The Way He Said My Name

Chapter 3: Monday Morning

By seven forty-five on Monday morning, Ariana was standing in front of Laurent Holdings, staring up at the enormous glass building.

She took a deep breath.

"New job. Fresh start. No distractions."

Her mind immediately supplied one name.

Damien.

She sighed.

"Okay. One distraction."

She walked inside.

The receptionist looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Ms. Ariana."

"Good morning."

"Mr. Laurent is expecting you."

Ariana's stomach tightened.

"Already?"

The receptionist nodded.

"He asked me to send you directly to his office when you arrive."

Of course he did.

Ariana thanked her and stepped into the elevator.

As the doors closed, she looked at her reflection.

She had chosen a simple cream blouse and black trousers. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head.

Professional.

Confident.

Completely unaffected.

At least, that was the goal.

The elevator opened on the top floor.

A man in a dark suit stood waiting.

"Ms. Ariana?"

"Yes."

"I'm Marcus. Mr. Laurent's business partner."

He offered his hand.

"Welcome to Laurent Holdings."

Ariana shook it.

"Nice to meet you."

Marcus smiled.

Then he glanced at the folder in her hand.

"First day?"

"Yes."

"Good luck."

Ariana frowned.

"Why do you say it like that?"

Marcus laughed.

"You'll understand."

Before she could ask what he meant, the office door opened.

Damien stood there.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his tie slightly loosened, his expression as unreadable as ever.

His eyes immediately found Ariana.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Damien said,

"You're late."

Ariana checked her phone.

"It's seven fifty-eight."

"You were supposed to be here at eight."

"Exactly."

Marcus laughed.

Damien looked at him.

"Leave."

Marcus raised his hands.

"I'm leaving."

He walked away, still smiling.

Ariana stepped into Damien's office.

It was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Manhattan. A large desk sat near the center of the room, surrounded by shelves filled with books and carefully arranged documents.

Everything was organized.

Everything was controlled.

Just like him.

Damien closed the door.

"Sit."

Ariana sat across from his desk.

He remained standing.

"You'll be working directly with me."

Her eyebrows rose.

"I thought I was joining the marketing department."

"You are."

"Then why am I working directly with you?"

"Because I want you on a special project."

"What project?"

Damien placed a folder in front of her.

Ariana opened it.

Her eyes widened.

"This is the Laurent Foundation."

"Yes."

"I thought the foundation's annual campaign was handled by another team."

"It was."

"Was?"

"They're being replaced."

Ariana looked up.

"Why?"

"Because they failed."

"That's a little harsh."

"They lost three major sponsors."

Ariana scanned the documents.

"Then what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Fix it."

She looked at him.

"You want me to fix a project that an entire team couldn't fix?"

"Yes."

"On my first day?"

"Yes."

Ariana stared at him.

"Do you always welcome new employees like this?"

"Only the ones I believe can handle it."

Something about the answer made her pause.

"Why do you believe I can handle it?"

Damien's gaze remained on her.

"Because you didn't walk away from the interview."

"I almost did."

"But you didn't."

Ariana closed the folder.

"Fine."

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"Fine?"

"I'll do it."

He nodded.

"Good."

She stood.

"I'll need access to the previous campaign reports."

"You'll have them."

"And the financial records."

"Ask my finance director."

"And I'll need to speak to the sponsors."

"I'll arrange it."

Ariana smiled.

"Look at that. We already have teamwork."

Damien stared at her.

"You talk too much."

"And you're too quiet."

His mouth twitched.

"That could become a problem."

"Or balance."

Their eyes met.

Something changed.

Again.

Ariana looked away first.

"I'll get started."

She turned toward the door.

"Ariana."

She stopped.

There it was again.

That voice.

She slowly turned around.

Damien was watching her.

"Yes?"

For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.

Then he said,

"Nothing."

Ariana frowned.

"You called my name."

"I know."

"So?"

"Go to work."

She stared at him.

"You're strange."

Then she left.

The moment the door closed, Damien released a slow breath.

He hated how easily she affected him.

He hated that she could walk into a room and make him forget everything he had spent years controlling.

Most of all, he hated the fact that she still didn't remember him.

---

By lunchtime, Ariana had already discovered three things.

First, Laurent Holdings was much more complicated than she expected.

Second, Damien Laurent was even more difficult than she imagined.

Third, everyone in the company was terrified of him.

She was sitting at her desk reviewing documents when Sophia called.

"How's the new job?"

Ariana smiled.

"Interesting."

"That's not an answer."

"Okay. It's stressful."

"Your boss?"

Ariana hesitated.

"He's..."

"Handsome?"

"Annoying."

Sophia laughed.

"That wasn't my question."

Ariana rolled her eyes.

"You know what? I'm hanging up."

"Wait! Is he handsome?"

Ariana glanced toward the glass wall of Damien's office.

He was standing with Marcus, discussing something.

She looked away.

"Unfortunately."

Sophia gasped.

"Unfortunately?"

"He's arrogant."

"Rich?"

"Very."

"Single?"

"I don't know."

"Find out."

"Sophia!"

"I'm just saying."

Ariana smiled.

"Goodbye."

She ended the call.

When she looked up, Damien was standing beside her desk.

She nearly jumped.

"Do you always sneak up on people?"

"I walked over."

"I didn't hear you."

"Clearly."

He placed a file on her desk.

"The sponsor meeting is at three."

"Today?"

"Yes."

"I haven't finished reviewing the reports."

"You have two hours."

Ariana stared at him.

"You really don't believe in easing people into their first day."

"No."

She opened the file.

Then noticed something.

A photograph had slipped between the documents.

She pulled it out.

Her smile disappeared.

It was an old photograph.

A family standing together.

Damien's family.

And another family beside them.

Her family.

Ariana stared at the picture.

Her fingers tightened around the edges.

"Where did you get this?"

Damien went completely still.

"Put it down."

His voice had changed.

Ariana looked up.

"Why?"

"Because it's not relevant."

"That's my family."

"I know."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them.

Ariana's eyes narrowed.

"You know my family?"

Damien said nothing.

She stood.

"Damien."

He looked at her.

"How do you know my family?"

His jaw tightened.

"It's complicated."

"Then explain it."

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

Silence.

Ariana held up the photograph.

"You knew who I was before I started working here, didn't you?"

Damien's expression hardened.

"Ariana—"

"No."

She stepped closer.

"You knew."

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then, quietly, he said,

"Yes."

Ariana's heart dropped.

The office suddenly felt colder.

"How long?"

Damien didn't answer.

"How long have you known who I am?"

His eyes met hers.

"Since before you walked into this building."

Ariana stared at him.

The photograph trembled slightly in her hand.

And suddenly, the strange way he had said her name on the first day didn't feel like a coincidence anymore.

It felt like a warning.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Damien's expression revealed nothing.

But his silence told her enough.

There was something he wasn't saying.

Something about her.

Something about their families.

And whatever it was, Damien had known all along.

Ariana slowly placed the photograph back on his desk.

"Then I think we need to talk."

Damien looked at her.

"We will."

"When?"

"Not today."

"Why?"

His voice lowered.

"Because once I tell you, Ariana, there is no going back."

She stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Damien didn't answer.

He simply turned toward the window.

And Ariana realized something terrifying.

The man she had thought was a stranger had been waiting for her long before she ever knew his name.