GLAMOUR: A Billionaire Romance 💎🖤

Chapter 10: Starting Over

"Glamour x Wolfe?"

Damian stared at the mock-up on my office wall.

Our names. Together.

"Yeah," I said. "If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. No secrets. No power games."

He ran a hand through his hair. Still not used to not wearing a suit.

"I don’t know the first thing about starting over, Adriana."

"Good," I smiled. "Because neither do I."

The first week was hell.

Investors called us crazy.

The press called it a publicity stunt.

My team didn’t trust him. His old team hated me.

But at 2am, we were still in the office.

Me sketching. Him on calls trying to save his reputation.

Coffee. Takeout. Fights. Apologies.

One night he fell asleep on my couch.

I covered him with my jacket and watched him.

The man who once owned the world, now just... tired.

"Stop looking at me like that," he mumbled without opening his eyes.

"Like what?"

"Like you still want me."

"I do," I admitted. "That’s the problem."

His eyes opened. "Then let’s stop making it a problem."

He sat up and took my hand.

"I’m not the CEO anymore. I’m just Damian. And I want to build something with you. Not against you."

"Partners?" I asked.

"Partners," he said. "In business. And..."

"And?"

"And everything else."

Three months later, we launched.

Glamour x Wolfe.

The show was packed. Celebrities. Rivals. The board that fired him.

The final dress walked out. Red. Just like the one I wore to his gala.

But this time, we bowed together.

After, he pulled me backstage.

"We did it," he said.

"We did," I whispered.

He kissed my forehead. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

"Thank you for choosing me," I replied.

The war was over.

And we won.

‎It hit at 6:17am.

‎

‎`BREAKING: LEAKED EMAILS SHOW WOLFE CEO PLANNED TO UNDERMINE GLAMOUR`

‎

‎Screenshots. My email. My signature.

‎_"Make sure Reyes fails. Delay her shipments. Kill her PR."_

‎Timestamped: 2 months ago.

‎

‎Except I didn’t write them.

‎

‎By 7am my phone was nuclear.

‎Board. PR. SEC. Adriana.

‎Adriana’s text was just 4 words: _"Was it you?"_

‎

‎I called her immediately. No answer.

‎I called again. Voicemail.

‎"Adriana, it’s fake. I swear on my life. Meet me."

‎

‎8am. Emergency board meeting.

‎"Someone’s trying to force me out early," I said. "Before day 31."

‎"Or," my father said, "this is who you really are."

‎"Check the IP," I snapped. "Check the metadata. This isn’t me."

‎

‎9am. Adriana walked in.

‎She looked like hell. No makeup. Hair in a knot.

‎And she wasn’t looking at me.

‎

‎"Ms. Reyes," the board chair said. "Given these emails, we’re voting to suspend Mr. Wolfe’s transition plan. Effective immediately."

‎"Wait," I said. "Let me investigate—"

‎"We don’t have time," he cut in. "All in favor?"

‎

‎Hands went up.

‎One by one.

‎Until only mine and hers were down.

‎

‎She didn’t vote. She just stared at the table.

‎

‎Meeting over. I was sidelined.

‎

‎I found her on the roof. Again.

‎"Adriana."

‎She didn’t turn. "Did you do it?"

‎"No."

‎"Then who did?"

‎"I don’t know yet," I said. "But I will."

‎

‎She finally looked at me. Eyes red.

‎"You asked me to trust you for 30 days, Damian. It’s day 10."

‎"I know."

‎"And now this." She held up her phone with the headline. "My team is getting threats. My shipment is delayed. Just like the emails said."

‎

‎My stomach dropped.

‎"Someone’s framing me using real plans," I said. "They knew."

‎"Who knew?"

‎"Only 6 people had access to those plans."

‎Including her.

‎

‎The thought hit me and I hated it.

‎She saw it on my face.

‎"Don’t," she whispered. "Don’t you dare."

‎"I’m not accusing you," I said fast. "I’m saying someone wants us to think it’s each other."

‎

‎Silence. The city was loud below us.

‎"Prove it," she said. "23 days left. Prove it wasn’t you. Or I’m gone on day 31."

‎

‎She walked to the door. Stopped.

‎"I wanted to believe you," she said quietly. "I really did."

‎

‎And she left me on the roof.

‎With fake emails, a board that didn’t trust me, and 20 days to save us.