THREE DAYS TO THE GALA....
3419 Words
The next morning, Amara woke up to the sound of her phone ringing.
She groaned and reached blindly across her bedside table.
“Hello?”
“Good morning.”
Her eyes opened immediately.
Damian.
Amara sat upright.
“Did you just call me at seven in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're awake.”
She looked at the clock.
“How do you know that?”
“I guessed.”
Amara frowned.
“That is a terrible reason to call someone.”
“You answered.”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Damian sounded far too pleased with himself.
“You're annoying.”
“Good morning to you too.”
She fell back onto her pillow.
“What do you want?”
“Have you eaten?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it is seven in the morning.”
“You should eat.”
“I haven't even brushed my teeth.”
There was a pause.
Then Damian said, “That isn't my problem.”
Amara stared at her phone.
“You called me before breakfast to argue with me about breakfast?”
“Yes.”
She laughed despite herself.
“You need help.”
“You're going to eat.”
“No.”
“Amara.”
“Damian.”
Silence.
She smiled.
“No.”
His voice lowered.
“Don't make me come there.”
Her eyes widened.
“You wouldn't.”
“I would.”
“You don't even know what I'm wearing.”
“Good.”
She sat up again.
“That sounded suspicious.”
“Eat.”
Amara laughed.
“You are not my father.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The silence that followed was different.
Damian had lost his parents.
So had she.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Damian's voice softened.
“No.”
Amara closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“I just…”
He stopped.
Amara waited.
“You worry me.”
Her expression softened.
She looked at the morning sunlight entering through the curtains.
“You worry me too.”
Damian was silent.
Then—
“Good.”
Amara smiled.
“That's all you have to say?”
“Yes.”
“You're impossible.”
“I've heard that before.”
She laughed quietly.
Then she got out of bed.
“Fine. I'll eat.”
“Send me proof.”
Amara froze.
“Excuse me?”
“Proof.”
“I am not sending you pictures of my breakfast.”
“Then I'll call Noah.”
Her mouth fell open.
“You leave my brother out of this.”
“Eat.”
Amara pointed at the phone even though he couldn't see her.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
Her heart skipped.
Damian continued before she could respond.
“Goodbye, Amara.”
Then he hung up.
Amara stared at her phone.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
From the doorway, Noah watched her.
“Oh, this is getting serious.”
Amara jumped.
“Noah!”
He laughed.
“Breakfast?”
She glared at him.
“Don't.”
“Damian told you to eat, didn't he?”
She picked up her pillow.
Noah ran.
---
At Blackwood Holdings, Damian was already in a terrible mood.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
The truth was more complicated.
Damian Blackwood had spent the entire morning checking his phone.
Every time it vibrated, he looked.
At nine thirty, he finally received a message.
AMARA: I ate.
Damian stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
A picture of toast and tea.
AMARA: Happy now, dictator?
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Mr. Harris entered his office.
Then stopped.
Damian looked up.
“What?”
Harris immediately straightened.
“Nothing, sir.”
“You're staring.”
“No, sir.”
Damian looked back at his phone.
“Good.”
Harris slowly placed a file on the desk.
“Sir, security has finished reviewing the footage.”
Damian's smile disappeared.
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
Harris closed the office door.
“The vehicle outside Miss Cole's apartment last night.”
Damian's eyes became cold.
“What about it?”
“We couldn't identify the driver.”
“License plate?”
“Fake.”
Damian stood.
“What?”
“The vehicle was registered under a false plate.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“And Celeste?”
Harris hesitated.
“Her car was also near the area.”
Damian's expression darkened.
“She followed Amara.”
“It appears so.”
Damian looked toward the window.
For a few seconds, the room was completely silent.
Then—
“Bring Celeste in.”
Harris blinked.
“Sir?”
“Now.”
---
Celeste arrived twenty minutes later.
She walked into Damian's office without knocking.
“Good morning.”
Damian didn't look up.
“Sit.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“I prefer standing.”
“Sit.”
Celeste studied him.
Then slowly sat.
Damian finally looked at her.
“Were you outside Amara's apartment last night?”
Celeste's expression remained calm.
“Yes.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Celeste crossed her legs.
“I wanted to see where she lived.”
