Velvet chains

Chapter4

A Kiss in the Headlines

The gala was everything Zara loved to hate and hated to love, if that makes sense. It was all about the glitz, the glamour, and all the folks pretending they didn’t care about the cameras flashing. It took place in this old London estate, decked out with chandeliers and classic oil paintings that made everything feel both fancy and cold. The vibe in the room reminded her of a game where folks were sizing each other up while pretending to be friendly, all smiles but with hidden agendas.

As the guest of honor, Zara wore this stunning emerald green dress. It was sharp and structured, a true statement piece that clearly set her apart. Her locs were styled into a neat bun, and her makeup was just enough—tasteful but eye-catching. If she was going to be the center of attention, she was going to make sure she was in control of how everyone viewed her.

Damian kept his distance for most of the night, but it wasn’t easy to ignore him in his sleek midnight-black tux. He mixed and mingled, shaking hands and making small talk, but no matter how captivated he seemed by the crowd, his gaze always found its way back to her. And Zara definitely noticed.

The investors in the room seemed impressed, and there were journalists lurking around like hungry wolves. Glasses clinked, names were tossed around like they were coins, and Zara could feel the eyes on them. It was as if everyone saw her and Damian not just as individuals, but as a pair, and not just in a business sense either. It was annoying, and she needed to get some air.

So, she slipped out onto the balcony, wrapping her arms around herself against the brisk London breeze. Looking out at the city lights twinkling far into the distance, she allowed herself a moment of pride. She had really come a long way, despite everything.

After a minute, Damian joined her. “You okay?” he asked, his voice softer than usual.

“Just needed a break,” she replied, keeping her eyes on the view.

He stood next to her, the silence stretching out for what felt like ages as they both just stared into nothing. Finally, she said, “You’ve changed.”

“So have you,” he shot back, his tone sincere. “And all in the best ways.”

Zara turned and raised an eyebrow, doubtful. “Is that some kind of line?”

“Not at all,” he replied. “It’s just me being honest. I’ve been trying to be more real lately.”

She didn’t respond to that.

In that quiet moment, Damian did something impulsive—he reached out and gently touched her jaw. She stiffened, taken by surprise, but he didn’t pull away. And just like that, it led to a kiss.

It was unexpected and rough around the edges, built on unspoken words they hadn't exchanged in years—silence, regrets, confusion, and a smoldering desire. When they finally pulled back, both of them were breathless and a bit stunned, fully aware they had crossed some invisible line.

Out of nowhere, a click echoed in the background, but neither of them noticed until the following morning.

Zara woke up in her hotel suite to her phone buzzing with notifications. She glanced at the screen, her jaw tightening as she read the headlines and tweets. “Zara Adeyemi and Damian Cole: A Billion-Naira Kiss?”

She stood there in disbelief, phone in hand, feeling a mix of anger and anxiety. Just then, Damian walked in, already absorbed in the chaos on his own phone.

“This is bad,” she muttered, not even attempting to hide her frustration.

“They're spinning this like it’s some PR stunt,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“They're saying I slept my way into a deal,” she snapped, feeling the heat rise in her chest. “And you know how that’ll be viewed back in Nigeria.”

He paused, giving her a serious look. “Then let me take the blame. I’ll call my PR team. We’ll say I crossed a line—”

“No way,” Zara interrupted. “That’ll make this whole mess even worse. No way that helps.”

“Fine. So then what do you want to do?”

Zara took a deep breath, frustration etched across her face. “I want everyone to know I didn’t get here because of a guy. I made it on my own terms.”

Damian looked at her, dead serious. “Okay. Then we tackle this together. On your terms.”

She studied him for a moment, trying to gauge if he really meant it.

“Alright,” she finally said. “But no more surprises, okay? Just keep it strictly business.”

“Got it,” he replied.

But deep down,

Itthey both knew things were never going to be that simple.