"Sylvia, can you prepare all the files on the SCB deal and have it on my desk by tomorrow?", Cassie asked her secretary over the phone.
"Of course, Miss Cassie. It will be on your desk by tomorrow morning", Sylvia answered.
"Ok, thank you. Also,for the Under 30 gala tomorrow can you prepare a dress for me? I know it's short notice but is it possible?", Cassie asked her.
"Of course, It'll all be arranged by early tomorrow morning", Sylvia answered.
"Alright, thank you Sylvia", Cassie said and ended the call.
She let out a deep breath as she replayed the conversation with her father in her head. She was anxious about undertaking a task as big as this. She was a competent worker, everyone knew that. She had undertaken and accomplished big tasks, cinched big deals for the company before, and won over even the toughest of partners but still, she had never done something as huge as this before. A small part of her mentally slapped herself for agreeing to this at all, what if she couldn't pull it off? She might have been losing her father's favor a little now because of the broken engagement to Carter but if she failed at this or worse the deal ended up in the hands of Turner Enterprises, everything she had been working for all these years would come to nothing because she would lose her father's favor completely.
That's why you shouldn't fail, she whispered to herself.
The Iveas project was hers, she had worked so hard on it over the last few years and she refused to hand it over on a platter to Elizabeth who everyone knew didn't even take her work seriously just because she was no longer engaged to a cheating scum of a man.
"What are you doing?", a high-pitched feminine voice asked and Cassie groaned inwardly.
She turned around to see Elizabeth standing there.
"What do you want?", Cassie asked.
"Are you here to steal something from me again? I don't think I have anything else you can take from me, you've already taken my father and now my fiance" " she told her spitefully, all the anger she felt bubbling to the surface again.
"Unless of course, you want to take my life, I think that's the only thing of mine you have yet to steal", she said as she turned around to leave.
"You should just give up", Elizabeth said, causing Cassie to pause.
"The Iveas project, you should just give it up", she clarified and Cassie turned to look at her.
Elizabeth scoffed.
"I mean what are you trying to prove? Taking on the SCB deal? Don't you think you are being over confident?", she said snidely.
"Maybe", Cassie shrugged.
"But I don't see how it's any of your business. I'll either succeed or fail but the one thing I refuse to do is hand over a project I have worked so hard on without a fight", Cassie said firmly.
"I liked him first, you know", Elizabeth said and Cassie blinked at her, confused.
"Carter, I liked him first. But then you went ahead and dated him, do you know how utterly frustrating it was?", she asked Cassie spitefully.
Cassie looked at her with an incredulous expression.
"So you liked him first? Did you ever tell him? Did you ever make a move? You seethed with this jealousy for years. And what? You thought it was alright to have an affair with your sister's fiance because you think you have some rights to him because you liked him first?", Cassie asked her then scoffed.
"You are sicker in the head than I gave you credit for", she told her.
"I feel sorry for you", Cassie whispered before turning around and leaving Elizabeth seething in her anger and throwing a tantrum.
The Next Day
45 minutes before the Under 30 gala.
Cassie looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in approval. It was short notice but Sylvia had done an excellent job with the dress. It was a long evening gown in red color with a slit on the side. The red of the dress contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. She paired it off with an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings that complemented her eyes and made them sparkle somewhat. She had her chocolate brown hair down in long waves past her shoulder and she finished the entire look with a green designer purse. She looked stunning if she could say so herself. She took a deep breath and as she stared at herself in the mirror, she repeated the words,
"You can do it. You are a success"
It was her words of affirmations to calm down her anxiety. Satisfied, she headed downstairs, her driver was already waiting for her with the car parked at the entrance. She slid in and they were off to the gala.
