Summer’s Reprisal

Cold Reflection

The polished surfaces of Damien Vale's living room mirrored the Manhattan city

lights that reflected through the penthouse's floor-to-ceiling windows. The

skyline, a symbol of power and control, had always seemed like a reassuring

sight to him. Tonight, just made him realize how little control he had over the

chaos inside Vale Enterprises—or his own chest.

Damien paced, his suit sleeves grazing the pointed cuffs. In his memory, he

relived the press conference: Summer's calmness, the faint smirk she gave him

when he attempted to control the room, the way her eyes met his. Every move,

every look, and every word haunted him.

He was interrupted by a gentle knock. Adrian came in with a briefcase. "You look

like you’re about to explode”. He said. “Or cry. Not that either suits you but…”.

He was waved away by Damien. "I'm doing fine. Simply assessing”.

Adrian's eyebrows went up. "Assessing or obsessing?"

Damien looked at him as if he were freezing water. “There is a difference”.

Adrian gave a sardonic smile. Naturally, there is. So what is the analysis now?”.

Damien ran a hand through his hair as he slipped into the leather chair. "The

media believes that we are one. The merger is stable, in their opinion. However,

they have no knowledge. They are never aware”.

"You're worried about her," Adrian stated sarcastically.

Damien stiffened. "Why should I worry about her? I am assessing a risk”.

“Right. Risk assessment, and certainly the risk is….what?. That she looks better in

a suit than you do?. Adrian said dryly.

Damien ignored the jab and leaned back. “She is calculating and unachievable.

Dangerous”.

Adrian chuckled a little and huffed. “To say it's dangerous is an understatement.

You are a hurricane that believes it is still under control, and she is a storm”.

Damien sighed. “She shouldn’t be here. Not like this. Not after….” His voice trailed

off, the wound old of betrayal threading through his words.

Adrian sat down across him. “You mean after she rebuilt herself. After she proved

she doesn’t need you. Yea I get it. But man, you’re still drawn to her. Admit it”.

“I do not get drawn”. Damien said, voice clipped and low. “I calculate. Every

possibility, every move. That’s how I operate”.

“And yet you spent the last hour pacing, replaying the press conference” Adrian

said. “Calculating? Or imagining scenarios where you actually say what you want

instead of hiding behind suit- and-tie logic?”.

Damien said nothing. He knew Adrian was right.

Zayn entered before the silence could last anymore. He threw his coat on the

couch and added, "Damien, you need to breathe”.

Damien nodded sternly. "I'm all right”.

Zayn sat beside him. "You're not. You're thinking about her. Admit it”.

Damien gave him a stern look. "I am not."

Smiling, Zayn shrugged. "All right. But if you're really spinning, just admit it. It'll

save us the therapy session later".

Adrian lay back. "He's spinning." He said, looking at Damien. "Don't even try to

deny it”.

With a heavy sigh, Damien scrubbed his face. "She doesn't need me. Without me,

she's thriving. Yet…" Rarely, his armor cracked, and his words stumbled.

“You're jealous”. Adrian said, rather matter of fact.

Damien's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm strategic. Observing. Assessing”.

Zayn snorted. "Strategic, sure. Observing, maybe. But assessing…? That's just a

fancy word for not admitting you're fascinated by the woman you left at the

altar”.

Damien froze. The words hit him like a sharp gust. “I didn’t—”.

“You did,” Adrian said, interrupting him quietly. “You left. She lived. And she's

thriving. You're angry and frustrated and… yeah, fascinated. Deal with it”.

Adrian's jaw was clenched, staring at the skyline fascinated, frustrated and

furious.

Adrian and Zayn exchanged a look. They knew better than to push further

tonight.

Summer’s POV — Paradise Apartment

Compared to Damien’s cool penthouse, Summer Bennet’s desk across town was

warm from the soft light reflecting from the glossy surfaces of her apartment.

The wine glass beside her notebook was still full. She had watched the press

conference a dozen times over, dissecting every action, every word and every

glance from Damien.

Her best friend, Peyton, sat down across from her. “Stop staring at the skyline as

if it held the answers you are looking for”.

Summer replied in a tense voice, "I'm thinking”.

Peyton raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”.

With a groan, Serena shut the journal. “Don’t use that term. I’m…reflecting”.

Peyton leaned forward. "Reflecting or obsessing. Stop torturing yourself," she

said softly. "You're replaying it like it's a game of chess you have to win.”.

Serena pursed her lips into a thin line. "There's a difference”.

“Sure,” Peyton replied, smirking. “Anyway, he’s acting like an i***t. You saw that,

right?”.

“I didn’t see him,” Summer corrected. “He is insufferably competent. And

infuriating”.

Peyton laughed. “Infuriating, absolutely. And yet….?”.

Summer froze. “And yet what?”.

“And yet you still notice him. More than you should, cupcake”.

Summer's fingers tightened around her pen. "He's. distracting”.

Just then, her sister Leah came into the room, arms crossed. “Is it distracting or

infuriating? Pick one”.

"Peyton already did". Summer muttered.

Leah grinned. “Fine. But I think you’re being ridiculous. You’re analyzing him like

a merger report”.

“I have to. This is a merger”. Summer stated simply.

Peyton shook her head. “He gets under your skin”. Summer looks down, tracing

her notebook. “He shouldn’t. But he does. And that annoys me… I can’t…not

notice”.

Leah leaned against the desk. "Deal with it before you implode."

Summer exhaled. “It won’t affect my decisions”.

Peyton smirked. “Famous last words”.

Damien— Later That Night

Damien returned to his desk and flipped open his laptop to review news

coverage. Headlines screamed: “Vale and Bennet: United or Tense?”.

Adrian peered over his shoulder. “You’re reading that?”.

“I need to understand the narrative,” Damien said, fingers tapping on the

keyboard.

Zayn chuckled. "You mean, you want to see if she impressed you more than you

impressed her".

Damien sighed and swirled his drink. "Fine. I'm annoyed. And impressed. And

frustrated. And yes drawn. Happy?".

“Very,” said Zayn, grinning.

Damien shot them both a scowl, but he could not deny the truth: Summer had

stirred something within him that was better left unchallenged.

Summer

Summer sipped her tea, leaning back against the cushions. The city hummed

below her apartment, uncaring about the chaos inside her head.

Leah curled up beside her. “You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?

Summer smiled wryly. “Just… planning eventualities for further meetings.

“Strategies or fantasies.” Peyton chuckled.

Summer smiled. "Hypothetical, purely professional.

Leah smiled knowingly and shook her head. "Absolutely, hypothetical."

Summer smiled softly.

That night both Summer and Damien lay awake, staring at the ceilings of their

apartments.

Pride, irritation, curiosity, and longing swirled in Damien's brain as control

threatened to slip with each replay of her composure, her grin, and subtle

provocations.

Summer's musings were tinged with admiration, longing, and frustration. Her

guarded composure had been shaken by every utterance from him and by every

look he had given her.

Both of them were well aware of the hazardous chemistry that simmered

beneath the surface, unseen by the general public but hard to ignore.