The Billionaire Who Rejected Me

Chapter 2: The Man I Swore to Forget

Chapter 2: The Man I Swore to Forget

Three years.

That was how long it had been since I had seen Damian Blackwood.

Three years since he had shattered my heart in front of hundreds of people.

Three years since I walked away from that church and promised myself I would never become that helpless woman again.

And now I was sitting in the back of a black limousine, staring at the headquarters of the man I had spent years trying to forget.

The Blackwood Group towered above the city.

Forty-eight floors of glass and steel.

A symbol of Damian's power.

I looked at it through the window and felt nothing.

At least, that was what I told myself.

"Miss Carter, we're here."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

The driver opened the door.

I stepped out.

My black heels clicked against the marble entrance as I walked into the building.

People immediately began staring.

Some recognized me.

Others whispered.

I ignored them all.

Three years ago, I had entered this building as Damian Blackwood's fiancée.

Today, I entered as the CEO of Carter International.

His competitor.

The receptionist stood immediately.

"Good morning, Miss Carter. Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

"I know."

She looked nervous.

"He's waiting on the forty-second floor."

"Then I'll go."

The elevator doors opened.

I stepped inside.

As the doors closed, my reflection appeared in the mirrored wall.

Black suit.

Long dark hair.

Gold earrings.

Confident eyes.

I barely recognized myself.

The elevator stopped at the forty-second floor.

A man was waiting outside.

"Miss Carter?"

"Yes."

"I'm Mr. Blackwood's assistant. Please follow me."

I followed him through the enormous office.

The moment the doors opened, I saw him.

Damian.

He stood with his back toward me, staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit.

His hair was slightly longer than I remembered.

His shoulders looked broader.

But his presence was exactly the same.

Cold.

Powerful.

Intimidating.

He turned.

Our eyes met.

For one brief second, neither of us spoke.

I expected my heart to race.

It didn't.

Instead, I felt something far more satisfying.

Indifference.

"Amelia."

His voice was deeper than I remembered.

"Damian."

He stared at me.

"You've changed."

I smiled faintly.

"So have you."

His eyes moved over me.

"You look successful."

"I am."

Something flickered across his face.

Perhaps surprise.

Perhaps irritation.

He gestured toward the chair.

"Sit."

I remained standing.

"You asked me to come here. Tell me why."

His jaw tightened.

"Straight to business."

"I don't have time for anything else."

He walked toward his desk and picked up a file.

"Carter International is preparing to acquire the Dawson Energy contract."

I didn't react.

"Yes."

"That contract belongs to the Blackwood Group."

"Not yet."

His eyes narrowed.

"You know what you're doing."

"Of course I do."

He placed the file on the desk.

"If you take that contract, you'll be declaring war on my company."

I smiled.

"Perhaps I already have."

Silence filled the room.

Damian studied me carefully.

"Why?"

I tilted my head.

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this?"

I almost laughed.

He really didn't understand.

"Because I want the contract."

"That's not the reason."

I stepped closer to his desk.

"You don't get to ask me about my reasons, Damian."

His expression darkened.

"Three years ago, you walked away from me."

"Yes."

"You disappeared."

"Yes."

"You never contacted me."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"You made it very clear that you didn't want me."

Something changed in his expression.

For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.

"I made a mistake."

I froze.

Those four words were the last thing I expected to hear.

Damian walked closer.

"I didn't understand what I was losing."

I forced myself not to react.

"That's unfortunate."

He stared at me.

"You don't feel anything?"

I smiled.

"Should I?"

His eyes hardened.

"No."

He stepped back.

"Then let's talk business."

I nodded.

"Finally."

He opened another file.

"I want to make you an offer."

"What kind?"

"A partnership."

I laughed.

"With you?"

"With the Blackwood Group."

"No."

He looked surprised.

"You haven't heard the offer."

"I don't need to."

"Amelia."

I turned toward the door.

"We're competitors, Damian."

He stood.

"You need this contract."

"So do you."

"That's why I'm offering you a partnership."

I stopped.

Then I looked back at him.

"What makes you think I would ever trust you again?"

His expression became unreadable.

"I don't expect you to trust me."

"Good."

I opened the door.

"But there is something you should know."

Damian's voice stopped me.

I turned.

He looked directly at me.

"Victoria is no longer part of my life."

My fingers tightened around the door handle.

I hadn't asked about her.

I didn't care about her.

At least, that's what I wanted him to believe.

"Congratulations," I said coldly.

Then I walked out.

But I didn't see the look on Damian's face after the door closed.

For the first time in three years, the billionaire who had rejected me looked afraid.

Because he had finally realized something.

The woman he abandoned was no longer chasing him.

She was becoming powerful enough to destroy him.