At the gala, Cassie walked the red carpet first, posing for pictures and then answering a few questions from the press before going inside to the main event. She looked around the ballroom, businessmen, and women of different caliber all gathered, but all of them were under 30. Despite the dancing music that was being played, the dance floor was practically empty. Almost everyone was on the sidelines, talking and networking in general. That was why Cassie herself had come. Most of the attendees for this event would all be vying for the SCB deal as well. This was the perfect opportunity to scope out the competition. Although Turned Enterprises was her main problem, it wouldn't hurt to know about the others to avoid any surprises. So putting on her most professional and pleasant smile, Cassie picked up a glass of champagne and walked over to a small circle on the left side of the room. She recognized one of their business partners, Mr. Sealey, in the group.
"Miss Monroe", Mr. Sealey called when he noticed Cassie.
"Mr. Sealey, good evening", Cassie greeted with a pleasant smile before greeting the other men as well, they all responded with a smile as well.
"What a lovely surprise. You're present here, apart from the fact you're under 30, you must be vying for the SCB deal, that's why you're here, isn't it? Otherwise, why else would we be blessed by your", he teased and the other men chuckled.
"Aren't we all?", Cassie replied with a courteous smile.
"Indeed", Mr. Sealey agreed with a smile.
"Ninety percent of the people here have come to scope out their competition for the deal. I would have loved to try for it as well but alas my company could not handle a deal that big", he said.
"Is that?", one of the men suddenly exclaimed in surprise and everyone turned to him.
Mr. Sealey followed his gaze.
"What a surprise, it is", Mr. Sealey said.
"Damon Turner, I can't believe he attended", another man said and Cassie's ears pricked up at the name.
She immediately followed their gaze. She had never really seen Damon Turner, he was a very private person who hardly granted interviews. Her eyes fell on the man who had now completely captured the attention of everyone in the room. When she saw his face, images from two nights ago suddenly flashed in her head and her eyes widened in shock.
What in the actual fuck?
Cassie wasn’t prepared for this. The air in the grand ballroom was thick with power and quiet competition, but nothing compared to the charged tension crackling between her and the man standing across the room.Damon Turner.Her one-night stand.Her father’s biggest rival.Her biggest problem.Cassie’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes locked. Damon was watching her like a predator who had just spotted his prey, his sharp features unreadable, but his amusement was evident. He was toying with her, enjoying her discomfort.Damn him.She hadn’t known what to expect when she agreed to attend the Under 30 Gala, but it certainly wasn’t running into the man she had paid to disappear from her life.A slow smirk tugged at Damon’s lips.He knew.Of course, he knew.Cassie tightened her grip on her champagne flute, forcing herself to stay composed. She had faced boardrooms full of ruthless businessmen, navigated high-stakes negotiations, and built a reputation as one of the fiercest youn
Cassie’s fingers tightened around the folder in her hand, the weight of Damon’s proposal pressing heavily on her mind.“You’re out of your mind,” she muttered, narrowing her gaze at him.Damon leaned casually against the sleek glass desk in her office, his smirk unwavering. “Not at all. Just a man who knows what he wants.”Cassie inhaled sharply, trying to keep her emotions in check. “And what is that, exactly?”His eyes darkened, something unreadable flashing in their depths. “You. The company. Both.”Her breath hitched at the boldness of his words, but she recovered quickly, shaking her head. “You don’t get to have either, Damon.”His smirk widened. “We’ll see about that.”Cassie exhaled, trying to push aside the dangerous attraction crackling between them. “This merger—it's impossible. My father would never go for it.”“Your father is a businessman. And businessmen don’t let personal feelings get in the way of a profitable deal.”Cassie crossed her arms, stepping closer to him, ref
The silence in the conference room was suffocating. Cassie’s pulse drummed in her ears as her father paced the length of the room, his jaw tight with frustration. Damon leaned against the table, arms crossed, his face a mask of control. But Cassie knew him well enough to see the storm brewing behind his gaze.Richard Steele’s parting words echoed in her mind twenty-four hours.Twenty-four hours before everything her father had built was ripped apart.Cassie swallowed hard and forced herself to think clearly. “Dad, we need to see those documents. If Steele has fabricated evidence, we can fight back.”William Monroe exhaled sharply. “You think I haven’t tried? His sources are airtight. He’s not bluffing.”Damon’s voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “There’s always a way to dismantle a threat.”William turned to him, his expression unreadable. “And why should I trust you?”Damon didn’t flinch. “Because if Monroe Industries falls, so does everything I’m fighting for.” His gaze
