nch. She stood before a half-finished painting, her brush poised midair. For hours, she had tried to

hought.* His tone had been light, almost teasing, but there had been something beneath

r hands on a cloth before crossing the room. Sophie stood on the ot

Sophie announced, stepping inside w

ehind her. "Let me guess: 'Damon K

g her the paper. "But this o

ated Climber?* Below it was a photo of Elena and Damon fro

ing the paper onto the workbe

d anything less? This is what they do.

the room. "I didn't want to be anyone's fiancée o

d, her tone gentle but firm. "So, w

her shoulders slumpi

said. "Show them that you're more than Damon K

-

e headline. His assistant had left it on his desk, along

e media loved to speculate, and Elena was their latest target. He had expected i

pressed the speaker button with

tant said, "your father

't drop by unannounced unless he had a reason.

on said, leaning b

suit immaculate as always. He carried himself with the confiden

losing the door behind h

said, gesturing to a chai

the office, his hands clasped behind h

t," Damon in

utation reflects directly on you, and by extension, this company. If s

"Elena is handling it just fine. The press is doing what

motions cloud your judgment, Damon. This isn't about her

amon said, cut

nt, then nodded once. "For you

-

ned to come, but the conversation with his father had left him unsettled. He nee

and when it opened, Elena's su

ing aside to let him in.

th canvases, brushes, and jars of paint, the air thick with the scent of turpentine

?" she asked, cr

ow much to say. "The a

cutting him off. "Soph

ere okay," he said, his voic

flicker of surprise crossing

he said, though the words felt in

m fine, Damon. This isn't the first time someone's

all," he said, his frust

id, her tone pragmatic. "People will alw

feeling out of place in her chaotic, colo

know," she s

then, a crack in the armor he so carefully maintained. It was fleeting, but it was enough t

-

of her apartment, a glass of wine in hand. The city str

glanced at the screen. It

better than I expected.

for a long moment befo

dn't underestima

-

ding Elena's message. Her words lingered in his min

ted move, a means to an end. But the more time he spent with Elena, the less it

didn't like being