Chapter6
779 Words
She marched directly toward the executive elevators before common sense could stop her.
A receptionist blinked nervously.
“Miss, you can’t go upstairs without—”
But the elevator doors already closed.
Inside the top executive floor, employees immediately scattered the moment Amara stormed past them.
She barely noticed.
One assistant tried stopping her.
“Miss Daniels, Mr. Cole is in a meeting—”
Too late.
Amara pushed open the boardroom doors dramatically.
Every executive froze.
Richard Cole looked furious.
Damien looked… amused.
Completely amused.
“Excuse us,” Damien said calmly to the room.
Nobody argued.
Within seconds, the boardroom emptied entirely except for Damien and Amara.
The moment the doors shut, Amara crossed her arms.
“You lied.”
Damien leaned back comfortably in his chair.
“Good morning to you too.”
“You promised not to interfere.”
“I didn’t interfere.”
“You requested my application personally!”
“I requested they review it carefully.”
“That’s interfering!”
Damien watched her quietly for a moment.
God, she was beautiful when angry.
That realization complicated things further.
“You still have to earn the position,” he said calmly.
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
“The point is I don’t need favors.”
His expression softened slightly.
“You think believing in someone automatically means pity.”
Amara blinked.
Because somehow…
That was exactly what she thought.
Damien stood slowly from his chair.
Tall.
Controlled.
Dangerously attractive in a dark suit.
Amara suddenly became very aware they were alone.
“That’s not why I helped you,” he said quietly.
“Then why?”
He stepped closer.
Not enough to touch her.
Just enough to make her heartbeat stumble.
“Because I wanted to.”
The honesty in his voice shook her more than any flirtation could have.
She looked away quickly.
“You barely know me.”
“I’d like to change that.”
“There you go again.”
“What?”
“Talking like this is simple.”
For Damien, maybe it was.
Rich men pursued whatever interested them.
But women like Amara didn’t have the luxury of reckless decisions.
“I can’t become some billionaire’s temporary obsession,” she admitted softly before she could stop herself.
The words lingered heavily between them.
Damien’s expression changed instantly.
Not offended.
Almost… hurt.
“You think that’s all this is?”
Amara hesitated.
“I think men like you eventually get bored.”
A long silence followed.
Then Damien spoke quietly.
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you’ve spent so much time surviving that you don’t know what to do when someone genuinely cares.”
The statement hit far too close.
Amara looked away immediately.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Then tell me.”
Her chest tightened.
Why did he keep doing that?
Speaking so directly.
Looking at her like she mattered.
Before she could answer, a cold voice interrupted from the doorway.
“Interesting.”
Both turned instantly.
Richard Cole stood near the entrance watching them carefully.
Amara stepped backward immediately.
Damien’s jaw tightened.
“Father.”
Richard’s sharp gaze moved toward Amara.
“So this is the waitress.”
Humiliation rushed through her instantly.
Damien’s voice hardened.
“Enough.”
But Richard ignored him completely.
“You caused quite a scene at the gala.”
Amara straightened defensively.
“It was an accident.”
“I’m sure.”
The condescension in his tone made Damien’s expression dangerous.
“You need something?” Damien asked coldly.
Richard smiled faintly.
“Only curiosity.”
His eyes returned toward Amara again.
“And what exactly are your intentions with my son?”
Amara stared at him in disbelief.
“My intentions?”
“Yes.”
Before she could answer, Damien stepped forward.
“That’s enough.”
The quiet fury in his voice filled the room instantly.
Even Richard noticed it.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Richard adjusted his cufflinks calmly.
“You seem protective.”
Damien held his father’s gaze steadily.
“I’m warning you.”
For one tense moment, silence dominated the room.
Then Richard smiled coldly.
“Careful, Damien. Distractions destroy powerful men.”
With that, he walked away.
The moment he disappeared, Amara exhaled shakily.
“Your family is terrifying.”
Damien rubbed a hand across his jaw tiredly.
“You have no idea.”
For the first time since meeting him, Amara saw something raw beneath Damien’s calm mask.
Exhaustion.
Pressure.
Loneliness.
And suddenly she understood something important.
Damien Cole might own half the city.
But he wasn’t free either.
- Writer
