The heavy oak desk in Damianâs expansive office was covered in neatly organized files and documents, but his attention was focused solely on one folder: the one containing all the information about Sierra. His secretary had delivered it less than an hour ago, the man standing stiffly as he briefed Damian on its contents. Yet even after the secretary had left, Damian found himself poring over every detail, rereading certain lines and staring at photographs with a sense of fascination that he hadnât expected.Damian was not a man easily impressed. He was surrounded by wealth, power, and influence every dayâhis own and othersâ. He had seen the best and worst of what people had to offer, and very little surprised him anymore. Yet Sierra managed to defy his expectations at every turn.The first thing that stood out to him was her background. Sierra wasnât from a wealthy family, which caught Damian off guard. He had assumed, incorrectly it seemed, that her sharp disdain for the wealthy came
Nathan entered Damianâs office quietly, the weight of his bossâs intense focus palpable even from the doorway. Damian was seated at his desk, his sharp eyes scanning the pages of a file that Nathan recognized all too wellâthe one containing every detail they had been able to gather about Sierra. It wasnât the first time Nathan had seen Damian engrossed in those papers, and he suspected it wouldnât be the last. Damianâs fingers moved slowly, turning the pages with deliberate care. He was completely absorbed, his brows slightly furrowed in concentration. Nathan could tell this wasnât just idle curiosity. Damian had taken a genuine interest in Sierra, one that went far beyond the surface level. There was a spark of something in his bossâs eyesâa mix of admiration and intrigue that Nathan hadnât seen in years. Clearing his throat softly to announce his presence, Nathan stepped further into the room. âSir, I see youâre still reviewing the file,â he said cautiously, not wanting to interru
SIERRA With exams looming on the horizon, I decided to put everything else on hold. For the time being, the track would have to wait. Racing was a thrilling escape, but right now, my focus needed to be on my studies. If there was one thing I prided myself on as much as racing, it was excelling in my academics. The week was a blur of textbooks, highlighters, and sleepless nights. Iâd mapped out a strict schedule, allocating every minute to studying and revising. My days began early and ended late, leaving little room for distractions. I told Mika to cover for me if anyone asked about my whereaboutsâthough I doubted anyone would. âFocus, Sierra,â I muttered to myself as I stared at a particularly convoluted equation in my calculus workbook. My professor had a knack for assigning the kind of problems that made you question every decision that led you to this moment. As I worked through the calculations, my mind briefly drifted to the track. I wondered what was happening there, who
I should have known that Damianâs presence wasnât just a coincidence. When a man like him shows up at your school library, dressed to the nines and as confident as ever, itâs not because heâs there to return a book. After I reluctantly gave him the time of day, I regretted it almost instantly. The moment he opened his mouth, I knew what he was about to say. âI want to revisit the offer I made you at the track,â he began, leaning back in his chair with that infuriatingly self-assured smirk. I immediately cut him off. âNo.â Damian raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my bluntness. âYou didnât even let me finish,â he said, chuckling. âI didnât need to,â I replied. âI already know what youâre going to say. You want me to observe your car, help fix its problems, or whatever it is you think I can do for you. And my answer is still the same. Iâm not interested.â He didnât seem fazed. If anything, he looked even more entertained. âSierra, youâre exceptionally skilled. Your knowl
I barely had a moment to breathe. The upcoming exam was all I could think about, its weight pressing heavily on my shoulders. It wasnât just about passingâit was about maintaining my scholarship. Sure, I had money saved up for tuition, but this scholarship wasnât just financial support to me. It was proof of my hard work, of everything Iâd poured into being the best version of myself. The dining table was a chaotic mess of textbooks, notes, and colored flashcards. Mika sat across from me, her head buried in her notebook as she muttered formulas under her breath. âAlright, Sierra,â she said, breaking my focus, âletâs tackle probability first. That section is going to kill me if I donât get it down today.â âProbability?â I repeated, glancing at her notes. âAlright, letâs start with conditional probability. Itâs almost guaranteed to show up on the exam.â I adjusted my glasses and pointed at a practice question in her notebook. âLook, if weâre trying to find the probability of A g
The cool night breeze wrapped around Mika and me as we strolled down the dimly lit street, the soft hum of distant traffic filling the silence between us. We had just left the library after another grueling day of studying, and the weight of the upcoming exams was finally starting to feel bearable. Mikaâs chatter about what weâd eat when we got home distracted me from my thoughts when the sound of a car engine revving nearby made us both stop in our tracks.The sleek black car slowed to a halt beside us, its tinted windows glinting under the streetlights. Instinctively, Mika and I exchanged a look, both of us tensing up. Living in a city taught you to always stay alert, especially at night. The driverâs side window rolled down smoothly, revealing none other than Damian Cross, his infuriatingly calm face lit by the faint glow of the dashboard.I groaned audibly. âYouâve got to be kidding me,â I muttered under my breath. âGood evening, ladies,â Damian said smoothly, his voice carrying
