Bella arrived at Wolfe International's offices fifteen minutes early the next day, determined not to repeat her first-day mistake. The streets of Gaborone were just stirring to life as the sun's early rays glinted off glass buildings. She sipped her coffee slowly, savoring the calm before the storm. Today would be different, she promised herself.
She slipped through the revolving doors and took the elevator to the top floor. To her surprise, the office was already buzzing with activity. Assistants were huddled around desks, phone calls echoed from glass-walled rooms, and even the CEO's door stood slightly ajar.
"Back for round two, huh?" a voice asked behind her.
Bella turned to see Ethan Hunt, the company's charming COO, grinning at her. With his sandy brown hair and easy smile, Ethan was Damien Wolfe's opposite in every way. While Damien exuded an intimidating, cold demeanor, Ethan was warm and effortlessly charismatic.
"You must be Bella," he continued, offering a handshake. "I heard about your…adventure with the coffee yesterday."
Bella groaned inwardly but forced a polite smile. "Great. I'm already famous."
Ethan laughed, a sound that felt surprisingly comforting. "Don't worry. Damien scares everyone at first. But beneath the ice, he's not that bad."
Bella gave him a skeptical look, which only made Ethan's grin widen. "Give it a month. If you survive, you'll see what I mean."
She wasn't convinced, but there was something about Ethan that made her feel at ease. "Thanks. I'll try not to spill anything else on him…for now."
"You're already doing better than most," Ethan said with a wink. "Anyway, I'll see you around. Don't let him get to you."
Bella watched him walk off and couldn't help but think that Ethan's easy confidence made this whole high-pressure job seem just a bit more manageable. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
By mid-morning, Bella was knee-deep in reports, emails, and meeting agendas. Damien, of course, hadn't acknowledged her beyond a nod when she'd handed him his first coffee of the day (extra strong, no sugar—she'd memorized it).
Just when she thought she might have a quiet moment to breathe, her phone buzzed. Damien's name flashed on the screen.
"Ms. Gray," came his deep, controlled voice when she answered. "My brother Adrian will be arriving shortly. Escort him to my office."
"Of course, sir," Bella replied, scribbling the instructions down. She hadn't known Damien had a brother, and now curiosity piqued her.
When the elevator chimed a few minutes later, Bella straightened her blazer and turned to greet the newcomer.
Adrian Wolfe stepped into the office, and Bella blinked. If Damien was a storm—cold and commanding—then Adrian was sunlight. He wore a charcoal suit, slightly less formal than his brother's, and his warm smile carried a hint of mischief. His dark hair was tousled in an artful way, as though he hadn't given it much thought, and his hazel eyes sparkled with easy charm.
"You must be Bella," Adrian said smoothly, holding out his hand. "The assistant who survived Damien's wrath on day one."
Bella couldn't help but smile. "Word travels fast around here."
"Oh, it does," Adrian replied with a wink. "But you're still standing, so that's a good sign."
He followed Bella toward Damien's office, falling into step beside her. "I hope my brother hasn't scared you off yet. He has a talent for that."
Bella glanced sideways at him. "I'm still here, aren't I?"
Adrian chuckled, and for a moment, the tension Bella usually felt around Damien seemed to ease.
When they reached Damien's office, Adrian turned to her and gave a parting smile. "Thanks for the escort, Bella. I think you and I are going to get along just fine."
Bella watched him disappear into Damien's office, still marveling at how different the two brothers were. One was ice, the other warmth—and both were equally intriguing.
The day dragged on, filled with back-to-back meetings and last-minute tasks. Bella was just about to call it a day when Damien's voice summoned her to his office again.
When she entered, Damien stood behind his desk, scanning a report. He didn't look up as he spoke. "You'll accompany me to the Ngwato Gala tomorrow evening."
Bella's heart skipped a beat. "The Ngwato Gala?" she repeated, surprised. She'd heard of the high-profile event—it was a charity ball attended by Gaborone's elite.
"Yes," Damien said curtly. "Our board members will be there. I need you to manage my schedule and ensure no unnecessary conversations take up my time."
Bella stared at him, trying to process. "But…I thought I was just an assistant."
His dark eyes lifted, locking onto hers. "You are. But I expect my assistant to be adaptable."
Bella bit the inside of her cheek to keep from rolling her eyes. Adaptable. Of course.
"Wear something appropriate," Damien added, his gaze already returning to the report in his hands. "I'll have a car pick you up at seven."
Bella nodded, stunned, and quickly left his office. What the hell had she just agreed to?
The next evening arrived faster than Bella had expected. She stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the elegant black gown she'd borrowed from Lena. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places without being too flashy—perfectly appropriate for the high-society event Damien was dragging her to.
"You look hot," Lena declared from the bed, where she was sprawled in her pajamas. "If your boss doesn't notice, he's blind."
Bella shot her a warning look through the mirror. "He's my boss, not a date."
