A Secret Crush On My Step-Uncle

Nicola's Mistake

Damien's POV.

I was in my office, holding a Vogue magazine. On the cover of the magazine was the faceless model, Annabel Claw.

The name didn't ring a bell, I had never met her before nor had any contact with her but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I knew her from somewhere.

The familiarity was odd but it truly felt like we've met before. Looking at her body now, I couldn't help but get attracted to her glimmering skin, slender long legs, piercing blue eyes, and beautiful little lips.

Well, any man would get attracted to such a beauty even without seeing her face but the attraction I felt was different. It was the exact attraction I had for Elise.

When I first laid my eyes on Elise, I had to convince myself that she was my step-niece, a naive nineteen-year-old girl and I couldn't crave her.

I continued telling myself that but working so close to her, I couldn't resist the vulnerability and innocence that she had. She was too pure for me to defile but I wanted her.

There was this strong connection that I couldn't stop myself from feeling. That was the exact sensation I had while staring at this magazine.

At the fashion show when our eyes met, I recalled Elise's blue eyes but unfortunately, the faceless model had no innocence in her own eyes, they were hardened with seriousness and probably professionalism.

As she stared at me longer than she should. I had this knowing feeling in me that she was someone that I had met. Not someone I had randomly seen on the street or the television but someone that I have been intimate with.

I had been with other women before Elise but Annabel Claw had no similarities with them. The person she had any similarities with, was Elise. They had the same aura or energy around them.

The thought of them being the same person came to my mind but I pushed it aside because It didn't make any sense.

I could never doubt the potential of the woman I loved and still love but Elise never dreamed of being a model. I doubted that she had any dreams at all.

Leaning back on my chair, my mind trailed back to that fateful night, five years ago. It was the last time I laid my eyes on Elise, the morning I woke up from my drunken stupor, she was nowhere to be found.

I searched for her in that hotel. I asked people around and they stated that a girl was hit by a car. Trepidation gripped my heart that day. I tried finding out the name of the hospital where she was taken but no one had that information.

After checking almost every hospital, I discovered that she had been discharged. At least she wasn't dead but she wasn't with me either.

She had left without getting an apology from me.

"Elise…" I whispered and stared longer at the magazine. "Am I being a bastard and d**k again for staring at this woman in such a promiscuous manner?"

"I wonder where you are. I'm certain that if you ever knew that I stared at another woman in such a strange way, you wouldn't regret leaving me." I muttered and released a sad sigh from my lips.

I still had questions since the day of her disappearance. Why did she leave without any questions or show of rage? Who discharged her from the hospital? And why has my search for her been so futile?

The people I had hired never found any information about her. It seemed like my princess had vanished from the face of the earth.

A knock suddenly came on the door and I snapped out of my reverie. I turned the magazine upside down, probably feeling ashamed for fantasizing over a woman I knew nothing about but I felt an allure to.

"Come in," I said and lifted my gaze at the door.

My secretary walked in and my eyes landed on her, I noticed how exposed she was dressed. She had never dressed in such an indecent manner before.

She had always acted innocent, cute, and formal. I respected her for that but today, I didn't comprehend the sudden change.

It looked like she had transformed from a saint to a complete w***e. The blouse she wore exposed most of her boobs and it made me feel like, 'Why bother wearing a bra?'

As she walked to me, I watched her boobs bounce and her hips sway from side to side. I noticed how her cheeks tinted red, she probably thought I had some interest in her. Well, she was wrong.

I could never love another woman apart from Elise. She was the only woman who could get my attention in such an intoxicating and pleasurable manner, and that's why I'm concerned about the new awakening that I feel toward that model.

"Good morning, sir." She greeted me as arrived at my table.

She had been working with me for the past three years but I don't remember her name. I have never bothered asking. So, if she thought that her little seduction would work on me then she's so mistaken.

"Morning," I responded without lowering my gaze. "Why are you here?"

"I just came to remind you about the runway shows…"

I raised my hand, silencing her.

"Did I ask you to remind me about anything?"

Her eyes roamed on my face but she lowered her gaze when I gave her a hard and cold stare.

"I'm sorry sir. I just—"

"Okay, I'm gonna be direct with you." I interrupted her again. "I'm not a man that sugarcoats things to make you feel better. I will be straightforward with you and I don't care if your feelings get hurt."

