Dark obsession

The cabin

Day 9. 4:30PM.

I thought “off-site strategy meeting” meant a conference room.

It meant a car. 2 hours out of the city.

It meant Damien driving.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Somewhere quiet.” He didn’t look at me. Hands on the wheel.

“Board wants us to ‘align on Q3’ without distractions.”

The distractions being: him. And me.

---

6:00PM. The Cabin.

Wood. Fireplace. No cell service. One bedroom.

One kitchen. One table.

Damien dropped our bags.

“Two bedrooms.” He said fast. “There are two. I checked.”

I didn’t answer. Just set my laptop down.

We worked in silence through dinner.

Legal docs. Financials. The usual.

But the air felt different. Thinner.

9:00PM. Power went out.

“Storm.” Damien said. Lit candles.

“Generator kicks in for heat. But wifi’s dead.”

So no emails. No board. No Blake.

We ended up on the floor, backs against the couch.

Sharing a blanket. Passing a thermos of tea.

“You’re quiet.” He said.

“I’m thinking.”

“About?”

“About how 9 days ago you were my boss.

And now you’re...” I trailed off.

“Your what?” He asked. Soft.

“I don’t know.” I admitted. “And that scares me.”

Damien shifted. Closer, but not touching.

“Elena. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want.

Not here. Not anywhere.”

“I know.” And I did.

We sat there. Fire crackling.

No titles. No tower. Just us.

11:00PM.

“I should sleep.” I stood.

“Yeah.” He stood too.

“Morning meeting at 7. We’ll go over the deck.”

I went to my room. Closed the door.

Lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

Day 9.

And for the first time, I wasn’t sure

if I wanted to go back to how things were before.

---

_END OF CHAPTER 9_