"Ash," Damien says. "I'm surprised to see you here."Damien knows this guy. This night can't get crazier than this. They shake hands and Damien's hold around me tightens.Ash doesn't look at me, or rather he's trying not to. "I'm good friends with the Huntingtons. I always get an invitation. How about you? Aren't you leaving too soon?""I wasn't planning on staying," Damien simply says. An awkward silence envelops us and I'm ready to leave. I want to get inside the car and have Roger drive us far away from here. I have to tell Damien the truth. Devon's warning comes to mind and I can't brush this under the rug. There's something off about him and Damien has to know. I don't know how they know each other, but he has to know that this man doesn't have good intentions."Well, then," Ash says, extending his hand once more. "I guess this is where we part ways."Before he goes back inside, he shoots me a knowing look. His lips curve upwards slightly, like he knows something I don't. Or wors
Theodora Keller has been looking at him all night.Devon turns away from her and takes a sip of his drink. He doesn't want to have anything to do with the fucking Kellers. He hasn't forgotten about her brother's threat, and even though he isn't afraid of Damien Fucking Keller, he's not ever going to willingly involve himself with any of them ever again.Fuck you, Damien Keller. I'm not looking over my fucking shoulder.He didn't want to talk to Amelia. He was shocked when he saw her, he hadn't seen her in a little over a year. She looked well, she was smiling, but he told himself that he'd keep his distance. It was better that way. Then he saw her talking to Ashton Fucking Rockford and he saw red. He knows Ash is up to no good—he knows—and he couldn't begin to imagine what that creep wanted from her. Or worse, what if they were well acquainted? How'd he warn her? She wasn't even going to listen to him.He had to try, though.He was watching her and waiting for the perfect opportunity.
I've been on edge all day.Today is the day of Damien's supposed surprise, the one he mentioned last night when we got back from the party. Sincerely, I have no idea of what to expect. What I do know is that it has to be something big, something significant. It takes a lot to make Damien nervous.I've never seen him like this.We had breakfast before he left. Theo isn't back yet, so it's just the two of us. He didn't touch on the subject and I'm not going to push, I know it's supposed to be a surprise. We also didn't talk about Ash Rockford. Last night was amazing and I don't want to ruin it by talking about that man. Damien will find a way to deal with him and he's going to take care of this, he always does. I'm simply relieved that he didn't see Devon and that we're alright. We're doing great. It's as if the last few days didn't even happen, like we weren't arguing the other day about my position and that new secretary that will be gone before the week ends. I kind of feel guilty ab
Of course I say yes, with tears streaming down my face. I'd always say yes. I'd choose him over and over again. There's no one I'd rather be with.We're getting married. It's actually happening.He slips the ring on my finger and rises. We're kissing when the lights turn on. I'm surprised to see so many people clapping and cheering us on. It takes me a moment to realize that these are all employees and some of his friends. Theo is the first to approach us with an enormous smile. She's wearing a shimmery gold dress and black heels. She looks stunning. I found her behavior and subsequent disappearance earlier strange. I realize now that she knew about this all along, she was trying to keep it a secret.She kisses my cheek and wraps her arms around me. "Oh, Amelia. I'm so happy for the two of you."I hug her back. My head is still spinning. I stare at the scintillating ring on my finger and I can hardly believe it's there. This is a dream, a wonderful one."You knew," I say.She nods and
"Penelope," Ethan says forcefully. "You're being ridiculous."How could she just fucking walk out like that? Doesn't she know that they're being watched, that anyone could find her behavior suspicious? He's had enough of her and her sensibilities. If he didn't fucking love her, he'd leave her. But he can't do that. He loves her and he needs her, but she doesn't believe him anymore.He can't blame her. He doesn't know what to believe either.Everything is crumbling down around him. His exchange with Damien broke his fucking heart. Smashed it right to pieces. He knows this is all his fault, he's the one who's been lying and keeping awful secrets. It all started a year ago, when he was pissed off. He made terrible decisions and he's paying the price for that. He wanted to get back at Damien, at his dead father, at anyone. Those fuckers approached him with the offer and he accepted, like the dickhead he is. He can't shake them off now. He doesn't know how to, he can't fight them alone.Oh
Damien can't take his eyes off her.She's glowing tonight. Well, she's always glowing, but it's different tonight. He can't explain it. She's been staring at the ring he slipped on her finger the entire night and he'll take it as a good sign—an excellent one. He's been planning this moment for a long time, practically since the day he took a good look at her and realized that she wouldn't be leaving his side anytime soon. He made her his secretary and raised her salary. She wasn't going to leave, he'd never give her the chance.The night was perfect, he couldn't have asked for better. Theo did an exceptional job, she always does. She helped him put everything together. She'll help him organize the wedding too. He's going to marry this woman, and he doesn't plan on waiting a year before that happens. In a month's time, he's making her his wife.Mrs. Keller. He likes the sound of that.He locks the apartment door. No one's interrupting them tonight. Theo has plans, and Ethan, well, he c
I'm the happiest woman alive.I get out of bed and I'm practically skipping to the bathroom. Damien was in here earlier, I can smell his shower gel and his shampoo. His scent further elevates my mood. It's a gentle reminder of last night, which was absolutely perfect. I'm tingling all over at the memory of his lips on me, of his tongue in me.I can't stop staring at my ring. I don't think I'll ever get over this moment. Damien and I have been going steady for the past year, and I'll admit that I thought of marrying him once. I never mentioned it, I didn't want him to think I was putting pressure on him. This is a brand new beginning for us. We'll get married in a month–how crazy is that?—and then we can start our own little family. I've been on birth control for the past year, I didn't want to risk getting pregnant again. I wasn't ready emotionally. But after the wedding, I'll take the implant out. Again, it's a fresh start for both of us. Everything is stable now, so why not try agai
Devon wakes up with a pounding head.That punch nearly knocked him out. He could feel blood trickling down the side of his head and now the spot on the side of his head is unbearably painful. It's throbbing. The dried blood is making his skin itch. This is absolute torture. Why doesn't Damien Fucking Keller just kill him already? What's the point in keeping him alive?The motherfucker saw him at the party, talking to Amelia. It was so quick that he thought he was safe, but he should've known better. He left with her, but he must have paid someone to follow him around all night. One of the guards, maybe. Devon would never have guessed it. The guy's slick, he'll give him that.He had no choice but to surrender. At the time, he didn't know what was going on. His first thought was Ash, his second Theodora Keller. He never would've guessed that Damien was involved. His gut feeling failed him. Life failed him. The universe failed him. He didn't see this shit coming. The fucker warned him la