"As an employee, your manner of dressing has to be formal. You can't walk into my office, looking like a worn-out piece of crap. Exposing your body for the wrong reason is so despicable." I said, not mindful of my words or how harsh they were.

I had to put her in her place before things would get out of hand.

"Sir…" her voice came out shaky. "I didn't dress to seduce you. You're imagining things."

I couldn't hold back the laughter that erupted from my throat. A laugh wasn't required in such an uncomfortable moment but it was hard to keep it in.

"Are you trying to call me a liar?" I asked, looking at her in disbelief.

Before she could open her mouth to say anything in her defense or offend me further, I told her to f**k off. In other words; "I need your resignation letter on my desk tomorrow, failure to submit it and you would be relieved of your duties without any severance pay."

She gasped and her body trembled.

"Sir, please don't do this to me. I'm sorry for trying to seduce you. I made a mistake."

"Sorry, I'm not the forgiving type." I frowned and picked up the Vogue magazine again.

She tried begging but all her pleas fell on deaf ears. She had been competent for these years but with her behavior today. I sensed that she could start a rumor.

Just like the rumors and photos of Elise's supposed scandalous behavior spread across the internet, five years ago. While I gained more attention because people thought I was a victim, it came at the cost of losing the woman I loved.

It hurt me that they thought so terribly about Elise. She never deserved the horrible treatment she got from everyone around her, especially me.

So, I didn't want history to repeat itself.

"Sir, please…" She cried harder.

"Leave my office!" I yelled and at that moment, the door to my office flung open.

I beheld Nicola and my lips curved downwards. I hated her but had no other choice but to hire her in my company.

She had tried seducing me numerous times but I didn't care about her or the movement of her ass each time she walked. My eyes simply watched with no interest, each time she put so much effort into enticing me.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Nicola asked, glaring at my former secretary.

"Miss Nicola, it's not what you think. I would never try to seduce Mr. Sinclair." If she had just kept quiet and allowed Nicola to rant then there wouldn't be any problems but she had to create one for herself.

"You're trying to seduce my man!" Nicola raised her voice, sounding as possessive as she wanted.

She knew that all her obsessions wouldn't affect me but she had refused to stop her insanity.

"Ma'am, it's not what you think."

She tried defending herself but Nicola pressed forward and landed a hard slap on her cheek. It must have stung badly because the side of her face turned red with her fingerprints.

I somewhat felt sorry for her but she escaped from Nicola's anger before I could intervene in the matter.

"You had no right to hit her like that." I reprimanded her.

Nicola's nose scrunched as her eyes sighted the magazine on my table. She rushed to my table and tried to grab it but I was able to snatch it away.

"You're already fantasizing over her! Were you the one who helped her? Were you pretending all along? Because it fazes me how such a useless being could become so famous without help from someone at the top!" She yelled, her eyes widened at me.

I stared at her in confusion.

"What are you talking about? Who did I help?"

"Elise! Weren't you the one who helped her in becoming that f*****g faceless model?" Nicola shrieked, her eyes blazing with anger.

A wave of shock washed over me. My jaw dropped and my body became tense.

I lowered my gaze and looked at the magazine. Shaky gasps escaped my lips and slowly a smile formed.

"You're Elise," I muttered to the magazine cover. "I knew there was something beautiful and amazing about you. I just…just couldn't place my hands on it."

"You didn't know." Nicola gasped and reclined back.

I looked up at her and it seemed like she realized the mistake she had made but it was the best thing she had ever done for me.

"I have to find you, Elise." I gazed at the picture again. "I have to make you mine."

"What did you just say?" I heard Nicola's snarl. She walked to me and grabbed my swivel chair, turning me to her.

"You're not going to look for her. Do you understand me?" She yelled authoritatively.

"I'm not your father who listens to your every whim. So watch your mouth and get out of my face.." I growled at her.

"Damien!" She scowled. "I love you and I'm not ready to give you up for any reason! If you try finding her or attempting to get back with her. I will kill her."

"You will do no such thing."

"Is that what you think?"She chuckled sinisterly.

"Well, I'll have you know that I ruined her life before but this time, I intend to end it!" She uttered with a sick determination in her tone.