THE BILLIONAIRE'S FORBIDDEN OBSESSION

CHAPTER FOUR -THE JEALOUS BILLIONAIRE

My first official appearance as Damien Cross's girlfriend was supposed to be easy.

It wasn't.

The event was a charity gala filled with celebrities, politicians, businessmen and women wearing dresses that probably cost more than my entire apartment.

I stood in front of the mirror while a stylist adjusted my dress.

"Perfect," she said.

I barely recognized myself.

The dress was elegant and fitted, but not too revealing.

When I walked downstairs, Damien was waiting.

He looked at me.

And froze.

For the first time since I met him, I saw something completely unguarded in his eyes.

Desire.

It disappeared almost immediately.

"You look beautiful."

I smiled.

"Thank you."

He walked toward me and offered his arm.

"Ready?"

I placed my hand on his arm.

"Ready."

We arrived at the gala twenty minutes later.

The moment we entered, cameras flashed.

"Damien! Who is she?"

"Is this your girlfriend?"

"Are you finally getting married?"

Damien placed his hand against my waist.

"She's Amara."

His voice was calm.

But his grip was firm.

Very firm.

We moved through the crowd together.

I tried to relax.

Then a familiar voice called my name.

"Amara?"

I turned.

My old coworker, Daniel, stood there.

He smiled.

"I didn't know you were coming."

"Daniel!"

I was genuinely happy to see someone I knew.

We started talking.

He asked about my new job.

I laughed when he made a joke about our old manager.

Then I felt it.

Someone watching us.

I glanced over my shoulder.

Damien.

His expression had completely changed.

He was standing several feet away, holding a glass.

His eyes were fixed on Daniel.

Cold.

Possessive.

Dangerously quiet.

I excused myself from Daniel and walked toward him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You look angry."

"I'm not."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You're squeezing that glass like you want to break it."

He looked down.

His grip relaxed.

"He's too comfortable with you."

I blinked.

"Daniel?"

"Yes."

"He's my friend."

"I don't like him."

I almost laughed.

"You don't even know him."

"I don't need to."

I shook my head.

"You're jealous."

His eyes met mine.

"Maybe."

The single word caught me off guard.

Before I could respond, a man approached us.

"Damien."

He was tall, confident and clearly wealthy.

He smiled at me.

"And you must be the woman everyone is talking about."

I smiled politely.

"I'm Amara."

He extended his hand.

"Lucas."

I shook it.

"Nice to meet you."

His smile widened.

"Likewise."

Damien stepped between us.

"Lucas."

The warning in his voice was unmistakable.

Lucas laughed.

"Relax. I was only introducing myself."

Damien placed his hand around my waist.

"She's with me."

Lucas raised his hands.

"Understood."

When he walked away, I looked at Damien.

"Was that necessary?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

His gaze dropped to my lips for a brief second.

"Because I don't like other men touching you."

My heart started beating faster.

I stepped away.

"This is a contract."

"I know."

"Then act like it."

He stared at me.

"You think I'm acting?"

I didn't know how to answer.

The music changed.

Couples began moving toward the dance floor.

Damien held out his hand.

"Dance with me."

"I don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

I hesitated before placing my hand in his.

He pulled me closer.

One hand settled on my waist.

The other held mine.

I could feel his warmth.

His cologne surrounded me.

For several seconds, we simply stared at each other.

Then he whispered,

"You're making this very difficult."

I swallowed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He moved with the music.

I followed him.

For the first time that night, I forgot about the contract.

I forgot about the money.

I forgot that this was supposed to be fake.

Because in his arms, everything felt real.

And that frightened me more than anything.

I didn't know it yet, but that night wasn't only the beginning of Damien's jealousy.

It was the beginning of my feelings for him.