CLAIMED BY THE COLD BILLIONAIRE

CHAPTER TWO: THE TEST OF CONTROL

Sophie looked at the envelope she was holding for a long time after she got home. The paper it was made of was shiny and really thick it looked expensive. There was nothing on it except her name, which was written in Damiens handwriting. His writing was very sharp and clear. Sophies fingers shook a little as she opened the envelope. She was half scared of what she might find inside the envelope, from Damien.

Inside, there was a single card. On it, in black ink:

"Meet me at my office tomorrow at 7 PM. Come alone."

Her heart jumped up into her throat. She was going to be alone with him. The word alone made her stomach feel weird. She was going to be alone, with the billionaire. The billionaire was a man that everyone talked about. The billionaire was a man who could hurt peoples reputations with one word. The billionaire had that kind of power.

The woman was standing there. She said out loud, to herself what is she doing.

Clara had gone home hours ago so Sophie was by herself in her apartment. Sophie walked back and forth trying to make sense of things trying to ignore the way she felt about Damien Blackwood. The thing is, her body was not listening to her. Every part of her felt like it was on edge every time her heart beat it was like she was waiting for something to happen. It scared her. Sophie could not stop thinking about Damien Blackwood and what he did to her. Damien Blackwood was always, on her mind.

By 6:45 the evening Sophie was standing outside Damiens skyscraper. The lights of the city were shining on the glass building and they made her shadow really long and wobbly. Sophie looked at herself in her phone to make sure she looked okay. Her blouse was neat her hair was straight and her blazer was pressed. She looked like a person. She looked like she could handle things. Sophie hoped she really felt confident about what she was doing because Sophie needed to feel that way, about meeting Damien.

The elevator ride up was really quiet except you could hear the cables making a humming noise. When the doors opened she walked into an office that was huge way bigger than her apartment. It had windows that went all the way from the floor, to the ceiling and fancy dark furniture. The city was below looking like a big shiny sea.. There behind a huge desk made of mahogany Damien stood.

He did not greet her away. He just stood there. Watched her. His eyes were dark. They looked right through her. They looked at her from her head to her toes. He was really looking at the woman.

The man told him to sit. He said it after a while. His voice was quiet and firm when he said it.

Sophie did what she was told she sat down on the edge of the leather chair. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap. The man across the desk from Sophie felt really close like he was, on top of her even though he was not touching Sophie. This made Sophie feel like something was weighing down on her just because the man was sitting across the desk from Sophie.

Damien said to me "I really want you to read my note carefully. I mean I want you to really pay attention to what I wrote. Because the thing is, I do not like repeating myself. I just do not like saying things over again so I hope you read my note carefully the note that I wrote.

Sophie said "Yes I did" and her voice was really quiet.

He tilted his head. Looked at Sophie. He wanted to see how she would react. "That is good" he said to Sophie. "You are a person, Sophie. Wanting something is not enough, in this world Sophie. You need to be brave. You need to listen and do what you are told, Sophie.

Obedience. This word really got to her. It made her heart beat faster. She had never had to listen to someone before not in a way that made her feel so warm inside. The idea of obedience made her skin feel hot.

She said what do you mean and she said it carefully.

Damiens smile was not very big. It was pointed and it scared me. He said "I am going to test Damiens employees. I am going to challenge Damiens team. Not just when we are at the office. In every way that is important, to Damien."

Sophies stomach got all tight. She said "Every way?"

He said yes and he stepped around the desk slowly. In his world if you hesitate you are weak. If you have doubts you will not survive. Emotions are like weapons. The emotions of the person must be controlled by that person or the emotions will control the person. He was talking about his world and the emotions, in his world.

She swallowed, feeling scared and really excited, at the time. ". If I fail?"

His eyes got really dark. "Then you will figure it out the way."

Sophies breath caught in her throat. She felt like turning and walking away. She really wanted to run from the situation.. Sophie could not move because she was stuck on the guy she had met the night before. Sophie wanted the guy to notice her Sophie wanted to challenge the guy even though it scared Sophie.

Damien walked around Sophie slowly like an animal looking for food. He said "I think you have something, in you Sophie. I think you have a lot of energy inside you.. That energy can get you into trouble if you do not learn how to control it."

Sophie got a chill when he spoke. His words were like he was touching her even though he did not touch her. She looked at him. She saw his jaw and his lips, which were set in a cold way. The way he looked at her was intense. Sophie felt this intensity, in his eyes. His eyes really got to her.

She said "Why me" and she was speaking softly.

He. Stood in front of her. He said "You are different from the people. You are not afraid of me. At not now.. That is what I find interesting, about you. The fact that you are not scared of me intrigues me."

Sophies heart was beating fast. "Does that interest you?"

He leaned in a bit closer to her and the air between them felt like it was, on fire. "Yes.. Do not get it wrong. Intrigue is something that can get you into trouble."

The words made her face turn red. She looked down. Started fixing her blazer but she could feel the man watching her studying her trying to figure her out. She knew the man was looking at her the time.

The man said "now". Then he pulled back a little bit to get some space between them. "We begin" he said.

Sophies stomach got all tied up. She said "Begin what?"

This is going to be tough. It starts out small. It is still very serious. At first it is about being professional. Then it becomes personal. His voice got a quieter it was almost like a low angry sound. Do not think that this is something fun to do. The challenges are being watched all the time. Every single thing you do is being looked at. Every time you react to something every time you stop and think it is all being watched. You will figure out how to do this. You will not make it through the challenges. The challenges will be hard. You will have to learn from the challenges or the challenges will be too much, for you.

Sophie said in a voice "I understand." She was sitting in her chair. Her fingers were holding on to the edge of it really tightly.

Damien said "Good". His voice was a little nicer. "You can go now " he told them. "Make sure you dress nicely tomorrow. Your first test is going to be really tough."

Sophie got up fast. She was so nervous and excited that she almost fell over her feet. Sophie barely said yes before she ran to the door. She could not wait to see what was, on the side of the door. The thing that Sophie was waiting for was making her feel really anxious. Sophie was moving towards the door fast as she could.

Outside the office she leaned against the wall. Took deep breaths that shook her whole body. Her heart was beating fast. She felt scared. She felt like she wanted something at the same time. Fear and desire were fighting inside of her. She knew that if she got involved with Damien she would have to let him be, in charge. But for some reason she just could not help herself when it came to Damien.

Sophie went back to her apartment. Got herself a glass of wine. She was trying to calm down because her mind was racing. She looked at the envelope again. Touched it with her fingers. What was inside the envelope? She had no idea. It was something about her work. It was more than that. The thing inside the envelope was personal. It could be bad for her. Sophie was thinking about the envelope and what it could mean for her. She was worried, about what was inside because it could be something.

Her phone buzzed. She got a message from Clara that said: How was your first night alone, with him? Clara wanted to know about her night alone with him.

Sophie froze, staring at the screen. She typed back: He is really complicated.. He is also terrifying.

Claras reply came fast: That is good. That is Damien. You should hold on tight. You are in for a ride, with Damien.

Sophie smiled nervously. She took another sip of her wine. The night was really quiet.. Sophies mind was all, over the place. She was thinking about Damiens eyes.. His voice. It was so sharp. Damien had walked around her like he was waiting for something to happen. Sophie thought about the way Damien had looked at her.. The way Damien had talked to her. It was like Damien was watching her all the time.

She didn’t know what the next day would bring. She didn’t know if she was ready. But deep down, a part of her knew… she had already been claimed.