her hands neatly on the table. Her pulse was steady and her voice even.

“Well, here I am.” Naomi said calmly, “As the sole heir and legal owner of my father’s company,” Naomi continued, “I have every right to be present at any meeting that concerns it.”

A murmur rippled through the room.

One of the board members shifted uncomfortably. “There were assumptions…”

“I’m sure there were,” Naomi interrupted calmly. “Just as I’m sure there are still assumptions being made.”

She lifted her chin slightly. “Let me be clear. My marriage to Damon Sinclair does not negate my authority. And no, we are not divorcing anytime soon, despite what some of you may have speculated.”

Her eyes landed on Jack in the furthest end of the room who seemed surprisingly calm. He leaned back in his seat, a knowing smile on his face.

Naomi didn't return his smile, she looked away to continue her speech.

“I believe we all anticipated this, it was started in his will and you all voted for it.”

Silence. Her eyes went from one person to another. “Is there anything else that needs to be addressed?”

Applause. Not hesitant or forced but real.

Many of the members on the board prayed she would step in and stop this fight between Jack and Damon. And here she was, finally taking in her father's footsteps.

Naomi blinked, she hadn’t expected that.

She glanced at Damon. He was watching her now, pride evident in his eyes, his expression unreadable to everyone else but her.

The meeting continued much later. Future acquisitions debated and Naomi spoke when necessary, listened when required, and refused to shrink even once.

Surprisingly, she knew more about the business than Damon did and that only made him more her even more.

By the time it ended, Naomi felt drained but steady.

As people began to file out, congratulating her quietly, offering smiles, Naomi stood and gathered her things. Damon was with the chairman, far away from, discussing something in hush tones.

“That was impressive.”

Naomi froze. She glanced up slowly to make eye contact with Jack who was now standing right in front of her.

Her stomach tightened, this was the first time she'd be meeting him in person after learning that he'd been trying to kill her.

She straightened, refusing to let him see a wave of fear in her eyes.

Jack said lightly. “Your father would’ve been proud.”

“I am his daughter after all.” She replied.

His smile thinned. “ Uhm.” he shrugs. “You weren't as clueless as I thought.”

She felt heat rise up her spine. “If you’re here to provoke me…”

“I’m here because I’m curious,” he interrupted. “You don’t wonder how a man so careful ended up dead?”

Her breath caught.

“That’s not funny,” she said, voice tight.

Jack tilted his head. “I wasn’t joking.”

Her fingers curled into her palm. “What are you insinuating then?”

Jack smirked, “Enjoy your reign princess. All good things come to an end eventually.”

He walked away.

Naomi stood there, frozen.

Damon found her seconds later. One look at her face and his expression hardened.

“What did he say?” he asked.

She swallowed. “He said something about my father.”

Damon’s jaw clenched.

“What exactly?”

She met his eyes. “ What really happened to my father, Damon?”

Damon stiffened. His hands landed on Naomi's shoulder, staring at everything but her eyes.

“Lets go home and..”

“Damon!” Her voice bounced off the walls of the room.

The hall was empty now, it was just the two of them.

Damon didn’t respond immediately. That terrified her.

“Are you hiding something from me?” she whispered, disbelief lacing her voice.

He took her arm gently and guided her out of the room, past curious glances and polite smiles, and back into his office.

“Damon,” she repeated. “Tell me.”

His face had gone rigid, controlled in a way that told her he had never wanted her to know this.

“There were inconsistencies,” he said slowly. “In the toxicology report. I had an autopsy done.”

Her heart dropped. “What kind of inconsistencies?”

Damon went silent again but he knew he had to tell her. “Poisoning.”

The word landed heavily between them.

Naomi shook her head. “No. No, that’s not…Dad was sick and..”

Damon shook his head. “He was sick because he was poisoned. Small dosage at a time.”

“Who?”

Damon exhaled. Naomi gasped, horrified.

Her hands trembled. “Jack?”

“We don't have proof,” Damon said. “But the maid told us it was him and before we could ask her any further questions, she…she died.”

Naomi felt sick, it wasn't just him who knew about this. “Who is ‘us’ ?”

Damon threw his head back, this was exactly why he didn't want to tell her. Seeing her like this only made his heart ache.

“Reed. Myself. Patrick.”

“You knew,” she whispered. “All this time… you knew.”

Damon reached for her hands. “I was trying to protect you.”

Her chest tightened painfully. “Stop saying that!” She screamed. “You told me you wouldn't hide anything from me! You fucking promised!”

“I know. I just..”

She pulled away slightly, tears burning behind her eyes. “I deserved to know.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “And I’m sorry.”

“Can’t believe you kept this from me.” Naomi muttered. She stormed out of the office, leaving Damon in the room..

Damon ran his fingers through his hair, he should have told her. He knew that but he just couldn't. Going after her isn't going to change anything, he's come to realise that she needs time to process this.

He picked up his phone and dialled a number.

“Patrick. Make sure Naomi is safe.”