As we pulled up in front of the apartment building, I could already tell Mika had something up her sleeve. The mischievous glint in her eyes had been there ever since weâd gotten into Damianâs car, and now it was practically blinding. The moment the car came to a full stop, Mika opened the door, giving Damian her most polite smile. âThank you so much for the ride, Damian,â she said sweetly, climbing out of the car. I gave her a pointed look, hoping to convey *donât even think about it*, but Mika, being Mika, ignored it completely. She turned to me briefly, her expression all innocence. âSee you tomorrow, Sierra!â she called over her shoulder before disappearing into the building faster than Iâd ever seen her move. I groaned internally. *Of course, sheâd leave me here.* âMika!â I called after her, but she was already out of sight. Damian, still seated comfortably in the driverâs seat, chuckled softly. âYour friend seems to know when to make herself scarce.â I shot him a g
The air was buzzing with excitement as the results of the exams were posted on the bulletin board in the department hallway. Students crowded around, eager to see their grades. I hung back, not feeling the need to push through the crowd. After all, I already knew where my name would be. It wasnât arrogance, just a quiet confidence born from weeks of hard work. âSierra! Youâre at the top again!â Mikaâs voice cut through the chatter as she turned to me, waving her phone in triumph. She had already pulled up the online results and was grinning from ear to ear. I gave her a small smile. âI figured. But how about you? Did you get what you were aiming for?â Her grin widened as she linked her arm through mine. âI didnât just passâI aced it! Well, not like you, but Iâm pretty proud of myself. And guess what? No one in our class failed. Can you believe that?â That caught my attention. I looked around at my classmates, who were now exchanging congratulations, high-fives, and hugs. F
The sunlight streamed through the windows of the car as we drove up the familiar, long driveway leading to Damianâs parentsâ manor. The same old stone gate greeted us, the flowers lining the pathway just as vibrant as I remembered. The place was beautiful, timeless, and always had an air of serenity that made you feel like you were stepping into a different worldâa world full of history and love. I glanced at Damian beside me, his hands firmly gripping the wheel as he maneuvered the car down the narrow path. His usual composed demeanor was relaxed today, and I couldnât help but smile as I watched him. Weâd been married for a while now, and even with two little ones in tow, there was still something so comforting about his presence. He was the same Damian I had fallen for years agoâstrong, caring, and somehow managing to make everything feel like it was meant to be. In the backseat, our twins were giggling, their laughter infectious. Emily, our daughter, had her little pigtails bounc
The reception was in full swing, a beautiful celebration of Sierra and Damianâs union. The guests were enjoying themselves, the hum of conversations mixing with the soft melodies playing in the background. Everywhere you looked, there was laughter, joy, and an overwhelming sense of love in the air. The newlyweds were on the dance floor, their smiles never fading as they danced with each other, occasionally stealing glances at their friends and family who were watching in admiration. The tables, laden with delicious food and drinks, were surrounded by people chatting away and sharing stories. It was a night that everyone would remember, one that felt like the beginning of a new chapter for not only Sierra and Damian but for everyone who loved them. But the best part of the evening was yet to comeâthe speeches. As the evening went on, the time came for the people closest to the couple to stand up and share their thoughts. One by one, guests stood to offer their congratulations, their
The day had arrivedâthe long-awaited wedding of Damian and Sierra. The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden glow over the lush gardens where the ceremony would take place. It was the kind of weather that felt perfect, as though the universe itself had aligned for this moment. The soft rustle of leaves in the breeze and the gentle hum of excited voices filled the air, creating an atmosphere of warmth and love. This was a day that would be etched in their memories forever. Sierra stood backstage, her heart racing. She had been waiting for this day for so long, but now that it was finally here, it all felt so surreal. Her wedding dress, a delicate blend of lace and satin, shimmered softly in the light as she adjusted the final touches. Her hair, styled in loose waves, was adorned with a delicate tiara that made her feel like a princess. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman looking back at her. She looked like a dream, but the dream was real