The soft glow of the city lights shimmered against the large windows of Damon’s penthouse. Cassie curled her fingers around the warm ceramic mug in her hands, the rich aroma of coffee filling the air. She still couldn’t believe how the past twenty-four hours had played out.She glanced toward the living room, where Damon leaned against the fireplace, his sleeves rolled up, revealing the strong lines of his forearms. He looked at her with an unreadable expression, his dark eyes filled with something she wasn’t sure she was ready to name.“I still can’t believe it,” she whispered. “That Steele just… walked away.”Damon’s lips curled into a smirk. “He had no choice. We backed him into a corner.”Cassie shook her head in disbelief. “You did all of this for my father’s company?”Damon’s expression darkened slightly. “I did it for you, Cassie. And I’d do it again.”A shiver ran down her spine, but she forced herself to focus. She wasn’t ready to unpack the weight of those words. Instead, sh
Cassie’s heart pounded as she stood on the balcony of Damon’s penthouse, the cool night air brushing against her skin. The city sparkled below, a sea of lights stretching endlessly. But her thoughts weren’t on the breathtaking view. They were on Damon. On what they had done. On what they had become.She had kissed him. No, she had surrendered to him.And it wasn’t just a fleeting moment of passion. It was something deeper. Something undeniable.She turned her head slightly, catching sight of him through the reflection in the glass doors. Damon stood inside, his suit jacket discarded, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing the hard lines of his chest. His hands were tucked into his pockets, but his gaze was locked onto her, intense, unreadable.Cassie swallowed hard. She had spent so much time fighting him, resisting what was between them. But standing here now, the weight of everything they had been through pressing on her, she wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight anymore
Cassie’s heart pounded as she stared at the invitation in her hands. A gala hosted by none other than Richard Steele. It was a calculated move, a silent challenge. Steele wouldn’t have invited Monroe Industries or anyone associated with it unless he had something planned. And Cassie knew, deep down, that she and Damon had to be there.“Are you sure about this?” Damon asked, his sharp eyes scanning the gold-embossed envelope. His voice was calm, but Cassie could sense the tension beneath his exterior.“I don’t see a choice,” she murmured. “Steele wouldn’t do this unless he had a reason. We need to find out what it is.”Damon exhaled and leaned back against the couch, his fingers drumming against his knee. “Fine. But we go in together. And we leave together.”Cassie bit her lip. “You don’t have to”He silenced her with a look. “Cassie, I told you before. I’m not letting you face this alone.”A warmth spread through her chest, but she pushed it aside. They had bigger things to worry abou
Cassie barely had time to process the heated conversation with her father before Damon pulled her aside into the privacy of his car. The city lights reflected against the sleek black windows, casting a dim glow over his chiseled face. He had that look again the one that told her he was already ten steps ahead.“We can’t let Vanessa win,” Cassie murmured, pressing her fingers against her temple. “She wants to destroy everything.”Damon’s jaw tensed as he placed his hand on the steering wheel, his fingers flexing against the leather. “She’s trying to play us, but she doesn’t realize she’s stepping into my territory now.”Cassie glanced at him, her pulse quickening at the edge in his voice. “What do you have in mind?”Damon smirked, his eyes darkening. “If Vanessa Sinclair wants a war, she just got one.”He shifted gears and pulled onto the road, his movements sharp and precise. Cassie had spent most of her life fighting battles on her own, but with Damon at her side, it felt different l
