Damian's claim

Chapter Five

THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR



The small workshop smelled of freshly pressed fabric and lavender polish. The sun spilled through the window, bathing the space in a soft glow. Alexander was at her sewing machine, her hands moving quickly, stitching a delicate line on a client’s gown. It was the first time in days she had felt focused.



Her mother had stepped out to the market for supplies, leaving her alone. She hummed softly to herself, almost forgetting the weight pressing against her chest. Almost.



The doorbell chimed.



She looked up, expecting one of her regular customers. Instead, she froze.



Damian Cole stood in the doorway.



For a second, she thought she was imagining him. He looked out of place, his tailored suit far too sharp against the worn shelves and bolts of fabric. But his piercing grey eyes were the same. Steady. Searching.



“Mr. Cole?” Her voice trembled more than she wanted.



He smiled faintly. “I told you to call me Damian.”



Her pulse quickened. “What are you doing here?”



“I wanted to see where you work,” he said simply, stepping further inside. “You left in a hurry the other night. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you properly.”



Alexander rose quickly, dusting her hands against her apron, wishing she had at least worn something better than her work dress. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said. “This is not the kind of place you’re used to.”



“On the contrary,” Damian replied, scanning the workshop with interest. “It’s refreshing. Authentic. No one is pretending here.”



She frowned. “You call it refreshing. I call it survival.”



Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them. Alexander hated the way her chest tightened under his gaze. She had spent months trying to be invisible, but with Damian around, invisibility felt impossible.



“Your work is beautiful,” he said after a moment, gesturing at the gown on the mannequin. “You designed this?”



“Yes.” She swallowed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Fashion is all I know.”



He studied her, his eyes softening for the briefest moment. “It’s more than that. I can see the passion in every stitch.”



Her cheeks burned. Compliments were nothing new clients often praised her but coming from him, they felt dangerous. She quickly turned away, pretending to adjust the dress. “Is that why you came? To flatter me?”



Damian chuckled slowly, the sound deep and smooth. “No. I came because you intrigue me, Alexander. And I don’t like unanswered questions.”



Her stomach knotted. “Questions?”



He stepped closer, and she could feel the air shift. “Why does a woman with so much talent hide in the shadows? Why does she look like she’s carrying the weight of the world when she should be walking with her head high?”



Alexander’s throat tightened. He was too close to the truth, closer than anyone had ever been. She forced herself to step back, her voice sharper than intended. “Maybe it’s none of your business.”



Something flickered in his eyes not anger, but determination. “Maybe. But I don’t walk away easily, Alexander. Not when something tells me there’s more beneath the surface.”



The doorbell chimed again.



Alexander turned quickly, relief flooding her chest as her mother entered, carrying a basket of supplies. Her mother’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of Damian, though she quickly masked her surprise with a polite smile.



“Good afternoon,” she greeted. “Welcome.”



Damian inclined his head respectfully. “Good afternoon, ma’am. I was just admiring your daughter’s work. She’s very talented.”



Her mother’s smile grew, proud but cautious. “Yes, she is. Fashion has always been her gift.”



Alexander felt her cheeks burn again. “Mama, this is… Damian Cole,” she muttered, as though saying his name aloud might make the moment less surreal.



Her mother’s brows rose. Clearly, she recognized the name. The Cole family was known even in their modest neighborhood. But she said nothing, simply nodded. “You’re welcome anytime.”



“Thank you,” Damian replied, his tone warm. “But I don’t want to keep you. I only came to see her.”



Alexander’s heart stopped. He said it so casually, yet the words carried weight. He looked at her one last time, his gaze steady. “I’ll be seeing you again.”



And just like that, he was gone.



The shop felt quieter without him, emptier somehow. Alexander stared at the closed door, her chest tight.



Her mother’s voice broke the silence. “Alexander… that man. What does he want with you?”



“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I really don’t know.”



But deep down, she feared she did. Damian Cole was the kind of man who didn’t chase anything he couldn’t claim. And somehow, impossibly, she had caught his attention.

And that terrified her more than anything