Damian and I had been preparing for this day for weeks. The day I would finally meet his parentsâhis formidable, larger-than-life parents, who had raised a man as complex and brilliant as Damian. My nerves were getting the best of me, but he was by my side, his usual calm demeanor reassuring me, even though I knew this would be a turning point in our relationship. We arrived at his familyâs manor just as the evening sun began to dip, casting a warm golden light over the grand, old building. The manor had an elegant charm to it, with ivy climbing up the stone walls and a well-kept garden that gave off an air of old money. I had heard a lot about his parents from Damian, but there was nothing that could prepare me for actually meeting them. Damian opened the door for me with a small, encouraging smile, taking my hand in his as we approached the grand entrance. As soon as the door swung open, his motherâs voice rang out from inside. âDamian! There you are!â she called, her tone a mix
I watched as Damian entered our home, his posture slumped, clearly exhausted from his day. It was unusual for him to look so worn out; he usually carried himself with an air of unshakable confidence. As soon as I saw the fatigue in his eyes, I couldn't help but rush to him. Without thinking, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, trying to ease the tension I could feel radiating from him. "You look like you need to unwind," I murmured against his lips. Damianâs arms instinctively wrapped around me as if he needed the comfort, too. "Iâm fine, just... been a long day," he replied, but I could see through his words. His exhaustion was palpable, and I wasnât going to let him suffer in silence. âGo take a bath. Iâll make us something to eat,â I suggested gently, nudging him toward our bedroom. He gave me a small, appreciative smile before nodding. "Thanks, love." His voice was softer than usual, filled with gratitude. As he disappeared into the bathroom, I busied m
Damian sat in the large, sterile dining room of his parents' manor, the overwhelming sense of anticipation now replaced by a suffocating tension. His motherâs eyes burned with fury as she stared at him, waiting for the next words to come out of his mouth, as if she could sense he was holding something back. Her lips were pursed tightly, her knuckles white around the edge of her wine glass. He had already sensed her disappointment the moment he had walked through the door without Sierra, but he hadnât expected it to escalate to this. His father, seated at the end of the table, remained quiet, but Damian could feel the weight of his gazeâa quiet, unspoken judgment. It made Damian feel even more like he was drowning in the sea of expectations that had been placed on him all these years. Finally, after a few painful moments of silence, his mother couldnât hold back anymore. Her voice cut through the tension like a blade. âDamian, you say youâre serious about this woman, but where is sh
Damian sat back in the leather chair, the quiet hum of the city outside filtering through the window. He could feel the weight of the day bearing down on him, a culmination of weeks of planning, anticipation, and a growing sense of excitement. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, he had been on a beach in the Maldives, a lifetime away from the familiar comforts of home. The proposal had gone exactly as heâd hoped. Sierraâs joy, the moment they shared under the starry skyâeverything had been perfect. But now, the next step beckoned. It wasnât just about them anymore. There was more he needed to address, more he needed to reveal.He picked up his phone, his thumb hovering over Nathan's name. It had been a while since he'd spoken to his old friend in person, but it was time to bring him into the fold. Nathan had always been reliable, and now, more than ever, Damian needed his help.âHey, Nathan,â Damian greeted when the phone clicked to life. âI need your help with something.
After the proposal, the world seemed to slow down for a moment. Damianâs arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was falling into place. I could feel the warmth of the people around us, their happiness radiating in every cheer and smile. The world was our oyster, and for once, I felt like I had everything I ever needed. But then, as the waves gently lapped at the shore and the stars twinkled above us, something hit me, a question that had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while, one I hadnât quite found the right moment to ask.Pulling away from Damianâs embrace, I looked up at him, my fingers still tracing the outline of his jaw, a smile lingering on my lips. But there was something in my eyesâa flicker of curiosity mixed with a sense of uncertainty. I couldnât shake the thought.âDamian,â I said, my voice soft but with a serious edge, âI need to ask you something. What about your family?âHis eyes narrowed sligh
Three years. Three years of highs and lows, triumphs and challenges. Looking back, it felt like a whirlwind of emotions. From the early days of uncertainty, when Damian and I were navigating the aftershocks of everything that had happened with Liam, to the quiet nights we spent together, finding solace in each otherâs company, I never imagined that weâd come this far. Iâd thought that life had settled into a rhythm, one where we worked hard, loved hard, and fought for the people we cared about.But tonight, standing on the edge of the Maldives beach, the soft whispers of the ocean as our backdrop, it felt different. The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, as if something monumental was about to happen. I didnât know what it wasâdidnât even have a hintâbut I had a nagging feeling that tonight wasnât going to be just another beautiful evening under the stars.I glanced around, taking in the scene. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silv