I couldn’t
971 Words
**Damian’s pov**
**The Morning After The Ball**
I couldn’t remember the last time I woke up smiling. For a moment, I simply lay there,
staring at the ceiling as warm sunlight poured through the windows of the presidential suite.
There was something different this morning.
Something… lighter. I frowned, because that wasn’t normal. Nothing in my life had felt
light in years, I turned toward the other side of the bed, it was empty. The sheets were cold,
she was gone. A strange disappointment settled in my chest before I could stop it. I sat up
slowly, running a hand through my hair.
“So much for mysterious endings.
”
The room still carried traces of her, a faint floral perfume lingered in the air. One sapphire
earring rested beside the bathroom door, I picked it up carefully. A small smile tugged at the
corner of my mouth. She’d probably be looking for this, my gaze drifted toward the desk.
A single sheet of hotel stationery lay beneath a silver pen, I reached for it. Neat
handwriting greeted me.
“Thank you for reminding me that life can still surprise me.
” No
name, and no phone number. Nothing.
I read the sentence again, then a third time. Most women I’d met would have left a
business card, or a phone number. At least some way for me to find them. But she hadn’t,
she’d walked away expecting nothing.
For reasons I couldn’t explain, I respected that, more than respected it. I folded the note
carefully and slipped it into my wallet. Something told me I wouldn’t be throwing it away,
three sharp knocks echoed through the suite. Only one person knocked like that.
“Come in.
”
The door opened.
“Good morning, Mr. Ashford.
” My assistant, stepped inside carrying a tablet and a garment
bag. His eyes immediately swept across the room, then to the empty side of the bed. One
eyebrow rose.
“I assume your evening was… successful.
”
I gave him a flat look, he wisely dropped the subject.
“You have a board meeting in ninety minutes.
”
“I know.
”
“Your grandfather moved breakfast forward.
”
“Why?”
“He said, and I quote…
” He cleared his throat dramatically.
“‘If my grandson insists on
working himself into an early grave, I’d at least like to feed him first.
’”
Despite myself, I laughed. A genuine laugh, my assistant blinked.
“I haven’t heard that sound in years.
”
“What sound?”
“You laughing.
”
“I laugh.
”
“No.
”
“I do.
”
“Not at work.
”
I stood and walked toward the window overlooking Manhattan. The city was already
awake, cars filled the streets, and construction cranes dotted the skyline. Everything moved
with purpose, just the way I liked it, control, order, and predictability.
Last night had been none of those things, and somehow… I couldn’t stop thinking about
her.
“Who organized the masquerade guest list?” I asked.
Ethan looked surprised.
“The foundation.
”
“Can we access it?”
“We could.
”
I hesitated. My fingers brushed against the folded note inside my wallet. Then I shook my
head.
“No.
”
“You don’t want me to?”
“If she wanted me to know who she was…
” I looked back toward the empty bed.
would’ve told me.
”
“
…she
Ethan studied me for a moment.
“I’ve worked for you eight years.
”
“And?”
“I’ve never seen you interested in anyone after one night.
”
“I’m not interested.
”
He smiled knowingly.
“If you say so.
”
I ignored him.
Ten minutes later I stepped into a charcoal suit, adjusted my cufflinks, and became
Damian Ashford again, CEO, and future heir. The man everyone expected, the stranger from
last night disappeared behind the same walls I’d spent years building.
Or at least… I thought he had.
*****
The Ashford headquarters dominated Midtown Manhattan. Forty seven stories of steel
and glass. Employees straightened the moment I walked through the lobby.
“Good morning, Mr. Ashford.
”
“Morning.
”
“Good morning, sir.
”
I acknowledged each greeting with a nod, no unnecessary conversation, and no wasted
time, exactly how I preferred it. The executive boardroom overlooked Central Park, by the
time I arrived, every director was already seated, only one chair remained empty.
The one at the head of the table… mine. As I sat down, the doors opened again. Richard
Ashford entered without his usual cane, refusing assistance despite being nearly eighty
years old.
“Good,
” my grandfather announced.
“Everyone’s here.
”
The room immediately fell silent, helooked around before settling his gaze on me.
“Damian.
”
“Grandfather.
”
“You look rested.
”
“I slept well.
”
“Hm.
”
The corners of his mouth twitched.
“I imagine you did.
”
Several board members looked confused.
I narrowed my eyes.
“You know something.
”
“I know many things.
”
He chuckled as he lowered himself into his chair. Then, without another word, he slid a
thick manila folder across the polished conference table toward me. I opened it.
The smile vanished from my face, inside was a legal document. My grandfather’s will, a
single clause had been highlighted in yellow.
“The sole condition for Damian Ashford to inherit Ashford Global Holdings in full is that he
must be legally married before his thirty sixth birthday. Failing this, controlling ownership
shall transfer to Ezra Ashford.
”
I slowly looked up. The room was dead silent, but my grandfather smiled.
“I believe…
” He folded his hands.
“
…it’s finally time we discussed your future.
”
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