THE TRAP...
3224 Words
The next morning, Amara arrived at Blackwood Holdings with one goal.
Avoid thinking about Damian.
It was a simple goal.
Unfortunately, Damian Blackwood made simple things impossible.
She had barely stepped out of the elevator when she saw him standing beside her desk.
Waiting.
Again.
Amara stopped.
“You do realize you own an office?”
Damian looked up from his phone.
“I know.”
“And yet you keep standing around my desk.”
“I work here too.”
She dropped her bag onto the chair.
“You're becoming clingy.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I am not.”
“Okay.”
“Don't say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you don't believe me.”
Amara smiled.
“Because I don't.”
Damian stared at her.
Then his phone rang.
His expression changed the moment he looked at the screen.
Amara noticed.
“Problem?”
“No.”
“That face says otherwise.”
Damian answered the call.
“Blackwood.”
His voice became colder as he listened.
Amara pretended not to pay attention.
But after several seconds, Damian looked toward her.
His eyes were unreadable.
“I'll handle it.”
He ended the call.
Amara folded her arms.
“What happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
She sighed.
“There it is again.”
“What?”
“The mysterious billionaire act.”
“I don't act.”
“Exactly. That's the problem.”
Damian almost smiled.
Almost.
But then his expression hardened again.
“I have a meeting.”
“Okay.”
“Stay here.”
Amara stared.
“Damian.”
“What?”
“I work here. Where exactly do you think I was going?”
He said nothing.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Why are you acting strange?”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“Amara.”
“Fine.”
She sat down.
Damian walked toward the elevator.
Then stopped.
He turned around.
“Don't leave the building alone today.”
Amara slowly stood again.
“Excuse me?”
His voice remained calm.
“Just don't.”
She stared.
“Why?”
“Because I asked you to.”
“That is not an answer.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
Amara crossed her arms.
“See? This is exactly what I mean. You tell me what to do and expect me not to ask questions.”
“I'm trying to protect you.”
The words made her pause.
Damian realized what he had admitted.
Amara looked at him carefully.
“From what?”
His silence answered everything.
She stepped closer.
“Damian.”
“Later.”
“No.”
“Amara.”
“You don't get to scare me and then walk away.”
His eyes softened slightly.
“I don't want you scared.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Damian looked toward the elevator.
His meeting.
The call.
Whatever had happened—
It was serious.
But before he could answer, another voice interrupted them.
“Good morning.”
Celeste.
Amara turned.
Celeste stood near the elevators, looking perfectly composed.
Too composed.
Amara immediately became suspicious.
Damian's face turned cold.
“What are you doing here?”
Celeste smiled.
“I have a meeting.”
“With who?”
“Your board.”
Damian frowned.
“You weren't scheduled.”
“I was invited.”
He looked at Amara.
Amara checked the schedule.
Celeste was right.
Her name was there.
Damian's eyes returned to Celeste.
“What do you want?”
Celeste's smile tightened.
“You make me sound dangerous.”
“You are.”
Amara's eyebrows rose.
Celeste looked amused.
“Charming.”
Damian walked toward the elevator.
“Meeting room.”
Celeste followed.
Then she paused.
Her eyes met Amara's.
“Be careful, Miss Cole.”
Amara stared.
The elevator doors closed.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she whispered—
“That's not suspicious at all.”
---
At eleven thirty, Mr. Harris arrived at Amara's desk.
“Sir wants you in the boardroom.”
Amara picked up her tablet.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
She walked toward the boardroom.
The moment she entered, the atmosphere felt wrong.
Damian sat at the head of the table.
Celeste sat three seats away.
Several executives were present.
Papers covered the table.
Amara quietly walked toward Damian.
He looked up.
His eyes immediately softened.
“Where were you?”
She blinked.
“At my desk.”
“You took too long.”
“It has been forty seconds.”
Damian ignored that.
“Sit.”
Amara sat beside him.
Celeste watched them.
