CHAPTER ELEVEN:AFTERMATH
884 Words
The boardroom was silent.
12 pairs of eyes on them.
On Damian’s hand.
On Emily’s hand.
Intertwined. On the table.
Damian didn’t let go.
"As of this morning," he said, voice steady, "Emily Carter is no longer just my assistant."
Marcus looked like he’d swallowed glass.
"She’s the woman I’m seeing. The woman I’m choosing. Publicly."
Gasps.
Someone dropped a pen.
Emily wanted to sink into the floor. But Damian’s thumb rubbed over her knuckles. Grounding her.
"If you have a problem with that," Damian continued, "you can resign. Because I’m not hiding her. Not anymore."
He stood. Pulled Emily up with him.
"Meeting’s over."
They walked out. Heads high.
*************
The moment the elevator doors closed, Emily let out a shaky breath.
"Did we just do that?"
"We did." Damian turned to her. Pushed her gently against the elevator wall.
His suit jacket was gone. Sleeves rolled up. He looked wrecked and perfect.
"Regrets?" he asked. Same question as last night.
Emily shook her head. "No. Do you?"
Damian’s answer was to kiss her.
Slow this time. Not desperate like last night.
Sure. Like he was staking a claim and the whole world could watch.
The elevator dinged. His floor.
He pulled back, forehead against hers. "Come on. My office. We need to talk about security."
************
His office door shut behind them.
For the first time, it wasn’t about work.
Damian went to his desk. Pulled out a file.
"The man is in custody. Victoria paid him 50k to follow you, take photos, and report back."
Emily sat down. Hard. "Why?"
"Because she can’t stand that it’s you." Damian said it simply. "You’re not a model. Not from her world. And I chose you anyway."
He came around the desk. Knelt in front of her chair.
"That scares me, Emily. Because I can’t protect you 24/7."
"Then don’t let me go." Emily whispered.
Damian’s eyes darkened. He reached up. Cupped her face.
"I won’t."
His phone buzzed. He ignored it.
It buzzed again. And again.
Damian cursed. Checked it.
Email after email. Headlines.
STERLING CEO DATING ASSISTANT
SCANDAL AT STERLING CORP
WHO IS EMILY CARTER?
Photos of them leaving the building this morning. Her in yesterday’s clothes. Him holding her hand.
"It’s everywhere," he said quietly. "In 10 minutes."
Emily’s stomach dropped. "Are you mad?"
Damian looked up from the phone. At her.
"Mad?" He laughed. Soft. "Emily, I’m relieved."
He stood. Pulled her up too.
"I’ve been hiding for 10 years. Hiding from V. Hiding from the board. Hiding from myself."
He tucked her hair behind her ear. "I’m not hiding you."
He led her to the window. The city below.
"See that?" He pointed. "That’s my company. And you’re part of it now. Whether they like it or not."
Emily leaned into him. His arm came around her waist immediately.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"Now?" Damian kissed the top of her head. "Now we go to lunch. As a couple. And let them take more photos."
"You’re serious."
"I’m dead serious."
********
Lunch was at a restaurant on the 45th floor. Glass walls. Everyone could see them.
Damian ordered for both of them. Fed her a strawberry across the table.
Touched her hand every 5 minutes.
Whispered in her ear when she laughed.
By the time they left, #STERLINGGIRL was trending again.
But this time the comments were different.
OMG HE’S SO IN LOVE
SHE DESERVES HIM
PROTECT HER AT ALL COSTS
Emily saw them on her phone and started crying in the car.
"Hey." Damian pulled her to him. "What’s wrong?"
"I’ve never..." She wiped her eyes. "No one’s ever chosen me like this. Not in public. Not when it cost them something."
Damian tilted her chin up. Wiped a tear with his thumb.
"Then let me be the first."
He kissed her. Right there in the backseat. With the driver pretending not to watch.
***********
Back at the penthouse that night, it was quiet.
No board. No V. No cameras. Just them.
Damian was cooking. Actual cooking. Pasta.
Emily sat on the counter, watching him.
"You don’t have to do this," she said.
"I want to." He tossed pasta. "You’ve been taking care of me for 3 weeks. Let me take care of you."
He plated the food. Carried it to the couch.
They ate from the same bowl. His arm around her.
"You know what the scariest part of today was?" Damian asked.
"What?"
"Realizing I could lose you." He set the bowl down. Turned to her. "Not to V. Not to the board. To my own fear."
Emily frowned. "What fear?"
"That you’d wake up and realize I’m a mess. A 35-year-old CEO with trust issues and a stalker ex."
He laughed. "And you’d leave."
Emily climbed into his lap. Straddled him.
"Damian Sterling." She said his name like a promise. "I’m not going anywhere."
She kissed him. Soft. Lingering.
Damian’s hands went to her waist. Held her like she was precious.
"I love you," he whispered against her mouth. "I love you so much it terrifies me."
"I love you too." Emily answered.
Outside, the city lights blinked.
Inside, for the first time in years, Damian Sterling wasn’t alone.
His phone lit up one last time before he turned it off.
Unknown number:
*****
- Writer