Lena wiggled her eyebrows. "So? A girl can still dream."
Bella shook her head, laughing despite herself. The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of her ride. With one last glance in the mirror, she grabbed her clutch and headed out.
When Bella stepped out of her apartment, a sleek black sedan was waiting for her. The driver, a polite man in a tailored uniform, opened the door with a small nod. She slid into the leather seat and tried to calm her racing heart as the car glided through the streets of Gaborone. Outside, the city was alive with lights and motion, but inside the car, everything felt too quiet—too charged with anticipation.
She thought about what Lena had said earlier. This isn't a date. It's just work. But that didn't explain the knot of nerves tightening in her stomach or the way her mind kept drifting to Damien. She tried to push the thoughts away as the car pulled up to a grand hotel hosting the gala.
The driver opened her door, and Bella stepped out into a world of glamour and opulence. The hotel's entrance was bathed in warm light, and elegantly dressed guests filed inside, their laughter mingling with the soft strains of classical music.
Bella smoothed her gown, squared her shoulders, and made her way through the grand foyer. She'd barely crossed the threshold when she spotted Damien.
And just like that, the breath left her lungs.
Damien Wolfe stood near the entrance, looking impossibly handsome in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. His dark hair was slicked back, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face, and his commanding presence drew more than a few lingering glances from the crowd. But Damien seemed oblivious to the attention, his gaze focused on Bella the moment she entered.
He gave her a brief, appraising look, his expression unreadable. "You're on time. Good."
Bella clenched her jaw. Always with the clock.
"Stay by my side," Damien instructed, his voice low and controlled. "I need to make appearances, but we won't linger."
Before she could respond, Damien placed a hand on the small of her back—a simple gesture, yet one that sent a shiver down her spine. They moved through the crowd like a well-rehearsed dance, Damien exuding an air of authority that parted the sea of guests with ease. Bella did her best to keep pace, clutching her clutch a little tighter every time his hand lingered on her back a second longer than necessary.
The first part of the evening was a blur of handshakes, polite smiles, and introductions to people whose names Bella barely remembered. Damien handled each conversation with precision, cutting through pleasantries with effortless charm. Bella found herself fascinated by the way he navigated the social minefield—cool and detached, but never rude.
At one point, they stopped near a cluster of board members, and Damien leaned down slightly to murmur in Bella's ear. "Keep them talking for five minutes. I need a word with someone."
Bella's pulse quickened at the feel of his breath on her skin, but she managed a curt nod. This is work. Focus. She engaged the group with small talk, buying Damien the time he needed. To her surprise, the board members seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, and for a moment, she felt like she belonged among them.
When Damien returned, he gave her a slight nod of approval, and something warm flickered in her chest. Maybe I'm not completely out of my depth after all.
Later, the two of them found a quiet corner away from the crowd. Bella leaned against a pillar, grateful for a moment's respite. Damien stood beside her, his gaze scanning the room as if assessing every threat and opportunity at once.
"You did well tonight," he said, breaking the silence.
Bella blinked, surprised by the unexpected compliment. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to survive or sink."
His lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile—so brief that she almost missed it. "Most people sink."
Bella looked up at him, and for a moment, the cold exterior cracked. There was something beneath Damien's cool demeanor—a flicker of weariness, or maybe loneliness. It was gone in an instant, replaced by the familiar mask of control.
"Why do you do it?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Keep everyone at arm's length?"
Damien's gaze sharpened, and for a heartbeat, Bella thought he wouldn't answer. But then he leaned slightly closer, his voice a low murmur. "Because it's easier that way."
Bella felt her heart skip a beat, her pulse quickening under the weight of his gaze. She knew she should look away—shouldn't let herself get drawn into whatever was happening between them. But she didn't move. Neither did Damien.
The moment stretched—charged with unspoken tension—until someone from across the room called Damien's name, snapping them both back to reality.
"We should go," Damien said, his voice cool and collected once more. He straightened, putting a polite distance between them.
Bella nodded, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. Whatever this was, it wasn't real. It couldn't be.
The ride back to her apartment was silent, but not uncomfortable. Damien sat beside her, his gaze fixed on the city lights flashing past the window. Bella stole a glance at him, wondering what secrets lay behind his guarded expression.
When the car pulled up to her building, Damien turned to her. "I'll see you at the office tomorrow."
Bella hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Goodnight, Damien."
He gave her a brief nod in return, and for a fleeting second, Bella thought she saw something in his eyes—something softer, almost vulnerable. But before she could be sure, he turned away, slipping back behind the mask of the untouchable CEO.
Bella stepped out of the car and into the cool night air, her heart still racing from the strange, electric moments they'd shared. As the car disappeared into the distance, she leaned against the building and closed her eyes.
She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into.
But one thing was certain: Damien Wolfe was far more dangerous than she'd ever imagined.