The meeting began.
Numbers.
Contracts.
Investment projections.
Amara took notes quietly.
But something kept bothering her.
Celeste barely looked at the documents.
Instead, every few minutes, her attention moved toward Amara.
Watching.
Studying.
Waiting.
Amara hated it.
Halfway through the meeting, Damian's phone vibrated.
He checked the message.
His expression changed.
“Excuse me.”
He stood.
Amara looked up.
“Damian?”
“I'll be back.”
He walked out.
The room remained silent for a few seconds.
Then Celeste stood.
“I need some air.”
Amara immediately frowned.
She waited.
Then followed.
---
The hallway was empty.
Celeste stood near the windows.
She didn't turn around when Amara approached.
“You followed me.”
Amara leaned against the wall.
“You were acting suspiciously.”
Celeste laughed quietly.
“I don't need permission to leave a meeting.”
“True.”
“Then why are you here?”
Amara studied her.
“Why did you tell me to be careful?”
Celeste slowly turned.
Her expression was calm.
“You should be careful around Damian.”
Amara's eyes narrowed.
“That isn't what you meant.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
Celeste sighed.
“Fine.”
She reached into her bag.
Amara immediately became alert.
Celeste pulled out her phone.
“There is someone interested in you.”
Amara frowned.
“What?”
Celeste showed her a message.
UNKNOWN: The girl has to go.
Amara's blood ran cold.
She looked at Celeste.
“What is this?”
“A warning.”
“From who?”
“I don't know.”
Amara stared at the screen.
“Why would you show me this?”
Celeste looked away.
“Because whatever problems exist between you and me…”
Her eyes returned to Amara.
“I don't want you hurt.”
Amara didn't believe her.
Not completely.
But the message looked real.
“Did Damian know?”
Celeste hesitated.
That was enough.
“He knew.”
“Perhaps.”
Amara's heart dropped.
“He told me not to leave the building.”
“Yes.”
“And he didn't tell me why.”
Celeste's voice softened.
“Damian protects people in strange ways.”
Amara stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he believes controlling the situation is the same as protecting someone.”
The words hit too close to home.
Celeste continued.
“You should ask yourself something, Amara.”
Amara's face hardened.
“What?”
“Do you really want to be part of this world?”
Before Amara could respond, Damian's voice echoed down the hallway.
“Amara.”
She turned.
He was walking toward them.
Fast.
Too fast.
His eyes moved from Amara to Celeste.
“What did you tell her?”
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing.”
Damian stopped in front of Amara.
“Did she show you anything?”
Amara's silence changed his expression.
“Amara.”
“She showed me a message.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
Celeste calmly put her phone away.
“Maybe she deserves to know.”
Damian turned toward her.
“Leave.”
Celeste smiled.
“Excuse me?”
“I said leave.”
“Damian—”
“Now.”
His voice was quiet.
But terrifying.
Celeste's expression hardened.
For one second, she looked like she wanted to argue.
Then she smiled.
“Fine.”
She looked at Amara.
“Think carefully.”
Then she walked away.
Amara waited until Celeste disappeared around the corner.
Then she turned to Damian.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want to worry you.”
Her laugh was sharp.
“Congratulations. You failed.”
Damian ran a hand through his hair.
“Amara.”
“No.”
She stepped away.
“I'm tired of this.”
His face changed.
“Of what?”
“Of you deciding what I can handle.”
Damian stared at her.
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
“By hiding things from me?”
“Yes.”
She laughed without humor.
“You hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
His jaw tightened.
“I would rather you be angry at me than afraid.”
The words stopped her.
For a moment, Amara saw something beneath his cold expression.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
But she was still angry.
“You should have trusted me.”
Damian looked at her.
“I know.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“Because I don't know how.”
Amara's anger softened.
Only slightly.
Damian took a breath.
“After my parents died, my grandfather handled everything.”
She remained silent.
