Chapter 18
DAMIEN
I woke up with the kiss still burning on my lips.
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It had been hours, but I could still feel it–her breath mingling with mine, the softness of her lips, the way my heart had thudded against my chest like it was trying to escape. And even now, lying in the early silence of morning, I kept replaying it over and over, telling myself it was nothing. Just the heat of the moment.
But I wasn’t buying my own excuses anymore.
I barely slept last night. My mind wouldn’t let me. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face–Cia–wide- eyed, surprised, and then that flicker of pain just before she turned away. Guilt settled heavy in my gut. What the hell had I done?
I knew I needed to talk to her. There was no way around it. I had crossed a line, and she didn’t deserve to be left with the confusion of that moment. She could be in a relationship, or maybe even in love with someone else. Hell, for all I knew, she might have been too polite to slap me across the face. And what made it worse… was the possibility that she thought I used my position to corner her into that moment.
I rubbed my hands down my face.
No matter what I told myself, the truth was clearer than ever–being near her was dangerous. Dangerous for her. Dangerous for me. I liked her too much. I respected her, too. And that made things even more complicated. If I didn’t step back now, I’d risk not only ruining her career, but hurting her and my son in ways I couldn’t fix.
I made up my mind.
I was going back home. Today. The sooner, the better. I’d make arrangements for her to be transferred to another role. She deserved a clean slate, away from me and my confused feelings. It would sting–I’d grown used to working with her, but it was the right thing to do.
When Jeff stirred awake, I forced a smile onto my face. I dressed him slowly, gently, like I was trying to stretch the moment. There was a knot in my chest that tightened with every little task I did–buttoning his shirt, brushing down his wild hair.
“We’ll have breakfast in the room,” I told him quietly. “Then we’re going home.”
I thought he’d ask about Diana. She was still his mother, after all. But he didn’t even mention her. Instead, he looked up at me with curious eyes and said, “Is Miss Jones coming to have breakfast with us?”
I blinked, surprised.
My heart clenched.
I scoffed lightly, though there was nothing funny about the thought that followed. ‘Exactly what kind of mother have you been, Diana? Our son wakes up, and the first woman on his mind isn’t you. It’s someone he just met.’
“She’s eating in her room,” I said, keeping my voice even.
“But I want to eat with Miss Jones,” he pouted.
“Not this morning,” I replied, firm but gentle.
He stared at me, lips turned down, before whispering, “Can I talk to her on the phone then, please?”
I hesitated.
I didn’t want to. I wasn’t ready. But Jeff’s eyes–those big hopeful eyes–melted any resistance I had left.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. She picked up on the second ring. I didn’t say a word–just handed the phone to Jeff, my stomach knotting with the weight of everything unsaid between us.
“Miss Jones!” Jeff beamed into the phone. “Good morning! Did you eat your breakfast already? I’m eating in the room with Daddy.”
I could hear her soft laughter through the receiver, warm and bright. “I’ve eaten, sweetheart. That’s good- you two are having a father–son breakfast.”
Then I heard her ask, “Is your mummy feeling better now?”
Jeff shrugged as if she could see him. “I haven’t seen her today.”
Silence.
I wanted to explain, to jump in and say something–but I didn’t. I just listened.
After they finished talking, I took the phone back without speaking. My thumb hovered for a second before I opened a text window and typed:
We’ll be going back home very soon. Please meet me at the parking lot in forty minutes.
She replied almost instantly.
Okay, sir. I’ll be there.
I looked at Jeff. “Come on. Eat faster.”
Thirty–five minutes later, we were done. I packed our bags quickly and held Jeff’s hand as we made our way out of the room. As we turned the corner toward the car, I saw her standing there, right by the passenger side.
Cia.
She looked calm, collected. Her luggage sat by her feet, and when her eyes met mine, she greeted me with a polite nod. “Good morning, sir.”
I returned the greeting with a slight dip of my head. “Morning.”
Jeff ran up to her and grinned as she ruffled his hair. She smiled at him like nothing had happened. Like last
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Chapter 18
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night hadn’t happened. But when she glanced at me again, there was something different in her eyes. Distance. Professionalism. Walls.
We got into the car, and I hadn’t even turned the key before my phone rang.
Diana.
My fingers tightened around the phone. I didn’t want to talk to her, but I answered anyway.
“Damien…” Her voice was cautious. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. For last night. The way I acted toward your assistant–I was wrong. I lost my head. Please, I’m outside your room. Can you open the door so we can talk?”
I shifted in my seat. “We’re not there.”
“What?”
“I left. We’re heading back home.”
She was quiet for a moment, then, “You left? Without me? With Jeff?”
“I can take care of my son,” I replied sharply. “Goodbye, Diana.”
I ended the call before she could speak again.
At the airport, our car was taken for parking, and we boarded my private aircraft—me, Jeff, and Cia. She sat a few seats away, quiet, composed. Her eyes danced with every word Jeff threw her way, but she didn’t once look directly at me unless necessary.
I didn’t blame her.
Hours later, as we landed, I finally turned to her. “You should rest. Take tomorrow off.”
She nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
As our car pulled up, I opened the back door for Jeff, and he paused.
“Why isn’t Miss Jones coming with us?”
I glanced at her, then back at him. “Her house is in the opposite direction. We’re going to mine.”
“But… can’t we drop her off first?”
I sighed.
Her eyes flicked to mine, uncertain. I looked away before that knot in my chest tightened again.
“Hop in,” I said to her. “We’ll drop you off.
9:53 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