Cassie stood frozen at the edge of the ballroom, her pulse fluttering like butterfly wings in her chest. The chandeliers cast a golden hue across the room, glittering off the crystal flutes and sequined gowns, but her eyes were fixed on one man Damon.He looked devastating in his midnight black tuxedo, tall and commanding as always, but there was something different in his eyes tonight. Something unspoken. Something unresolved.Their encounter in the rain replayed in her mind like a dream she couldn’t wake from his words, his kiss, the warmth of his hands on her skin. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the way he had held her like she was the only thing grounding him.Now, here they were, once again forced into the same space because of their fathers’ business merger gala. Cassie hadn’t wanted to come. She told herself it was because she hated these pretentious events. But deep down, she knew it was because seeing Damon again might tear her apart."You're here," a voice murmured
Cassie tapped her pen against her desk, staring out of the large window overlooking the city. Spring had come in full bloom, casting the skyline in golden light. From her office at Turner-Langston Enterprises, she could see the entire city they had once fought so hard to conquer.Life was good, almost too good.Their foundation was thriving, helping hundreds of young entrepreneurs and single mothers. Their businesses were expanding globally. Hope was growing into a spirited, fearless little girl.And yet, Cassie couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.Damon stepped into her office, his tie loose around his neck, a boyish grin on his face.“Working late again, Mrs. Turner?” he teased.Cassie smiled, standing to meet him. “Guilty as charged, Mr. Turner.”He closed the door behind him and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around her waist.“You know,” he murmured against her temple, “we could always take a vacation. Italy? Greece? Anywhere you want.”Cassie leaned into h
The world slowed down for Cassie and Damon after Hope’s birth.The busy city, the clamor of deals, the endless meetings all of it faded into the background. Their days were now measured in feedings, diaper changes, tiny coos, and sleepy smiles. Their nights, once filled with glittering galas and power plays, were now quiet moments spent rocking Hope back to sleep.Cassie sat in the nursery one afternoon, the soft pastel walls glowing in the gentle light. Hope dozed against her chest, her tiny fist curled around one of Cassie’s fingers.Damon entered quietly, a warm smile on his face as he crossed the room.“How’s my two favorite girls?” he whispered, crouching down beside the rocking chair.Cassie looked up at him, her heart feeling too big for her chest. “Perfect. She’s perfect.”Damon brushed a kiss against Hope’s forehead, then leaned in to kiss Cassie too.“I still can’t believe we made her,” he said, wonder in his voice.Cassie laughed softly. “Best thing we’ve ever done.”Hope s
Snowflakes fell softly around Cassie and Damon as they strolled hand-in-hand through the park. The city glowed under a blanket of white, and laughter echoed from ice skaters gliding across the frozen pond nearby.Cassie smiled up at Damon, feeling like she was living inside a dream.“I used to hate winter,” she said, squeezing his hand. “It always felt cold and lonely.”Damon glanced down at her, his dark eyes warm. “And now?”“Now,” she said, stepping closer to him, “it feels magical.”He stopped walking, pulling her against him. “That’s because we made it ours.”Cassie rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It still amazed her how easily he had become her home.“How about we make another memory tonight?” Damon suggested.She tilted her head back. “What do you have in mind?”His grin was boyish and irresistible. “Come with me.”Twenty minutes later, Cassie found herself standing in front of an old stone chapel tucked away in the heart of the cit
Cassie stretched out on the bed, the warm morning sun dancing across the white sheets. She watched as Damon pulled on his shirt, the muscles in his back flexing with each movement. A lazy smile played on her lips.“You know,” she said, voice still husky from sleep, “you’re making it very hard to leave this bed.”Damon turned, his tie dangling from his fingers, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “That’s the idea.”She laughed, pushing herself upright. “We have meetings today, Mr. Turner. Big, important meetings.”He tossed the tie aside and climbed back into bed, capturing her mouth in a kiss that made her toes curl.“Meetings can wait,” he murmured against her lips.Cassie surrendered for a moment, lost in the feel of him, the taste of him. But reality tugged at her, and she pulled back, albeit reluctantly.“If we’re late, the board will have our heads,” she said, breathless.Damon sighed dramatically. “Fine. But you owe me later.”She arched a brow. “Oh, I’ll make it up to you.”His gr
