t was a high-profile business gathering for investors, CEOs, and power brokers from across the

scanning her like she was a mispl

nds and exchanged smiles, but his fingers digging into

erating. It was pounding against her ribs, not just from nerve

d blonde hair approached them. Her lips curled into a smirk

's gaze sweep over

en said fla

a mocking smile. "Clarisse Hale.

hand lightly.

were engaged, once upon a time. I g

Damien, but his expression didn't ch

she added with a sly tone, "It's sweet, though,

s burned. "

a's ear so low only she could hear.

d but stayed. She swallowed the lump in her throat,

group of older men near the bar. One of them was tall

s been thinking of pulling his funding. Why do

inked.

rs. "Yes. Charm him. Convince

for this. She was a secretary, not a corporate hostess,

egan softly, "I heard you have been investing in green technologies lately. It

eased. "Well, someone has to care,

ersation. She spoke about charity projects, about how Thorne Enterprises could lead new innovations. She didn't know if it wa

n," Mr. O'Connell said with a grin.

,but Damien didn't thank her. He just gave her a cold, a

tant set up a meeting." Then to Ava, with a force

made the word darlin

ered water for herself and wine for Dami

leaning casually against the

he said smoothly

are you here? What d

her face, his eyes softening. "You're not built for his world,

care?" she

replied. "And I know what happens when people stay too lo

wrong, that Damien wasn't as cruel as he seemed. Bu

mien appeared behind her, hi

e like a blade. "Find someone

"Always so protective, Da

nched. "Stay out

s that what this is? Or is she

fr

htened on her arm

e table, his grip bruising. She could feel his anger radiating off him like fire

him, Ava. Do y

did

u unde

t tighten

he near him again, I'll make sur

caught. "Yo

mile said

he window while Damien scrolled through his phone, completely unaffected

, Damien stopped at the doorway of

said softly. "Don't

g her alone with her racing thoughts and

her phone. There was another

Damien, meet me alone tom

r thumb hovered over

destroy her, but if she didn't

room suddenly opened without warning. Damien

g?" he asked in a l