"Naomi!" Damian’s voice was a raw growl, laced with fury and desperation.I didn’t get a chance to respond before I was yanked backward, the cold steel of a gun pressing into my temple. My breath hitched, but I refused to let panic take over. The masked man gripping me was strong, his arm locked around my waist like a vice.Damian was still on his knees, his hands clenched into fists against the marble floor. The gun aimed at him didn’t waver.The voice behind me was low, taunting. "Move, sweetheart. You’re coming with us."I could feel Damian’s gaze burning into mine. His entire body was taut, his jaw clenched so hard I thought he might break his teeth."Let her go," he growled. "This is between me and Evan. She has nothing to do with this!"The masked man holding me let out a sharp, amused chuckle. "Oh, but she does."A door swung open behind us, and heavy footsteps echoed through the grand hallway.I stiffened as Evan Reid stepped into view, his sharp blue eyes filled with satisfac
"Do you know why you're here, Naomi?"Evan's voice was smooth like a blade being sharpened. He leaned back in his leather chair, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his blue eyes watching me with a mixture of amusement and calculation. Around him sat three men—his powerful allies. Their faces were unfamiliar, but the air of danger surrounding them was unmistakable.I forced myself to meet his gaze. "You want to destroy Damian, and you think I can help you."Evan chuckled, taking a slow sip of his drink. "You're smarter than you look. That’s good—you’ll need that intelligence if you want to survive this."I swallowed hard, refusing to let my fear show. The room felt suffocating, the weight of their expectations pressing down on me. I had agreed to Evan’s demands, but only because I had no choice. If I played this right, I could get out of this alive—and maybe even protect Damian in the process.One of the men, a broad-shouldered figure with a scar running down his cheek, leaned forward. "W
Damian’s grip on my wrist was unyielding, his eyes blazing with fury as he pinned me against the desk.“What the hell are you doing in my study, Naomi?” His voice was low, dangerous.My heart pounded so violently that it hurt. The documents—the ones Evan had ordered me to retrieve—lay scattered across the polished surface, damning evidence of my presence. I swallowed hard, my mind racing for a way out.“I—I wasn’t—” My voice wavered, but Damian wasn’t in the mood for excuses. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.“Don’t lie to me.” His breath was hot against my skin, his fingers pressing just enough to remind me of the power he held. “You were stealing from me.”I shook my head frantically. “No, it’s not what you think!”His eyes darkened. “Then tell me what I should think, Naomi. Because right now, all I see is my wife rummaging through confidential files like a goddamn spy.”I felt the walls closing in. If I told him the truth—that Evan had forced me into this, that I was p
"You don’t get to lock me up like this, Damian."I stood in the dimly lit bedroom, my arms crossed, glaring at the man who had just walked through the door. His tailored suit was slightly undone, and the top button of his shirt loosened as if the weight of the day had finally caught up to him. But his eyes—those piercing blue eyes—still held the same intensity."You think I enjoy this?" he countered, stepping closer, his voice low but sharp. "You think I want to keep you here like some caged animal?""Then let me go."His jaw tightened. "Not until I get the truth."I turned away, refusing to let him see the way my fingers trembled. The truth. The one thing I couldn’t give him. If I told him about the spy in his company, about Evan’s threats, about Charlotte’s betrayal—he’d never trust me again."You don’t trust me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper."No," he admitted without hesitation. "But I want to."That startled me. I turned back to him, meeting his gaze. There was
"Naomi, we need to talk."Olivia’s voice, low and urgent, broke through the silence of the mansion like a sharp blade. I jumped, my heart lurching in my chest. I hadn’t expected her—especially not in the middle of the night, under the watchful eyes of Damian’s guards.She glanced around nervously, her eyes darting to the shadows in the hallway. "Evan's growing suspicious. You need to be careful."I swallowed hard, my throat tight. Evan. The one man who could destroy everything. I had made a deal with him, or rather, I had been forced into it. To save my family, I had agreed to spy for him, to gather whatever information I could on Damian's company. But with each passing day, the weight of my betrayal grew heavier. I wasn’t just betraying Damian—I was betraying myself.“I know,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m trying. But it’s getting harder to balance this. I’m stuck between two worlds, Olivia.” I paused, looking at her, hoping she could see the conflict in my eyes. “I’m doing t
I could feel the weight of Damian's gaze burning into the back of my neck, his silence more suffocating than any words could be. My heart was pounding, my pulse racing in my throat, but I couldn't bring myself to turn around. I had to keep my head straight, not show him the fear that had been consuming me."Naomi," his voice cut through the stillness of the room, low and dangerous, like a storm on the horizon. "We need to talk."I turned slowly, my eyes meeting his, the coldness in his expression a sharp contrast to the heat inside me. There was no avoiding this confrontation. The game had reached its breaking point."Damian, please," I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. "I didn't want you to find out this way.""You thought you could hide it forever?" His words were laced with venom, his fists clenched at his sides. "What did you think would happen when you betrayed me? When you went behind my back with Evan?"I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had p
