He shows up
1054 Words
*Chapter 4: He Shows Up*
I’m back in Port Harcourt for exactly 3 hours before my life implodes.
The flight from Lagos lands at 11am. By 2:14pm I’m at my desk, drowning in merger reports, and pretending I don’t smell Damien’s cologne on my sweater.
My phone buzzes.
Unknown Number: _Lobby. Now._
My blood goes cold.
I don’t have to guess who it is.
I take the elevator down anyway. Stupid. But I need to see his face to know how bad this is.
Tyler is standing by the marble fountain in Cole Enterprises. Designer suit. Perfect hair. That smile he used when he wanted something.
“Ava.” He steps forward like we didn’t end 2 years ago. “You look good.”
“What are you doing here, Tyler?”
“Can’t I miss my ex?” He reaches for my hand. I pull back.
“Security is 10 feet away.”
He drops his hand. “Fine. We need to talk. About your mom.”
There it is. The knife.
“My mom is none of your business.”
“She called me, Ava. She’s scared. The bills are piling up and—”
“Don’t.” My voice shakes. “You lost the right to use her when you lied to me.”
Footsteps behind us. Slow. Deliberate.
“Is there a problem here?”
Damien.
He’s in a navy suit. No tie. Hair slightly messy like he came straight from a meeting. His eyes aren’t on me. They’re on Tyler’s hand, which is now 2 inches from my arm.
“Damien,” Tyler says, too easy. “Didn’t know you were still in the office. Big brother energy, huh?”
Damien doesn’t answer him. He looks at me. “Ms. Monroe. My office. Now.”
It’s not a question.
I follow him. I can feel Tyler’s eyes on my back the whole way.
---
His office door closes with a soft click that somehow sounds like a gunshot.
“What was that?” Damien asks. He’s pacing.
“He showed up.”
“I can see that.” He stops. Turns. “Did he touch you?”
The question is sharp. Possessive.
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“He mentioned my mom.” My throat closes. “Said she called him.”
Damien’s jaw ticks. He goes to his desk, pulls out his phone, types something.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure he can’t get past the front desk again without my approval.”
“You can’t ban him. He’s—”
“My brother.” Damien cuts me off. “I know exactly who he is.”
The room goes quiet.
Then his phone buzzes. He glances at it. Frowns.
“What?” I ask.
“Board wants an update. 15 minutes.”
Of course they do.
He looks up at me. Really looks. Sees the way I’m holding myself. Arms crossed. Shoulders tense.
“Sit,” he says softer. Points to the couch.
I do. He doesn’t sit with me. He leans against his desk, arms crossed.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m allowed to lie to my boss.”
He almost smiles. “I’m not your boss right now.”
My heart does something stupid.
“Then who are you?”
Damien pushes off the desk. Comes to sit next to me. Not close. But close enough that I can feel the heat from him.
“I’m the guy who’s tired of watching you pretend you’re fine when you’re not.”
The words knock the air out of me.
“Why do you care?” I whisper. “Rule #1.”
He looks at me. Really looks. Dark eyes, tired.
“Because Rule #1 was to protect the company. And you’re the company right now.”
It’s a lie. And we both know it.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Tyler. Again.
Damien sees it. His whole body goes still.
“Give it to me.”
“What?”
“Your phone. Ava.”
I hand it over without thinking.
He unlocks it. My passcode. He remembers it from 2 years ago. Of course he does.
Tyler: _Don’t let him scare you. I can help with the bills. Come home._
Damien stares at the message for 3 seconds. Then he types back.
From my phone. As me.
_Ava: Don’t contact me again. Don’t contact my mom. If you do, I’ll get a restraining order. And my boss will make sure you never work in this city again._
He hits send. Hands it back.
My mouth is dry. “You didn’t—”
“I did.” His voice is flat. Final. “Are we clear?”
I nod. Because what else can I do?
There’s a knock. His assistant. “Board is ready, Mr. Cole.”
He stands. Straightens his jacket. The CEO mask slides back on.
“Stay here. I’ll be 30 minutes.”
“Damien—”
“Don’t.” He stops at the door. “Don’t answer him. Don’t see him. Don’t think about him. Think about the merger. Think about your job. Think about anything but him.”
Then he’s gone.
---
30 minutes later I’m still on his couch when the door opens.
It’s not Damien.
It’s HR.
“Ms. Monroe? Mr. Cole asked us to process something for you.”
She slides an envelope across the coffee table.
Inside: A check. A big one.
Memo line: _Medical - Family_
My hands shake.
“Mr. Cole said to tell you: no strings. No Rule #1 attached to this. Just... take care of her.”
I can’t breathe.
The door opens again. Damien.
He sees the envelope. Sees my face.
“You didn’t have to—” I start.
“I know.” He cuts me off. “But I wanted to.”
He comes in. Closes the door.
For a long time we just sit there. Me with a check. Him with his hands in his pockets.
Finally he says, quiet:
“He’s not going to hurt you again. Not while you work for me.”
It’s not Rule #1.
It’s a promise.
And it’s so much more dangerous.
---
Coming next
*Chapter 5: The Gala*
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