The room became silent.
“You followed her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“You already know why.”
Damian's voice dropped.
“Say it.”
Her smile disappeared.
“I wanted to know what kind of life she has.”
“That is not your concern.”
“She has become your concern.”
Damian stared at her.
Celeste leaned forward.
“You've changed, Damian.”
His expression remained cold.
“People keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“I haven't.”
“You waited outside your office for her.”
His jaw tightened.
“You took her to your grandparents.”
“Celeste.”
“You took her home.”
His eyes hardened.
“Stop.”
“You've never done that for anyone.”
“I said stop.”
Celeste's smile vanished.
“And now someone is threatening her.”
The air changed.
Damian stepped forward.
“What do you know?”
Celeste's eyes flickered.
For the first time—
She looked uncomfortable.
“I don't know who it is.”
“Then why were you there?”
“I was watching her.”
His voice became dangerously quiet.
“Why?”
Celeste stood.
“Because I wanted her gone.”
Damian's eyes went completely cold.
“But I didn't threaten her.”
Silence.
Celeste took a breath.
“I sent the first message.”
Damian stared at her.
She immediately continued.
“Not the call. Not the messages afterward.”
His hand tightened against the desk.
“Why?”
Celeste looked away.
“I wanted to scare her.”
The answer filled the room with disgust.
Damian took one slow step toward her.
Celeste looked back at him.
“I was jealous.”
His voice was low.
“You think jealousy gives you the right to interfere with her life?”
“No.”
“Apparently you did.”
Celeste swallowed.
Damian's anger wasn't loud.
That made it worse.
“I made a mistake.”
“You made a choice.”
Her eyes dropped.
Damian walked back toward his desk.
“If anything happens to her because of you—”
“It won't.”
“You don't know that.”
Celeste became silent.
Damian looked directly at her.
“Stay away from Amara.”
Celeste's eyes widened.
“Damian.”
“Stay away.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You really do love her.”
The words stopped him.
Damian said nothing.
Celeste watched his silence.
And suddenly, she understood.
His feelings had grown beyond simple attraction.
She stepped closer.
“Does she know?”
“No.”
Celeste smiled sadly.
“Of course not.”
Damian's expression hardened.
“Leave.”
She stood there for another second.
Then turned and walked away.
But at the door, she stopped.
“Damian.”
He didn't look at her.
“Be careful.”
His eyes lifted.
Celeste's face was serious.
“There is someone else involved.”
Then she left.
---
Amara arrived at the office just before eleven.
She immediately noticed something was wrong.
Damian wasn't at his desk.
His office door was open.
Harris looked stressed.
And two security officers were standing near the elevators.
Amara frowned.
“What's happening?”
Harris looked at her.
“Mr. Blackwood will explain.”
That was never a reassuring sentence.
Amara walked into Damian's office.
“Damian?”
He stood near the window.
The moment he saw her, his shoulders relaxed.
Amara noticed.
“What happened?”
He walked toward her.
“Are you okay?”
She stared.
“Yes?”
“Nothing happened?”
“No.”
“Did anyone contact you?”
Amara folded her arms.
“Not since last night.”
Damian nodded slowly.
She stepped closer.
“What is going on?”
He looked at her.
Then finally spoke.
“Celeste admitted she sent the first message.”
Amara froze.
“What?”
“She wanted to scare you.”
Amara's face hardened.
“I knew it.”
“She says the other threats aren't from her.”
“Do you believe her?”
“No.”
His answer came quickly.
Amara blinked.
“Then?”
“But I believe there is someone else.”
The words made her stomach tighten.
Amara sat down slowly.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Great.”
Damian crouched slightly in front of her.
Amara stared at him.
He rarely lowered himself physically to anyone.
But now he looked directly into her eyes.
“We're going to find out.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“You're not shutting me out?”
His expression softened.
“No.”
Amara studied him.
“Progress.”
“Don't make a big deal out of it.”
“I will.”
His mouth almost moved into a smile.
Then his phone rang.
He stood.
Amara looked at him.
“Who is it?”
“Security.”
Damian answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
Amara immediately stood.
Damian listened.
Then ended the call.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“There was a package.”
Her eyebrows drew together.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Security has it.”
