Curves,claws and contracts

Morning After

Breakfast was awkward.

Amara stared at her toast like it had answers. Damian stared at his coffee like it had betrayed him.

The housekeeper cleared her throat. "Will you be needing anything else, Mr. and Mrs. Cole?"

"Nothing," they said at the same time.

She left.

Silence.

Finally Amara spoke. "So. That didn’t happen."

"No," Damian agreed. "It didn’t."

"Good."

"Good."

Another long pause.

"Legal says we have 36 hours before Victor releases the video," Damian said.

"Then we have 36 hours to ruin him first."

Damian looked at her. Really looked. Hair messy, no makeup, wearing his t-shirt from yesterday. She looked exhausted and furious and beautiful.

"You’re incredible, you know that?" he said.

Amara blinked. "What?"

"You should be hiding. Crying. Quitting. But you’re planning to take him down."

"Someone has to."

"I do too." He pushed a folder to her. "I had my team dig. Victor has 4 other shell companies. All illegal."

Amara opened it. "This is good. This is really good."

"I know."

They worked all day. No touching. No looking too long. Just business. Just team.

At 6pm, Amara stood. "I need air."

"Let’s go to the roof."

The rooftop of Cole Tower. City lights below. Wind in her hair.

"I’m scared," Amara admitted.

"Of what?"

"Of losing. Again. Of being the girl who failed."

Damian leaned on the railing next to her. "You’re not going to lose. Not this time."

"How do you know?"

"Because I’m here." He glanced at her. "And I don’t leave people behind anymore."

Amara’s throat tightened. "That’s dangerous to say."

"I know."

The wind picked up. She shivered.

Without thinking, Damian took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. Again.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You’re welcome."

They stood there for a long time. Not touching. But close.

Back inside, Amara went to her room. There was an envelope on her bed. No name.

Inside: photos. Her and Damian. The kiss. Printed.

And a note: _24 hours. Sign or this goes public. -V_

Amara’s hands shook. She took a photo of the note and sent it to Damian.

His reply came in 10 seconds: _My office. Now. We end this._

She ran.