CHAPTER 13 THOUGHTS OF HER.
1097 Words
Damien struggled with thoughts of Lila all day. Why was she constantly on his mind? He couldn't shake her image, especially the sight of her round breasts pressing against the pink lacy gown she wore.
"Damn, they looked so soft," he cursed under his breath, and bile rose in his throat.
It infuriated him to think of his staff having seen her like that. Why the hell would she dress like that downstairs?
“Why am I bothered?” he thought, confused. When he had dated Dianne, she often wore even less, to see him off to work, and it never bothered him.
But this! This felt different. There was something about Lila that made him uneasy.
Perhaps it was how she carried herself, or how her innocent look clashed with the daring outfit.
Whatever it was, it ate at him, igniting a fire of possessiveness he couldn't understand. He couldn’t help but feel that her choice to wear something so revealing was a challenge as if she was intentionally flaunting herself in front of everyone, including his staff. The thought sent his mind racing again, a mix of anger and confusion.
“Sir, your coffee is getting… sir… SIR” His P.A. called out to him for the umpteenth time.
He appeared lost in thoughts obviously but it didn’t stop her tiny voice from hunting his thoughts.
“What?!” Damien snapped. “Are you going to keep telling me my coffee is getting cold, or do you have something important to say this time?
“It’s time for your meeting with the investors,” she said, her voice low.
Damien took a deep breath, before standing up, he majestically strode into the conference room.
The atmosphere was tense, filled with the anxious energy of the investors seated around the table. Their expressions were grave and he could feel the anger in the room.
“Damien,” one of the lead investors began, his tone serious. “We’re deeply concerned about the recent developments. If this issue isn’t resolved by the press conference tomorrow, we may have no choice but to pull out of our partnership.”
Damien leaned back in his chair, an unreadable expression on his face. “If you want to pull out, that’s your choice,” he replied coolly. “But it would be a loss for you, not me. I will address the situation at the press conference. As I have said before, it will be resolved tomorrow.”
The investors exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. Damien could feel their discomfort but remained unfazed. He understood the power dynamics at play; his calm confidence was a shield against their threats, and it tended to make them worry less.
“Your decision,” he added, as if the matter were insignificant. “I’m not here to force you to stay. But believe me, Hawaii cooperation will still stand when the dust settles.”
With that, he leaned forward, looking each of them in the eye. “I suggest you think carefully. Backing out now might be the worst business decision you ever make.”
The investors exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the room thickening. A few shifted in their seats, clearly uncomfortable by Damien's carefree attitude.
One of the more vocal investors, a stern woman with piercing eyes, leaned forward, her voice sharp. “Damien, this isn’t just business. We’ve put significant resources into this venture, and your handling of the situation is putting everything at risk, do you think Dianne will take back all she said because you held a press conference.”
“The earlier you realize that this battle is way beyond just Dianne the better. The masses, the internet, and everyone out there who is directly or indirectly involved with this will be my audience tomorrow and not just Dianne. She will have no choice, believe me” With that his lips twitched into something that looked like a smile but wasn't.
Another investor, a balding man with a furrowed brow, added, “We understand you’re confident, but we need to see action, not just words. Our stakeholders are already asking questions.”
Damien raised an eyebrow, his demeanor unfazed. “I appreciate your concerns. But I assure you, I’ll deliver the results you’re looking for. My track record speaks for itself.”
The investors murmured among themselves, visibly torn. They wanted to trust him, but the stakes were high.
Finally, the lead investor spoke again, this time with a hint of frustration. “We’ve made our position clear, Damien. If you can’t reassure us at the press conference tomorrow, we’ll have to re-evaluate our involvement.”
Damien nodded slowly, his expression calm. “That’s fair”.
As the meeting concluded, Damien dismissed the investors with a curt nod, watching as they filed out of the conference room, their murmurs trailing behind them. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Just as he was about to let out a frustrated sigh, his PA slipped back into the room, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “Sir, what do you mean they should leave if they wanted to? We need those investors as much as they need us.”
Damien locked eyes with her, his expression cold and unreadable. “When is it in your place to question my actions?”
She pressed, stepping further into the room. “I am sorry, just that they seemed pretty serious about pulling out.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Rule one of Life; never make it known to anyone that you are in desperate need of them. Let them be! If they want to walk away, that’s their loss, not yours. Then sit and watch them having a hard time deciding” He glanced at her.
His P.A. studied him for a moment, then nodded. “I hope you’re right. I’ll prepare everything you need for the conference.”
As he moved toward the door, his mind drifted back to Lila. The image of her in that transparent lacy nightgown sparked both frustration and a strange thrill. He shook his head, trying to push the thought aside.
He had a company to run, and Lila was not his priority right now and will never be.
Leaving the conference room, he strode down the hallway, his thoughts churning. He needed a distraction.” He pulled out his phone and dialed Hakim’s number.
“Get the car ready” he instructed and immediately ended the call not waiting for a reply.
- Writer