“What's inside?”
“We don't know.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“You're joking.”
Damian grabbed his jacket.
“Stay here.”
She stared.
“Seriously?”
“Amara.”
“You promised.”
His jaw tightened.
She folded her arms.
“Together.”
Damian looked at her.
For a moment, he clearly wanted to refuse.
Then he sighed.
“Together.”
---
The package was sitting inside the security office.
A small box.
Plain brown wrapping.
No name.
No return address.
Amara stood beside Damian.
Two security officers were present.
“You opened it?”
Damian asked.
“No, sir.”
“Good.”
Amara looked at the box.
Her stomach felt uneasy.
“What if it's nothing?”
Damian glanced at her.
“Then I'll be relieved.”
The security officer carefully checked the package.
After confirming that it contained nothing immediately dangerous, he opened it.
Inside—
Was a photograph.
Amara reached for it.
Damian stopped her.
“I'll look.”
“Damian.”
He glanced at her.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Together.”
He exhaled.
Then placed the photograph on the table.
Amara looked down.
Her heart stopped.
It was a picture of her.
Walking beside Damian outside her apartment.
Taken the night before.
The back of the photograph contained a message.
SHE DOESN'T BELONG BESIDE YOU.
Amara's fingers became cold.
Damian's entire expression changed.
The room felt suddenly smaller.
The threat wasn't random.
Someone had been watching them.
Watching her.
Watching him.
Amara looked at Damian.
“This isn't about me.”
His eyes met hers.
She continued.
“It's about you.”
Damian said nothing.
“But I'm the easiest way to hurt you.”
His jaw tightened.
Amara saw the realization hit him.
She stepped closer.
“Damian.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You're not becoming part of this.”
She stared.
“Too late.”
His eyes moved toward her.
“I'll handle it.”
Amara folded her arms.
“You keep saying that.”
“And I'll keep handling it.”
“You cannot control everything.”
His voice dropped.
“But I can control who gets near you.”
Her eyes widened.
“That is not the same thing.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Damian stepped closer.
“Amara.”
His voice was quiet.
Serious.
“Someone is watching you because of me.”
She looked at him.
“And I hate that.”
Her expression softened.
He continued.
“I hate that my life has put you in danger.”
“Your life didn't.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You don't know that.”
“Neither do you.”
Silence.
Then Amara did something unexpected.
She reached for his hand.
Damian froze.
Her fingers slipped into his.
“I chose to stay.”
His eyes dropped to their hands.
Amara's heart raced.
“I know this is scary.”
Damian looked at her.
“But you don't get to decide for me that I'm leaving.”
His fingers slowly tightened around hers.
“I don't want you hurt.”
“I don't want you hurt either.”
His expression changed.
Amara smiled faintly.
“So I guess we're both stuck.”
For the first time that day—
Damian smiled.
A real one.
Amara stared at him.
“Oh no.”
His smile disappeared immediately.
“What?”
“You smiled.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“Amara.”
She laughed.
And somehow, even in the middle of fear—
The room felt lighter.
---
That evening, Elias Hale arrived at Amara's apartment.
He had called earlier, saying he needed to speak with her.
Amara agreed.
Damian did not like it.
At all.
“How long will he be there?”
Amara stared at her phone.
“I don't know.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I don't know.”
“Ask him.”
She laughed.
“I am not sending Elias a message asking how long he plans to sit in my living room.”
“Why not?”
“Because I'm not insane.”
Damian became quiet.
Amara smiled.
“You're jealous again.”
“Yes.”
The easy admission surprised her.
She leaned against the wall.
“You're getting better.”
“At what?”
“Honesty.”
He was silent for a moment.
Then—
“Don't let him kiss you.”
Her eyes widened.
“Damian!”
“What?”
“You cannot say things like that.”
“I just did.”
Amara covered her face.
“You are unbelievable.”
“Goodnight.”
“Wait—”
He ended the call.
Amara stared at the phone.
Then smiled.
From the living room, Elias called her name.
“Amara?”
She walked out.
Elias stood beside the window.
“You look happy.”
Amara paused.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
She sat down.
Elias watched her carefully.
“It's him.”
Amara sighed.
“You know me too well.”
