ARE YOU MARRIED?

Chapter 5

Rose’s POV

“Mm… no… no…” I shook my head, realizing he hadn’t even kissed me or unbuttoned my suit. Yet, his face kept coming closer, his red lips slightly protruding.

“Let go of me before I press charges against you!” With a surge of energy from an unknown source, I yanked myself free.

“Press charges against me? Ha!” He let out a devilish laugh, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Wow, you’ve changed—and for the better. I can see you’re a strong woman now.”

I refused to respond. He began strolling around my office, casually observing the awards and artifacts I had accumulated over the years. Pausing behind one, he sharply turned toward me.

“How much for this?”

“That’s not for sale,” I said firmly, watching his every move.

Why was he walking around my office like he owned the place? As he moved closer, his cologne filled my nostrils, triggering a flood of unwanted memories—how he had treated me, how he had broken me. The past played in my mind like a cruel movie.

“Get out. Now.” I pointed to the door, my voice sharp.

“Don’t you miss me?” He turned and stepped toward me again.

I instinctively backed away. Fear gripped me, irrational yet undeniable. He could hurt me. He could even kill me. I didn’t know why I thought that, but my mind wouldn’t let it go.

“I want you to leave. Let’s finalize the business. I believe that’s the only reason you’re here. Once it’s done, I’ll never have to see your face again.”

I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist from behind. Without thinking, I swung my other hand, slapping him hard across the face.

“What did I just do?” My breath hitched as I saw his eyes darken, the vein on his forehead pulsing with restrained fury.

Was he going to hit me back? Or would he hold himself back because I was an attorney? Questions raced through my mind.

He remained still, but something in him shifted. His once-charming gaze morphed into something beastly as he continued staring at me. His grip on my wrist tightened.

“Are you married?” His voice was chillingly calm.

His eyes flickered down to the ring on my finger. It wasn’t a wedding band—just a good luck charm I had bought from an old woman. There had been two; I had gifted the other to my firm’s best employee during our first-anniversary celebration.

A heavy silence settled between us as our eyes locked. Then, I began to sweat even under my AC. He had ruined my day, but I needed to pull off this sale no matter what happened, and here he was asking me about marriage. I was so mad at him, and on the other hand, was so scared of him, but I had to keep my composure as well.

“That’s none of your business, Damien Anderson. I am not your woman. Let go of me… or else…” My voice wavered, but I forced myself to hold my ground. I had to stay strong before he did anything nasty to me.

 “Though I am an attorney, I cannot go to court with my eyes closed or how would I defend myself if he kills me?”

“Or else what?” He pressed my wrist harder.

I glanced toward the door, silently praying for a savior. I didn’t want to scream, didn’t want to cause a scene.

As if on cue, the door screeched open.

“What’s going on?” Sean’s voice cut through the tension.

Sean had been my rock since I founded my firm. He was more than an employee—he was a friend, a confidant, even family to my kids. I had met him when I went back to school, and he had been by my side ever since.

“What do you want from her?” Sean demanded.

Damien let go of my wrist.

“I said, what do you want from her?” Sean repeated, his anger evident.

The two men stood face to face, their height and eye color identical, though their hairstyles differed.

“Do you know who I am?” Damien asked, stepping closer, his chest nearly touching Sean’s.

“What you are doesn’t matter to me,” Sean retorted.

“Oh, but it will. Soon.”

Seeing the situation escalate, I raised my voice.

“Are you leaving, or do I need to call security?”

Damien’s cold gaze shifted back to me.

“Hmm… We’ll meet again. And when we do, I’ll teach you who I really am.”

With that, he adjusted his collar, slid his hands back into his pockets, and walked out.

I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to my chest.

“If he tries anything, I’ll make sure he rots in jail,” Sean growled.

“Who is he, Miss Rose?” His expression was a mix of concern and barely restrained fury. “Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” His jaw clenched as he examined my wrist. “That son of a b!tch scratched you. Let me put some ointment on it before we start the second phase of the meeting.”

Sean retrieved the first-aid kit and tended to my hand. I barely felt it, just a slight burning sensation. He cared about me—maybe too much. But I didn’t know why.

“Head back upstairs. They’re still waiting for you. When you didn’t return, I knew something was wrong and came to check.”

“Thank you,” I said with a small smile, walking toward the door.

“Miss…” Sean called after me.

I turned.

“If he touches you again, let me know.”

I nodded. “I will.”

On my way to the meeting, I misstepped, twisting my ankle slightly. Wincing, I opted for the elevator instead of the long stairs. I limped while I held the walls for support until I reached the elevator.

“Aw,” I muttered, pressing the button 5 and kept hitting it with anger and pain.

The moment the doors slid open, my breath hitched.

Damien Anderson was inside, head down, scrolling through his phone. Beside him, his messenger was casually cleaning a shotgun.

I froze, and then the pain vanished! The man beside him was no new face. The same man who had chased me five years ago intending to harm me but was saved by a police officer. How could I forget him? Never! He was so busy cleaning his gun…

“What is my mission with this toy?” he asked Damien…

Noticing that the door had opened but I was hesitating to get in, Damien lifted his head, his gaze settling on me as I balanced on one foot.

A slow smirk curled on his lips.

“Hmm…” he murmured, widening the edges of his mouth as if amused.