Damaged Love

Chapter Five

It was a private jet, flying smoothly through the sky with only Victoria, Elare, and two staff members on board. Victoria had fallen asleep in her seat, wrapped in a cashmere blanket, while Elare sat beside her trying to watch a movie. But no matter how hard she tried, her eyes couldn’t stay focused. The fear of drifting into another nightmare kept her awake. Instead, she nibbled on snacks and let her thoughts wander. She couldn't help but worry—what if she didn’t fit in with Victoria’s friends? These weren’t just regular people. Victoria’s circle was full of the rich and powerful. The only one who didn’t come from a wealthy background was Linda Wilson, and even she had become a household name. A well-known fashion designer, Linda was smart, stylish, and successful. Elare remembered seeing her once while covering a fundraiser in California. People admired her journey—she claimed her success came from consistent hard work, even sliding into celebrities’ DMs to pitch her designs. Still, rumors followed her. Some said her rise began after getting involved with the President’s last-born son, a rumor she never addressed.

Then there was Kim Khan, the definition of a spoiled rich girl. Unlike her twin sister Kira—who was business-minded and driven—Kim had no interest in work. She was known more for her drama than anything else. And yet, their father clearly favored Kim, holding her close at public events while barely acknowledging the others.

Katie Miller, however, was in a league of her own. The daughter of one of the richest men in America, Katie was smart, quiet, and powerful. She ran part of her father’s company and stayed out of the spotlight as much as she could. She rarely posted online, but her friends often tagged her in photos. Elare always found it surprising that someone like Victoria—playful and outgoing—was still so close to someone as private as Katie.

Then there were the men. Cole Grayson, a top music producer with a reputation for being a playboy, was also Damien's childhood friend. People often linked him to Kim, but nothing had been confirmed. Lake Sterling, known to the public as D’prodigy, was another wild card. A famous musician with a history of DUI and three baby mamas, his name constantly made headline and lastly, Damien Lancaster — CEO of T&D Group, one of the largest companies in California and across America. Like Katie, Damien preferred to stay away from the spotlight. He rarely posted on social media, yet he always ended up trending — whether for his business decisions or simply being seen with his influential friends. There had once been rumors that he and Katie were more than friends, especially since their families were close and they'd known each other since childhood. But Damien eventually debunked the claims in an interview, brushing it off with a cool, detached tone. He didn’t speak much about his family, especially his father. People often said they weren’t close, and Damien never denied it. A few years ago, his father made headlines during an interview where he said modeling wasn’t a real profession — especially for men — and claimed it was for the unserious. Just a week later, Damien appeared in a modeling collaboration with Lake Sterling. Though he didn’t take on many modeling gigs, that one stood out. Some thought he did it to spite his father, while others said it was his way of proving that modeling could be a hobby and not just a career. No one ever got a clear answer from Damien himself. Victoria had mentioned the night before that the President’s son, Henry Obama, would also be joining them. The same Henry rumored to be involved with Linda. Elare sighed at the thought. Compared to this group, she felt completely out of place. Just a small-time journalist who mostly covered events from behind the scenes. She’d never been invited to these kinds of vacations—only hired to report on them. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the jet landing until Victoria gently tapped her.. “We’re here,” she said with a sleepy smile. The Hawaiian air was warm and sweet, brushing against Elare’s skin as they stepped out of the jet. The scent of the ocean, tropical flowers, and sunshine filled the air. Elare paused at the stairs, taking it all in—the waving palm trees, the distant blue ocean, the peaceful silence around them. Victoria took off her sunglasses and stretched, letting her silk robe flow behind her. “Welcome to paradise,” she said with a grin. A black luxury SUV waited by the runway. The driver greeted them with a polite nod and carefully loaded their luggage into the car. The road to their bungalow curved through tall green trees and patches of volcanic rock. Now and then, Elare caught glimpses of the sparkling ocean between the leaves. When they reached the beachfront house, Elare gasped softly. It was stunning. The bungalow was built from rich teak wood with wide glass walls that opened to the sea. It stood just above the sand, like a modern treehouse by the beach. A large wooden deck wrapped around the front, complete with an infinity pool that seemed to blend into the ocean. Wind chimes swayed gently in the breeze above the doorway.

“This is yours?” Elare asked quietly as she stepped out of the car. Victoria smiled. “Technically, it belongs to Katie’s dad. But for the next few days? It’s ours.”

Inside, the house was warm and elegant. High ceilings, woven textures on the walls, and soft earth tones filled the space. Sunlight poured through the windows, lighting up the polished wood floors. The air smelled like sea breeze, vanilla, and fresh linen. Elare’s room faced the ocean. White curtains fluttered near a large, soft bed that looked like it could cradle her troubled heart. She placed her bag on the floor and stood still, letting the calmness wash over her. Just before sunset, another jet landed. This time it brought Damien, Katie, Kim, Linda, Cole, Lake, and Henry. Their laughter echoed down the private road as a second SUV brought them to the house. Damien stepped out last, wearing a pale blue linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a bag over one shoulder. The golden light hit his sharp features perfectly. The rest of the group was full of life. Kim filmed everything on her phone for social media. Linda tossed off her shoes and ran toward the beach. Henry lit a cigar and leaned back like he had no worries in the world. Damien stayed quiet, taking in the view until his eyes landed on Victoria. She stood on the porch, arms crossed with a smirk. “Took you long enough.” Damien’s lips curled slightly. “Ladies first, right?”

Inside, hugs and greetings filled the air. Everyone was reconnecting, laughing, and settling in. Elare stayed by the window, her eyes focused on the waves. Seeing Damien again stirred something in her chest—a flutter she couldn’t explain. But she quickly looked away. This trip was supposed to be her escape, a time to heal. Still, something about this place, this group, this moment… made her feel like change was coming. And it wouldn’t just be sunshine and calm seas.