Always make you mine

Episode Eight

Damien Blackwood had been deep in spreadsheets and acquisition forecasts in his top-floor office when Luke barged in without knocking.

“Come on, D. You’ve been locked in here for fourteen hours straight.

Don’t ask how i know… i just guessed.

We’re going to Eclipse. No excuses tonight.”

“No” Damien refused sharply , but Luke was persistent and annoyingly cheerful. In the end, it was easier to go than argue.

Anhour later, he found himself seated in the VIP section of Eclipse, one of Sam Kensington’s most successful nightlife venues in Midtown Manhattan.

The club was busy but not chaotic. Damien sat in a corner booth, legs crossed, a glass of Scotch resting loosely in his hand. He hadn’t taken more than two sips. His expression remained cool and distant as he stared across the room without really seeing anything. He was quiet, aloof, the same way he was in every social setting that didn’t involve closing a deal.

His three friends filled the rest of the booth.

Luke Harrington, ever the energetic one, leaned forward with a grin, his tie already loosened. “Finally! I thought I was going to have to physically drag you out of that glass tower. You work too hard, even for a machine like you.”

Adrian Voss sat to Damien’s right, nursing his own drink with quiet composure. Like Damien, Adrian was reserved and rarely wasted words. He prefers observing over participating in loud conversations.

Sam Kensington, the owner of Eclipse and several other high-end clubs and lounges, sat opposite them. Sam’s eyes kept scanning the room with obvious appreciation for the women moving through the space. He was already on his second drink and clearly in his element.

“Place looks good tonight,” Sam said casually, gesturing around with his glass. “Crowd is solid. VIP is full, which means the cash is flowing nicely.”

Luke laughed. “Of course you’d notice the money first. You’re worse than Damien sometimes.”

Damien didn’t respond. He simply swirled the Scotch in his glass, his sharp gray eyes half-lidded. The pulsing music and occasional bursts of laughter from nearby tables barely registered.

Luke wasn’t moved by the silence. He clapped Damien on the shoulder. “Alright, enough with the brooding. That merger you closed last week was huge. You should be in a better mood. Or at least pretend to be.”

“It was straightforward,” Damien replied flatly. “Nothing worth celebrating.”

Adrian gave a small nod of agreement. “Straightforward deals are the best kind. Less mess.”

Sam leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he spotted a group of women near the bar. “Speaking of less mess… Damien, there’s a table of very attractive women who keep looking this way. Especially the one in the red dress. I can have her over here in thirty seconds. My staff knows how to make introductions smooth. What do you say?”

Damien didn’t even turn his head. “Not interested.”

Sam sighed dramatically. “You always say that. Come on, man. One night. You don’t have to marry her. Just talk. Or don’t talk. Whatever works.”

Before Damien could respond, Luke jumped in, his tone turning more serious despite his usual bubbly energy. “Actually, speaking of marriage… your mom called me again last week. She’s not giving up. She said she’s tired of waiting for you to ‘do your duty’ and give her grandchildren. She even brought up the Caldwell girl again. Said she’s perfect for you — good family, beautiful, well-educated.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow, his voice calm and measured. “She’s been increasing the pressure lately. Last month it was that tech heiress. Now she’s back to pushing society matches. At some point you’re going to have to address it, or she’ll start arranging meetings behind your back.”

Damien’s jaw tightened slightly. He took a slow sip of his Scotch, letting the burn settle before answering. “My mother has strong opinions. That doesn’t mean I need to follow them. I’m not looking to get married right now. Or anytime soon.”

Sam chuckled, still eyeing the room. “That’s what you always say. But we all know the real issue. You’re still hung up on Sophia. It’s been almost two years, Damien. She left, you let her go, but you haven’t moved on. Every time someone mentions settling down, you shut down completely.”

The mention of his ex brought a flicker of irritation across Damien’s otherwise blank expression. Sophia had been beautiful, ambitious, and from a connected family. On paper, she had seemed ideal. In reality, their relationship had been a series of power struggles and disappointments. When she finally walked away, accusing him of being emotionally frozen, he hadn’t fought to keep her. He simply let her go.

