CHAPTER FIVE:ROOF AT 7
1066 Words
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7:00 PM. The Sterling Tower roof.
The wind hit Emily the second the door opened.
Cold. Sharp. It smelled like rain and the city 50 floors below.
No cameras. No people. Just the hum of AC units and the skyline glittering like broken glass.
And Damian.
He was standing at the edge. Hands in his pockets. Suit jacket off. White shirt sleeves rolled up.
The city lights reflected in his gray eyes.
He didn’t turn when she walked in.
“You came,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure I should.” Emily closed the door behind her. It slammed from the wind.
Now he turned.
His eyes dragged over her. Same blazer from yesterday. Jeans. Boots. Hair in a messy ponytail because she’d cried twice today.
She looked nothing like the girl in the black dress.
And somehow, he liked this version more.
“You look cold,” he said.
“I’m fine.” She lied. Her arms were wrapped around herself.
Damian took off his suit jacket and walked to her.
Before she could protest, he draped it over her shoulders. It was heavy. Warm. Smelled like him.
“Better?”
Emily nodded. Couldn’t speak.
They stood in silence for a minute. The wind pulling at her hair.
Below them, cars looked like toys.
“I’ve never been up here,” Emily whispered.
“I know.” Damian leaned on the railing. “I don’t let anyone up here.”
Emily’s heart skipped. “Why me?”
He didn’t answer right away. He looked out at the city.
“Because you don’t want anything from me.” He said it quietly. “Everyone down there wants money. Status. A piece of Sterling Corp. You just... wanted the job.”
“That’s not true.” Emily hugged his jacket tighter. “I want the 90k.”
Damian laughed. Actually laughed. Low and rough.
“Okay. You want the 90k.” He turned to her. “But you didn’t flirt. You didn’t beg. You didn’t take the photos and sell them.”
He paused. “You cried in the bathroom instead.”
Emily’s face went hot. “How did you—”
“I have cameras. Everywhere. Except here.” He tapped the roof door. “This is the only place that’s private.”
The words hung between them.
Private.
Just us.
“Damian, about the photos—”
“Forget the photos.” He cut her off. Stepped closer. “Tell me the truth. Are you scared of me?”
Emily looked up at him. 6’2. CEO. Ruthless. The man who fired 200 people in one email.
And the man who gave her his jacket.
“Yes,” she whispered. “A little.”
“Good.” He nodded. “You should be.”
He reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. His fingers barely brushed her skin.
But it felt like fire.
“I’m not a good man, Emily.” His voice was rough. “I don’t do dates. I don’t do flowers. I don’t do ‘girlfriend’.”
Emily’s chest tightened.
“But I do this.” He gestured between them. “Whatever this is. And I want it.”
The wind died for a second.
All Emily could hear was her own heartbeat.
“Mr. Sterling—”
“Damian.”
“Damian.” Her voice shook. “I can’t. I have rules. I have... I’m not like the women you’re used to.”
“I know.” His eyes were dark. Intense. “That’s why I can’t stop looking at you.”
He took another step. Now they were close. Too close.
She could see the faint scar on his jaw. Smell the rain on his shirt.
His hand came up. Hesitated. Then cupped her cheek.
His thumb brushed under her eye. No mascara today. Just her.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured. “Just tell me to stop.”
Emily should have. She should have stepped back.
But his hand was warm. And he was looking at her like she was the only person in the whole city.
So she didn’t say stop.
Damian’s eyes dropped to her mouth.
He leaned in. Slow. Giving her time to pull away.
Her breath caught.
His lips were a breath away from hers—
The roof door BANGED open.
“Mr. Sterling!”
They both jerked back like they’d been burned.
Maya. From HR. Holding a tablet. Hair wet from rain.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you were—” She stopped when she saw Emily in Damian’s jacket.
Her eyes went wide. Then narrow.
Damian’s expression went blank in 0.2 seconds. CEO mask back on.
“What?” His voice was ice.
“The board needs you. Emergency call. Now.” Maya wouldn’t look at Emily. “5 minutes.”
“Fine.” Damian dropped his hand. “We’re done here.”
Just like that. The moment was gone.
He walked past Emily without looking at her. But as he passed, his fingers brushed hers.
A quick squeeze.
Then he was gone.
Maya stayed behind. She looked Emily up and down. From the oversized jacket to her boots.
“So.” Maya smiled. But it wasn’t nice. “The roof, huh? Bold move, sweetie.”
Emily said nothing. She took off the jacket and held it out.
Maya didn’t take it. “Keep it. He probably has 20 more.”
She turned and walked out, heels clicking.
Alone again.
The wind was colder now.
Emily looked down at the jacket in her hands.
Still warm. Still smelled like him.
And in the inside pocket... a folded piece of paper.
She opened it. His handwriting. Sharp. Angry. Perfect.
‘They are going to keep talking.
Let them.
Come to my office tomorrow. 8AM.
We are going to New York.
You are coming with me.
Don’t be late .
-D’
New York.
With him.
Alone.
Emily’s hands shook.
Part of her wanted to run.
Part of her wanted to wear the black dress again.
Her phone buzzed.
‘I didn’t get to finish what I was
Saying.
But I will.
Sleep well, Emily.
-D’
She stared at the message until the screen went black.
50 floors below, the city kept moving.
And Emily Carter had no idea that tomorrow would change everything.
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- Writer
