The morning of the Alder & Co. review, I was already awake before the alarm.
I showered, dressed in a structured cream blazer and black trousers, and pulled my hair into a low knot. No red lipstick today. I needed to look like a businesswoman, not a dancer. Not Damian's arm candy.
Bianca met me in the lobby with a coffee and a quiet "You've got this." I took the coffee, not the reassurance. My stomach was tight, but my hands were steady.
The car ride was silent. Damian sat beside me, scrolling through emails, but I felt his attention on me like a second coat. He didn't ask if I was nervous. He didn't need to.
"You've done this before," he said finally, not looking up.
"This is different. This is the biggest room I've ever been in."
He turned, grey eyes calm. "The room doesn't matter.