“He told me that if I wanted to survive in this world, I had to control every situation before it controlled me.”
His eyes moved away.
“So that's what I learned.”
Amara looked at him.
“To control everything?”
“To try.”
His voice became quieter.
“But you can't control people.”
“No.”
“And you can't protect me by deciding everything for me.”
His eyes returned to hers.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
She studied him.
Then sighed.
“What exactly is happening?”
Damian hesitated.
Finally—
“There have been messages.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“Who sent them?”
“We don't know.”
“And Celeste?”
His face darkened.
“She claims she received one too.”
“Claims?”
“I don't trust her.”
Amara folded her arms.
“Do you think she sent them?”
Damian remained silent.
She understood.
“You do.”
“I don't know.”
“Then why is she still allowed in this building?”
“Because accusing her without proof would create problems.”
Amara stared.
“You're rich.”
“That doesn't make me above the law.”
Her lips twitched.
“You almost sounded responsible.”
“Don't ruin the moment.”
Despite herself, Amara smiled.
Damian's expression softened.
“There.”
“What?”
“You smiled.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Don't.”
He smiled slightly.
“I'm glad.”
Her heart skipped.
---
That afternoon, Damian refused to let Amara go home alone.
“I can call a ride.”
“No.”
“I can take the train.”
“No.”
“Damian.”
“No.”
She stood in front of his desk.
“You're impossible.”
“And you're stubborn.”
“I'm going home.”
“Not alone.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What are you going to do? Follow me?”
“Yes.”
Amara blinked.
“You admit it now?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
Damian stood.
“I'll take you.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
He picked up his keys.
“Because I want to.”
The answer was so simple that Amara forgot how to respond.
Damian noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're smiling.”
“Drive.”
---
The ride to Amara's apartment was quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Just unfamiliar.
Damian usually filled silence with nothing.
Amara usually filled it with words.
But today, she stared out the window.
Damian watched her occasionally.
“You're thinking.”
“I always think.”
“Not this much.”
She looked at him.
“Are you worried?”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened.
“You just admitted it?”
“I don't want to argue today.”
“That must be serious.”
Damian almost smiled.
Then his expression became serious again.
“If anything feels wrong, call me.”
“Okay.”
“Immediately.”
“Okay.”
“Don't ignore me.”
She turned toward him.
“I won't.”
The sincerity in her voice made him relax slightly.
When they arrived outside her apartment, Damian stepped out first.
Amara frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Walking you upstairs.”
“You've done enough.”
“Apparently not.”
“Damian.”
He opened the passenger door.
“Amara.”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
They walked toward the building together.
Noah opened the apartment door before Amara could unlock it.
“Finally!”
He stopped.
His eyes moved to Damian.
“Oh.”
Amara closed her eyes.
“Noah.”
“You didn't say you were bringing him home.”
“I didn't bring him home.”
Damian raised an eyebrow.
Amara looked at him.
“Don't.”
Noah grinned.
“Come in.”
Damian looked toward Amara.
She sighed.
“You can come in for five minutes.”
“Six.”
“Five.”
“Fine.”
Noah stepped aside.
Damian entered.
The apartment was small.
Warm.
Lived-in.
Books sat on the table.
A blanket rested over the couch.
A family photograph stood beside the television.
Damian looked at it.
Amara noticed.
“That was before.”
He looked at her.
Before her parents died.
He understood.
“I'm sorry.”
Her expression softened.
“You don't have to say that.”
“I know.”
“But you did.”
“Yes.”
Noah watched them carefully.
Amara pointed at him.
“Go to your room.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“You're bossy.”
“She learned from me.”
Amara and Noah both turned toward Damian.
Noah grinned.
“I like him.”
“Don't.”
Amara grabbed a cushion.
Noah disappeared laughing.
Damian looked at Amara.
“You're very loved.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“I hope so.”
He stepped closer.
“You are.”
The room became quiet.
Amara looked at him.
“Damian.”