“I’m not pining for Sophia,” Damien said coldly, his voice low and firm. “She was a mistake. One I learned from. I have no interest in repeating it. She wanted warmth and emotion. I don’t have time for either.”

Luke leaned back, still grinning but with a hint of concern in his eyes. “Denial looks good on you, my friend. But seriously, if you’re not ready for marriage, at least have some fun. Sam owns the place — he can get you any woman here. No strings attached. Look at the blonde by the bar. She’s been staring at you for ten minutes straight.”

Sam nodded eagerly. “Exactly. Or the brunette in the black dress near the DJ. She’s exactly your type — tall, elegant, quiet. I’ll send a bottle over if you want. Make it easy.”

Damien shook his head once, his expression unchanging. He barely glanced in the direction his friends indicated. “I said I’m not interested. Drop it.”

The three men exchanged looks. Adrian remained quiet, respecting Damien’s mood, while Luke tried one more time with lighter energy. “You’re impossible. One of these days we’re going to find the woman who actually cracks that ice wall of yours. I hope I’m there to see it.”

Sam laughed and flagged down a server to order another round of drinks. “Fine, fine. More for us then. But don’t complain when you wake up alone again tomorrow.”

Damien tuned out most of the following conversation. Luke launched into a funny story about a disastrous blind date he had gone on recently, complete with exaggerated gestures. Sam added his own anecdotes about wild nights at his clubs, frequently pausing to smile at passing women. Adrian listened with occasional dry comments, his aloof nature matching Damien’s in many ways.

Damien remained mostly silent, occasionally nodding or giving short responses when directly addressed. His mind wandered back to work — specifically to the Hayes Construction file sitting on his desk. The company was weakening faster than expected. The land was valuable for the waterfront project. The latest background check had confirmed the family’s desperate financial situation.

As the night continued, the drinks kept coming. Luke grew louder and more animated. Sam continued scanning for opportunities, eventually excusing himself briefly to speak with one of the women who had been watching their table. Adrian stayed put, content with quiet observation and the occasional remark.

Damien stayed in his corner of the booth, glass in hand, expression cold and distant. The pressure from his mother, the teasing about Sophia, the offers of easy company — none of it touched him. He had built his empire by keeping emotions locked away. Tonight was no different.

Back in Brooklyn, the Hayes household was far from the noise and lights of Eclipse.

Richard Hayes sat at the dining table under the harsh overhead light, staring at the thick document that had arrived by courier earlier that day. The envelope bore the bold, minimalist logo of Blackwood Group. His hands shook slightly as he read through the draft acquisition offer for the fourth time.

Maria stood behind him, one hand resting tensely on his shoulder as she leaned over to read along. Her face had gone pale.

“Richard… this is serious,” she whispered. “Damien Blackwood himself? They’re offering an immediate cash injection, but the valuation is terribly low. They want the land most of all. The rest of the company… they’d absorb or liquidate parts of it.”

Richard rubbed his tired eyes. “It’s not a lifeline, Maria. It’s a controlled demolition. I built Hayes Construction from nothing. If we sign this, everything I worked for disappears under the Blackwood name. But with the bank breathing down our necks in twenty-three days… I don’t know what choice we have.”

Maria squeezed his shoulder tighter. “We need to think carefully. This isn’t just business. This is our life. Our daughter’s future too.”

Unbeknownst to them, Evelyn had come downstairs for a glass of water. She had paused halfway down the stairs when she heard her father say the name “Blackwood.” Heart pounding, she stayed hidden in the shadows of the hallway, listening.

The words “acquisition offer,” “cash injection,” “land parcels,” and “Damien Blackwood” drifted toward her clearly enough to make her stomach drop.

Evelyn pressed a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. The same cold man who had looked straight through her four times was now offering to buy — or rather, take over — her father’s company. The ruthless CEO whose gray eyes had dismissed her so easily held their entire future in his hands.

She backed away quietly, retreating up the stairs before her parents noticed her presence. Once inside her bedroom, she closed the door softly and sat on the edge of her bed, mind racing.

Evelyn stared at the floor, her chest tight with anxiety. everything had just become far more real.