"You’re late," Evan’s voice was smooth, calculated, as I stepped into his penthouse.I forced a small, apologetic smile. "Traffic."His cold blue eyes studied me as he leaned against his desk, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. "I don’t tolerate delays, Naomi. Especially not from you."I walked farther into the room, keeping my expression neutral. I had rehearsed this a hundred times. Play the part. Gain his trust. Destroy him from the inside."I understand," I said, keeping my voice soft. "I just—" I exhaled. "It’s been hard. Being around Damian, pretending to care about him."Evan smirked as if pleased by my misery. "That’s what I want to hear. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To finish what we started."He stepped closer, his cologne a sharp contrast to Damian’s. Where Damian smelled like power and control, Evan smelled like deception wrapped in expensive suits."I need you to prove you’re still on my side," he murmured. "Damian’s been too quiet. I know he’s planning somethi
I kept my breathing steady, my fingers tightening around the wine glass as Evan leaned closer. His sharp blue eyes scanned my face, searching for any sign of weakness.“You’re quiet tonight,” he murmured, tilting his head. “Something on your mind, Naomi?”I forced a small smile, swirling the wine in my glass. “Just thinking about what’s next.”Evan chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. “Smart girl. That’s why I like you—you always think ahead.” His gaze darkened as he tapped a finger against his glass. “I need you to do something for me.”This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for. I leaned forward, feigning interest. “What is it?”He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black envelope, sliding it across the table. “Inside is the final piece of Damian’s downfall.” His lips curled into a smirk. “I need you to deliver this personally to my contact tomorrow. Once it’s in their hands, Damian Cross won’t have a single asset left.”My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression
“Damian, stop. Please, just think for a second.” Naomi’s voice trembled, but it was a controlled fear. I could see her trying to hold herself together, her eyes locked on mine as if she were the only thing keeping me grounded in this moment.I didn’t look at her, though. My focus was entirely on Richard and Julian. They stood at the far end of my office, the very men who had caused everything—the collapse of my empire, the betrayals, the lies. They thought they could outsmart me, that they could destroy me. But I wasn’t that man anymore. Not the one who allowed them to trample all over him.“I’m not the same man you betrayed, Richard,” I said, my voice low but filled with the icy edge that had become my trademark. “And this time, the game is over.”Richard’s eyes darted toward Julian, then back to me. I could see his composure faltering. “Damian, this is insane. You don’t have the power to do what you’re threatening.”I took a slow step forward, letting the weight of my presence crush
"We're not finished yet," Damian said, his voice low but firm as he grasped my hand.I could feel the weight of his words in my chest. After all that had happened—the betrayals, the deceit, the lies—there was still something left in him. Something that hadn't been extinguished by the fire that had burned through his life, leaving nothing but ashes.I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of it, a stark contrast to the cold world we found ourselves in. "No matter how low we go," I whispered, my words barely audible but sincere. "I'm standing by you. We fight for each other, Damian. Always."For a moment, it felt like time stood still. The world outside of this small room, this fleeting moment of peace, could wait. I could feel the tension in the air around us, the weight of the storm closing in. But for now, it was just the two of us.Damian turned toward me, his gaze intense, as though searching for any trace of doubt in my words. There was none. I was resolute, unwavering."I can't l
I could feel the tension in the air as soon as I stepped into the office, the weight of the situation pressing down on my chest. Damian stood by the window, his back to me, staring out at the city like he could will everything back into order. But the chaos, the downfall that had been brewing for weeks, was no longer just a distant possibility. It was here. His empire was crumbling, piece by piece."Damian," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "We can still fix this."He didn't respond. The stoic silence between us was deafening. I had seen him in control, ruthless, unyielding. But now? Now, he was broken. I could see it in his eyes. I could feel it in the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of his failure."You don’t get it, Naomi," he said, his voice low and edged with bitterness. "I’ve lost everything. The company is collapsing, the media's turned on me, and all of it—everything I built—is slipping through my fingers. There’s nothing left."His words hit me like a punch to