“I've known you for most of my life.”
Her expression softened.
“I know.”
Elias sat beside her.
“I came because I heard about the threats.”
Amara looked at him.
“Who told you?”
“People talk.”
She frowned.
“Who?”
“Someone at Blackwood Holdings.”
Her expression changed.
“Elias, you shouldn't get involved.”
“Why?”
“Because this has nothing to do with you.”
His eyes softened.
“You're my friend.”
Amara looked away.
“Elias.”
“And I care about you.”
There it was.
The conversation she had been avoiding.
Elias leaned forward.
“I asked you something the other day.”
Amara became still.
“You didn't answer.”
Her heart tightened.
“I know.”
“I don't want to pressure you.”
“Then don't.”
He smiled faintly.
“I won't.”
Amara looked at him.
“But I need to know if I'm wasting my time.”
The words hurt because they were honest.
Elias deserved honesty.
He had always been there.
Before Damian.
Before Blackwood Holdings.
Before the complicated world she had somehow entered.
Amara opened her mouth.
But the doorbell rang.
She frowned.
“Were you expecting someone?”
“No.”
Elias stood.
“I'll get it.”
Amara followed him.
Noah was already standing nearby.
Elias opened the door.
And froze.
Amara looked past him.
Her eyes widened.
Damian Blackwood stood outside.
Elias stared.
Damian stared back.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Amara closed her eyes.
“Oh, no.”
Damian looked past Elias.
“Amara.”
Elias folded his arms.
“She has a name.”
Damian's eyes moved toward him.
“I know.”
Amara stepped between them.
“What are you doing here?”
Damian held up a small paper bag.
“You didn't eat dinner.”
Amara stared.
“You came here because I didn't eat?”
“Yes.”
Elias raised an eyebrow.
Amara looked at the bag.
Then Damian.
Then Elias.
“This is not happening.”
Noah leaned toward her.
“This is very interesting.”
“Go away.”
Noah immediately disappeared.
Elias looked at Damian.
“So you're checking on her now?”
Damian's expression remained cold.
“Yes.”
“You call that checking?”
“I call it dinner.”
Elias laughed.
Damian didn't.
Amara stepped forward.
“Both of you, stop.”
Elias looked at her.
Damian did too.
She pointed at Damian.
“Give me the food.”
He handed it to her.
She pointed at Elias.
“And stop looking at him like you're going to start a war in my living room.”
Elias smiled faintly.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Amara sighed.
Then looked at Damian.
“You can go.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Amara.”
“Thank you for the food.”
She waited.
Damian stared at her.
Then at Elias.
Then back at Amara.
He clearly hated leaving.
Finally—
“Lock your door.”
She folded her arms.
“Goodnight, Damian.”
He paused.
“Goodnight.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Amara closed the door.
The apartment became quiet.
Elias looked at her.
“You really like him.”
Amara didn't answer.
Elias smiled sadly.
“That is an answer.”
Her chest tightened.
“I don't know what to do.”
Elias nodded.
“You don't have to decide tonight.”
She looked relieved.
“But don't lie to yourself.”
Amara looked down.
“I won't.”
---
Across the city, Damian sat in the back of his car.
He should have been angry.
Elias was at Amara's apartment.
He had asked her out.
He had known her longer.
He was calm.
Reliable.
Everything Damian was still learning to be.
And for the first time, Damian wondered whether wanting Amara would be enough.
His phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
Damian opened it.
IF YOU TAKE HER TO THE GALA, YOU WILL REGRET IT.
His face went cold.
Another message appeared.
THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING.
Damian stared at the screen.
Then slowly typed a reply.
WHO ARE YOU?
The response came immediately.
SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU DID.
Damian became completely still.
The driver glanced at him through the mirror.
“Sir?”
Damian looked out the window.
The city lights moved past.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Turn the car around.”
“Where to, sir?”
Damian's eyes hardened.
“Blackwood Holdings.”
The driver nodded.
As the car changed direction, Damian looked down at the message again.
Someone knew something about him.
Something from his past.
Something serious enough to threaten Amara.
And suddenly, the question was no longer simply who wanted Amara away from him.
The real question was—
What had Damian Blackwood done?
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