Billionaire's Forbidden Obsession

Under Pressure

The following morning, I found myself staring at the papers in front of me, trying to absorb the information Damien had given me. It felt like everything was moving too fast. I had been thrown into this high-stakes world without any time to properly prepare, and now I was expected to be a part of something much larger than myself.

The folder Damien had handed me was filled with details about the upcoming meeting. The potential partner was a European conglomerate, a major player in the global tech industry. They were interested in forming a strategic alliance with Blackwood Industries. The stakes were high, and Damien was known for getting exactly what he wanted, no matter the cost.

I sat at the desk in my temporary office, the cool morning light spilling through the windows. I was supposed to meet Damien at 8:30, but I couldn’t shake the nerves coursing through my body. What if I messed up? What if I wasn’t cut out for this?

The knock on my door startled me, and before I could respond, Lucas, Damien’s assistant, stepped in.

“Miss Callahan,” he said, his expression unreadable. “Mr. Blackwood is ready for you.”

I nodded and stood, clutching the folder in my hands. I followed Lucas down the sleek hallway toward Damien’s office, my heart pounding in my chest.

The door to Damien’s office was already open when we arrived. He stood by the window, his back to me, looking out at the city skyline. He didn’t turn around as I entered, but his voice was as sharp as ever.

“Evelyn,” he said, his tone making it clear that I was expected to be fully alert. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure I was.

“I’ve been studying the papers,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “But I’m still not sure what exactly I’m supposed to do in this meeting.”

Damien finally turned around, his eyes meeting mine with that calculating gaze of his. “Your role is simple. Watch, listen, and make sure nothing goes wrong. You’ll be my eyes and ears, but if the situation demands it, I expect you to act accordingly.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Act accordingly? What did that even mean?

He walked over to the table, where a tray of coffee and pastries sat. “You’re going to witness a negotiation, Evelyn. The balance of power will shift in these rooms with every word spoken. You need to understand the weight of the decisions we’re about to make. This is more than just business. It’s about asserting control.”

Control. I had seen the word written all over Blackwood Industries since I stepped foot in the building, but hearing it from Damien made it feel like a threat more than a principle.

“I understand,” I said, though the words didn’t quite feel true.

Damien picked up a cup of coffee, his gaze never leaving mine. “Good. Don’t forget your place in all of this. You may be a part of the Blackwood team now, but don’t get too comfortable.”

Before I could respond, Lucas reappeared, standing in the doorway.

“Everything’s set. The meeting will begin in fifteen minutes,” he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Damien nodded. “Let’s go then.”

I followed them both down the corridor, feeling like I was walking into the lion’s den.

The conference room was large, with a long, polished table in the center. At one end of the table, a few men and women were already seated, all sharply dressed, exuding power and authority. They were the representatives of the European conglomerate, and I could tell they were not people who were used to being denied anything.

Damien took his seat at the head of the table, his posture straight and commanding. I sat beside him, my hands folded in my lap as I tried to remain as still as possible, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

The meeting began with pleasantries—handshakes, small talk, and polite smiles. But I could see it all for what it really was: a game of chess. Every word was carefully chosen, every move meticulously planned.

I watched as Damien leaned in, his voice low but firm. “We’re prepared to invest in your company, but we need something in return. You understand that this isn’t just about money. We want a long-term partnership, one that benefits both sides equally. That means control over certain assets within your company, as well as influence over key decisions.”

The European representatives exchanged glances, and for a moment, I could almost hear the wheels turning in their heads. This was the part of the negotiation where the stakes grew higher, where power was no longer just a concept, but something that could be seized in an instant.

One of the men, a tall, silver-haired executive, spoke up. “Mr. Blackwood, we value your interest, but we’re not ready to give up control just yet. We need more guarantees. More assurances.”

Damien didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink. “And what if I told you that without my involvement, your company would lose key funding in the next quarter? What if I told you that the deals you’ve been counting on are suddenly off the table?”

The room went silent. The tension was palpable, and I could see the executives squirming in their seats. Damien had made his move, and it was clear that they were running out of options.

“Mr. Blackwood,” the silver-haired man said, his voice a little softer now. “Let’s not make this a matter of threats. We can negotiate.”

Damien smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of kindness. It was the smile of someone who knew he had already won.

“We are negotiating,” he said smoothly. “But the terms are non-negotiable.”

I glanced around the room, trying to gauge the reactions of everyone present. It was clear that Damien had them exactly where he wanted them. This was more than just a negotiation; it was a demonstration of power. And I was witnessing it firsthand.

As the meeting continued, I couldn’t help but feel a growing unease. The more I saw of this world, the more I realized just how far I was from where I had started. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that Damien was drawing me deeper into this world of high-stakes power games, where every decision could change everything.

I thought I knew what I was getting into. But as I watched Damien, cool and collected, steering the conversation toward his ultimate victory, I realized that I had only scratched the surface.

And it terrified me.

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