Playtime

Chapter 2

The following week, Kyra found herself consumed by thoughts of Damon Vassallo. She couldn’t deny it any longer—the attraction was undeniable. The pull, the tension, the way he seemed to see her in ways no one else did. Every interaction with him felt electric, charged with something dangerous. But she refused to acknowledge it.

Her work had always been her anchor, the one thing she could rely on to keep her focused and in control. She had worked hard to get to where she was, and she wasn’t going to let a man—especially not someone like Damon—distract her. She had built walls around herself for years, walls that had served her well in keeping people at a distance. But the more she saw Damon, the more she realized how those walls were beginning to crack.

It started subtly. Damon’s presence in the office became a constant, his gaze always lingering just a little longer when he spoke to her. His voice, calm and controlled, never failed to send a shiver down her spine. She hated how he made her feel.

One morning, as she entered his office with a stack of papers, Damon looked up from his desk. The usual coolness in his demeanor had a sharper edge today. His eyes glinted with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

“Kyra, come in,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, feeling a twinge of unease in her chest. She had learned long ago to keep her emotions in check, to bury them beneath the weight of her professionalism. But with Damon, it was becoming harder and harder to do.

“What is it, Mr. Vassallo?” she asked, keeping her voice steady despite the fluttering in her stomach.

Damon leaned back in his chair, studying her with that same unnerving intensity. There was something in the way he looked at her that made her feel exposed, as if he could see right through the facade she had so carefully constructed. He didn’t speak immediately, just watched her for what felt like an eternity.

For a moment, Kyra wished she could escape the pressure of his gaze, but she couldn’t bring herself to look away. She had never been this drawn to anyone before. Damon wasn’t like the others. He wasn’t just handsome or charismatic. He had a magnetism, a quiet power that seemed to consume the room.

“Sit down, Kyra,” Damon finally said, his tone commanding.

She didn’t hesitate this time, taking a seat across from him at the polished desk.

“I need you to prepare a report for me by tomorrow,” he began, pulling her out of her thoughts and back into the reality of her job. She nodded, mentally cataloging the task.

“Of course,” she replied, eager to focus on the work at hand. “Is there anything specific you need included in the report?”

Damon’s lips curled into a slight smile. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”

Kyra’s heart skipped at the compliment, though she quickly forced herself to remain composed. She had always prided herself on her work ethic, but something about Damon’s approval made her uneasy.

“Thank you, Mr. Vassallo,” she said, standing to leave.

As she turned to exit the room, Damon’s voice stopped her.

“Kyra,” he said, his tone suddenly softer. She froze, her hand resting on the door handle.

“Yes?”

“You did well at the gala,” he said, his words unexpected. “You carried yourself with... grace.”

The sincerity in his voice made her pause, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t used to hearing praise from him, especially not in such a personal way.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, unable to look him in the eye as she left the room.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Kyra tried to focus on the report Damon had assigned her, but her mind kept drifting back to their earlier exchange. There was something about his attention, his words, that stirred something inside her. The more she tried to push it away, the stronger the pull became.

It was late when she finally finished the report. Her phone buzzed on the desk, breaking her out of her concentration. She glanced at the screen to see an unknown number.

*Unknown Number:* *Can’t stop thinking about you, Kyra.*

Her pulse quickened as she stared at the message. It was a text from Damon. The realization hit her like a cold wave, and her hands shook slightly as she set the phone down.

She was in trouble.

Kyra knew better than to engage in anything that could cloud her judgment. She had worked too hard to get to where she was, and a man like Damon—powerful, manipulative, and unpredictable—was the last person she needed in her life.

But when the phone buzzed again, her curiosity got the better of her.

*Unknown Number:* *You’re not the only one who can’t stop thinking, Kyra. You’re more than just a capable assistant. You’re... intriguing.*

Kyra’s breath hitched. She stared at the words, her mind racing. She could almost hear Damon’s voice in her ear, his tone laced with that same dark intrigue she had felt every time he spoke to her. She could feel the tension between them, thick and suffocating.

But what could she say? What was there left to say?

*I can’t do this.* The words came to her mind as if they were a mantra, but they didn’t feel right. She didn’t want to walk away from this connection, even though she knew she should.

Another text came through. *Come to my office. I need to see you.*

Kyra stared at the screen, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to make a decision. She could ignore the message, remain the professional assistant she had always been. Or she could take a chance and see where this dangerous, thrilling connection might lead.

The choice seemed impossible. She knew she had to stay in control, but Damon made her question everything she believed about herself. Every time their paths crossed, she felt her resolve slipping further and further away.

With a shaky breath, she stood up and grabbed her coat. She wasn’t sure what she was walking into, but she couldn’t stop herself from going.

---

Kyra arrived at Damon’s office a few minutes later, her heart hammering in her chest. She knocked softly, but there was no immediate answer. She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door. Damon stood at the window, his back to her, looking out over the city.

“Kyra,” he said, his voice rich with something she couldn’t quite place. He didn’t turn around to face her, but she could feel the weight of his presence in the room, like an invisible force pulling at her.

“Mr. Vassallo,” she said, keeping her voice steady, though she could feel the tension building inside her.

He finally turned to face her, his dark eyes locking onto hers with that same intensity. There was something almost predatory in his gaze, a quiet hunger that made her pulse race.

“Sit down,” he said, his voice soft but commanding.

Kyra hesitated, but then took a seat across from him. The silence between them stretched on, thick with unspoken words. She could feel the weight of his stare, but she refused to look away.

“Why did you come?” Damon’s question was simple, but it felt loaded.

Kyra swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I... I thought you needed to see me.”

“I do,” he said, stepping closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t think you came just for that.”

Her heart skipped as he closed the distance between them, his gaze never leaving hers. She wanted to pull away, but her body betrayed her. She wanted to stay in control, to keep her distance, but the pull of his presence was too strong.

“I... I don’t know what you want from me,” she whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.

Damon reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her arm. The touch was soft, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her.

“I want you, Kyra,” he said simply. His words were like a confession, and yet they felt like a command.

Kyra’s breath caught in her throat. For a moment, she was paralyzed by his words, the weight of them pressing down on her. She had never felt more alive, more terrified.

“I can’t... I can’t do this,” she said, her voice barely audible.

But Damon’s eyes darkened. “Yes, you can.”

Before she could respond, he closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both gentle and insistent. Kyra’s world tilted, and for the first time in years, she let go of control.