> "You're very quiet today," Lena said, turning her wine in her hand.
> Aria looked out at the city lights from the roof. "I think I went too far."
> Lena lifted her brow. "With Damien?"
> Aria nodded. "He said I belong to him. Then he changed it. Said it's due to our deal."
> Lena gave a small smile. "That man can't spot softness even if it hit him on the face."
> Aria let out a breath. "I think it just did."
---
The big night had opened a door. The art made it wider. And now, Damien's words stuck to her.
You're mine.
It wasn't to own her. It was to keep her safe. But it held risk too.
Aria knew her place. She was his right hand. His worker. His shadow.
But shadows don't catch fire. And she was on fire.
---
The next day, Damien was just like he always is—cold, sharp, hard to read.
"Set the call for the investors at 3 p.m. And make sure we're set for Milan."
Aria nodded, fast at her keyboard.
"And call off the dinner with Marks."
She stopped. "He said it's a must."
Damien looked her way. "He's not a must. He's just trouble."
Aria took it in. "Got it."
---
At lunch, Lena came with a dress bag.
"Guess what," she said, passing it to Aria. "You're off to the CrossTech show tonight."
Aria blinked. "I wasn't asked."
"You are now. Damien wants you there."
Aria held back. "Why?"
Lena grinned, "Because you count. And he's starting to see that."
---
The dress was a beauty. Deep blue, bare shoulders, with fine work that shone in the light.
Aria wore it with calm sureness. When she walked in, cameras clicked, heads spun, and words spread.
Damien was there too, with top folks all around. But when he saw her, he stopped.
He took her in—slow, deep, hard to read.
"You look… right," he said.
Aria smiled. "I'll take that as you like it."
He reached out his arm. "Walk with me."
---
The show mixed tech and style—CrossTech's new thing: smart cloth, changing cuts, AI-made dress.
Aria was pulled in. But she saw more.
Damien was watching her. Not just as a boss. As more.
When she talked to makers, he heard. When she laughed, he was tense. When Julian came near, he was there first.
---
"Miss Lane," Julian said, with a drink. "You shine tonight."
Aria took it slow. "Thanks."
Julian was close. "I mean it. You should be more than a shadow."
Damien came by her, eyes sharp. "She's not up for it."
Julian smirked. "You sure?"
Aria came between them. "Guys. This is a show, not a fight."
Julian laughed low. "For now."
---
Later, Aria found Damien outside alone.
"You don't like him," she noted.
"He plays games."
"He's also giving me a chance to stand alone."
Damien faced her. "You stand alone."
"Do I?"
A long quiet.
"You've got skill," he said. "But the world's tough on skill, more when it's pretty."
Aria caught her breath. "Is that nice to say?"
"It's a caution."
She moved near. "You keep warning me. But never say why."
His eyes on her. "I fear losing hold."
Aria's heart jumped. "Of what?"
He said nothing.
---
Back at work the next day, the air was thick.
Damien was far-off again. But not icy. Just… mixed up.
Aria tried to focus on tasks, but her thoughts drifted. To his words. His look. His quiet.
She found herself drawing once more. Ideas from the show. From him.
She left them on his desk. Just the art and her.
---
That night, he called her to his room.
"These," he pointed at the art. "They're great."
"Thanks."
He looked hard at her. "You're more than help."
"I always was."
Another quiet.
"I want you to head the Milan project," he said.
Aria blinked. "Me?"
"You get the idea. You get me."
Her heart sped. "I'll do it."
He nodded. "Work on the pitch. We leave in three days."
---
As she moved to go, he spoke again.
"Aria."
She stopped.
"You're not mine," he said low. "But I wish you were."
She didn't answer. She couldn't.
Because right then, she felt a fright.
She wished she was, too.