Adrian sat in a lounge,. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp and filled with plans. A few of his men stood in front of him, waiting for him to speak.
The smell of smoke filled the air from the cigar burning slowly between his fingers.
One of the men finally spoke. "Sir, we found out that the girl… Elena, she's still living with Damian Volkov."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "Still?"
"Yes, boss. It's been a while now."
Adrian gave a small, thoughtful smile.
"Damian Volkov doesn't keep women for long," he said slowly, almost to himself.
"He uses them, dumps them then moves on forgetting their names.
If she's still there, that means…" He paused, tapping the cigar against the ashtray. "He must feel something for her."
The men looked at each other, unsure if they should respond. Adrian stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the glowing skyline.
"If he loves her," he continued, his tone cold but calm, "then she's the key. His weakness."
He turned to face his men again. " No one touches him, no one crosses him. But everyone has a crack in their armor — and hers is his."
He smirked, the kind of smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "We'll use Elena to break him.
We'll take the company from under his nose, and when Grandfather sees what kind of chaos Damian has brought… he'll lose all trust in him."
Adrian walked back to his desk, placing his cigar in the tray and leaning forward, voice dropping lower.
"I'll take everything from him — his power, his position, and the girl he thinks he can protect.
When I'm done, Damian Volkov won't even recognize what's left of his empire."
The men nodded, one of them asking quietly, "What do we do first, sir?"
Adrian smirked again. "When the time is right…" He paused, picking up his glass of whiskey and swirling it slowly.
"We take her — and Damian will come running straight into my trap."
He took a slow sip, his voice almost a whisper now. "He won't even see it coming."
***
The early morning sunlight filtered through the tall curtains of Damian's room in his grandfather's mansion.
She stirred when she felt something warm against her collarbone—a soft, deliberate pressure.
Then another at her shoulder. And another just below her ear.
Her lashes fluttered open. "...Damian?"
He was there, half leaning over her, his dark hair mussed from sleep, his lips brushing slow kisses down the curve of her neck.
His voice was low, husky from the night.
"Good morning, cupcake."
Her breath hitched, and she pulled the sheets up instinctively. "What are you doing—"
"Waking you up," he murmured, his mouth grazing her jawline before he caught her lips in a fleeting kiss. "You sleep too much."
She pushed against his chest weakly, blushing furiously. "It's too early."
He smirked, catching her wrists easily and pinning them to the mattress, not with force, but with that effortless dominance that always made her pulse race.
"Then let's make it worth waking up for."
Her cheeks burned crimson as he pressed a final kiss to her forehead before sitting up, stretching. "Come on. Shower."
She sat up, clutching the blanket. "Shower? You go."
But he was already pulling her to her feet, ignoring her protests. "We're showering. Together."
Her heart slammed. "Damian, no—"
"Yes." His tone left no room for debate.
They both stepped into the bathroom, he took of his clothes. She used her hands to cover her eyes.
Open your eyes Elena" he said and she did as she was told then he helped her take off her clothes.
Her cheeks burned out of embarrassment. He held her hand guiding her into the tub.
He scrubbed her back and massaged her hair with shampoo, he told her to scrub his back too she did same.
She was done scrubbing his body. She wanted leaving the tub immediately then Damian held her waist gripping her to his body.
"If you leave this tub, I will f**k you so hard right now and right here". He whispered slowly into her ears.
And she leaned unto his body after hearing his words. She felt something hard on her butt, her cheeks burned.
She gulped in. "Damian your dic.."
"Do you want me in you cupcake". "Yes or yes" he whispered leaving shivers in her body.
"You're impossible Damian" she said.
Finally, he helped her step out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel round her body. He did same, tieing a towel round his waist.
They went back to the room, he made her sit facing the mirror.
He took a comb to use on her hair.
"You don't even know what to do Damian" she muttered.
"I will try" he leaned to her and whispered.
Elena showed him how to dry a lady's hair, her heart wouldn't stop fluttering when he places kisses on her.
He dressed up before he picked out a dress for her.
"You lack fashion sense Damian, you know nothing about women' Mr Volkov.
"At least I know something about you' my woman! Mrs. Volkov" he teased her letting out a little chuckle.
"You wish" she said and they both headed downstairs. Elena still couldn't get the heat out of her face.
Her heart in thought. "Damian was so sweet and caring this days. He is evil and also charming.
Damian walked beside her, his hand resting at the small of her back as if staking his claim.
In the dining hall, Irina looked up from her teacup, her eyes widening slightly. Grandfather glanced at them over his newspaper.
For a heartbeat, the table was silent. Then Irina smiled—gentle, almost emotional.
"After years…" she said softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "After years, Damian finally spends the night here. And has breakfast with us."
Her voice carried both joy and a little wistfulness, as if it was something she had long prayed for but never thought she'd see.
Damian pulled out a chair for Elena, ignoring the comment, but the slight twitch at his lips gave him away.
He sat down beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
Grandfather chuckled under his breath. "Seems it took the right woman to keep him here."
Elena froze, spoon halfway to her mouth, her face blooming scarlet again. Damian only reached over and stole the toast from her plate, biting into it casually.
After breakfast, Damian and grandfather went to the study to talk about the company.
When Damian was out, he saw Elena and Tatiana walking down the hallway chattering and laughing and stopped when they saw him.
Tatiana broke the silence with her usual bright voice.
"Aunt and I have decided—Elena and I are going shopping today."
Elena nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. But before she could speak, Damian's deep voice cut across the table.
"Shopping, hm? His gaze sliding to Elena. "Do you need my card, cupcake?"
Elena blinked, stunned. Her first instinct was to shake her head. "N–no, I don't—"
But Tatiana leaned close, whispering with a wicked grin, "Say yes, silly. Who turns down free shopping from Damian Volkov?"
Elena bit her lip, glancing nervously between Tatiana and Damian. Her cheeks warmed as she finally nodded. "...Yes."
A satisfied smirk tugged at Damian's lips. "Good girl."
He reached into his pocket, slid his black card across the table toward her, and tapped it with one finger. "Don't hold back. I want you to buy everything you like."
Her hand trembled slightly as she picked it up. "Th–thank you."
"Don't thank me," he said lowly, his eyes holding hers in a way that made her heart stumble. "Just make sure you use it."
Tatiana rolled her eyes dramatically, kicking Elena.
"See? And I told you to avoid him. Now he's acting like the sweetest husband alive."
Elena's blush deepened. "T–Tatiana, stop.
But Damian wasn't done. As Elena was about turning, he leaned across the table, catching her chin with his fingers.
Before she could process, his lips brushed hers in a firm, possessive kiss.
The kiss was brief, but it left her breathless. Her eyes widened, and her face turned crimson.
Tatiana gasped loudly, slapping her hand against the table. "Oh my God!
Damian released Elena slowly, his thumb grazing her jaw before he leaned back, smug. "Now I can leave for work."
Elena stood frozen, clutching her dress, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Tatiana waited until he walked out with his jacket over his arm before she leaned toward Elena, smirking like the devil.
"I swear, girl, I know I told you to avoid him… but the way he's acting?
He's sweeter than sugar. If you don't melt, I will."
Elena buried her face in her hands, embarrassed, but her lips trembled with the tiniest smile she couldn't hide.