The Man I Came To Destroy
Chapter 1
The Man I Came to Destroy
The first time I saw Damien Sterling, I wanted to hate him.
Unfortunately, my body had other ideas.
He stood beneath the crystal chandelier of the Sterling Grand, surrounded by politicians, celebrities, and wealthy strangers desperate for his attention.
Damien didn't seem interested in any of them.
His black suit fit him perfectly, his sleeves revealing just enough of his forearms to make him look dangerously relaxed.
Then his eyes found mine.
Everything inside me went still.
His gaze traveled over my face, lingering for one brief, heated second before returning to my eyes.
He knew I was watching.
And judging by the faint curve of his mouth, he liked it.
I lifted my champagne glass.
His smile deepened.
Damn him.
I turned away.
Tonight wasn't about attraction.
It was about revenge.
My father, Richard Hayes, had disappeared twelve years ago.
Everyone blamed the Sterling family.
And I had spent half my life believing them.
Tonight, I was going to find the evidence.
I slipped away from the ballroom and entered the private corridor leading to Damien's office.
My heart raced as I unlocked the door.
"Looking for something?"
I froze.
Damien stood behind me.
I slowly turned.
He had removed his jacket.
His tie was loosened, and the controlled billionaire from the ballroom had disappeared.
He looked even more dangerous now.
"I got lost."
His eyebrow rose.
"In my private office?"
"Your building is unnecessarily large."
He laughed softly.
"You lie beautifully."
"I wasn't aware you were an expert."
"I am."
He stepped closer.
I stepped back.
Until my hips met the edge of his desk.
His eyes flickered downward before meeting mine again.
Neither of us spoke.
The silence felt intimate.
Too intimate.
"You've been watching me all night," he said.
"Maybe you're difficult to ignore."
"That's the nicest insult I've heard."
I tried to move around him.
His hand landed beside mine on the desk, blocking my escape without actually touching me.
My heartbeat became embarrassingly loud.
"What are you doing?" I whispered.
"Trying to figure you out."
"I'm not a puzzle."
"No."
His voice dropped.
"You're a problem."
His face was close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath.
For one reckless second, I wondered what would happen if I closed the distance.
Then I remembered why I was there.
I pushed past him.
He caught my wrist.
Not painfully.
Just firmly.
His thumb rested against my pulse.
"You should be careful," he murmured.
"Why?"
"Because your heart is giving you away."
I pulled my hand free.
"My heart has nothing to do with you."
"Not yet."
I walked to the computer.
My fingers trembled as I connected the device.
Damien watched me.
He didn't stop me.
That should have frightened me.
The files transferred.
Then the computer beeped.
TRANSFER COMPLETE.
I grabbed the device.
Damien smiled.
"Finished?"
I stared at him.
"You knew."
"Of course."
My stomach dropped.
He stepped closer.
"I knew who you were before you walked into this room."
My blood ran cold.
"Who am I?"
"Scarlett Hayes."
My breath caught.
"Your father's daughter."
The room suddenly felt too small.
Damien leaned closer.
"And now I have a question for you."
"What?"
His eyes darkened.
"How badly do you want the truth?"
I swallowed.
"Badly enough to risk everything."
A dangerous smile appeared.
"Good."
He released the door.
"Because getting the truth from me is going to cost you."
I stared at him.
"How much?"
His gaze held mine.
"Six months."
"What?"
"You stay by my side for six months."
"Why?"
"Because I have enemies."
He stepped closer again.
"And apparently, so do you."
He opened the door.
"Think about it, Scarlett."
I walked out.
But before the door closed, I heard his voice behind me.
"And Scarlett?"
I turned.
His eyes met mine.
"Next time you sneak into my office, don't wear something that makes it so difficult for me to remember I'm supposed to be angry with you."
