A Daddy for Christmas

Silence

THE butlers and guards quickly stepped aside as Darren strode out of the room, his coat billowing behind him like a cape. He ascended the grand staircase, his polished shoes echoing in the silence of the cavernous hallway.

Once inside his room, Darren locked the door and leaned against it, exhaling a long, steady breath. His sanctuary was as lavish as the rest of the mansion, soft lighting, luxurious furnishings, and a crackling fireplace, but it was the solitude he craved most.

As the fire’s glow reflected in his dark eyes, Darren pulled out his phone and scrolled through unread emails. Business proposals, charity requests, investment opportunities, all things that would take his mind off the bitter taste of his parents’ words. Yet, as much as he tried to focus, their voices lingered in his mind.

Third place. Not good enough.

He clenched his jaw and tossed the phone onto a nearby table. In the quiet of his room, the billionaire who was always in control let his guard down, if only for a moment. His hands balled into fists, but he forced himself to take a deep breath.

Outside, the snow fell softly, blanketing the estate in a serene stillness that belied the storm brewing within. Darren stared out of the window, his mind already turning to the empire he would continue to build, on his own terms, no matter what anyone said.

***

The dimly lit office was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of papers as Collins sat at his desk, lost in thought. His fingers drummed absently on the polished wood, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the digital clock on the wall, the seconds ticking away in the silence. It had been three weeks since Jasmine had caught him, three weeks of tension hanging in the air between them. Yet, she hadn't said a word.

What was she planning? Collins couldn't help but wonder. Her silence was more unnerving than any confrontation could have been. If Jasmine was the type to confront him, he would have known how to handle it. But this... this felt like a game. A game he wasn't sure he was ready to play.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the door to his office creaked open, and Danielle entered. She closed the door behind her with a soft click and walked towards him, her heels clicking on the polished floor. Her presence was a welcome distraction, even if he couldn't shake the feeling that he was always a little on edge.

"Working late again?" She asked, a playful lilt to her voice as she leaned over his desk, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

Collins looked up at her, offering a faint smile.

“Always. You know how it is.”

She didn’t waste any time. With a sudden move, Danielle perched herself on the edge of his desk, leaning forward as she ran a hand down his arm, her touch light but deliberate. He raised an eyebrow, sensing her intention, but didn't push her away. There was something intoxicating about the way she always seemed to know when to get close, when to pull away, keeping him guessing.

Her voice lowered to a seductive whisper.

"You seem... distracted," she murmured, her fingers tracing the back of his hand. "Maybe I can help you focus."

Collins couldn't deny the temptation, but his mind wasn’t on her at the moment. He had been thinking about Jasmine, about her cold silence, and the consequences of his own actions. He could feel the familiar stirrings of desire, but the weight of uncertainty kept him grounded.

“Ok I get it!” She smiled, “are you still worried about her? Come on, you should take the bull by the horns now,” she added.

Just as he was about to speak, his phone buzzed on the desk, its screen lighting up with a notification. Collins' eyes flicked down to it, and his pulse quickened when he saw the message, an urgent one that needed his attention.

He picked up the phone without hesitation, his fingers swiping across the screen to read it. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he absorbed the contents. There was something in that message that shifted the direction of his evening entirely.

Danielle watched him closely, her expression shifting from flirtation to curiosity as she noticed the change in his demeanor.

“Who is that?” She asked, her voice a little sharper now, her interest piqued.

Collins didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stood up, dropping the phone back onto the desk with a finality that told her all she needed to know. He straightened his jacket, smoothing out the creases before looking back at her.

“I have to go,” he said, his voice steady but with a sharp edge to it.

Danielle blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting him to cut their moment short.

“Go? Where?” Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head. “And what about... us?”

He didn't answer her question directly, instead leaning down to grab his coat from the chair.

“None of your business,” he replied coolly, his gaze meeting hers with a quiet intensity. He wasn’t trying to be cruel, but there was a finality in his tone that made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for more distractions.

He reached for the door handle and paused, glancing back at her.

“When you leave, shut the door behind you,” he added curtly before stepping out into the hallway, his mind already focused on the task at hand. As he walked along the hall, he reached out for his phone to ring his chauffeur.

Danielle stood there, motionless for a moment, watching him leave. Then, as the door clicked shut behind him, she was left alone in the office, a mix of frustration and confusion swirling inside her.

What had just happened? And what was he really up to?