Emma's Pov
The week that followed was normal but Damian and I hadn't spoken since. However, on this particular day, my phone rang and he was the one calling.
I picked.
"Let me guess," I said, lowering the phone from my ear just enough to roll my eyes. "You're calling to apologize for being an insufferable ass?"
"Tempting," Damian's voice came through, low and calm, the dangerous kind of calm that usually followed destruction. "But no. I'm calling to invite you to the Cross Industries Gala tomorrow night."
I froze mid-step. "You're joking."
"I don't joke," he said simply.
"You just destroyed half your office last week," I muttered, glancing at the scattered notes on my desk. "And now you want to play dress-up in a tuxedo and make small talk with billionaires?"
"Think of it as… strategy," he replied. "I need to show my face. Reassure the vultures that I'm still in control."
"And me?" I asked warily. "What do you need me for, exactly?"
A beat of silence. "Because you're the only one who can make me look like I didn't just lose my mind."
I laughed, short and sharp. "That's the worst invitation I've ever heard."
"You'll come," he said, certain as ever.
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll come get you."
"Try it," I challenged, but he hung up before I could finish.
By the next evening, I found myself standing at the entrance of the Grand Hall, regretting every life choice that led me here. The chandelier above sparkled like frost, the marble floor reflected flashes of designer gowns, and everyone smelled like old money and expensive secrets.
I smoothed my dress which was a black satin slip that somehow felt both too simple and too revealing. I spotted Damian across the room. Of course, he looked infuriatingly perfect with his black suit, no tie, shirt undone just enough to look reckless but deliberate. He was speaking to a cluster of investors, the mask of charm back in place.
When his eyes found me, the smile that touched his lips wasn't the practiced one he gave everyone else. It looked real.
He started walking toward me, and suddenly I wished I'd worn a better dress instead of silk.
"You came," he said, stopping a few feet away.
"You didn't give me much of a choice," I said, tilting my chin up.
He smirked. "You could've said no."
"You don't handle rejection well."
"Only yours," he said smoothly, offering me his arm.
I hesitated, then slipped my hand through. "One night," I warned. "Then we go back to pretending that you are just my client."
He didn't answer, but his smile said everything.
An hour later, I was seriously reconsidering every deal I'd ever made with him.
"Smile," Damian murmured near my ear, his hand lightly on my back as we greeted another cluster of socialites.
"I am smiling," I hissed through my teeth.
"You look like you're plotting a murder."
"Maybe I am."
He chuckled softly, the sound sending an annoying shiver down my spine. "At least wait until after dessert."
I shot him a glare, but before I could reply, a smooth voice cut through the crowd.
"Well, if it isn't Damian Cross."
We both turned.
The man approaching us was tall, broad-shouldered, with an easy confidence that screamed trouble. His dark suit fit like a glove, and his gray eyes were sharp and calculating as it landed on me before flicking back to Damian.
"Victor Hale," Damian said tightly.
Victor smiled. "It's been a while. I almost didn't recognize you without a glass in your hand."
"Don't worry," Damian said, tone cool. "I quit throwing them at people."
Victor laughed, a little too loud. "Still got that temper, huh?" His gaze shifted to me. "And you must be the famous Emma Lawson. I've heard quite a bit about you."
I forced a polite smile. "All good things, I hope."
"Mostly," he said with a glint that made my skin crawl. "You're quite the loyal one, aren't you? Always cleaning up his messes."
Damian stiffened beside me. "Watch it."
"Oh, come on," Victor said, grinning. "We're all friends here or we used to be."
"I don't recall us ever being friends," Damian said flatly.
Victor tilted his head. "Then let's call it what it was…..competition. You were always trying to prove you could outsmart me." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "And look where that got you."
I felt Damian's body tense, his fingers brushing mine briefly as if grounding himself.
"Careful," I said softly, stepping forward before he could explode. "You might want to save your taunts for someone who cares."
Victor's smile widened, impressed. "Sharp. I like her."
"She's not here for your entertainment," Damian said.
"Oh, I think she's here because you can't stand to be alone," Victor said easily. "Tell me, Damian, does she know what you did to keep Cross Enterprises afloat?"
Damian's jaw clenched. "Walk away, Victor."
"I'm just making conversation."
"I said walk away." Damian's teeth clenched. The temperature between them dropped as the conversations around us dimmed, with people throwing us subtle glances.
Victor lifted his glass in mock salute. "Always fun catching up, Cross." His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, deliberate and taunting. "I'll see you around, Ms. Lawson."
He walked off, leaving a trail of tension in his wake.
I exhaled slowly. "Well, that was charming."
Damian didn't move. "He shouldn't have even been here."
"Your rival got an invite to your gala. That says more about your PR team than him."
His jaw twitched. "He's been circling around me for months waiting for me to slip up, so he could be the first to catch it."
"And let me guess, last week didn't help," I muttered.
He shot me a look. "Thanks for the reminder."
"I'm just saying...."
"I know what you're saying," he interrupted. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "And you're right."
That surprised me enough to make me blink. "You're agreeing with me?"
"Don't look so shocked." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I lost it. I gave them a reason to doubt me."
I studied him. Beneath the crisp suit and easy charm, he looked tired, not physically but he looked mentally drained.
"Then fix it," I said quietly. "Not by showing off at galas or trading words with this Victor guy but by actually fighting for what's yours."
His eyes met mine. "That's why I needed you here."