The silence stretched painfully between them. Cassie’s heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears.Her father’s face flushed an angry red. “Cassie, you don’t know what you’re doing.”Charles Blackwood’s lips curled in disgust. “This is foolishness. You're risking everything for what? A fling?”Cassie stood tall, her fingers tightening around Damon’s hand. She wouldn’t let them intimidate her anymore.“This isn’t a fling,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “I love Damon. And he loves me.”Damon nodded without hesitation, his thumb brushing reassuringly across her knuckles.“We’re not asking for your blessing,” Damon added, his voice hard. “We’re informing you.”Richard Langston stepped forward, lowering his voice in a way that was far more threatening than if he had shouted.“You're my daughter. You think you can throw away everything I’ve built for you? For him?” He sneered. “You don’t even know what real life is, Cassie.”Cassie’s chest tightened, but she forced herself t
Cassie turned to face him fully, her heart pounding against her ribs like a wild drum. The scent of old paper and wood surrounded them, wrapping them in a cocoon of memory and hope.“You’re asking me to take a huge risk,” she whispered, her voice trembling.“I know,” Damon said, stepping closer until there was barely any space between them. “But you’re worth it. We’re worth it.”Cassie closed her eyes, breathing him in. Everything about this felt reckless, dangerous but also right. Like the universe had spent years pulling them apart only to slam them back together in the most chaotic way.“I don’t want to lose you again,” she admitted.“You won’t.”Slowly, she opened her eyes. Damon’s gaze locked onto hers with a fierce determination that sent shivers down her spine. He cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb across her cheek.“I’m not my father,” he said. “And you’re not yours. We make our own choices.”She leaned into his touch, desperate and scared and exhilarated all at once.
Cassie stood frozen at the edge of the ballroom, her pulse fluttering like butterfly wings in her chest. The chandeliers cast a golden hue across the room, glittering off the crystal flutes and sequined gowns, but her eyes were fixed on one man Damon.He looked devastating in his midnight black tuxedo, tall and commanding as always, but there was something different in his eyes tonight. Something unspoken. Something unresolved.Their encounter in the rain replayed in her mind like a dream she couldn’t wake from his words, his kiss, the warmth of his hands on her skin. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the way he had held her like she was the only thing grounding him.Now, here they were, once again forced into the same space because of their fathers’ business merger gala. Cassie hadn’t wanted to come. She told herself it was because she hated these pretentious events. But deep down, she knew it was because seeing Damon again might tear her apart."You're here," a voice murmured
Cassie barely had time to process the heated conversation with her father before Damon pulled her aside into the privacy of his car. The city lights reflected against the sleek black windows, casting a dim glow over his chiseled face. He had that look again the one that told her he was already ten steps ahead.“We can’t let Vanessa win,” Cassie murmured, pressing her fingers against her temple. “She wants to destroy everything.”Damon’s jaw tensed as he placed his hand on the steering wheel, his fingers flexing against the leather. “She’s trying to play us, but she doesn’t realize she’s stepping into my territory now.”Cassie glanced at him, her pulse quickening at the edge in his voice. “What do you have in mind?”Damon smirked, his eyes darkening. “If Vanessa Sinclair wants a war, she just got one.”He shifted gears and pulled onto the road, his movements sharp and precise. Cassie had spent most of her life fighting battles on her own, but with Damon at her side, it felt different l
Cassie’s heart pounded as she stared at the invitation in her hands. A gala hosted by none other than Richard Steele. It was a calculated move, a silent challenge. Steele wouldn’t have invited Monroe Industries or anyone associated with it unless he had something planned. And Cassie knew, deep down, that she and Damon had to be there.“Are you sure about this?” Damon asked, his sharp eyes scanning the gold-embossed envelope. His voice was calm, but Cassie could sense the tension beneath his exterior.“I don’t see a choice,” she murmured. “Steele wouldn’t do this unless he had a reason. We need to find out what it is.”Damon exhaled and leaned back against the couch, his fingers drumming against his knee. “Fine. But we go in together. And we leave together.”Cassie bit her lip. “You don’t have to”He silenced her with a look. “Cassie, I told you before. I’m not letting you face this alone.”A warmth spread through her chest, but she pushed it aside. They had bigger things to worry abou