Chapter 30 – The Fire Within
738 Words
Elena barely slept that night.
Victoria’s words echoed in her mind, a poisonous whisper that refused to fade.
"The higher you fly, the harder you fall."
She wasn’t flying, though. She was barely surviving.
Still, something about the woman’s presence had unsettled her, not just because of what she said—but because of Damon’s reaction. He had been furious. Not just irritated or annoyed, but furious.
And that meant something.
By the time morning came, Elena was already dressed, staring out at the city skyline when a soft knock sounded at the door.
She turned as the housekeeper, Martha, stepped inside. “Good morning, Miss Elena. Mr. Blackwell requested you join him for breakfast in his office.”
Elena frowned. “In his office?”
Martha nodded. “Yes, Miss.”
A strange tension coiled in her stomach.
Damon never invited her to his office.
And after last night’s encounter with Victoria, she had more questions than answers.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. “Alright. Lead the way.”
---
Blackwell Enterprises – Damon’s Office
Elena stepped into the grand office, her eyes immediately drawn to the man behind the desk.
Damon sat in his leather chair, his sharp gaze lifting to meet hers the moment she entered.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows over the sleek, modern space. His presence dominated the room, as if even the air bent to his will.
“Sit,” he said, his voice smooth yet firm.
Elena hesitated but did as he said, settling into the chair across from him.
A steaming cup of coffee was already placed in front of her.
“You didn’t have to bring me here for breakfast,” she said, watching him carefully.
Damon leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. “I wanted to see you.”
Her breath hitched.
That was not the answer she expected.
“I thought you didn’t like distractions in your workplace,” she said cautiously.
His lips twitched, as if she had amused him. “You’re not a distraction.”
She arched a brow. “Then what am I?”
His dark gaze burned into hers. “A complication.”
Her heart pounded.
Damon rarely admitted anything—let alone something as vulnerable as that.
Elena shifted in her seat. “Is this about last night?”
His expression hardened slightly. “Victoria has a habit of running her mouth. You shouldn’t listen to her.”
“So she was lying?”
A pause.
Not long, but just enough to make her stomach twist.
“She doesn’t know anything about us,” Damon said finally.
Elena’s grip tightened around the coffee cup. Us.
Was there even an us to begin with?
“You didn’t answer my question,” she pressed.
Damon exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “Victoria and I had… history. It ended a long time ago.”
That much she had already assumed.
But what kind of history?
“And now?” she asked.
His eyes darkened. “Now, she’s irrelevant.”
Elena wanted to believe him. She wanted to ignore the gnawing doubt clawing at her chest.
But she had seen the way Victoria spoke to him. The way she carried herself—as if she knew something Elena didn’t.
“I don’t like being kept in the dark,” she admitted quietly.
Damon studied her for a long moment before standing. He walked around the desk, stopping just in front of her chair.
Slowly, he reached down, tilting his chin up until their eyes locked.
“You’re in my world now, Elena,” he murmured. “There are things you don’t need to know.”
Her pulse raced.
This was what scared her the most—not the power he wielded, not even the ruthless way he controlled everything around him—but the way he made her want to trust him.
Even when she knew she shouldn’t.
“Eat your breakfast,” Damon said, stepping back. “You’ll need your strength.”
Elena’s brows furrowed. “For what?”
A small, knowing smirk touched his lips. “We’re going out.”
Her stomach tightened with both anticipation and dread.
Because when it came to Damon Blackwell, nothing was ever simple.
And whatever was coming next… she had a feeling it would change everything.
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- Writer
