Damien’s POV
I sat alone in the living room, but my mind refused to settle.
All I could think about was Cassie being happy with Edward. The idea of it sat uncomfortably in my chest. I had convinced myself that she was only with him because she couldn’t get to me. That was why I had started things with Cece in the first place.. to make Cassie jealous, to force her to see what she actually wanted. I thought if she watched me with someone else, she would finally realize her feelings.
But now, hearing her soft little laugh from the bedroom made my jaw tighten. She was probably on a call with him. I put on my headset just to block out the sound. I hated hearing her laugh because of someone else. Especially him.
And then there was the hair.
If only that night hadn’t happened... if only I hadn’t seen what I wasn’t supposed to see the night my mother died. Maybe things would be different. Maybe I wouldn’t freeze every time her hair fell loose around her face.
I tried to focus on work, but my phone buzzed.
Cece.
She wanted to know how I was doing. She had just remembered I traveled today.
I turned the phone off completely. I didn’t want to talk to her. Everything about her was starting to annoy me.
I continued working, occasionally pulling one side of the headset off just to check if Cassie was still talking to Edward. Every time I did, I was disappointed. The soft murmur of her voice was still there.
I needed to do something.
Maybe I should just confess.
We weren’t in New Jersey anymore. Maybe I could arrange a small surprise.. something quiet, where I could finally tell her how I felt. But would she even take me seriously after I dated Cece? I could explain that Cece meant nothing. That the entire relationship had only been a way to get Cassie’s attention.
But it still felt like too much. Too sudden. Too heavy.
And what if she actually loved Edward?
The thought made my chest tighten.
Maybe I should test his feelings for her. Push a little. See how strong their relationship really was. It would either bring them closer... or break them apart.
For a moment, I even considered taking her phone and sending him a breakup message myself. But that was reckless. He would call her immediately, she would find out, and she would probably never speak to me again. She might even see me as some kind of psycho.
No.
I had to do this the right way.
I needed her.
That was the real reason I had arranged this entire trip. There was no actual urgent conference that required both of us to fly out. I had made sure the event was positioned in a way that justified bringing my assistant—just so I could have time alone with her. Away from Edward. Away from Cece. Away from the office and all the noise.
Just the two of us.
If only I had caught her when she fell yesterday... things might have been easier. The distance between us might not feel this complicated.
—
When morning came, I woke up to find a blanket neatly placed over me.. one I hadn’t used. My laptop had been closed and carefully set aside.
Cassie.
She had come to check on me during the night.
A quiet warmth spread through my chest at the thought. Some part of her cared, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
I walked into the bedroom. She was still asleep, lying peacefully on the bed. I stood there for a moment, just watching her. The soft rise and fall of her breathing. The way the morning light touched her face.
I knew then, more clearly than ever, that I loved her.
I wanted to wake up to this every day.
Carefully, I lay down beside her, just close enough to see her better. The sunlight rested gently across her features. For a few quiet seconds, it felt almost unreal.
Then she shifted in her sleep, rolling slightly toward me. Her face was suddenly very close to mine.
I was just about to move away when her eyes opened.
Cassie’s POV
I froze.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Damien.. far too close. I could feel his breath. His eyes held something I wasn’t used to seeing in him. Something softer. Almost vulnerable.
He quickly sat up.
"I’m sorry," he said immediately. "I just wanted to take something from the bed and didn’t want to wake you, so I laid down to reach for it."
He stretched his hand past me and picked up his phone.
"This," he added, holding it up a little too casually.
I wasn’t fully convinced, but I didn’t push it.
"You don’t owe me an explanation," I said. "Especially since you were supposed to sleep on the bed in the first place, not the living room."
"I’m not complaining," he replied softly. "What would you like for breakfast?"
"I think I’m fine for now."
"Alright." He stood up and left the room.
The moment he was gone, I got up carefully and limped into the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror looked rough—hair messy, face still marked from sleep. I turned on the tap, splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and fixed my hair until I looked somewhat human again.
When I returned to the room, Damien was already sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Aren’t you going to the conference today?" I asked.
"Yes. I just need to sort a few things first." He glanced at me. "And... thank you for last night."
I frowned slightly. "Last night? What happened last night?"
"The blanket."
"Oh." I gave a small shrug. "You’re welcome. Besides, I’m coming with you to the conference."
He immediately looked at me. "No, you’re not. You haven’t healed yet."
"I’m better than yesterday. I just need crutches and I’ll be fine."
"I’d prefer if you stayed back and rested."
I smiled a little. "I’ve rested enough. It’s time to work."
He studied me for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But we leave in two hours. Start getting ready."
"Yes, sir."
"I’ll use the spare bathroom so you can prepare here."
He left, and I began getting dressed. An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror in a fitted grey corporate dress that hugged my frame. Since I couldn’t wear heels because of my ankle, I settled for simple sandals.
When Damien walked back in, he was already dressed in a sharp black custom-made suit. As always, he looked unfairly good.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes... but what about the crutches? I need them if I’m going to move around."
"The staff should be bringing them soon."
Almost on cue, there was a knock at the door. Damien opened it to find both the crutches and breakfast waiting.
"I wasn’t going to let you leave without eating and taking your medicine," he said, setting the food down beside me.
"Fine," I muttered, sitting down.
"We’re already running late, so you’ll have to be quick."
A few minutes later, I finished eating and stood up with the crutches resting against my shoulder.
Damien glanced at me. "You don’t look bad with those, by the way."
"I’d still prefer to walk without them."
"Come on. The car’s waiting."
Downstairs, a black tinted Mercedes was already parked at the entrance. Damien helped me into the back seat before sliding in beside me.
"Good morning, sir. Conference hall?" the driver asked.
"Yes."
The ride was quiet. When we arrived, the venue was already filled with well-dressed people. Everything about the place smelled of money and influence. We were led to seats at the high table.
Almost as if they had been waiting for Damien, the conference began shortly after we sat down.
I focused on taking detailed notes while Damien spent half the time on his phone and the other half pretending to listen. Hours passed with one speaker after another. When it finally ended, people immediately approached him.. shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries, networking. Every now and then, he introduced me as his personal assistant. A few people asked about my leg. I gave the same simple answer each time: I slipped and fell.
By the time we returned to the car, I was mentally exhausted. I stared out the window, watching the city move past us.
"Do you want anything?" Damien asked.
I thought for a second. "Maybe ice cream. The weather feels like it."
He nodded. "Take us somewhere we can get ice cream," he told the driver.
We stopped at a small shop nearby and sat outside while waiting for our order.
"Do you want to walk around the park after this?" I asked. "I don’t really feel like going straight back to the hotel."
"Sure."
When the ice cream arrived, we started walking slowly through the nearby park. The weather was perfect.. cool enough to be comfortable.
"I didn’t know you were an ice cream person," I said as he took a scoop.
"Why do you say that?"
"You just don’t seem like someone who likes sweet things."
"I’m not, really," he replied. "This is just once in a while."
I was about to respond when my crutch hit a small stone. My ankle twisted slightly, and I lost balance.
Before I could fall, Damien caught me.
"Are you okay?" he asked quickly.
"No... it hurts more now. I don’t think I can keep walking."
"Alright. You need to sit."
He guided me toward a bench a short distance away and carefully helped me down. Then he called the driver to come pick us up.
While we waited, my eyes drifted across the street to a small café opposite the park. For a second, I thought I saw someone familiar—someone who looked like Cece, wearing a large hat and sunglasses.
But when Damien closed the car door and I looked again, the seat was empty.
Maybe it was just my imagination.