All Chapters of HIS SECRET ADDICTION: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

74 Chapters

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Damien's POVAlex got the job offer on Friday. The startup from San Francisco. VP of Marketing, significant equity, full creative control. Everything he'd worked for his entire career. He told me over coffee that morning, reading from the email on his phone."That's incredible," I said."It is." He set the phone down. "They want an answer by Monday.""What are you thinking?""I'm thinking it's everything I wanted three months ago. Before everything happened." He looked at me. "Before you.""Don't turn it down because of me.""I'm not. I'm turning it down because I don't want it anymore." He picked up his coffee. "I want something smaller. Something I build myself instead of stepping into someone else's vision. The startup is great but it's still their company, their mission. I'd just be executing it.""So what do you want?""I've been thinking about consulting. Marketing strategy for companies that actually need help, not corporations with bloated budgets." He leaned back. "Build my o

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Alex's POVMonday morning I sent the email declining the startup offer.Damien read over my shoulder while I typed it. Suggested changing one line to sound less apologetic. He was right. I sent it and felt lighter immediately."No regrets?" he asked."None." I closed my laptop. "What are you doing today?""Meeting with a venture capital firm. They want to discuss potential investments." He poured more coffee. "Marcus set it up. Thinks I should consider backing startups instead of running companies.""Would you like that?""I don't know yet. But I'm willing to find out." He checked his watch. "Meeting's at eleven. Want to come?""To your VC meeting?""Why not? You're good at evaluating business models. Could use a second opinion."I'd never been invited to one of his business meetings before. We'd worked together at Ross Industries, but that was different. This felt like he was asking me as a partner, not an employee."Okay," I said. "I'll come.The meeting was in a sleek office in SoH

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Damien's POVVictoria invited us to dinner on Wednesday."Both of you," she said when she called. "At my place. Seven o'clock. Don't be late."Alex looked skeptical when I told him. "Your sister wants to have dinner with us?""Apparently.""Is this an ambush? Is she going to try to convince you to come back to Ross Industries?""Probably. But she's also making her famous lasagna, so it's worth the lecture."We showed up at six fifty-five. Victoria's apartment was in Tribeca, modern and expensive and perfectly decorated. She answered the door in jeans and a sweater, looking more relaxed than I'd seen her in months."You came," she said, hugging me."You made lasagna. I'm predictable."She hugged Alex next. "Thank you for coming. And for keeping my brother relatively sane through everything.""That's generous," Alex said. "I think we kept each other sane."Inside, Marcus was already there, opening wine in the kitchen. His husband Tom was setting the table. It felt deliberately casual, l

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Alex's POVThe first consulting project went better than expected.Three weeks in and the client loved everything I'd presented. They extended the contract and referred me to two other companies. By the end of the month I had more work than I could handle alone.Damien watched me stress about it over dinner one night."You need help," he said."I need to clone myself. There's a difference.""Hire someone. An assistant, a junior consultant, whatever. You can't do everything yourself.""I just started. I can't afford to hire anyone yet."He gave me a look. "Alex, you're charging enough that you can absolutely afford help. You're just scared to expand."He was right. I was building something and terrified of it getting too big too fast. Of it becoming the thing I'd left Ross Industries to avoid."What if I hire someone and it doesn't work out?" I asked."Then you let them go and try again. That's how businesses work.""You make it sound simple.""It's not simple. But it's necessary." He

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Damien's POVThree months after selling my shares, I woke up at nine without an alarm.Alex was already up, working in the office. I could hear him on a video call, explaining something about brand metrics to a client. I made coffee and sat at the kitchen counter, scrolling through emails that didn't require immediate responses.My calendar was empty. Again.It still felt strange. Three months in and I hadn't adjusted to having nothing scheduled. No meetings, no board calls, no crisis demanding my attention.Alex finished his call and came out looking frustrated."Client wants to change direction completely after we've already done three rounds of revisions," he said, pouring coffee."Fire them.""I can't just fire a client.""Why not? They're wasting your time. Time you could spend on clients who actually value your work."He considered it. "That feels too simple.""Business is simple. People make it complicated." I pulled him onto the stool next to me. "You're allowed to say no to b