"Damian, you need to hear me out." Richard’s voice cuts through the tension in the room, heavy with the weight of something unspoken. I can feel the air around me tighten as Richard finally speaks the words that have been hanging over us for so long. The truth, or whatever he’s calling it, is about to unfold in a way that could tear apart everything Damian has worked for.Damian’s jaw clenches, his face a mask of disbelief. He’s standing tall, but his eyes flicker with a vulnerability that’s so unlike him. This isn’t the cold, calculating billionaire I married—this is a man about to have his life upended.“What are you talking about, Richard?” Damian’s voice is low, almost threatening. But there’s an edge of fear there that he’s trying to mask.Richard’s eyes narrow, almost gleaming with triumph. “The truth, Damian. The one you’ve been running from your whole life.”I stand beside Damian, gripping his arm instinctively. His body stiffens, and I can feel the turmoil building within him
Olivia’s words hung in the air, her voice trembling slightly but resolute. “Richard’s been pulling the strings all along,” she said, meeting Damian’s eyes with an expression that mixed fear and regret. “He manipulated everyone—Julian, you, even me.”Damian’s grip on the back of his chair tightened, his knuckles turning white. He didn’t speak, just stared at her, trying to digest the shock of her revelation.“What do you mean?” Naomi’s voice was barely a whisper, but it was sharp with the urgency of the moment. She stood beside Damian, her hand reaching out to lightly touch his arm. It wasn’t just for comfort. She, too, was trying to understand. Trying to piece together the betrayal.Olivia exhaled, her shoulders slumping. “It wasn’t Julian who was after you all this time. Not really. Julian’s just a pawn. Richard’s been manipulating everything from behind the scenes.”Damian’s eyes narrowed. He was quick, calculating, but this was a move he hadn’t seen coming. “Richard’s been playing
Damian’s eyes never left the team gathered before him. His jaw clenched, the tension palpable in the room. Naomi stood at his side, her hand gently resting on his arm, offering what comfort she could, but even she could feel the gravity of the moment. We had been betrayed. Someone in our circle had given Julian the information he needed to find us. The question now was: who?I swallowed hard, trying to control the anxiety twisting in my stomach. Damian’s gaze swept over the room, his usual cold detachment now replaced by something darker. There was no trace of mercy in his eyes as he scanned the faces of his most trusted allies. Every one of them seemed guilty, their eyes avoiding his stare. I knew they were just as scared as I was, but none of them dared speak. The silence hung in the air like a thick fog.Damian's voice broke the tension, low and dangerous. "One of you is working with him. One of you leaked our location."I flinched at his words. My heart pounded in my chest, and a
I felt the heat against my skin, the deafening roar of the explosion still vibrating through my body. My heart pounded in my chest, an uncontrollable rhythm of fear and adrenaline. As the smoke cleared, I grasped Damian's hand tightly, his fingers intertwining with mine like a lifeline. His face was pale, his eyes wide, but he was alive. We were both alive, and that was all that mattered in that moment."Naomi," Damian's voice broke through the haze, hoarse with emotion. "We need to move. Now."I nodded, pulling him towards the ruined doorway of the mansion, my legs shaking beneath me. The debris from the explosion littered the floor, shards of glass and wood scattered across the ground like a broken puzzle. Our escape had been barely a step ahead of the destruction, and now we had no choice but to run. The tension between us was suffocating, but in that chaos, it felt like the only thing we could hold onto."Damian... are we going to make it?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my b
"I don’t want to do this, Naomi," Damian's voice was barely a whisper as he stood across from me, his face a picture of anguish.I could see the conflict swirling in his dark eyes, the weight of everything they’d been through pressing down on him. But I wasn’t going to let him back down now."You’ve waited long enough," I replied, my voice firm, cutting through the tension in the room. "This is the chance you’ve been waiting for. We have to act now."Damian ran a hand through his dark hair, pacing back and forth. "Once we use this, there’s no turning back. We risk everything. If it doesn’t work, we lose everything."I stepped forward, placing my hand on his chest, grounding him. "I know what’s at stake. But I’m not going anywhere. I’m with you, no matter what it takes."Damian’s eyes softened, and for a moment, I could see the man I had come to love—vulnerable, hesitant, but willing to do whatever it took to protect us. "You always know the right thing to say."I could feel the fire o
"I’m not doing this," I said, my voice barely a whisper as I stood at the edge of the room, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on my chest. The tension between Damian and Adrian was palpable. I could feel it in the air, the way their eyes locked, calculating and full of unspoken threats.Damian leaned back in his chair, his jaw clenched, but he remained silent. Adrian, on the other hand, looked unfazed, almost as if he thrived in the chaos he’d caused.“I don’t have time for this,” I said, stepping forward. “We can’t keep playing games, Damian. Julian is coming for us. We need to fight back.”Damian finally spoke, his voice low and controlled, though there was a hint of frustration. “We’ll deal with Julian when the time comes, Naomi. But right now, we need to focus on the immediate threat.”I turned to him, my heart heavy with worry. “And what’s that? You’re negotiating with him, aren’t you? With Adrian?” I couldn't hide the disgust that crept into my voice.Adrian smirked, c