The lies between us

Chapter 8: Deals with the Devil

Lena refused to let Damien Knight see her uncertainty.

She folded her arms, meeting his gaze with quiet defiance. "If you've come all this way just to question my decisions, I hope you didn’t waste too much of your time."

Damien let out a low chuckle, stepping further inside. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere in the room—heavy, commanding, impossible to ignore. "Trust me, Miss Carter. I don’t waste time. Especially not on people who don’t interest me."

Lena’s stomach tightened, but she didn’t let it show. Damien Knight wasn’t just here for small talk. He wanted something.

She gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Then tell me. Why are you here?"

Damien didn’t sit. Instead, he slid his hands into his pockets, eyes dark with amusement. "I’ve been watching your company for some time. And now, suddenly, you’re… different."

Lena raised a brow. "Different how?"

"You’re no longer playing the role of Ethan Blackwood’s shadow. You’re making moves."

Lena smirked. "I didn’t realize you paid that much attention to my love life."

Damien’s expression didn’t change. "I don’t. But I do pay attention to power plays." He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "And Ethan Blackwood? He’s about to learn that he was never the real king in this game."

A slow, calculated thrill ran through Lena’s spine.

Damien was testing her. Measuring her. And if she played her cards right… he could be a powerful ally.

Or an even more dangerous enemy.

She leaned forward. "And what do you want from me, Mr. Knight?"

He studied her, as if debating how much to reveal. "Let’s just say I have an interest in people who don’t like being controlled. If you’re truly done playing nice, we might have something to discuss."

Lena held his gaze, her heartbeat steady. She knew a deal with Damien Knight was like making a pact with the devil.

But she also knew one thing for certain—if she wanted to bring Ethan and Victoria down, she couldn’t do it alone.

Damien finally smirked. “So, tell me, Lena… are you ready to stop playing by their rules?”