chapter one

DISCLAIMER: This book is a work of fiction, events and characters are all made up and even if they pose some resemblance to real people, it’s purely coincidental.

For younger readers, viewers discretion is advised, because there will be some mention of violence, foul languages, and sexual contents.

Regards, Author-san 💕

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The office building was eerily hushed since most of its workers had already clocked out for the day, leaving only a handful of employees behind and that included Vivian Mercer. A spirited yet easy going secretary at D&_S modelling agency.

After spending a good three years of her life working here, where she was only promoted to being assistant manager last year, Vivian was already accustomed to these halls. But now as she walked through these familiar corridors again she couldn’t understand why her heart became so restless and her back broke out in a cold sweat, maybe it was the thought of meeting Damien in his office after closing hours that put her on edge like this.

Yet, despite her growing anxiety and inner turmoil, she felt a surreal sense of familiarity which came from years of being by his side. Any normal person would feel the pressure she did when faced with the Head honcho at the agency, after all, it was Damien Sullivan she worked for. A rich playboy with a multibillion empire he had built, a tease, a man who did as he pleased, but most importantly, a man who had stolen her heart without even realizing it.

The evening glow from the setting sun reflected against the length of the building that stood tall and proud at the center of the city like a monument. Vivian was proud be working here, but as she now stood outside Damien Sullivan’s office, the floor to ceiling glass panels mirrored her anxious expression she wondered why the man had wanted to meet her like this. With her heart racing, she smoothened down her skirt and adjusted her rounded glasses. It was already after hours and the office was eerily still, the usual hustle and bustle of the day now replaced with a stillness that made her acutely aware of her own breathing now.

Damien had called her in for a late meeting, and while this wasn’t the first time she’d had to stay late for work, there was something different about tonight.

Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand to knock on the door, hesitating for a moment before her knuckles rapped against the wood. There was a brief pause, followed by his familiar voice, smooth and commanding. “come in.”

Vivian pushed the door open and stepped inside. Damien was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her as he gazes out at the traffic down below. The lights of the city cast a soft glow into the room, highlighting the strong lines of his shoulders and back, clad in a dark, tailored suit. She closed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the silence.

“Vivian,” Damien said, turning slowly to face her. His voice low, almost a murmur, but it carried a weight that sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m glad you came…”

“of course, Mr. Sullivan,” she replied with a soft smile to mask the anxiety that fluttered in her chest. “you wanted to see me?”

His eyes met hers in a locked staring match, piercing and intense and for a moment, she felt as though the room had shrunk, leaving just the two of them in a thick bubble of tension that almost made it impossible to breath properly anymore. He walked towards her with a deliberate slowness, each step measured and calculated, like that of a predator who just laid eyes on its dinner, savoring every second of the haunt. When he was finally close enough, he stopped, just a breath away.

“how long have you worked here, Vivian?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual, though his gaze never left hers.

“three years,” she replied, trying to match his calm. “I was promoted to assistant manager last year.” She said, wondering why he was asking her what he already knew.

“Three years…” he repeated, almost to himself, as he looked her over with a scrutiny that made her both self-conscious and oddly exhilarated.

"you’ve been a valuable asset to this company…”

“thank you, Mr. Sullivan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. His compliment warmed her, but there was something in his eyes, a dark, swirling intensity that made her pulse quicken. The way he was looking at her, it was as though he were seeing her for the first time.

He took a step closer, his presence dominating the space around her. “you know, Vivian. I’ve always admired your work ethic. Your dedication. Your…focus.”

The air between them was charged, each word hanging heavy in the silence. Vivian felt her cheeks turn hot as the blood in her neck rushed to her cheeks. In the sparsely illuminated office, she wondered if he could see the flush that had spread across her skin. “i…I just try to do my best for the company, Mr. Sullivan” she stammered, her voice sounding a bit too breathless for her liking.

Damien gave her words a small nodded as he hummed, lifting his hand up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His touch was tender, sending a cold shiver down Rebecca’s back. She felt like a teenager again. Young, dumb and hopelessly in love. But what Damien did next had her heart pounding desperately in her chest.

His lips pulled into a smile that didn’t stretch to his eyes, his long slender fingers curled around the frame of her glasses before he carefully sliding them off her face. Vivian blinked once, then twice, trying to let her eyes adjust to light in the room. It wasn’t as though she couldn’t do without them, it was just that after having them on all day, evident by the red marks left behind by the glasses on her face. Her eyes had to adjust again.