“Yes?”
“Are you scared?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
“Yes.”
Her breath caught.
“Of what?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Something happening to you.”
Her expression softened completely.
For the first time, she understood.
Damian wasn't just being controlling.
He was afraid.
But fear did not excuse everything.
She stepped closer.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“But I still want to protect you.”
She smiled faintly.
“Then protect me properly.”
His eyebrows drew together.
“How?”
“Trust me.”
The words settled heavily between them.
Damian nodded once.
“Okay.”
Amara looked surprised.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“That easily?”
He smiled slightly.
“Don't get used to it.”
She laughed.
And the tension in the room softened.
Then Amara's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Damian immediately noticed.
“Don't answer.”
Amara frowned.
“You just promised to trust me.”
“Fine.”
She picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Her smile disappeared.
“Hello?”
A distorted voice spoke.
“Stay away from Damian Blackwood.”
The line went dead.
Amara froze.
Damian's face changed immediately.
“Give me the phone.”
She slowly handed it to him.
His jaw tightened.
“What did they say?”
She looked at him.
“Stay away from you.”
The room went silent.
Noah stepped out from the hallway.
“Amara?”
Damian immediately looked toward him.
“Go inside.”
Noah frowned.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Amara stared at Damian.
He had promised.
Trust me.
She took a breath.
“Noah.”
He looked at her.
“Go to your room for now. I'll explain later.”
He nodded and left.
Damian's eyes returned to Amara.
“I'm getting security.”
She folded her arms.
“Damian.”
“Don't.”
“What?”
“Argue.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Are you serious?”
“Amara.”
“You cannot promise to trust me and then immediately start ordering me around.”
“Someone just threatened you.”
“I know.”
“And you're not taking it seriously enough.”
“And you're taking it too seriously!”
“Amara.”
“What?”
The argument stopped.
Damian's voice became quiet.
“Please.”
The word changed everything.
Damian Blackwood didn't say please.
Not often.
Not like that.
Amara stared at him.
His eyes looked almost desperate.
She took a slow breath.
“Okay.”
His shoulders relaxed.
“But,” she continued, “we make decisions together.”
Damian looked at her.
Then nodded.
“Together.”
Her phone vibrated again.
Both of them froze.
A message appeared.
UNKNOWN: The gala is coming.
Then another.
UNKNOWN: Be careful what you wear.
Amara stared at the screen.
Damian's face went cold.
“I'm canceling the gala.”
Her eyes widened.
“You can't.”
“Watch me.”
“It is a charity event.”
“I don't care.”
“Damian—”
“No.”
His voice became firm.
“No gala.”
Amara stared at him.
“Are you going to control every single thing I do now?”
“I said we would decide together.”
“Then decide with me.”
He looked at her.
She held his gaze.
Finally—
Damian exhaled.
“What do you want to do?”
Amara looked at the threatening message.
Then back at him.
Her voice was steady.
“I want to go.”
Damian's expression immediately darkened.
“Absolutely not.”
Amara crossed her arms.
“Together, remember?”
He stared at her.
She waited.
Damian looked toward the window.
Then back at her.
“Fine.”
Amara blinked.
“Fine?”
“You're impossible.”
“And yet?”
His eyes softened.
“And yet I still want you.”
Her heart raced.
Damian stepped closer.
“But you're not leaving my side.”
Amara smiled.
“Deal.”
Outside the apartment, unnoticed by either of them, a car slowly pulled away from the street.
Inside sat Celeste.
Her phone rested in her hand.
She had not sent the phone call.
That part surprised her.
Because someone else had started the game first.
Celeste stared out the window.
She had wanted to frighten Amara.
To make her leave Damian.
But now there was someone else watching.
Someone with their own reason for wanting Amara out of Damian's life.
And suddenly—
Celeste wasn't the only danger.
The gala was three days away.
And for the first time, the threat surrounding Damian and Amara was no longer just jealousy.
It was real.
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