CHAPTER NINE
665 Words
##CHAPTER NINE ##
“Boss, the Tokyo investors—”
Leon stopped abruptly the second she walked into the office. His shocked gaze immediately shifted between Damien and Elena. Specifically between how close they were standing.
Because somehow, during that entire emotionally dangerous conversation, Elena had failed to notice Damien was now only inches away from her.
Wonderful.Absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere inside the office changed instantly.
Damien’s expression hardened immediately. Cold, sharp and dangerous. The faint amusement that had been in his gray eyes disappeared completely.
“What is it, Leon ?” he asked flatly. Even his voice changed.
Elena blinked slightly in surprise. Oh. So this was the terrifying CEO version of him.
Leon visibly straightened under the pressure in his tone. “The Tokyo investors arrived earlier than expected,” she answered quickly. “The board members are waiting upstairs.”
Damien’s jaw tightened slightly. “I said not to interrupt me unless it was urgent.”
“It—it is urgent, sir.”
Silence. Heavy silence. Elena suddenly felt bad for the poor guy. Leon looked moments away from emotional collapse. Meanwhile Damien simply stared at him calmly enough to terrify entire governments.
Finally, he spoke again. “Next time,” he said quietly, “knock first.”
“Yes, Mr. Cross.”
Leon practically escaped the office afterward. The second the doors closed behind her, Elena slowly turned toward Damien.
“…You scared him.”
“He interrupted.”
“You looked ready to fire her into another dimension.”
“He knows better.”
Elena stared at him for a moment before shaking her head dramatically. You know, this is why people think you’re emotionally unavailable.
Damien looked entirely unbothered. “And yet you still suggested hotel rooms.”
Her soul nearly exited her body again. “That conversation should honestly be erased from history. Unfortunately for Elena’s sanity. How did you find out I wasn’t Bianca Sinclair and how did you know I’m Elena?
A dangerous flicker of amusement returned to his eyes. Damien stepped closer again slightly. I have my ways and besides I already knew who Bianca is. I was surprised at first but decided to play along.
You treated me terribly during that blind date.
Elena blinked rapidly. Excuse me? No I didn’t you agreed to follow a suspicious woman into chaos without hesitation.”
You insulted me. You screamed at me. Well you were intimidating. You deserved emotional confusion.”
A low laugh escaped him again.
Elena stared at him suspiciously. You enjoy this way too much.
“You’re entertaining.”
“That is not the compliment you think it is.”
Damien picked up his suit jacket calmly from the chair behind his desk.
“Dinner tonight.”
Elena narrowed her eyes immediately from across her desk. That sounds less like a question and more like a kidnapping announcement.
Damien remained completely calm while reviewing documents in his hands. It’s repayment.
“For what?”
He finally looked up slowly. For traumatizing me during our blind date.
Elena gasped dramatically loud enough to concern nearby employees. “I traumatized YOU?”
“You called me ‘not your spec’ in public.”
“But You survived.”
“Barely.”
She stared at him in disbelief. The performance was award-worthy.
Damien slipped on his suit jacket smoothly while watching her with those infuriatingly calm gray eyes.
“You’re paying.”
Elena blinked. What?
“You invited me to a hotel before learning my last name.” His expression remained perfectly composed. “The least you can do is buy dinner.”
“The economy is terrible, Damien.”
You seem resourceful. You own helicopters. Elena pointed at him accusingly. This feels financially manipulative. You know I can sue you for this right?
“You’ll recover.”
The worst part?
He looked completely serious. No smile, no sarcasm, nothing like emotionally blackmailing her into expensive dinner dates was a perfectly normal billionaire activity.
- Writer
