All Chapters of HIS SECRET ADDICTION: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Damien's POVBy Wednesday I was going stir-crazy.Alex had worked from home both days, monitoring me like I was a flight risk. Every two hours he checked if I was dizzy, nauseous, or confused. I appreciated it. I also hated it."I'm fine," I said for the hundredth time. "You can go to the office.""The doctor said forty-eight hours of monitoring.""It's been fifty hours.""Close enough isn't the same as actual forty-eight hours." He didn't look up from his laptop. "Stop complaining.""I'm not complaining. I'm stating facts.""You're complaining." He finally looked at me. "One more day. Then I'll go back to the office and you can be stubborn alone.""I'm not stubborn.""You tried to check work emails yesterday. With a concussion. That's the definition of stubborn."He had a point.My phone rang. Victoria."How are you feeling?" she asked."Like I've been asked that question five hundred times in three days.""So you're feeling better. Good. I need to talk to you about something." She p

Damien's POVMarcus called Tuesday morning with an opportunity."Tech startup needs a lead investor. Clean energy focus. Strong team. They're looking for someone who can provide guidance, not just capital." He was sent over the pitch deck. "Thought you might be interested."I looked through it while Alex made breakfast. The company was developing solar panel technology that was actually innovative. The management team had real experience. Financials made sense."I'll take the meeting," I told Marcus."Thursday at two. Their office in Brooklyn."After I hung up, Alex asked what it was about."Potential investment. First real one since selling my shares." I showed him the deck. "What do you think?"He scrolled through it while flipping pancakes. "Technology looks solid. Market analysis is thorough. What's the catch?""They're pre-revenue. Won't see returns for three to five years minimum.""Can you wait that long?""I can wait. The question is whether I should." I took the tablet back.

Damien's POVThe week before the wedding, everything went wrong.Monday the caterer called. Their kitchen had flooded. They couldn't do the event."Find another caterer," I told Victoria."With one week's notice? For twenty people with dietary restrictions?" She sighed. "I'll try."Tuesday my suit didn't fit. I'd lost weight since the accident and hadn't noticed. The tailor said he could fix it but it took three days.Alex's father called. He'd fallen and sprained his ankle. He could still come to the wedding but he'd be on crutches."It's fine," Alex said when I told him. "He'll be there. That's what matters."Thursday the photographer canceled. Family emergency. No backup available."Marcus knows someone," I said, trying to stay calm. "We'll figure it out."Friday morning I woke up with a fever."You're sick," Alex said, feeling my forehead."I'm fine.""You're burning up. And the wedding is in eight days.""I'll be better by then." I tried to get out of bed and immediately felt diz

Damien's POVWe had our first real fight.It started over something stupid. I'd scheduled a business trip to San Francisco without telling Alex first. Three days, investor meetings, nothing unusual."When were you planning to mention this?" Alex asked, looking at my calendar."I'm mentioning it now. I leave Tuesday.""Tuesday is in three days.""I know when Tuesday is.""And you didn't think to discuss it with me before booking flights?"I looked up from my laptop. "It's a business trip, not a major life decision. I didn't think I needed permission.""I'm not asking for permission. I'm asking for communication." He set his phone down. "We're married. You don't just disappear for three days without mentioning it.""I wasn't disappearing. I was going to San Francisco for work.""Without telling me until three days before.""I'm telling you now.""That's not the same thing."We stared at each other. First time we'd actually been angry at each other in months."Fine," I said. "Next time I

Alex's POVMaya had been talking for twelve minutes.Three more to go.I kept my face neutral, watching her move around the room with the casual confidence of someone who'd never once doubted herself. That was the part I couldn't shake. She wasn't nervous. Wasn't conflicted. She was explaining a twenty-year criminal empire the way she'd once walked me through quarterly reports."Your mother was meticulous," Maya said. "That was the problem. She documented everything. Every discrepancy, every flagged account. I found her notes before she could hand them over." She paused. "I liked her, actually. That made it harder.""But not hard enough to stop," I said."No." She said it simply, without apology. "I was nineteen and I had everything to lose. So I made a choice."Damien hadn't moved from beside me. His hand was still in mine, his grip steady even though I could feel the tension running through him like a current."The offshore accounts," he said. "Who else was involved at the board lev