Chapter 25

Alison

I winced as I made my way upstairs, the pain from Damien’s rough treatment still radiating through my body.

My shoulder throbbed with every step, and I tried my best not to move it too much.

Once in the bathroom, I turned on the shower, letting the hot water run over me. It was the only solace I had, a momentary escape from the chaos of my life.

As the steam filled the room, my phone buzzed on the counter. I grabbed a towel and quickly reached for it, relieved to see Aiden’s name on the screen. Just as I was about to answer, the door flew open, and Damien walked in without knocking.

What did he want?

“Get dressed,” he ordered curtly. His expression was cold and when my eyes locked onto his I looked away afraid that If I stared too much, I might freeze.

“Don’t just stand there. Do as I say!” He spoke in a loud tone. “We’re going somewhere.”

I wanted to protest, to tell him I needed time to myself, but I knew better. Speaking out now would only lead to more problems for me—problems I wasn’t ready to face.

Silently, I nodded and headed in the direction of the wardrobe.

“You better get dressed quickly!” He ordered. “You have less than a minute.”

After that was said, he walked away, slamming the door behind him.

***

The ride in Damien’s car was filled with tension. I didn’t dare ask where we were going, and he didn’t offer an explanation. When he finally pulled up to a high-end restaurant, I frowned in confusion.

“Come,” he said flatly, not even looking at me.

I hesitated, unsure of what he had planned, but I followed his lead. The restaurant’s entrance was luxurious, with polished floors and chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds. At the door, a host asked Damien to stop.

“Do you have a reservation, sir?” He asked. “This place is only restricted to—“

“I don’t need a reservation.” Damien cut the poor man short. During that moment, he dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a black card labeled “Express.”

He flashed it in the host’s face, and his expression shifted immediately. “I’m sorry for asking about your reservations, sir. I didn’t know you were one of our elite customers.”

Damien leaned forward. “I assume you must be new here.”

He nodded immediately.

“I will forgive you for that,” Damien said in a firm voice. “Next time, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell your boss that you’re incompetent.”

The host thanked Damien for sparing him. After that, we were led to the rooftop, an elegant space with twinkling lights and a breathtaking view of the city. It would’ve been beautiful under different circumstances, but all I felt was a growing sense of unease.

“Sit,” Damien instructed as we reached our table.

I obeyed, still unsure of what this was about. A waiter arrived to take our orders, but Damien waved him off, saying we needed more time. Once we were alone, he leaned back in his chair, staring at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

“When you’re with Rodrigo, you’re always so chatty, friendly, laughing. Why are you so quiet now?” he began, his voice filled with bitterness.

His accusation caught me off guard, and I blinked at him, trying to process his words. “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

“You heard me,” he said, leaning forward. “Don’t try to act like you didn’t, Alison.”

I curled my finger under the table, trying to keep my composure. “Have you been stalking me?”

He furrowed his brows. “I am the one asking the questions around here not you!”

“So answer me!” He spat, hitting his hands against the table.

During that moment, I felt my temper flare. I hated the fact that he was acting this way.

“You know what? I’m done,” I snapped, my voice rising. “If you can’t handle me doing my job, then maybe you should call Silvia to do it instead. I’m tired of you treating me like this.”

“Don’t raise your voice at me,” Damien growled.

“I’ll do whatever I want,” I shot back, the anger within me growing as I rose to my feet. “You’ve hurt me in worse ways than this, so nothing you will say or do will scare me.”

Damien’s face darkened, and before I could react, he stood up, grabbed my arm, and hauled me out of my chair. My heart raced as he dragged me toward the edge of the rooftop.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I yelled, panic setting in.

He shoved me close to the railing, so close that I could feel the wind rushing past me. My knees buckled, and I began to tremble.

“Don’t fucking talk to me like that,” he hissed, his grip on my arm tightening. “Do you hear me?”

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my pounding heart.

For a moment, I thought he was going to push me. The look in his eyes was wild, unhinged. But then he pulled me back, releasing me with a force that made me stumble.

The waiter returned just then, carrying our menus, but Damien waved him off. “We’re leaving,” he snapped, grabbing my arm again and dragging me out of the restaurant.

The car ride back to the apartment was suffocating. Damien didn’t say a word, and I didn’t dare break the silence. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts.

When we finally arrived, he stopped the car abruptly. “Get out,” he ordered, his voice cold and emotionless.

I stepped out without looking back, my hands trembling as I entered the apartment. The moment I was inside, I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Aiden.

‘I don’t know how much longer I can stay here. I don’t think I can do this anymore.’ My message read.

I hit send, but no reply came. I stared at the screen, hoping for a reply, but none came.

I sighed, then turned off my phone and climbed into bed, the weight of the evening pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.

As I closed my eyes, all I could see was the dark look in Damien’s eyes which kept haunting me until I fell asleep.