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Alex's POVWe'd been in the new apartment for six weeks when Damien brought up marriage.Not a proposal. Just a conversation over breakfast on a Sunday morning."Do you ever think about getting married?" he asked, completely casual, like he was asking about the weather.I nearly choked on my coffee. "What?""Marriage. Do you think about it?""Sometimes. Why?"He shrugged. "Just curious. We've never talked about it.""We've been together less than a year, Damien.""I know. I'm not proposing. I'm asking if it's something you'd want. Eventually." He looked at me directly. "Because it's something I'd want. Eventually."I set my coffee down. "You want to marry me?""Not today. But someday, yes." He said it simply. Matter-of-fact. "I wanted you to know that's where I see this going.""That's possibly the least romantic way to discuss marriage I've ever heard.""Would you prefer I got down on one knee right now?""God, no. This is better." I reached across the table. "For the record, I'd wan

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Damien's POVI bought the ring on a Tuesday. I was walking past a jewelry store in SoHo and saw it in the window. Simple platinum band with a small diamond. Not flashy, not traditional. Just right.I went inside and bought it before I could overthink it.The jeweler asked when I was planning to propose."I don't know yet," I said honestly."Waiting for the right moment?""Waiting to figure out what the right moment looks like."She smiled and packaged the ring in a small blue box. I put it in my jacket pocket and carried it around for three days without telling Alex.Not because I was hiding it. Because I was waiting for something that felt right instead of forced.*************************Friday night we cooked dinner together. Alex was teaching me how to make risotto. It required constant stirring and attention, which I was terrible at. He kept correcting my technique while trying not to laugh at how bad I was at following simple instructions."You're impatient," he said, taking th

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Alex's POVDamien took me to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Saturday morning.We'd never been together. It was quiet and perfect and he'd clearly planned this. We walked through the Japanese garden, past cherry trees that weren't blooming yet but would be beautiful in a few weeks.He stopped near a pond."This is where I'm supposed to get down on one knee," he said."Are you?""I'm thinking about it. Deciding if I'm that traditional." He pulled the ring box from his pocket. "I want to marry you, Alex. I want to make this official and permanent and legal. I want to stand in front of people we care about and say out loud that I'm choosing you. Every day. For the rest of my life.""That's a good speech.""I practiced.""I can tell." I stepped closer. "Yes. Obviously yes."He opened the box. The ring looked different in daylight. Still perfect. He slid it onto my finger and it fit exactly right."I love you," he said."I love you too."We kissed next to the pond while an older couple walked

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Damien's POVSunday morning started with coffee and Alex planning his proposal.He'd been secretive all morning, making phone calls in the other room, typing things on his laptop he minimized when I walked by."You're being obvious," I told him."I'm being prepared. There's a difference." He closed his laptop. "Be ready to leave at two.""Where are we going?""That's the surprise part."At one thirty, Trevor called.I hadn't heard from him in months. Not since he'd called to apologize before his wedding. Seeing his name on my phone felt wrong."Don't answer it," Alex said, seeing my expression.I answered anyway. "Trevor.""Damien. I need to talk to you. In person. Today if possible.""I'm busy today.""It's about the book. The one I'm writing about our relationship and what happened." He paused. "My publisher wants to release it next month. I wanted you to know before it goes public."I went completely still. "You're writing a book about us?"Alex looked up sharply."About my life. O

CHAPTER FORTY

Alex's POVMonday morning Damien met with his lawyer about Trevor's book.I went to the office to handle client calls. Casey had scheduled three meetings back to back. I got through two before my phone rang.Victoria."Alex, there's been an accident. Damien's in the hospital."Everything stopped. "What?""Car accident on the way back from his lawyer's office. Someone ran a red light. He's conscious but they're running tests. Mount Sinai, emergency room."I was already grabbing my keys. "How bad?""I don't know. Marcus just called me. He's on his way there now."I hung up and told Casey to cancel everything. Drove to the hospital going too fast, not caring. Parked illegally and ran inside.Marcus was in the waiting room."Where is he?" I asked."They're doing a CT scan. Possible concussion, definitely bruised ribs. The airbag deployed so his face is pretty beat up." Marcus stood. "The other driver ran. They're looking for him now.""Can I see Damien?""Soon. They said thirty minutes."

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