Her Mother's Sin

MORNING DEBT

Isolde woke up tangled in sheets that smelled like him. Whiskey and skin and something darker she did not want to name. Sunlight cut across the penthouse bedroom sharp enough to hurt her eyes. The collar sat warm against her throat like it had grown roots overnight. She shifted and felt every ache from last night. Damien’s arm still lay heavy across her waist. Possessive even in sleep.

She tried to slide out from under it. The collar gave a soft warning buzz. Not painful. Just enough to remind her.

Damien stirred. His eyes opened slow. For a second he looked almost human. Then the CEO mask slipped back into place.

"Morning" he said. Voice rough from drink and sleep. He did not move his arm. "You stayed."

"What choice did I have?" Isolde pulled the sheet higher. Her voice came out smaller than she wanted. "You were drunk. I was... I do not even know what I was. This is not me. I do not do this."

He rolled onto his side. Propped his head on one hand. Eyes moving over her like he was memorizing details. "You did last night. You asked for harder. You said make me forget. I remember every word even if you wish I did not."

Her face burned. She looked away toward the windows. The city looked too bright. Too normal. "That was the collar. It made everything feel... more. You know it did."

Damien sat up. The sheet fell to his waist. "The collar amplifies. It does not create. You wanted it Isolde. You needed someone to take the choice away after what they did to you." He reached out and traced the edge of the collar with one finger. "Tell me the truth. Did it hurt?"

She shook her head. The movement made her aware of marks on her neck. His marks. "No. It felt... too good. That is what scares me. I hated you and I still..."

"Still came apart for me." He finished the sentence. His tone stayed calm but his eyes darkened. "Good. That is how this works. You give me what I need. I give you what you need. Revenge. Safety. And this."

Isolde pushed his hand away. "This was a mistake. You were drunk. You said you forget how gentle you should be when you drink. Was that your way of warning me?"

Damien got out of bed. Naked and completely unbothered. He walked to the closet and pulled on pants. "It was truth. I do not apologize for wanting you. But we have work today. Get dressed. We start going through Kieran’s transactions. Your memory is the key."

She stayed in bed a moment longer. The collar hummed softly like it approved of his words. "I need coffee first. And space. You cannot just... f**k me one night and order me around the next morning like this is normal."

He turned back to her. Shirt in his hands. "It is normal now. For one year. You signed. The sooner you accept that the easier this gets." Damien pulled the shirt on. "Kitchen is yours. Coffee is ready. I will be in the study. Come when you are ready to be useful."

Isolde watched him leave. Her body still remembered his hands. The way he had pinned her. The things he whispered while inside her. She hated how part of her wanted to call him back.

She got up. Found a robe hanging on the door. It fit perfectly. Of course it did. Everything here was prepared for her like he had planned this.

In the kitchen she poured coffee. Her hands shook a little. The collar stayed quiet. She took a sip and tried to push last night out of her head. Kieran’s face kept flashing instead. Him on top of her mom. The casual way he said months.

Her phone buzzed on the counter. Damien must have brought it up. Lila’s name showed.

Isolde answered fast. "Hey."

"Girl where the hell are you?" Lila sounded frantic. "I went by your place this morning. Cake smashed on the floor. Your mom called me crying saying you ran out. What happened?"

Isolde leaned against the counter. "I walked in on them Lila. Kieran and my mom. Having s*x. On my birthday."

Silence on the line. Then Lila exploded. "That f*****g b***h. And him? I knew he was trash. Are you okay? Tell me where you are. I am coming right now."

"I cannot. I... I met someone. Sort of. He is helping me with the money stuff. Kieran was stealing from him. Big money. I signed something. I am staying here for now."

"Staying where? With who? Isolde this sounds crazy. You do not just sign things with strangers after trauma like that." Lila’s voice got louder. "Is he hot at least? No wait. Do not answer that. Tell me his name. I will look him up."

"Damien Blackthorn." Isolde said it quiet.

Lila went silent again. "Wait. The Damien Blackthorn? Finance guy? Rich as hell and scary as hell? Babe what did you sign exactly?"

"A contract. One year. I help him get his money back using my memory. He destroys them for me." Isolde touched the collar. "There is more but I cannot talk about it yet."

"More like what? Are you safe? Do I need to call someone?"

"I am safe. For now. Just... give me time. I will call you soon."

Lila sighed heavy. "I love you. Do not let this break you. And if that rich asshole hurts you I will end him."

"Thanks. Love you too." Isolde hung up. The coffee tasted bitter now.

Damien appeared in the doorway. "Time to work. Bring your coffee."

She followed him to the study. Wall of screens. Papers spread everywhere. He sat at the big desk and motioned for her to sit beside him. Close.

"Start talking. Every conversation with Kieran about money. Every number. Every excuse."

Isolde sat. Their knees brushed. The collar gave a small warm pulse. "He said there was this investment. Something about high returns. Mentioned accounts in the Caymans once. Numbers like seven point two million transferred. Then he would get quiet when I asked details."

Damien leaned in. His shoulder touched hers. "Good. Keep going."

She kept talking. Details poured out. Her perfect memory made it easy and painful at the same time. Every late night call. Every time Kieran smelled like perfume that was not hers.

"You are useful" Damien said after almost an hour. His hand rested on her thigh under the table. "Very useful."

Isolde looked at him. "Is that all I am? Useful?"

"For now." He squeezed once. "But last night showed me more. You give yourself completely when you break. I like that."

Her breath caught. "You were drunk. It will not happen again."

Damien smiled. Small and dangerous. "It will. And you will beg next time."

The collar buzzed stronger. Heat spread through her body. She hated how right he might be.

Before she could answer her phone rang again. This time her mom’s name showed.

Damien saw it. "Answer. Put it on speaker."

Isolde hesitated. The collar warned her. She answered.

"Sweetheart where are you?" Victoria’s voice came through. Worried. Too sweet. "We need to talk about last night. Kieran feels terrible. It was a mistake."

Isolde’s stomach twisted. "A mistake? You were moaning his name Mom. I heard everything."

Damien’s hand tightened on her thigh.

Victoria sighed. "You are young. You do not understand pressure. The money problems. He needed comfort. I gave it. For us."

"For us?" Isolde’s voice rose. "Do not call me again. Not until you both rot."

She hung up. Tears burned but she held them back.

Damien pulled her closer. "Good girl. Now let me show you what real comfort feels like."

His mouth found hers again. Harder than last night. The collar lit up with pleasure.

Isolde kissed him back even while hating herself for it.

But in the back of her mind one question kept growing.

How much of her was still hers to give?