Bella arrived at the office the next morning determined to bury herself in work. The day before had left her unsettled—the way Damien's gaze had lingered on her in the car, the strange spark of approval she had felt when Van der West complimented her, and most of all, the slow but undeniable shift between her and Damien. She couldn't let herself get carried away.
This job was everything to her. If she lost focus now, she could jeopardize the opportunity she had worked so hard to secure.
As she reached her desk, a message from Damien appeared on her screen:
My office. Now.
Bella sighed. So much for easing into the day.
When she entered Damien's office, he was standing by the window, hands in his pockets, staring out at the city below. The morning light filtered through the glass, casting sharp angles across his face. For a moment, he seemed almost vulnerable—a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. But the illusion disappeared the second he turned to face her.
"Sit," he said, his tone brisk.
Bella obeyed, folding her hands neatly in her lap, waiting for whatever task he was about to assign her.
"We have a problem," Damien said, walking over to his desk. He placed a thick file in front of her. "There have been delays with the Van der West deal. Some issues with their legal team."
Bella opened the file, scanning the documents. "What kind of issues?"
"Minor complications, but ones that could derail the entire deal if not handled carefully," Damien replied, watching her closely. "I need you to coordinate with our legal department and smooth things over."
Bella nodded. "I'll get on it right away."
"There's more," Damien added, his expression hardening. "Van der West is... particular. He'll likely ask to meet again before signing off. This could mean more late nights."
Bella's stomach flipped, though she kept her expression neutral. "I understand."
Damien leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "This deal is critical. I expect your full commitment."
Bella met his gaze head-on, refusing to be intimidated. "You'll have it."
For a moment, Damien said nothing. The air between them seemed to hum with tension. Then, almost imperceptibly, his lips curled into the faintest of smiles—gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Good," he murmured. "You can go."
Bella rose from her chair, but just as she reached the door, Damien's voice stopped her.
"Ms. Gray."
She turned, her heart racing for reasons she could not explain.
"Don't let them underestimate you," Damien said quietly. "You're more capable than you think."
Bella blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected words. She wanted to say something—anything—but Damien had already turned back to the window, dismissing her without another glance.
The day passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and emails. Bella worked tirelessly to untangle the legal issues with Van der West's team, her focus unrelenting. At lunchtime, Ethan swung by her desk, holding two sandwiches.
"You've been buried in work all morning," Ethan said, plopping down in the chair opposite her. "Thought you could use some fuel."
Bella smiled, grateful for the break. "Thanks, Ethan. You're a lifesaver."
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Ethan gave her a curious look. "So... how's it working with Damien?"
Bella hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Intense."
Ethan laughed. "That's one way to describe it."
"He's not exactly easy to read," Bella admitted. "But... I think he means well, in his own way."
Ethan's expression softened. "You're probably right. Damien's not a bad guy. Just... complicated."
Bella tilted her head. "You've known him for a long time, haven't you?"
Ethan nodded. "We've been through a lot together. He's had to make sacrifices most people wouldn't understand. It's made him... guarded."
Bella wanted to ask more, but Ethan changed the subject, steering the conversation toward lighter topics. As they finished their sandwiches, Bella couldn't help but feel grateful for Ethan's easy friendship. In a world as cutthroat as Wolfe International, having someone like him in her corner made all the difference.
Later that evening, Bella was still at her desk, reviewing contracts, when Damien's voice startled her.
"You're still here."
She looked up to see him standing in the doorway, his jacket draped over one arm, his tie slightly loosened. It was the most casual she had ever seen him, and the sight sent a strange flutter through her chest.
"I wanted to get everything in order," Bella said, gesturing to the stack of documents on her desk.
Damien glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's late. You should go home."
Bella shook her head. "I'm almost done."
Damien studied her for a moment, then walked over to her desk. "You push yourself too hard."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "You're one to talk."
To her surprise, Damien chuckled—a low, rich sound that made her heart skip a beat. "Fair point."
For a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the weight of the day's stress momentarily lifting. Then Damien's expression grew serious again.
"Bella," he said quietly, "you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. Not to me. Not to Van der West. You're already enough."
Bella stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. No one had ever said anything like that to her before—least of all someone like Damien Wolfe.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Damien nodded, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. "Go home, Bella. Get some rest."
Bella gathered her things, her mind swirling with emotions she couldn't quite name. As she left the office, Damien's words echoed in her mind, lingering long after she had stepped into the cool night air.
The following day, Bella arrived at work determined to maintain her professionalism, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Every time she thought of Damien—his intense gaze, the rare softness in his voice—her heart betrayed her.
She buried herself in work, hoping that productivity would drown out the confusing emotions swirling inside her. But when Damien called her into his office again that afternoon, everything she had been trying to suppress came rushing back.
"Van der West has requested another meeting," Damien said, his expression neutral.
Bella nodded, pretending not to notice the way her pulse quickened at the prospect of spending more time with him. "When?"
"Tomorrow evening," Damien replied. "At his estate. I need you to accompany me."
Bella swallowed hard, nodding. "Of course."
Damien's gaze lingered on her for a moment, as though he wanted to say something more. But whatever it was, he kept it to himself.
That night, as Bella lay in bed, sleep eluded her. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Damien—his rare moments of vulnerability, the way his presence made her feel both safe and completely off-balance.
She knew she was treading dangerous waters. Damien Wolfe was not the kind of man who let people get close—not without consequences. And yet, despite every warning bell in her mind, Bella couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to step past the boundaries they had carefully drawn between them.
What would it be like to know Damien Wolfe—not as her boss, but as the man beneath the mask?
With a sigh, Bella rolled onto her side, staring out at the city lights flickering in the distance.
One thing was certain: whatever was unfolding between her and Damien, it was only just beginning. And there was no telling where it would lead.