Chapter 4:The blue dress
1140 Words
The blue dress was the color of twilight.
Mara said so. _“It’s navy, Ms. Andrews. Mr. Voss picked it out himself.”_
Lisa ran her fingers over the fabric. Soft. Heavy. It felt expensive. It felt like armor.
Dinner was in 5 minutes.
She counted her steps to the dining room. 47. Same as last night.
Damien was already there. She could hear the clink of his glass.
“Sit,” he said.
Lisa sat. The chair scraped. The dress whispered.
For a long time, neither of them spoke. Only the sound of forks.
Then: “The dress suits you.”
Lisa froze. “Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t call me sir at dinner.”
“What should I call you?”
A pause. “Damien.”
The name felt dangerous in her mouth. “Damien.”
“Good.”
More silence.
Then he asked, “How old were you when you lost your sight?”
Lisa blinked. No one ever asked her first. They usually said _“I’m so sorry”_ and changed the subject.
“Seven,” she said. “Car accident. Me and Mom. She was okay. I wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” Damien said.
Lisa smiled a little. “It’s okay. I got used to it.”
“Did you?”
“Yes. I had to. Mom... she didn’t have time to teach me. Annabelle was in debate team. In dance. I learned to count steps and listen.”
Another pause.
“What’s your favorite sound?” he asked.
The question caught her off guard. “Rain,” she said without thinking. “On the roof of our old apartment. It was loud but... safe.”
Damien hummed. “Mine is silence. Before people start lying.”
Lisa didn’t know what to say to that. So she ate.
After dinner, Damien didn’t leave right away.
“Walk with me,” he said.
Lisa stood, cane in hand. “Where to?”
“My office. You’ll hate it.”
He was right.
The office smelled like leather and cold air. She could hear the city 60 floors below. A low hum.
“Sit,” he said.
She did. A couch this time. Softer.
“I looked you up,” Damien said.
Lisa stiffened. “Why?”
“Because I bought you. I’m allowed to.”
The word _bought_ hurt. “And?”
“You graduated top of your class. Braille. Audio books. You tutored kids on weekends. For free.”
Lisa looked down. “I liked helping.”
“You’re not helping me,” he said. “You’re just here.”
“That’s the contract.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Lisa heard him move. Closer. She could feel him now. Not touching. Just... there.
“Annabelle called my assistant today,” he said.
Lisa’s stomach dropped. “What did she want?”
“More money. For ‘unexpected expenses.’”
Lisa closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I said no.”
Lisa opened her eyes. “You did?”
“Yes. The contract says 500k upfront. That’s what they get. They don’t get to keep bleeding me.”
A weight lifted off Lisa’s chest. Someone had said no for her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t thank me yet.” His voice dropped. “Because I have a condition.”
Lisa’s heart raced. “What?”
“You don’t see Annabelle alone anymore. If she comes, I’m here. If she calls, I know.”
Lisa nodded. “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
The words hit her like warmth. _Good girl._ Mom never said that.
Lisa swallowed. “Damien? Can I ask you something?”
“You just did.”
She almost smiled. “Why did you really pick me? There are a thousand women who would’ve said yes.”
Damien was quiet for a long time.
“Because when I asked your name, you didn’t lie,” he said finally. “And because when I walked in, everyone else was watching me. You weren’t. You were just... waiting.”
Lisa didn’t know what to do with that.
“I’m not special,” she said.
“No,” Damien agreed. “You’re not. That’s why I chose you.”
The room went quiet again. But it wasn’t heavy this time. It was soft.
Then his phone buzzed.
Damien cursed under his breath. “I have to go. Tokyo call.”
“Okay,” Lisa said, standing.
She took one step and her heel caught on the rug.
She pitched forward.
Strong hands caught her arms before she hit the ground.
For one second, Lisa was pressed against him. His chest was solid. He smelled like winter and soap.
Then he let go. Fast. Like she’d burned him.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice sharp.
“No,” Lisa breathed. Her heart was hammering. “I’m okay.”
“Good.” He cleared his throat. “Mara will walk you to bed.”
He left.
Lisa stood there, fingers still tingling where he’d touched her.
That was the first time he’d touched her.
And the first time he’d let go like it hurt him.
Later, in bed, Lisa couldn’t sleep.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She fumbled for it.
Unknown number.
She answered. “Hello?”
_“Annabelle said you’re being difficult,”_ Mom’s voice came through. Tired. Sharp. _“Don’t ruin this for us, Lisa. The money is the only thing keeping us afloat.”_
Lisa’s chest went tight. “Okay, Mom.”
_“Good girl,”_ Mom said, and hung up.
Lisa set the phone down, heart heavy.
Two minutes later, it buzzed again.
Unknown number.
She answered, quiet. “Hello?”
A pause. Then that low, cold voice.
_“It’s Damien.”_
Lisa sat up. “Mr. Voss?”
_“Don’t call me that.”_ She could hear he was walking. _“My assistant set this up. Don’t give Annabelle your number.”_
Lisa clutched the phone. “Okay. Why are you calling?”
_“You didn’t fall earlier,”_ he said. _“Good.”_
Lisa smiled into the dark. “I know. You caught me.”
Another pause. She heard him exhale.
_“Go to sleep, Lisa.”_
_“Okay, Damien.”_
He hung up first.
Lisa held the phone to her chest.
Across the city, Damien sat in his office, staring at nothing.
He wasn’t supposed to call her.
He wasn’t supposed to care if she fell.
He wasn’t supposed to remember the way her name sounded when she said his.
Obsession was starting to sound a lot like concern.
And he hated it.
- Writer
