"My billionaire husband"

Chapter 7: Daylight

The hallway outside the coat closet was empty. Cold. Silent.

Except for the sound of Eliana’s heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Damien walked out like he hadn’t just kissed her until her knees shook. Like he hadn’t left her trembling in a room that smelled like cedar and surrender. He didn’t look back.

Eliana pressed her palm against the door, breathing hard. The red silk clung to her skin, damp and heavy. She fixed her hair with shaking fingers, wiped the smudge of his cologne from her lips.

She wasn’t going to run. Not now. Not after what she said: *If you want me, you do it where they can all see.*

The door at the end of the hallway opened. Voices. Footsteps. People’s laugh.

Eliana stepped out.

The chatter stopped.

Thirty guests turned. Thirty pairs of eyes landed on her. On the red silk. On the hair that was slightly messy. On the lips that were slightly swollen.

And on Damien Vance, standing at the top of the stairs, tie loosened, jacket in his hand, watching her like she was the only person in the room.

A board member 's(Rachelle )smile froze. “Eliana? What are you doing out here?”

Damien descended the stairs. Slow. Deliberate. His eyes never left Eliana’s.

When he reached her, he didn’t ask if she was okay. He didn’t apologize.

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles in front of everyone.

“Mrs. Vance,” he said, voice clear and final. “I believe you were looking for daylight.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Phones came out. Whispers filled the marble hall.

Eliana’s breath caught. This wasn’t part of the contract.